#Tax Planning services in Florida

[devotedlymydestiny]

When Should You Consult a Professional Tax Consultant? Key Milestones to Consider

Tax planning can be a daunting task, especially when you’re faced with life’s significant changes. It’s not just about filing forms; it’s about making strategic decisions to minimize your tax liability and make the most of your financial opportunities. At certain points in your life, consulting a professional tax consultant becomes crucial to ensure you optimize your tax savings and stay compliant with tax laws.

Let’s explore the key life milestones where hiring a tax professional can help you make informed financial decisions.

Marriage and Relationship Changes

Does getting married affect your taxes? 

Absolutely. When you get married, your tax situation changes in many ways, from your filing status to the deductions and credits available.

Here’s how marriage can alter your taxes:

New tax filing status — After marriage, you and your spouse will need to decide whether to file jointly or separately. Most couples file jointly to benefit from lower tax rates, but sometimes, filing separately may save money.

Higher-income tax brackets — Depending on your combined income, you may move into a different tax bracket. However, this could work to your advantage when deductions and credits are calculated.

For families, understanding the tax benefits related to children is crucial:

Child Tax Credit — If you have kids, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit, which can reduce your tax bill by up to $2,000 per child.

Dependent care expenses — Working parents may also claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit to deduct a portion of childcare costs.

These changes can be complex, which is why it’s wise to consult a professional tax consultant. They can help ensure you claim all the deductions and credits available after getting married.

Buying a Home

What are the tax benefits of buying a home? 

Owning a home comes with various tax advantages that renters don’t get. If you’re buying your first house or selling a property, understanding these benefits can save you money.

Here’s what you need to know:

Mortgage interest deduction — As a homeowner, you can deduct the interest paid on your mortgage, which can significantly reduce your taxable income. This is especially helpful in the early years of the mortgage when most of your payment goes toward interest.

Property tax deduction — In addition to mortgage interest, you can also deduct the property taxes you pay on your home. This is another big saving that homeowners enjoy.

If you’re selling your home, capital gains taxes may come into play. However, you can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married couples) from the gain from the sale of your primary residence from taxable income, provided you meet certain criteria.

Starting a Business

Launching a business comes with exciting opportunities, but it also introduces new tax obligations. Understanding the deductions and credits available to you as a business owner can reduce your tax burden significantly.

Key deductions for business owners:

Startup costs — You can deduct a portion of your startup expenses in the first year of operation.

Small business deduction: If your business qualifies, you may be able to deduct up to 20% of your qualified business income under the Section 199A deduction.

Research and development credits: If your business invests in innovation, you may qualify for R&D tax credits, even if you’re a small business.

Self-employment tax: If you’re self-employed, you’ll be responsible for paying both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Retirement

As you plan for retirement, it’s essential to understand how taxes will impact your savings. If you’re withdrawing from an IRA, 401(k), or another retirement account, the way you manage these funds can significantly affect your tax bill.

Retirement tax considerations:

Traditional vs. Roth IRAs — Withdrawals from a traditional IRA are taxed as ordinary income, while Roth IRA withdrawals are typically tax-free. Knowing when and how to withdraw can save you money in the long run.

401(k) and pension withdrawals — Withdrawals from a 401(k) are taxed similarly to traditional IRAs. However, early withdrawals (before age 59½) often incur a 10% penalty in addition to regular income taxes.

Social Security benefits can also be taxable, depending on your total income. A tax expert can help you strategize how to withdraw from your retirement accounts in the most tax-efficient way possible.

Inheritance and Estate Planning

Do you have to pay taxes on inheritance? 

Inheritance and estate taxes can significantly affect the value of assets passed down to heirs. While federal estate taxes only apply to estates valued over a certain threshold, the rules around inheritance can be complicated.

Key considerations include:

Estate tax exemptions — In 2024, estates valued at less than $12.92 million are exempt from federal estate taxes. Anything above that is taxed.

Gift tax — If you plan to gift assets during your lifetime, there are annual exclusion limits (currently $17,000 per recipient) that can help you reduce the taxable value of your estate.

Key Moments to Seek Tax Guidance

There are pivotal moments throughout life when consulting a professional tax consultant becomes essential. For residents of Venice, FL, White Sands Tax is a trusted partner that can provide expert tax advice tailored to your unique needs.

Don’t wait for tax season—start planning today to ensure you’re prepared for every stage of life and can maximize your tax savings.

[whitesandstaxflven]

The Accountant's Role Demystified: Your Financial Ally Simplified

The term "accountant" often conjures images of number-crunching experts buried in paperwork. While they do handle numbers, accountants are more than just calculators. In this blog, we'll unravel the world of accountants in simple terms, explaining why they are your financial allies and how they can make your life easier.

Who Is an Accountant?

At its core, an accountant is a professional who helps individuals, businesses, and organizations manage their financial affairs. Accountants are trained to keep track of financial transactions, prepare reports, and provide valuable insights to make informed financial decisions.

Types of Accountants

Accounting is a versatile field, and accountants specialize in various areas. Here are some common types of accountants:

1. Public Accountants:

Public accountants work for accounting firms or as independent consultants. They offer a wide range of services, including tax preparation, auditing, and financial planning for individuals and businesses.

2. Management Accountants:

Also known as cost, managerial, corporate, or private accountants, they work within organizations and focus on internal financial management. They help with budgeting, cost analysis, and financial planning.

3. Government Accountants:

Government accountants work in the public sector, maintaining financial records and ensuring compliance with government regulations. They can work at the local, state, or federal level.

4. Forensic Accountants:

These accountants investigate financial irregularities and fraud. They are often called upon to uncover financial wrongdoing in legal cases.

5. Tax Accountants:

Tax accountants specialize in tax laws and regulations. They help individuals and businesses with tax planning, preparation, and compliance.

The Accountant's Key Responsibilities

Accountants wear many hats and fulfill several vital roles:

1. Financial Record Keeping:

Accountants maintain accurate and organized financial records, ensuring that all financial transactions are properly documented.

2. Tax Compliance:

Tax accountants help individuals and businesses comply with tax laws, minimize tax liabilities, and file accurate tax returns.

3. Financial Analysis:

Accountants analyze financial data to provide insights into a business's financial health. They create reports that help organizations make informed decisions.

4. Auditing:

Some accountants specialize in auditing, where they review financial statements and records to verify their accuracy and compliance with accounting standards.

5. Budgeting and Forecasting:

Management accountants assist organizations in creating budgets, setting financial goals, and forecasting future financial performance.

When Do You Need an Accountant?

Now that you know what accountants do, you may wonder when you need their services. Here are some common scenarios:

1. Tax Season:

During tax season, individuals and businesses seek the expertise of tax accountants to ensure accurate and compliant tax filings.

2. Starting a Business:

When starting a business, accountants can help with entity selection, financial planning, and setting up accounting systems.

3. Financial Planning:

Accountants play a crucial role in personal financial planning, helping individuals manage their finances, save for retirement, and invest wisely.

4. Complex Financial Transactions:

When you're dealing with complex financial transactions like mergers, acquisitions, or investments, accountants provide guidance and analysis.

5. Audit Preparation:

Organizations preparing for audits, whether internal or external, rely on accountants to ensure their financial records are in order.

DIY vs. Hiring an Accountant

While many individuals and small businesses choose to manage their finances themselves, there are distinct advantages to hiring an accountant:

1. Expertise:

Accountants are well-versed in tax laws, financial regulations, and accounting principles, ensuring that your finances are in compliance and optimized.

2. Time Savings:

Managing finances can be time-consuming. Accountants free up your time, allowing you to focus on your core activities.

3. Financial Insights:

Accountants provide valuable financial insights that can help you make informed decisions and achieve your financial goals.

4. Avoiding Mistakes:

Accountants help you avoid costly mistakes, especially in tax compliance, that could result in penalties or fines.

5. Peace of Mind:

Knowing that a professional is managing your finances can provide peace of mind, reducing financial stress.

How to Choose the Right Accountant

Selecting the right accountant is crucial. Here's a simple guide to help you choose:

1. Qualifications:

Ensure the accountant is properly certified and licensed, and check their experience in your specific financial needs.

2. Reputation:

Look for reviews and testimonials from previous clients to gauge the accountant's reputation and reliability.

3. Communication:

Effective communication is essential. Choose an accountant who can explain complex financial matters in simple terms.

4. Cost:

Discuss fees upfront and ensure they align with your budget. Some accountants charge hourly rates, while others offer fixed fees.

Conclusion

Accountants are not just number-crunchers; they are financial allies who can help you manage your finances, save money, and make informed decisions. Whether you're an individual seeking tax help or a business navigating complex financial transactions, an accountant is a valuable resource simplifying the financial complexities of life. So, don't hesitate to tap into their expertise and make your financial journey smoother and more successful. Contact us today to learn more!

[thestrategicwealthadvisor]

Financial Planning in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

Financial planning is a flexible framework created to help people negotiate the complexities of their financial journeys. Financial strategies include many choices and behaviors geared toward reaching particular monetary objectives. People can design a financial strategy by identifying their financial objectives and considering other factors like income, expenses, investments, and risk tolerance.

Financial planning involves steps like setting up a budget, saving for retirement, and managing taxes, investments, and wealth. As life’s circumstances change, financial strategies can be adjusted to ensure a secure and prosperous future.

The Basic financial Plans in Florida, United States

Retirement planning:

Florida has a high cost of living, so it’s important to save enough money to afford a comfortable retirement. Retirement planning is the process of setting and achieving your financial goals for your retirement years. It involves saving, investing, budgeting, and spending your money wisely to maintain your desired lifestyle and cover your expenses after you stop working.

Tax reduction:

Florida has a relatively low state income tax, but there are still ways to reduce your tax liability. Tax reduction is the process of minimizing your tax liability and maximizing your tax benefits. It involves choosing the right tax strategies, deductions, credits, and exemptions for your income, expenses, investments, and business activities.

Wealth management:

If you have accumulated significant wealth, you need to develop a plan to manage it effectively. Wealth management is the process of growing and preserving your wealth over time. It involves managing your assets, liabilities, risks, and opportunities holistically. It also involves aligning your financial decisions with your values, goals, and preferences.

Investment management:

If you’re investing your own money, it’s important to have a sound investment strategy. This is the process of choosing the right mix of assets to invest in. It involves selecting, buying, selling, and monitoring your investments to achieve your desired returns and risk level. It also involves diversifying your portfolio and rebalancing it periodically.

The role of a certified financial planner

Creating a robust financial plan requires the expertise of a certified financial planner. These professionals analyze individual circumstances, design tailored strategies, and offer objective insights. By understanding goals, risk tolerance, and time horizons, certified financial planners provide a roadmap to financial success, adapting strategies as life unfolds.

Finding a Certified Financial Advisor in Florida

To locate a certified financial advisor in Florida, consider these steps:

Seek referrals from friends, family, or colleagues.

Check with professional organizations like the Financial Planning Association (FPA) or the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

Research online platforms that specialize in connecting individuals with certified financial advisors.

Verify credentials and reviews before scheduling consultations.

For Floridians seeking comprehensive guidance, Strategic Wealth Advisor emerges as a recommended choice. Their adept team of financial advisors in Florida, United States, offers personalized solutions that align with the unique financial landscape of the state, ensuring a prosperous and secure financial future for their clients.

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #27

July 12-19 2024

President Biden announced the cancellation of $1.2 billion dollars worth of student loan debt. This will cancel the debt of 35,000 public service workers, such as teachers, nurses, and firefighters. This brings the total number of people who've had their student debt relived under the Biden Administration to 4.8 million or one out of every ten people with student loan debt, for a total of $168.5 billion in debt forgiven. This came after the Supreme Court threw out an earlier more wide ranging student debt relief plan forcing the administration to undertake a slower more piecemeal process for forgiving debt. President Biden announced a new plan in the spring that will hopefully be finalized by fall that will forgive an additional 30 million people's student loan debt.

President Biden announced actions to lower housing coasts, make more housing available and called on Congress to prevent rent hikes. President Biden's plan calls for landlords who raise the rent by more than 5% a year to face losing major important tax befits, the average rent has gone up by 21% since 2021. The President has also instructed the federal government, the largest land owner in the country, to examine how unused property can be used for housing. The Bureau of Land Management plans on building 15,000 affordable housing units on public land in southern Nevada, the USPS is examining 8,500 unused properties across America to be repurposed for housing, HHS is finalizing a new rule to make it easier to use federal property to house the homeless, and the Administration is calling on state, local, and tribal governments to use their own unused property for housing, which could create approximately 1.9 million units nationwide.

The Department of Transportation announced $5 billion to replace or restore major bridges across the country. The money will go to 13 significant bridges in 16 states. Some bridges are suffering from years of neglect others are nearly 100 years old and no longer fit for modern demands. Some of the projects include the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River which connects Portland Oregon to Vancouver Washington, replacing the Sagamore Bridge which connects Cape Cod to the mainland built in 1933, replacing the I- 83 South Bridge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement Project in Wilmington, North Carolina, among others.

President Biden signed an Executive Order aimed at boosting Latino college attendance. The order established the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are defined as colleges with 25% or above Hispanic/Latino enrollment, currently 55% of Hispanic college students are enrolled in an HSI. The initiative seeks to stream line the relationship between the federal government and HSIs to allow them to more easily take advantage of federal programs and expand their reach to better serve students and boost Hispanic enrollment nationwide.

HUD announced $325 million in grants for housing and community development in 7 cities. the cities in Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Nevada, New York and New Jersey, have collectively pledged to develop over 6,500 new mixed-income units, including the one-for-one replacement of 2,677 severely distressed public housing units. The 7 collectively will invest $2.65 billion in additional resources within the Choice Neighborhood area – so that every $1 in HUD funds will generate $8.65 in additional resources.

President Biden took extensive new actions on immigration. On June 18th The President announced a new policy that would allow the foreign born spouses and step children of American citizens who don't have legal status to apply for it without having to leave the country, this would effect about half a million spouses and 50,000 children. This week Biden announced that people can start applying on August 19, 2024. Also in June President Biden announced an easing of Visa rules that will allow Dreamers, Americans brought to the country as children without legal status, to finally get work visas to give them legal status and a path way to citizenship. This week the Biden Administration announced a new rule to expand the federal TRIO program to cover Dreamers. TRIO is a program that aims to support low income students and those who would be the first in their families to go to college transition from high school to college, the change would support 50,000 more students each year. The Administration also plans to double the number of free immigration lawyers available to those going through immigration court.

The EPA announced $160 million in grants to support Clean U.S. Manufacturing of Steel and Other Construction Materials. The EPA estimates that the manufacturing of construction materials, such as concrete, asphalt, steel, and glass, accounts for 15% of the  annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA is supporting 38 projects aimed at measuring and combatting the environmental impact of construction materials.

The US announced $203 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan. Sudan's out of control civil war has caused the largest refugee crisis in the world with 11 million Sudanese having fled their homes in the face of violence. The war is also causing the gravest food crisis in the world, with a record setting 25 million people facing acute food insecurity, and fears that nearly a million will face famine in the next months. This aid brings the total aid the US has given Sudan since September 2023 to $1.6 billion, making America the single largest donor to Sudan.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau put forward a new rule that would better regulate popular paycheck advance products. 2/3rds of workers are payed every two weeks or once a month and since 2020 the number of short term loans that allow employees to receive their paycheck days before it’s scheduled to hit their account has grown by 90%. the CFPB says that many of these programs are decided with employers not employees and millions of Americans are paying fees they didn't know about before signing up. The new rule would require lenders to tell costumers up front about any and all fees and charges, as well as cracking down on deceptive "tipping" options.

[xdeepinyoux]

US ELECTION Breakdown and the American Neo Nazi flood.

As of 5:34 this morning on November 6th, the 2024 candidate for the next president was announced. While many are celebrating, there are many like myself who are terrified. I am fortunate enough to live in a Blue state (Democrat) but many are not. There will be many people who claim it’s because of the economy that they voted for Trump, unfortunately this is not true. It saddens me to say that as Americans, understanding different aspects of the candidates main running points can be misunderstood and or entirely wrong. Let’s correct and breakdown these misconceptions.

Understanding Trumps Economic Plan:

Trumps plan will endanger, if not entirely bankrupt the American economy. His plan is to raise the taxes of lower class (low income) and middle class taxes while giving a massive tax breaks to those in the 2-1% (those who make a minimum of $900,000 annually).

Nobel prize winners, people who are awarded the Nobel prize for their incredible contributions to humanity:

More than half of the living economist Nobel prize winners (all with different backgrounds and political beliefs) voiced support for Kamala’s plan and labeled it as superior to Trumps. Trump added over 8 trillion dollars worth of debt to the US during his first term in office.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/science/kamala-harris-nobel-winners.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/science/kamala-harris-nobel-winners.html

Tariff’s:

Definition- a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country to influence it, raise revenues, or protect competitive advantages

Trump plans to impose Tariff’s which would be paid for by the American people, not the country whose goods are being imported. Adding this tax on imported goods will raise our country’s inflation higher. The purpose of this is to create market distortions that can actually harm domestic consumers over time.

The American Economy is Built on Immigrants:

Immigration, specifically undocumented immigrants, are constant talking points in which Trump uses to manipulate and induce fear into MAGA and other voters. By using derogatory language and racial stereotypes, he has created a harmful, dangerous and false narrative of undocumented people. Where Trump claims they are “taking American jobs”, the truth behind the matter is that undocumented migrants are working jobs that Americans do not want and will not work for the pay that is given. This was reconfirmed when Florida Govern, Ron Desantis, exiled and deported thousands of undocumented immigrants in Florida which left American citizens to complain and refuse to work those labor intensive jobs even after food shortages occurred in 2023.

Mass Deportation and what it means for the American Economy:

Mass deportation and demonization of immigrant people will lead to the downfall of the American Economy. Adding to his economic plan, the topic of deporting over a million migrants back to there birth countries would not only cost hundreds of billions of dollars but also cause labor and food shortages that have only been seen in the years 1929 – 1939 (The Great Depression).

What does this mean overall for the American People?

With a deadly combination of mass deportation, higher taxes and tariff’s the American economy will crash. Along with targeting minority groups, inflation will also bring us back to the philosophical question; would you steal bread to feed your family? The question at hand seems simple, yet statistics show the correlation between high crime rates and poverty levels time and time again. As American citizens we will see the rise of Trumps violence for a second term in office. Violent crimes against women and children, hate crimes and other violence against minorities and those who are apart of the LGBT+ community.

Trump has also spoken openly about his desire to rid Americans of their right to choose ranging from topics of abortion to voting. He has recently stated that when he wins American citizens won’t have to vote again after four years. While some may interpret this as it being his second term and therefore no longer being eligible to run again, it may have a much darker meaning. Trump has shown in the past that he has no issues with disregarding the American constitution and overturning democracy. If he were to succeed in overturning future election and voting laws then he would become Americas first Dictator. Furthermore, Trump is a convicted felon with 34 counts including but not limited to: Rape, selling national security secrets to enemy nations, staging a coup to overturn the 2020 election, election interference and voter fraud. Though we have a glimpse of what the next four years will look like it is unsure as Trump is dangerous and unpredictable. Voting for Trump in 2024 is Voting against America.

Final Note:

To anyone living in a red state where you are not safe please see the resources below:

LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE CRISIS LINES:

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

or text START to 678-678 or online chat

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988

[ausetkmt]

Ga. islanders vow to keep fighting change favoring rich buyers

DARIEN, Ga. - Descendants of enslaved people living on a Georgia island vowed to keep fighting after county commissioners voted to double the maximum size of homes allowed in their tiny enclave.

Residents fear the move will accelerate the decline of one of the South’s few surviving Gullah-Geechee communities.

An aspect of the ordinance that residents take issue with is the fact that it erases a clause about protecting the island’s indigenous history.

During public meetings leading up to the vote, the zoning board proposed changes to the ordinance of lowering the newly allowed home size and removing talk of golf courses being added to the island.

Black residents of the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island and their supporters packed a meeting of McIntosh County’s elected commissioners to oppose zoning changes that residents say favor wealthy buyers and will lead to tax increases that could pressure them to sell their land.

ISLAND’S HERITAGE

Gullah-Geechee communities like Hogg Hummock are scattered along the Southeast coast from North Carolina to Florida, where they have endured since their enslaved ancestors were freed by the Civil War. Scholars say these people long separated from the mainland retained much of their African heritage, from their unique dialect to skills and crafts such as cast-net fishing and weaving baskets.

Regardless, commissioners voted 3-2 to weaken zoning restrictions the county adopted nearly three decades ago with the stated intent to help Hogg Hummock’s 30 to 50 residents hold on to their land.

Yolanda Grovner, 54, of Atlanta said she has long planned to retire on land her father, an island native, owns in Hogg Hummock. She left the county courthouse Tuesday night wondering if that will ever happen.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult,” Grovner said. She added: “I think this is their way of pushing residents off the island.”

Hogg Hummock is one of just a few surviving communities in the South of people known as Gullah, or Geechee, in Georgia, whose ancestors worked island slave plantations.

MORE | Mom in Grovetown calls cops on U.S. energy secretary’s staff

Fights with the local government are nothing new to residents and landowners. Dozens successfully appealed staggering property tax hikes in 2012, and residents spent years fighting the county in federal court for basic services such as firefighting equipment and trash collection before county officials settled last year.

“We’re still fighting all the time,” said Maurice Bailey, a Hogg Hummock native whose mother, Cornelia Bailey, was a celebrated storyteller and one of Sapelo Island’s most prominent voices before her death in 2017. “They’re not going to stop. The people moving in don’t respect us as people. They love our food, they love our culture. But they don’t love us.”

Merden Hall, who asked not to be on camera, has lived on Sapelo his whole life. He says he’s worried about the sizes of homes now allowed on the island.

“I’m not comfortable with this. They approved the 3,000 square feet, that’s the only thing I disapprove of, because that’s going to raise property taxes,” he said.

Hogg Hummock’s population has been shrinking in recent decades, and some families have sold their land to outsiders who built vacation homes. New construction has caused tension over how large those homes can be.

Commissioners on Tuesday raised the maximum size of a home in Hogg Hummock to 3,000 square feet of total enclosed space. The previous limit was 1,400 square feet of heated and air-conditioned space.

Commissioner Davis Poole, who supported loosening the size restriction, said it would allow “a modest home enabling a whole family to stay under one roof.”

“The commissioners are not out to destroy the Gullah-Geechee culture or erase the history of Sapelo,” Poole said. “We’re not out to make more money for the county.”

Commission Chairman David Stevens, who said he’s been visiting Sapelo Island since the 1980s, blamed Hogg Hummock’s changing landscape on native owners who sold their land.

“I don’t need anybody to lecture me on the culture of Sapelo Island,” Stevens said, adding: “If you don’t want these outsiders, if you don’t want these new homes being built ... don’t sell your land.”

County officials have argued that size restrictions based on heated and cooled spaced proved impossible to enforce. County attorney Adam Poppell said more than a dozen homes in Hogg Hummock appeared to violate the limits, and in some cases homeowners refused to open their doors to inspectors.

Hogg Hummock landowner Richard Banks equated that to the county letting lawbreakers make the rules.

“If everybody wants to exceed the speed limit, should we increase the speed limits for all the speeders?” Banks said.

Hogg Hummock residents said they were blindsided when the county unveiled its proposed zoning changes on Aug. 16. Commissioners in July had approved sweeping zoning changes throughout McIntosh County, but had left Hogg Hummock alone.

Commissioner Roger Lotson, the only Black member of the county commission, voted against the changes and warned his colleagues that he fears they will end up back in court for rushing them.

Two attorneys from the Southern Poverty Law Center sat in the front row. Attorney Anjana Joshi said they had “due process and equal protection concerns” about the way the zoning ordinance was amended.

“In our view, this was not done correctly,” said Joshi, who added: “We’re just getting started.”

Located about 60 miles south of Savannah, Sapelo Island remains separated from the mainland and reachable only by boat. Since 1976, the state of Georgia has owned most of its 30 square miles of largely unspoiled wilderness. Hogg Hummock, also known as Hog Hammock, sits on less than a square mile.

Hogg Hummock earned a place in 1996 on the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the United States’ treasured historic sites. But for protections to preserve the community, residents depend on the local government in McIntosh County, where 65% of the 11,100 residents are white.

[animeraider]

Project 2025 will kill you. Yes, you. Sections 11-15 (of 30)

So I've been reading Project 2025 so you don't have to, and I'm going to report on everything I find that is alarming, which is a lot. Part One can be found here. Part Two can be found here.

Section 11 - Department of Education

"Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated."

That's the first sentence in this whole section. I think that pretty much says it all.

All student loans and grants are to be moved to the private sector. Move education for military families to the Defense Department and for Washington D.C. to Congress. I imagine that also applies to protectorates like Guam and Puerto Rico but the document actually doesn't say.

Put all education funding under State Control. You should really ask a child living in Florida how that's working out. Reject Gender Identity and Racial studies. Eliminate executive orders in education. I remind you that integration was done by executive order.

Transfer all Native American education to the Bureau for Indian Affairs. Transfer all adult education programs to the Department of Labor. Privatize Student Aid.

Move all civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice. Transfer all civil service employees to other agencies. Eliminate the understanding that Trans people even exist.

Eliminate any privacy regulations used to protect students from any form of abuse. Rescind all regulations in Equity in IDEA.

Eliminate all food programs for students. All of them.

Phase out income-based student loan repayment programs. Rescind all funding for the National Education Association. Consider "Critical Race Theory" to be racism. 

Here's a crazy one that takes paragraphs to unravel: Allow parents of children over the age of 18 to sue to recover any monies spent on their education. Also, allow families to "opt out" of the education system entirely and for those that do give as a tax break the funding that would have been used to educate that child directly to the parents.

Allow states to opt out of any and all federal education programs. Eliminate Parent PLUS loans. 

There is page after page of basically "end anything Obama or Biden did", but eventually it all boils down to that first sentence. Eliminate the Department of Education.

Section 12 - Department of Energy (and related commissions)

You would expect this whole document to be drill baby drill but in fact it starts with the repeal and elimination of the Biden Administration's Infrastructure Act - the single largest jobs creation bill in the last 75 years. That's followed with not only a dependence upon oil and natural gas but a declaration that the U.S. needs to be the best in the world in Science. Great for a country trying to eliminate the Department of Education.

Eliminate the office of Clean Energy, and the office of Grid Deployment. Yep, they don't want the government looking at the power grid. 

Not only increase a reliance ("dominance") in oil and gas but nuclear power as well. 

Lots of paragraphs on focusing on science, which again - see the section on the Department of Education. Lots of contradictions here. Increase the level of private sector disposal of nuclear waste. What could possibly go wrong?

Fund a rebuilding of the country's nuclear arsenal. New warheads and testing. Eliminate Carbon Capture programs and Carbon offsets. Pursue much more coal, including coal waste as fuel. Increase fossil fuels. 

End the government's focus on green energy and renewables. Eliminate efficiency standards for appliances. In fact, they put this paragraph in the document twice on consecutive pages. 

"End Grid planning and focus instead on reliability." I shit you not, that's a whole topic in here. Say goodbye to grid upgrades and hello to more Texas-style outages. They then spend several pages repeating everything I've already told you about. 

Eliminate the Department of Energy's ability to make loans. Eliminate the Advanced Research Projects Agency. Looks like that better battery for your Tesla is going to have to wait.

Eliminate the Clean Energy Corps. Privatize the Energy Information Administration. Stop all funding for "climate reparations" - i.e. paying for the damage caused by oil production in underdeveloped nations.

Drill in Alaska (of course). Claim the Arctic Circle for the same purpose. Take an "America First" approach at the Office of Technology. 

Accelerate cleanup of all "Superfund" sites (except for Hanford in Washington State - which is where the U.S. government has stored Plutonium Waste for many years) with a goal of completing all work by 2035. That sounds good on the surface but in most of these sites there is a reason that it needs to go slow: fast work actually makes the contamination WORSE and spreads it further. Eliminate some regulations specific to the Hanford site.

Get all active Nuclear Waste stored at Yucca Mountain already.

As long as we're talking about nuclear stuff again, let's make more nukes. Abandon the Test Ban Treaty. Divest certain programs at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore to refocus on nuclear energy and weaponry. Several pages are spent rehashing the need to get rid of renewables

Refocus transmission of electrical to the state level. I mean, why can't we all be Texas? Eliminate all questions about oil and gas pipelines to only consider the need for the fuels, not environmental or any other concerns. 

Eliminate the guidance of "as low as reasonably possible" for nuclear exposure when considering renewing the licensing for existing nuclear power plants or building new ones. 

Fuck, this was a nightmare to get through. but guess what's next?

Section 13 - Environmental Protection Agency

This whole section was written by Mandy M. Gunasekara, a former Chief of Staff at the EPA under the Trump Administration who in 2023 was kicked off the ballot in Mississippi when she ran for Public Service Commissioner - because she didn't live there.

Let's start that in the mission statement that it blames the lead poisoning crisis in Flint Michigan on The Obama Administration, which is so obviously incorrect that it boggle belief. It also states that every expansion of the EPA since 1972 is unnecessary.

Eliminate the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. Eliminate the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance. Eliminate the Office of Public Engagement and Environmental Education. "Relocate" the Office of Children’s Health Protection and the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization - although the document does say where to relocate these agencies to.

Review the grants program to ensure that taxpayer funds go to organizations focused on tangible environmental improvements free from political affiliation (there are no such groups). 

This document goes on for more than 30 pages and makes the same faulty assumptions and rewrites historical data so often that it should be considered a work of fiction. But the key thing is unchanged: That everything that the EPA has done in terms of rulings and regulations since 1972 should be repealed.

Where I grew up you could see the air in 1972. It was grey. That's what they want to go back to.

Section 14 - Department of Heath and Human Services

This whole section was written by The Heritage Foundation. In the first two sentences it proclaims the COVID-19 Pandemic as over (which it isn't) and that life expectancy has decreased since the end of the Pandemic - which we do not yet know as the timing is too recent for statistical analysis. It's a lie.

No more abortions. Ever.

Prioritize families over everyone else. By the way, that's "traditional" families. Mother, father, children, church.

Remove the ability to declare emergencies and provide guidelines for outbreaks of diseases that contradict the political agenda of the administration. Move the recommendations of the CDC on how to treat anything into a separate political agency.  The entire document assumes that the CDC is faulty and corrupt, and not that the people using the CDC to make policy are. This is also a lie.

Remove Generic drugs from Medicaid. Make Abortion pills a controlled substance, with the ultimate goal of making them illegal at the same degree as Meth and Cocaine.

Eliminate chickenpox, Hepatitis, and MMR vaccines that originate from studies and science from fetal tissue. That's all of them, by the way. Also, eliminate vaccine mandates of any kind - you know, the type that for a while eliminated chicken pox, small pox, the mumps, measles and so on and could have been used to eliminate COVID. I notice that all of these are on the rise in the US. Even motherfucking POLIO is back.

Eliminate all research that uses science from Fetal Tissue. Eliminate all science funding and research that involves the fluidity of human sexuality. There are men and there are women and they are born that way. Period.

Several paragraphs are about "Woke" policies, and they encourage an end to diversity in conferences and studies.

When it gets to the Medicare section there is paragraph after paragraph about the bureaucracy of Medicare and how much time doctors have to spend on paperwork. This is a common fallacy that has been around for decades - yes, there is paperwork and there is a lot of it, but it's still LESS PAPERWORK THAN REQUIRED BY PRIVATE INSURERS. 

The truth is that bureaucratic waste in Medicaid is about 2%, where in the private industry it varies from 5% to 10%.

Eliminate the ability to negotiate drug prices under Medicare. 

As for Medicaid, paragraph after paragraph is dedicated to the elimination of problems that don't actually exist, plus adding work requirements to eligibility and actually taking away from states the ability to make programs flexible - which seems like an oxymoron until you realize that most waivers for various programs under Medicaid are for Democratic Party controlled states that are allowed to use these funds to treat the LGBTAI+ community and allow for abortion access.

Under the Affordable Care Act there is an awful lot of focus on redesigning medical care into a Concierge Medicine approach, which most people would not be able to afford. The document calls this stronger health care (true) and more affordable (patently false). It would also eliminate all of the cost controls in the system. There is no language saying that they want to eliminate the ACA, but they certainly would render it useless.

Prohibit travel for Abortion care.

Defund Planned Parenthood, which as I like to tell people is NOT a chain of abortion clinics but is a chain of Doctor's Offices with an emphasis on women's care. Withdraw Medicaid funds from any state where abortion is legal.

Deny gender affirming care for anyone with Medicaid or Medicare. Again, men and women are the only two genders and they are determined at birth.

Rescind all COVID-19 Mask and Vaccination guidelines, and pay damages to anyone displaced (i.e. fired) for not following those guidelines.

Institute work requirements for all recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Most of the verbiage about the prevention of teenage pregnancies is to deter things that aren't happening. Adoptions should be funneled through religious organizations. Crazily enough, the document in the same paragraph also acknowledges that there are 4 times more children awaiting adoption than people who want them, although I believe the actual ratio is closer to 7 to 1.

Move the office of Refugee Settlement to the Department of Homeland Security. Looking back at that document, there is no indication that DHS actually wants this.

Allows for parents who do not have custody of their children to receive a child-tax credit anyway. It actually specifically calls out that it wants the ability to allow deadbeat dads to take the tax credit.

Encourage bad marriages to stay together as a requirement of government assistance. Allow faith-based organizations who distribute this aid to discriminate as they see fit. Implement a national campaign that is pro-father propaganda. You know, to keep marriages together. Think of the poor men.

Eliminate Head Start.

Criminalized Physician assisted suicide, which is legal in 10 states according to this document. Remove requirements that telemedicine be local to the patient. I should point out that this would eliminate the ability to recommend hospitalizations, as these doctors wouldn't have admitting privileges where the patients actually are.

Allow hospitals, doctors and physicians to not provide abortion related care of any kind because of religious beliefs, even in states where it is legal and protected.

No more funding for condoms. No more funding for "Morning-after" pills (which they call "the week after pills" in this section). Withdraw all support for gender affirming/transitioning guidance. 

Stop teaching the medical procedures used in abortion care. I repeat, hinder the educational skills of every doctor in America.

The entire section on Indian Health Care (and why can't they ever use the phrase "Native Americans"?) is full of lies and I won't dignify them. 

Sunset all HHS regulations, which Trump tried last time around.

More bullshit about violations of human rights that never happened (mostly involving twitter and Facebook). They don't want the department to push back against lies on social media.

More verbiage that the administration needs to be Pro-Life and anti-Trans care. This is like the fifth or sixth time in this document so far, making it one of the longer ones I've gone through. This is followed by a series of paragraphs that are mostly lies about the COVID Pandemic, complaining about things that never happened.

It's full of lies.

Restrict and/or rescind funding to any country that supports abortion care. Prohibit overseas personnel from providing care that is in contradiction with administration policy. That's right, overseas care is now a political decision.

The entire rest of the document - several pages - is about how the only civil rights violation in health care is that providers of care of certain religions are not allowed to discriminate in their health care decisions, and that such discrimination should be allowed.

To summarize: No abortions, no gender affirming care, no contraceptives, stay in abusive marriages, no good health care for poor people, let churches discriminate, and lie every third sentence (or more often).

Section 15 - Department Housing and Urban Development

Woohoo! This section was written by Dr. Ben Carson! This of course means it's the shortest section in the whole damn thing, clocking in at all of 14 pages, 4 of which are footnotes.

Also, unlike previous chapters, the first 4 pages are only about what the department does who what the department posts and responsibilities are, and has no policy directives save for the basic concept that the department needs an overhaul.

Replace all career officers with political appointees. Issue an executive order making the HUD Secretary a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S, to counter the Chinese threat that they are buying to much real estate in the U.S. Seems highly reminiscent of the same language used against Japan in the 1980's.

Reverse all protections for LGBTQIA+ persons implemented under the Biden Administration. Reverse all property appraisals done under the Biden Administration, because you know they did them all wrong. Eliminate any programs that have any mention of Climate Change. Eliminate the use of special-purpose credit authorities. Eliminate the new Housing Supply Fund.

Non-citizens, even those households who are comprised of both citizens and non-citizens, are to be denied housing assistance. Anyone with mental issues or drug assistance issues need to be treated before considered for housing. 

"Statutorily restricting eligibility for first-time homebuyers." That's the EXACT wording.

Finally, create an office of CFO for the department, who will do most of the work. Not bad for the laziest cabinet secretary in all history.

14 pages, only 6 of which are policy, all of which is designed to not actually do anything.

Next posting will cover the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, and the  Department of Veteran Affairs.

[darkangel1791]

Tampa Bay Times

May 30 2024

No Pinellas bus will be decorated for Pride this year. Why?

For the first time since 2015, a bus won’t sport rainbow colors to celebrate LGBTQ pride. Rep. Linda Chaney claimed credit — but did she have anything to do with the change?

https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2024/05/30/psta-st-pete-pride-buses-wraps-linda-chaney/

In 2023, St. Petersburg kicked off Pride celebrations with an event outside City Hall that included a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus with a "Ride with Pride" wrap. After wrapping a bus for Pride each year since 2015, the tradition will be nixed for 2024 because of what the agency said were legal concerns around new yet-to-be-announced Department of Transportation guidelines — but not because of the urging of a state legislator, Rep. Linda Chaney, who has taken credit for the change. 

By Jack Evans

Times staff

For the first time in nearly a decade, Pinellas County will be missing a bus wrapped in bright colors in celebration of Pride month this summer — but not, officials said, because of the demands of a local legislator who has taken credit for the change.

The decision to pull the plan, which would have had one Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus bedecked in tie-dye swirls and rainbow hearts on the streets throughout June and July, came as the agency awaits new advertising guidelines from the Florida Department of Transportation, officials said Wednesday.

The transit authority’s board of directors had been set to vote Wednesday on whether to approve a slate of advertising wraps for buses including the Pride wrap. Such displays are typically timed to an event, such as St. Pete Pride or other parades, and involve a single bus that displays the wrap for some time afterward.

The item was removed from the board’s agenda last week. St. Pete Beach Republican Rep. Linda Chaney intimated in a Facebook post Saturday night that she had put a stop to the Pride plan.

“When I learned that this is how PSTA buses, a 93% tax payer-funded service, planned to wrap buses for TWO months in celebration of Pride month I immediately began discussions that ended with PSTA withdrawing the plan,” Chaney wrote. “There will be No Pride wraps on tax payer-funded PSTA buses.”

But transit authority spokesperson Stephanie Weaver said the decision had nothing to do with Chaney. Nor was it related to recent local moves against other LGBTQ pride visuals, such as the cancelation of rainbow lighting for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and vandalism to the Progressive Pride street mural on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.

Brad Miller, the transit authority’s CEO, has met with Chaney and several other lawmakers about new advertising regulations going into effect later this year, Weaver said. They include a measure passed earlier this year that requires the Department of Transportation to establish marketing and advertising guidelines for local transit authorities.

But the move to halt approval of the Pride bus wrap this week was based solely on word that the Department of Transportation will announce those rules this summer, Weaver said. The transit authority wanted to avoid a scenario in which the Pride bus is already on the street but turns out not to comply with the new regulations when they’re announced.

“This is not about a representative calling us and saying, ‘We don’t want this wrap,’” Weaver said. “It’s about trying to follow the law.”

A slide from a presentation originally set for Wednesday's Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board meeting shows the planned — now scrapped — designs for bus wraps celebrating Pride month. [ Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority ]

The transit authority has wrapped buses for Pride since 2016, Weaver said. But it wasn’t the only advertising plan affected by the decision to postpone the board’s approval. Had the item not been pulled from Wednesday’s agenda, the board would have voted on the Pride wrap alongside three others: recurring two-month wraps celebrating Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a wrap celebrating the agency’s 40th anniversary, which would have been put on buses later this year and stayed on for a year.l

Chaney said Wednesday she was traveling and unavailable for an interview and offered to answer questions for this story via text message. She then declined to answer several specific questions. Instead she referenced legislation she filed earlier this year in an unsuccessful effort to overhaul the transit authority, most notably by downsizing its board of directors.

“I remain focused on that and the key elements in that bill,” she said. “I will continue to work towards that end.”

Some measures of that bill made it into the same statewide transportation bill that includes the Department of Transportation’s guideline-creation orders, but that idea did not originate with her legislation.

Chaney’s Facebook post noted the taxpayer funding the transit authority relies on, and some — but not all — commenters thanked her for keeping taxpayer money away from Pride advertising.

“The gay community does not agree with the LGBTQ aggressive agenda,” Chaney told the news site Florida’s Voice on Tuesday, citing an unnamed gay Facebook friend as evidence. “This is not about anti-gay, this is about responsibility to the taxpayer.”

But taxes don’t go toward any of the transit authority’s celebratory wraps, according to the agency. Instead, revenue from paid advertising — such as the ads for law firms that often appear on buses — covers the expenses. Chaney’s post showed renderings of the bus wrap design from either side but omitted a rendering showing the rear of the bus, which includes a disclaimer that taxpayer money wasn’t used.

The legislation passed earlier this year also prohibits transit authorities from using state money to pay for bus wraps.

And though Chaney emphasized the planned duration of the Pride wraps, the two-month span wasn’t unique to this summer’s promotion — the wraps for Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day would also last two months under the proposed schedule. All of that is part of planned changes in the duration of promotional bus wraps: The two-month span is a decrease from the transit authority’s practice of leaving them on buses for six months, and the agency has proposed having wraps timed with three holidays going forward, down from six occasions per year in the past.

Regardless of whether Chaney was responsible for the change in plans, she has become the focal point of criticism over the decision. On Facebook, Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith decried what she called Republican politicians’ “obsession with LGBTQ people.”

“And like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Linda will learn it isn’t the wraps and the bridge lights, any more than it was the presents and the roast beast feast — it’s the joy and community,” Smith wrote.

Miller said Wednesday that transit authority staff will bring a new wrap proposal before the board when the Department of Transportation releases its guidelines. Though that won’t happen in time for this year’s Pride celebrations, the transit authority will still participate. As in years past, it’ll be the official transportation partner for St. Pete Pride — the largest Pride celebration in Florida — and will offer free park-and-ride service from Tropicana Field and St. Petersburg High School for the June 22 parade.

And though it will lack the bright colors it’s often sported for the occasion, a transit authority bus will still be part of the parade.

[devotedlymydestiny]

What Can Personal Tax Services in Venice, FL, Do for You?

Are you stressed out trying to do your taxes? Piles of papers, receipts, forms, and trying to figure out what goes where can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, it can feel frustrating. But here’s some good news: tax professionals can help. Personal tax services in Venice, FL, can take away that stress and make tax season much easier. They know all the rules and can handle tricky stuff. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss how these services help people maximize their refunds, avoid mistakes, and get good advice. Let’s get started!

Tax Season Stress Relief

When tax season rolls around, it can be a pretty stressful time for a lot of business owners. Trying to make sure the forms are filled out correctly and figuring out if you owe money can be a headache. But with expert tax services, it doesn’t have to be that way. These professionals can handle the hard stuff, so you don’t have to worry. Here are some ways they help.

They Know the Rules — Tax professionals are experts in the complicated tax rules, so they know exactly what to do.

They Work Fast — Because they’ve done this many times before, they can complete your taxes much quicker than most people.

They Prevent Mistakes — With their experience, they know what to look out for and can prevent costly mistakes.

They Help with Your Unique Situation — They understand that everyone’s finances differ and can tailor their services to fit your needs.

Maximize Your Refund 

One of the best parts about working with a personal tax service is that they can help you cut your payment. They make sure you don’t pay more than you need to. Tax experts are good at finding ways to save you money, whether through deductions or tax credits.

Finding Deductions 

Finding Credits

Planning for Next Year

Avoid Costly Mistakes

When doing taxes, even a small mistake can cause big problems. Mistakes like typing the wrong numbers, missing a form, or forgetting something important can lead to delays, penalties, or even an audit from the IRS (the group that handles taxes in the U.S.). But with the help of a tax professional, these mistakes can be avoided.

Here are some common tax errors and why they can be a problem:

Wrong Filing Status — This can lead to paying too much or too little in taxes.

Missing Deductions or Credits — If you forget these, you might end up paying more than you should.

Math Errors — Simple math mistakes can cause delays or even trigger an audit.

Late Filing — Not filing your taxes on time can result in penalties and extra fees.

Peace of Mind with Tax Compliance

When you make a mistake on your taxes, it’s frustrating and can get you into trouble with the IRS. This is why personal tax services are so helpful. They stay current with the latest tax laws and make sure your taxes are done right, so you don’t have to worry.

Protection Against Audits and IRS Penalties

One of the best parts of hiring a tax professional is that they can help protect you from audits. They know what the IRS is looking for and will ensure everything is in order. And if you do end up being audited, having a tax professional by your side can make a big difference.

Personalized Financial Advice

Tax professionals don’t just help with your taxes. They can also offer advice on how to save money in the future. They know about different ways to plan for big things like retirement or saving for college.

Tax-Saving Strategies

Here are some smart ways tax professionals can help you save money:

Retirement Savings — They can help you save money by putting it into retirement accounts.

Tax-Friendly Investments — They can suggest investments that reduce your taxes.

Charity Donations — Giving to charity is great, and a tax professional can help make sure you get tax benefits for your donations.

Sharing Income — They can help you and your family save money by moving some of your income into lower tax brackets.

Choosing the Right Tax Professional

Doing taxes takes a lot of time. Spending that time with your family, at work, or on something fun is better. By hiring a personal tax service in Venice, FL, you can save hours of work. Not all tax services are the same, so here’s what to look for:

Qualifications — Make sure the person helping you is certified, like a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).

Experience — Look for someone who has been doing taxes for a while and has a good reputation.

Specialization — Find a tax professional who understands your specific tax needs, like personal or small business taxes.

Good Reviews — Check what other people say about them online.

Available Year-Round — Make sure they can help you anytime you need them, not just during tax season.

Conclusion

A personal tax service in Venice, FL, is a great way to make tax season stress-free. They help you avoid mistakes and offer financial advice. If you want a smooth and easy tax season, reach out to a trusted tax expert like White Sands Tax. They’re ready to help make taxes the least of your worries!

[thestrategicwealthadvisor]

The Benefits of Working with a Financial Planner in Florida, USA

Managing your personal finances can be a complicated and stressful task. From setting financial goals to analyzing investments and planning for retirement, it requires expertise and knowledge to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. That’s where a Certified Financial Planner professional can be invaluable. Recognized as experts in the field, certified financial advisors provide comprehensive financial planning services to individuals and families, helping them achieve their financial objectives and secure a prosperous future.

What Do Financial planners Do?

Financial planners or advisors are skilled professionals who offer expert guidance and advice on matters related to money, personal finances, and investments. While some financial advisors are generalists capable of addressing all aspects of a client’s financial plan, others specialize in specific areas such as tax law, investment management, retirement planning, etc. Regardless of their specialization, financial advisors are instrumental in providing tailored solutions to help individuals and families achieve financial success.

A financial professional, accredited by the Financial Planning Association, possesses the necessary skills and qualifications to guide you through the intricate world of finance. By understanding your unique circumstances and aspirations, they can help you establish realistic financial and personal goals tailored to your needs. Whether you’re planning for retirement, family wealth strategies, tax and investment management, or navigating through a major life transition, a financial planner can provide personalized advice and strategies to set you on the right path.

One of the key benefits of hiring a financial advisor is their ability to comprehensively assess your current financial health. They examine various aspects of your financial situation, including assets, liabilities, income, insurance coverage, tax implications, investments, and estate plans. By conducting this thorough evaluation, they can identify areas that require attention and develop a holistic financial plan that aligns with their goals.

In states such as Florida, financial planners leverage the retirement-friendly tax structure to assist retirees in maximizing their income during their golden years. With a steady influx of new retirees moving to the state each year, the demand for professional financial advice has surged. Certified Financial Planners in Florida are well-versed in the state’s tax laws and regulations, enabling them to devise strategies that allow retirees to keep more of their hard-earned money and enjoy a comfortable retirement.

By hiring a financial professional, you gain access to a wealth of financial expertise and guidance. These professionals stay up to date with the latest industry trends and developments, ensuring that their clients receive accurate and relevant advice. Financial professionals offer guidance and support to individuals at various life stages, whether you’re a young professional, a growing family, or a retiree, helping you achieve your financial goals.

In conclusion, hiring a Certified Financial planner can have numerous benefits. From helping you set realistic financial goals to assessing your current financial health and maximizing your retirement income, these professionals play a vital role in securing your financial well-being. With their expertise and knowledge, they can guide you through the complexities of financial planning and empower you to make informed decisions for a prosperous future. For more tips visit The Strategic Wealth Advisor — Certified Financial Planner in Florida, United States.

[girderednerve]

senseless witterings of a confused bird

okay i had a job interview today for a job that i am not sure i want (it is part-time, has no benefits & the commute is over an hour one-way; the actual day-to-day work sounds good & before taxes i'd be making $52k/yr.), which seemed to go more or less fine although the vibes were not incredible. mostly it seemed like the people interviewing me were desperate to hire someone. more than halfway through the interview one of the committee members signed onto the zoom call because she'd forgotten that there was an interview and asked me three (3) questions: when was the last time you helped someone; have you worked with struggling students before [had already addressed before her arrival]; do you know how bad the weather here is. i will not lie i did not particularly enjoy this exchange

an hour after the interview, the library director called me to arrange a campus visit (very fast!). she asked me carefully if i'd be able to get there in time, because she wasn't sure if i was still in florida; this was an exciting question on her part, because they were emphatically not offering to cover my travel to interview for, i cannot emphasize this enough, a part-time job with no benefits. anyway! i will be doing a campus visit fairly soon, in which i must offer a database demo. it's at a community college with a good number of healthcare students so i am planning to do medline (will be a good time to demonstrate a little technical expertise when i mention MeSH/abruptly become very nerdy about dust disease terms).

i am feeling spiteful & conflicted. they are clearly desperate to hire someone; i do not like being unemployed; i am interested in this kind of work even if i do not think that this job is a particularly good deal (it isn't; they want instruction, outreach, desk staffing, & collection management with no health insurance or paid time off). if they did offer it to me & i said yes i would continue looking & applying elsewhere, possibly at something of an advantage. the committee made no particular effort to pitch me on the job, did a very bad job actually arranging the interview (sent me the wrong zoom code), struggled to answer basic questions ("what would an average week in this position look like?"), and also really got my back up with the "when was the last time you helped someone" question. i do not love this approach to library work! i actively reject it, in fact! it was weird & like, matronly. oh must i kindly tend to the unfortunate? because of my compassionate & womanly nature? do your patrons find that condescending approach useful?

i haven't heard back from the youth services job i interviewed for, so maybe the real issue here is that my expectations & assessment of my own skills are inaccurate

[dertaglichedan]

Disney heiress arrested protesting private jets in ritzy New York community

'As a person who has been privileged enough to use private jets, I know it’s hard to give up a luxury that is special,' the Disney heiress said

Abigail Disney, the heiress of the Disney fortune, was arrested in New York on Friday after she and several climate activists blocked a small airport servicing private jet departures and arrivals.

Disney was joined by members of New York Communities for Change, Planet Over Profit and Sunrise Movement NYC in the action held to protest and disrupt the "exclusive vacations of wealthy fossil fuel investors and polluters driving the climate crisis," a press release stated. The activists blockaded the regional East Hampton Airport in Wainscott, New York.

"As a person who has been privileged enough to use private jets, I know it’s hard to give up a luxury that is special," Disney said in a statement Friday. "But I also know that the time has passed for spewing greenhouse gasses like this merely for our personal comfort."

"The events of the past week alone, with Earth’s average temperature hitting an all time high, drought and fatal heat waves across the country, floods in Vermont and New York, and ocean temperatures around Florida well over 90 degrees, should remove all doubt once and for all," she added. "The wealthiest 1% uses as much greenhouse gas as the entire bottom 50%. It is time for real change and this is the most obvious place to start."

Disney heiress Abigail Disney is arrested at East Hampton Airport on Friday. (Margaret Klein Salamon/Climate Emergency Fund)

According to photos and videos of the incident, Disney and the other protesters formed a blockade at the main entrance of East Hampton Airport which serves private and charter flights, not commercial. It is situated in the Hamptons, a ritzy community in eastern Long Island that is home to a number of celebrities and affluent residents.

"These same rich people farting into the Hamptons on private jets are often the ones who make their money in industries that hugely accelerate the climate crisis," said Teddy Ogborn, an organizer of Planet Over Profit who was also arrested at the protest. 

"As long as the 1% continues to needlessly poison our air and heat our earth, we will continue to escalate our actions against them."

The protest Friday is the first in a series of actions climate activists are planning in the Hamptons over the coming days. 

On Saturday, activists will hold a "Tax the Rich for Climate Justice" march; on Sunday, they will protest near the private Sebonack Golf Course in Southampton; and on Monday, they are rallying outside the home of a Citibank board member with pitchforks.

The actions are part of a growing number of climate protests centered around disrupting public areas in an effort to push leaders to take more aggressive actions to curb global warming.