AUGUST 2021
(517) 437-4646 GOLDSTARDIRECT.COM BEYOND THE NUMBERS
5 Things That Keep Me Busy All Summer WHAT DOES A TAX MAN DO OUTSIDE OF TAX SEASON?
Referral TVWinners This Past Tax Season
When you were a little kid, did you ever think about your teachers during the summer? I know I didn’t. I knew my English teacher was a person, but it never hit me that she had a life or a family outside of school. If anything, I probably assumed she hibernated all summer like a bear, then reappeared on the first day of class! I think a lot of people feel the same way about tax professionals like me. We’re there during tax season because we’re handy, then poof, we’re gone until next year. In reality, though, I have plenty of work (and fun) to keep me busy through the summer and fall. Here’s a look behind the curtain at five things I’m doing this month — including working for you. 1. Answering Your Tax Questions Just because tax season is over doesn’t mean all things tax-related stop. If you got a strange piece of mail and you want to confirm it really came from the IRS, or you’re wondering how much tax to withhold from your unemployment checks to pay for next year, I’m here to help. 2. Handling Problems With the IRS Similarly, the IRS doesn’t stop collecting on April 15 (or May 17). If you owe money in back taxes, my team and I can handle that during the off-season. We can get the
Power of Attorney to negotiate with the IRS directly on your behalf. Then, we can file an Offer in Compromise if it fits your situation and either set up a payment plan or settle your debt for literally pennies on the dollar. Once, we helped a client who owed $30,000 wipe out their debt for $800! 3. Helping You Plan for Next Year If you’re a business owner or have complicated taxes, now is the time to be proactive. My team and I can get you ready for tax season now by showing you what to track, how much to withhold for estimated taxes, and how to use tax planning strategies to save money next year. 4. Spending Time With My Wife and Family My wife, Robbie, and I hang out a lot during the off- season. It’s great to prioritize our family a bit more and do the things we enjoy together. One thing we have planned this summer is a trip to Alaska to see our daughter, Ashley. I can’t wait! 5. Enjoying the Golf Course! Robbie and I love to golf together, and on the days the office is closed, you can probably find us on the green at White Oaks Golf Club. It’s about 20 minutes from our house, and it’s my favorite place to try re-creating my Puerto Rico hole-in-one. I hope you’re enjoying your summer as much as I am. If you or someone you know needs tax help, like filing old returns, going up against the IRS, or getting a business ready for next year, don’t forget that you can still call me in the off-season. My team and I are here Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. every week, and we’re ready to help.
Kody Rubin Shane and Stephanie Lockwood Vonda Cekander Tyler Gonshorowski Richard and Patricia Hawkins Richard Lambright Randy and Lisa Lane Paul and Carie Shepherd Thomas and Sabine Young David Beck Jr. Kevin Betzer Tracey Carothers
Johnni Collard Chris Friedrich Ray Pankhurst Ken Williams
–Saul Giminez
GOLDSTARDIRECT.COM
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WILL A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES CHANGE FOREVER?
Movie Theaters in Post-Pandemic Times
Out of all the businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, few were affected more than movie theaters. For the past year, as movies have debuted on streaming services rather than in theaters, many industry leaders, critics, and theatergoers alike have raised the alarming question: Did COVID-19 kill the movie theater industry? In short? No. Not by a long shot. Though the past year has left the industry somewhat beleaguered (AMC closed 60 theaters permanently, Cineworld reported losses totaling $2 billion, and the Alamo furloughed more than 5,000 employees). Yet, despite all of this, a night at the movies is here to stay. When a Vox reporter reached out to various moviegoers about whether they would attend theaters once the pandemic ends, many of them said yes because streaming a film in their living room just can’t provide the same experience. Watching a movie in a theater completely immerses one in the experience — you can’t pause the film to watch later or do chores. And you’re in it with the whole theater. Comedies are funnier when you laugh with others. A hero’s triumphs are more spectacular when you cheer them on together. (Who didn’t go nuts when Captain America caught Thor’s hammer in “Avengers: Endgame”?) When you leave the theater, you feel a little closer to the strangers around you, and having been immersed in the movie alongside your friends, you can discuss how you liked the movie on the way home. Of course, movie theaters will still change as a result of the pandemic. Theaters are working to become more digital, some even moving to eliminate paper tickets and creating options to order concessions before your arrival. More theaters may promote private viewings of movies so people can be more careful about whom they watch movies with. Some theaters are also trying to create more of an “experience” for moviegoers by offering a wider array of food and even comfier seats.
A few months ago, USA Today ran an article titled “Leni Klum, Lori Harvey, Lourdes Leon, and more celebrity kids becoming fashion trendsetters.” The article shared how the Gen Z children of big-name celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and Madonna have sought to create their own fame through their fashion choices. Children of celebrities often have to work hard to leave their parents’ shadows, and in the age of social media, that means a lot of posts, tweets, snaps, and videos. None of that may shock you. Members of Gen Z are on their phones and other electronic devices watching videos, viewing posts, and commenting on and discussing the ones they like and don’t like. Why wouldn’t Gen Z celebrities’ main avenue for bolstering their fame be their social media accounts? Still, that phenomenon has downsides. The pressure of fame has been exacerbated by social media, especially among minors. Today, one of the most popular answers to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” among children ages 7–14 is to be an influencer, a comedian, a vlogger, or an entertainer. As more young people make money (some enough to live quite lavishly) by posting pictures and videos online, more of their viewers aspire to do the same without understanding the pressures or consequences that can come with that lifestyle. The more public you make your life, the more public your mistakes and flaws become along with it. Just as many children of celebrities are starting to come into their own fame, many other celebrities have kept their children out of social media, at least until they themselves consent to be on it. Celebrities like Ryan Gosling, Ashton Kutcher, and Adele understand better than most the pitfalls of a social media presence, especially when famous, which is why they’ve all elected to keep their kids off it for as long as they can. Perhaps many other parents and children would do well to follow suit. In a world where avenues to becoming famous are multiplying online, it’s best to understand the pressures of internet fame before pursuing it. WHATWE CAN LEARN FROM CELEBRITY CHILDREN The Pressures of Internet Fame
However, these changes, especially given the circumstances of the past year, are hardly surprising. The movie theater industry has been evolving for over
100 years, and it certainly won’t stop evolving now.
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We all know caffeine is the stimulant in our morning cup of coffee that energizes us for the day. But could it also leave your skin looking and feeling refreshed? Most Americans (62%, in fact) would agree that a cup of coffee a day keeps the drowsiness away. According to some dermatologists, though, the caffeine that keeps us awake may also liven up our skin as part of our daily skin care routine — but how? As it turns out, caffeine can help keep your skin healthy in a number of ways. For one, it has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can destabilize cells, leading to illness and aging. Free radicals cause wrinkles, so using skin care products with caffeine in them can minimize the amount of wrinkles on your face. Secondly, caffeine can reduce eye puffiness because it increases circulation in the blood vessels just below the skin. However, it should be noted that this effect doesn’t last long, so you should apply the right caffeinated skin care products daily to maximize this benefit. CAFFEINE: THE SKIN CARE STIMULANT? How This Coffee Ingredient Could Energize Your Skin Care Routine
Caffeine can also get rid of subdermal fat and cellulite by metabolizing fatty acids as well as aid in the production of collagen (the most abundant protein in the body, aka what’s literally holding you together). However, before you start applying skin care products with caffeine to your face and expecting all of the above results, you should know that not all dermatologists agree on the extent of these purported benefits. Paula Begoun of Paula’s Choice skin care products says that caffeine “doesn’t work well” for puffy eyes or cellulite. On the other hand, Jennifer L. MacGregor, MD of Schweiger Dermatology Group, insists that caffeine is best for brightening puffy eyes. In any case, the potential benefits of adding caffeine to your daily skin care regimen far outweigh any possible drawbacks. So, what are you waiting for? Energize your skin with a little caffeine!
SUMMER VEGETABLE GREEK SALAD
TAKE A BREAK
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled • Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami
For the vinaigrette: • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
Directions
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp honey • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil For the salad: • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved • 1 small cucumber, seeded and chopped • 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
12 N. Howell, Hillsdale, MI 49242
INSIDE
1
5 Things That Keep Me Busy All Summer
2
Internet Fame and Lessons From Celebrity Children
Will a Night at the Movies Change Forever?
3
How Caffeine Could Energize Your Skin Care Routine
Summer Vegetable Greek Salad
4
Why Are So Many Young People Lonely?
WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LONELY And How to Stop It
The Post-Dorm Friendship Drought Even before the advent of social media, people moved away from the conditions that created friendships when they left their college dorms. According to sociologists in a 1978 study, there are three conditions that lead to making friends: “proximity, repeated and unplanned interactions, and settings that encourage people to let their guard down.” Young people are much less likely to come across these conditions in their lives after college.
Given the choice between an elderly person living alone in the countryside and a young recent college graduate living in a major metro area, who do you think would have a greater chance of experiencing loneliness? While many seniors do suffer from loneliness, you may be surprised to learn that people in their 20s and 30s experience loneliness today more than any other age group. In fact, the post-college years are when loneliness peaks despite opportunities to interact with others in the workplace or other social environments.
How to Fix It Loneliness isn’t easy to tackle. It takes time and effort to alleviate, and it starts with actively looking for opportunities to form relationships with other people. It can be scary putting yourself out
A Front Row Seat to Everyone’s Highlight Reel When you view someone’s social media, chances are you’re seeing a “highlight reel” of their life. When you compare
your behind-the-scenes footage to that highlight reel, it can leave you feeling unaccomplished and isolated, which further leads to loneliness. Given that millennials are very involved with social media, it’s no wonder their age group is lonelier.
there, but you might be surprised by how accepting other people can be. Rejection is always a possibility, but so is the remedy to your loneliness. You’ll never know how many future friends you may have until you get out and look around for them!
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