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OCTOBER 2020
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PAUL’S PIZZERIA HIT LIST
5 Places to Try During National Pizza Month
Hey there, friends! Did you know that October is National Pizza Month? As soon as I found out, I started making plans to visit all of my favorite pizzerias in the next few weeks. I love pizza, and I feel lucky to live in a town where we have so many Italian restaurants that specialize in it. Every once in a while, I’ll pick up a pie from Domino’s because it’s cheap, but for the most part, I’m loyal to our local spots. If you want to join me for this monthlong pizza fest, here are the top five places in our area I’d recommend. 1. MIKE & ANGELO’S PIZZA (MIKEANDANGELOS.COM) This restaurant is just 10 minutes from my house, and they make fantastic thin-crust pizza. The crust really is paper thin, so you can eat all the pizza you want without feeling like you’re headed into a bread coma. Their spinach and artichoke pizza — which comes with its namesake ingredients, plus sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic — is my favorite thing on the menu and probably my favorite pizza period. 2. WELLS BROTHERS ITALIAN RESTAURANT (WELLSBROSRACINE.COM) Wells Brothers is on the east side of Racine, only about 15–20 minutes from my house. They make great thin-crust pizza, too, and have actually been voted No. 6 in the country for their pies. I like to build my own pizza there with onions and either sausage or pepperoni. 3. DERANGO'S PIZZA PALACE (DERANGOS.COM) This spot is a family restaurant that does a great job with carryout. Their food is all handmade with fresh ingredients, and I like their thin-crust pizza with sausage or pepperoni, onions, and green peppers. Every once in a while, I’ll throw some mushrooms on there, too, and it’s always tasty. 4. INFUSINO’S PIZZERIA (INFUSINOSRESTAURANT.COM) Compared to the first three places on my list, Infusino’s is more traditional. Their pizza has a thicker crust, and they also have a pan pizza option. I used to go there a lot for sit-down meals, but these days, I mostly stop in for carryout. I like to build pretty much the same pie I do at DeRango’s, and I always go with their Virgin Crust, which is thicker than thin crust but not as extreme as the pan pizza.
5. RENZO’S PIZZERIA AND TRATTORIA (RENZOSKENOSHA.COM)
In the No. 5 slot, I have to pick Renzo’s. Even though it’s in Kenosha, not Racine, it’s just too good to leave off my list. Renzo’s is a quaint, family- run place, and I’ve known the owners for years. On top of great pizza, they make calzones that they call “Pizza Turnovers.” You can choose whatever toppings you want and they’ll wrap them up in cheese and dough. I like to get a turnover stuffed with all my favorites. It’s delicious, and it knocks me out like a sleeping pill! Plus, they have these deep-fried breadsticks that they call “Renzo Fries,” which are absolutely addicting. Finally, I have to give an honorable mention to WHOLE FOODS . For a grocery store chain, their pizza is surprisingly awesome. Whenever I’m visiting clients in Milwaukee, I stop by the Whole Foods there for lunch and grab a few slices from the hot food section. They always pile it in a triangle-shaped box, and it’s low on guilt because supposedly it’s made with wholesome ingredients. I like the pepperoni slices best. They have such a thick, doughy crust that a few slices fill me up just as well as a full-sized pizza from Mike & Angelo's. As a bonus, I can grab my groceries at the same time.
I could probably eat pizza every day, although odds are that wouldn’t be so great for my health. That said, if I were going on an all-pizza diet, this article would be my menu. Writing this is actually making my mouth water, so I’ve made a decision: I’m eating at Renzo’s tonight. Pizza Turnover, here I come! Paul Francetic
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HOW TO BUDGET FOR AND MAXIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS
While saving money is difficult for some and easy for others, we can all agree that doing what we can to put a little money aside can help us in the long term. Here are two ways you can get the most out of your savings. OPEN A HIGH-YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT. There are multiple ways to open a savings account, but which is the best? If you want the highest interest rates and low (or no) fees, a high-yield savings account is your best choice. The main difference between this kind of account and a traditional savings account is the annual interest rate. While some brick-and-mortar banks do offer high-yield accounts, many — and those with the highest interest rates — are offered through online-only banks.
Why is it worth moving your money into a high- yield account? They offer interest rates that are 20–25 times higher than traditional savings accounts. Whereas a savings account at a traditional bank may offer a 0.01% interest rate, a high-yield savings account offers rates between 1%–2.2%. So, if you put $10,000 in a traditional savings account with a 0.01% interest rate, then you’d earn $1 at the end of one year. But if you put the same amount into a high-yield savings account with a compounding interest rate of 1%, you would earn around $135 in one year. PAY YOURSELF FIRST. Even if you have a great savings account with a high interest rate, it won’t do much good if it’s empty or not being added to regularly. Many people don’t think about
their savings until after the bills have been paid each month. However, it’s actually better to save first! Contributing to your savings before you pay your bills or make other purchases will ensure you prioritize saving and maximize your great interest rate. As a bonus, when you put money into your savings first, then pay your bills, you’ll minimize the temptation to spend on unnecessary extras. To figure out how much to save each month, start by making a simple budget. Add up your monthly expenses, then see how much is left and how much of that you can put away. Make saving a priority by building this habit into your monthly routine, and you will rest easy knowing that you have a little extra tucked away for a rainy day.
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE IRS?
A Tax Resolution Specialist Can Help
Halloween is just around the corner. During that night, all sorts of ghosts, ghouls, and goblins will come out of the woodwork to spread some good- natured fear. Halloween is definitely the scariest holiday, but unless you seek out terrifying movies or haunted houses, there’s not actually much to be afraid of. That’s the way I look at the IRS, too. On the surface, the IRS can be pretty terrifying for the average person. A lot of business owners look at an audit as their worst nightmare, and a letter with the agency’s dreaded acronym can make your blood run cold. However, the IRS is only as scary as you allow it to be. Here’s what I mean: If you try to face the IRS alone, it can be a terrifying beast. After all, it’s a collection agency with the power to empty your bank account, garnish your paycheck, and generally make your life miserable. Going up against the IRS without extensive tax knowledge and experience is basically like going to the freakiest haunted house you can find. Don’t be surprised if it delivers and you come out worse for wear.
On the flipside, you can choose a different path. Instead of facing the IRS by yourself, you can hire a tax resolution specialist like me to help you out. I’ll take on the monster for you and use all of the strategies in my arsenal to make sure you get the best possible outcome from the battle. This is like Halloween the easy way: Instead of wetting your pants in fright, you can sit back and eat candy while you watch the cute costumed kids waddle by. The holiday is the same either way,
just like the IRS is the same. But when it comes to your experience, the approach you take makes all the difference. If you, your friend, or your family member has an IRS problem that’s too terrifying to face, I can help. I’m ready to go up against all the agency vampires, werewolves, and goblins. It only takes a phone call or email to point me in the right direction.
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A TAX PREPARER WHO KNOWS THEIR STUFF CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS: PART 2 FTR TAX TIP OF THE MONTH
Last month, I started telling you the story of a new client who was screwed over by his previous tax return preparer in Chicago. As you might remember, the preparer reported the expenses for his siding installation business as round numbers (putting him at risk for an audit), did not report all the legitimate expenses, and overlooked both the Wisconsin renter’s credit and a deduction for his home office — meaning he paid more than $5,000 extra in taxes. There was another shady thing, too. Working with this preparer, my client was required to pay for his 2019 tax return preparation fee upfront — something I never ask clients to do. When we disputed this, the preparer refused to refund the money. After that, I officially took over the client's case and made three big recommendations to save him money, time, and stress. I suggested that he do the following: 1. Convert independent contractors to employees. The client’s business was organized as an LLC, and he had three or four helpers with him on each job. By classifying these helpers as employees instead of independent contractors, he did not have to worry about the IRS coming after him for misclassification of employees and assessing large penalties. I also offered to set him up with Patriot payroll software so he could continue paying his employees in cash while the software company handled paying the state and federal payroll taxes and filing the payroll tax returns. 2. Elect to be taxed as an S Corporation. This step would allow the client to receive a paycheck for himself and prepay his income taxes through withholding. He would also get the benefit of saving on self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) on the net income that passed through to his personal tax return after expenses. 3. Title and insure vehicles under the business LLC. Before, the client would have been held personally responsible for any injuries or property damage his helpers caused while driving one of his two pickup trucks. By insuring the trucks under his LLC and titling them in the business’s name, he could protect himself from liability. None of those recommendations were brought up by the tax return preparer in Chicago. All she was interested in was collecting a fee and doing a terrible job on my client’s tax return! This just goes to show that if you or someone you know owns a business, it’s vital to find a competent tax return preparer who has your back and will help you pay as little tax as legally possible.
CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP
Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup,
too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl.
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
1 tbsp olive oil
• • • • • •
1 cup canned light coconut milk
2 shallots, diced
2 tbsp honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)
•
2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 tsp nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.
3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan.
4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
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Paul’s Pizzeria Hit List
How to Save More Money
How to End Your IRS Fears
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How a Tax Preparer Can Save You Thousands ... Continued
Classic Pumpkin Soup
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Weird and Wacky Halloween Laws
SPOOKY CITY REGULATIONS
Halloween can be a mischievous holiday. The most innocent of us reserve it for backyard parties and trick-or-treating, but some like to get a little rowdier than others. That’s exactly why various city councils across the U.S. have passed some seemingly unusual laws to regulate spooky festivities. REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: NO SUNDAY TRICK-OR-TREATING If Halloween falls on a Sunday, children in Rehoboth Beach are required to trick-or-treat the night before. The explanation in the city code is simple, but ambiguous: to prevent children and their guardians from going door to door on Sunday evenings. Rehoboth Beach law also forbids children from roaming the streets on Halloween “with the intent to cause trouble,” but what exactly that means is ambiguous as well. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: NO SILLY STRING The Los Angeles City Council has banned Silly String and all other brands of aerosol string from use on Halloween in the Hollywood area. From midnight on Oct. 31 until noon on Nov. 1, no one is allowed to spray, sell, or distribute Silly String in public locations. Use of Silly String got so popular in the city on Halloween that the mess left
behind became a strain on sanitation workers, and the city sympathized with them. BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS: NO 8TH GRADERS Trick-or-treating is most often viewed as an activity reserved for younger generations, but how do you determine what age is “too old” for this type of generally good-natured fun? Well, the city of Belleville settled the ambiguity by passing a law restricting teenagers who are past the eighth grade — generally older than 13 — from going door to door on Halloween. WALNUT, CALIFORNIA: NO MASKS WITHOUT PERMITS In a simpler time, there was no paperwork required to celebrate Halloween to the fullest. But in the city of Walnut, no one can wear a mask or other disguise on public streets without a permit from the sheriff. The law doesn’t specify any exceptions, so residents are left to assume that everyone from age 5 to 100 must abide. Whatever your Halloween celebrations might look like this year, it’s important to have fun, but remember to abide by any rules or laws your city might have in place in an effort to keep its citizens safe.
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