Take a look at our newsletter this month.
THE WEALTH ZONE
119 Old State Rd., Ellisville, MO 63021
CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com
JULY 2020
MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF THIS SUMMER Enjoy the Holiday and Stay Up to Date With Us
maybe do nothing for a half-hour can be so therapeutic. It does us all some good to step away from our phones and computers once in a while and just enjoy the moment. I encourage you to spend some time this month doing just that. We also wish you a happy Fourth of July! The celebrations might look a little different this year, but at its heart, this holiday is about appreciating the nation we all get to live in and the struggles our forefathers went through to establish a free country. Of course, this can be well appreciated by putting some tasty burgers on the grill, grabbing a cold drink, and sitting back to enjoy the day. As you know, we had to postpone our Shred Day in April, but we’re excited to announce that we’ve rescheduled Shred Day for Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We always look forward to this event, and it’s exciting to have it back on the calendar. As the date gets closer, we’ll keep you posted with all the information you’ll need. Because of the effects of the virus, the federal government has shifted a few of the deadlines for their relief programs. At the time we’re writing this article, July 15 is the new deadline for filing tax returns and paying any taxes due for
2019. Additionally, business owners and employees have until July 30 to receive an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits, a much-needed relief for those who have been unable to work because of the pandemic. If you qualify for this benefit, ensure you access it before July 30. If you have any questions around these deadlines, then please reach out to us. You can also check our website and Facebook page to stay updated on the latest information around taxes and other financial information that may affect you. We know this is a confusing time, and we want to be a resource for you to turn to. As always, we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. “Especially with everything going on in the world right now, taking a moment to step back and maybe do nothing for a half-hour can be so therapeutic.”
How are you? Have you been enjoying the warmer weather? While we’ll still undoubtedly have a couple of lingering cold spells before summer officially arrives, it’s been nice to feel some warmer weather and see the sun. Summer is a time of relaxation, a time to sit on the porch and watch the sun slowly makes its descent behind the horizon. Aren’t those longer summer evenings the best? It seems fitting then that July 22 is National Hammock Day. What better reason do you need to take a day for yourself and relax? Especially with everything going on in the world right now, taking a moment to step back and
-John and Jeff Zufall
(636) 394-5524 1
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Fun Facts About the Month of July WHAT DO JULIUS CAESAR AND BUFFALOWINGS HAVE IN COMMON?
3WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESSWHEN YOUR BUDGET IS SLASHED We live and work in uncertain times. Many small businesses have had to reduce employee hours and slash marketing budgets. Every cut can slow the growth of your business, and reducing your marketing budget can have a ripple effect. Being unable to effectively get your message out to your customers and prospects can keep you from achieving your business goals. But, is it possible to reduce your marketing budget without sacrificing your marketing message? The answer, of course, is yes! You can continue to reach customers and prospects and maintain your marketing message. Here’s what you do: CREATE VIDEOS ANDWEBINARS. Give your customers value through video! If you already have a camera for shooting videos, great, but if you only have a smartphone, that works, too. How you make the video is less important than what you say in the video. Walk through the problems your customers routinely face, hold a Q&A, or go in-depth about a product or service you provide. Make sure to tie back to your brand and include your message. For example, attorneys often create videos to address legal issues such as what steps to take if you’re injured in a car accident along with a message about how they can help. LEVERAGE INSTAGRAM. People love Instagram. It’s a great place to post pictures and videos and share your marketing message. Connect with customers by liking and commenting on their posts. Instagram Live is also a great place to post short videos or host mini-webinars. In fact, you can give people a taste of your full webinar on Instagram Live, then direct them to the full webinar on your website. Hook them with a high-value tease: “We’ve learned how to solve problem X. Here’s our first step. For more, sign up for our webinar!” WRITE HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT. Many businesses have a blog but don’t know how to leverage it. Writing high- quality content is a great way to bring traffic to your website, and relevant content can bring in prospects who may be dealing with the problems your business solves. Good blog content can complement good video content. A blog allows you to go more in-depth and link to resources and your products and services. High-quality content engages readers through interesting information and stories and offers value.
Most Americans associate July with Independence Day and everything the holiday entails, including traditional barbecue cuisine, fireworks, and summer vacations. However, in addition to the Fourth of July, this midsummer month has a rich history and offers fun opportunities for everyone to celebrate. ‘WHAT’S IN A NAME?’ You’ve likely heard of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman dictator and general known for changing the Roman Empire’s political structure, innovating war tactics, and eventually dying after a legendary assassination. But did you know that July, Caesar’s birth month, wasn’t always called that? It was initially named Quintilis , which means “fifth” in Latin, because it was the fifth month of the ancient Roman calendar. Shortly after Caesar’s death, the month of Quintilis was renamed July in his honor. Of course, Caesar’s legacy didn’t end there. Before he died, he implemented the Julian calendar, which he based off of the Egyptian solar calendar, and it remained in place for over 1,500 years until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 16th century. RED,WHITE, ANDWHO? Similar to the Declaration of Independence for the U.S., Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867, signed on July 1 of that year, marks the birth of Canada.The following year, Charles Monck, the 4th Viscount Monck and Canada’s first governor- general, signed a proclamation requesting that everyone in Canada celebrate their country’s independence on July 1. However, it wasn’t until 100 years later that the date officially became Canada Day. Most celebrations include fireworks and red and white attire, much like how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. GOTWINGS? While chicken wings are a staple of Southern dining, they actually originated in upstate New York. In 1964,Teressa Bellissimo, co-owner of the Anchor Bar, started cooking leftover wings dipped in hot sauce for her son and his friends. After receiving enthusiastic feedback, Bellissimo put them on the menu. Over the next few years, the recipe’s popularity spread, and in 1977, former Buffalo mayor Stan Makowski declared July 29 to be National Chicken Wing Day.The reputation of the famous Buffalo wings continued to spread nationwide, and in the early ‘90s, wings became an international hit when McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza began selling them in the variety of flavors we know and love today.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on challenges and uncertainty. But through this difficult time, many new charities have been founded to help people during the pandemic. We’ve seen organizations bring volunteers together to make cloth masks, provide free grocery delivery services for at-risk individuals, and raise money to donate meals from local restaurants to health care workers. In order to reward and encourage this kind of charitable action, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included legislation that makes it easier to claim a deduction for charitable donations. Typically, if you make any charitable contributions, you have to itemize donations in order to get credit and claim a deduction on your taxes.The CARES Act allows for a $300 above-the-line charitable donation deduction. If you donate $300 to a qualified organization, then your adjusted gross income (AGI) will be reduced by $300 without requiring you to itemize the deduction. The keyword here is “qualified.” In order to claim this deduction, your donations must go to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. You can check the IRS’ database of qualified organizations at IRS.gov/ charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search . The goal is to help any generous taxpayer get a tax break, regardless of whether or not they itemize. Keep in mind that if you do itemize GIVE BACK, GET BACK
your charitable donations, you will not be able to take the new $300 deduction and will instead claim your donation on Schedule A. However, the CARES Act did raise the bar for the deductible amount of donations for those who itemize their deductions from 60% to 100% of AGI. If you already itemize your donations, then it may be in your best interest to keep doing so.That said, depending on your situation, it is possible that claiming the $300 above-the-line charitable deduction may be more beneficial for you. Talk to your advisor at Capital Advisory Group to determine the right approach for claiming charitable donations when filing your taxes.
TAKE A BREAK
BREAKFAST SAUSAGE KEBABS
This simple recipe can make any breakfast a little more fun. We recommend pairing your kebabs with your favorite kind of eggs.
Ingredients
Equipment
• 7 oz frozen, fully cooked
• 5 metal or soaked wooden kebab skewers
breakfast sausage links, thawed
Directions
• 20 oz pineapple chunks, drained • 10 medium-sized, fresh mushrooms • 2 tbsp butter, melted • Maple syrup, to taste
1. Cut sausages in half.Thread alternating sausages halves, pineapple chunks, and mushrooms onto kebab skewers. Brush with butter and syrup. 2. Grill over medium heat, regularly turning and basting with syrup, until sausages are lightly browned, about 8 minutes.
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Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
(636) 394-5524
119 Old State Rd. Ellisville, MO 63021 CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com
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What’s on Our Minds This Month
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Effective Marketing on a Budget Enjoy July With These Fun Facts
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How to Claim a $300 Deduction on Your Taxes
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Good Morning Breakfast Kebabs
Celebrate National Hammock Day
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LET’S RELAX! Enjoy National Hammock Day
in a hammock became a popular pastime worldwide.
notifications. While this may all be entertaining, it’s still distracting and can inhibit us from really calming down. Instead, try turning your phone off (or leaving it inside) and just enjoy taking in the sights and sounds around you. • Give yourself a couple of hours to truly do nothing. We tend to pack our schedules to the brim with engagements. What if you cleared your schedule for an afternoon so you could really relax? If this isn’t something you do regularly, then it’ll take a while time for your body and mind to unwind, so give yourself enough time to do that. Now, all you have to do is lay back and enjoy the lovely afternoon!
National Hammock Day celebrates this great invention, which allows people to combine the beauty of the outdoors with relaxation. Here are a couple of tips to truly get the most out of this chill day. • When setting up your hammock, find two sturdy trees that can bear your weight. Be sure to be kind to the bark. For an even easier setup, use a stand in your backyard. With a book in hand and a cold drink, you’ll be celebrating this holiday exactly as it’s intended. • Turn off your phone! It’s not easy to truly relax in a world full of social media, memes, and push
July 22 is National Hammock Day, and what better reason could there be to sit back, relax, and soak up that summer feeling? The hammock is thought to have been invented by the Mayans, who used the bark of the hamack tree to weave their hanging structures. From there, the trend spread throughout Central and South America, and eventually, relaxing
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