5 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog

by Kathleen Krebs, Fetchers K9 Academy

Choosing the right dog is as important as choosing a pet whose needs you can meet. There are a variety of decisions that should be carefully thought out when contemplating making a pet a part of the family.

1. Make a checklist:

• Have I chosen a pet that will fit into my home and lifestyle?
• Do I have the financial resources to take care of a pet?
• Do I have the time to walk, groom, train and pay attention to a pet?

This avoids an impulse decision. This dog will be part of your life for years to come so do plenty of research before making the commitment.

2. Size and environment matter. If you live in a studio apartment you probably shouldn’t bring home a Great Dane. But don’t let a dog’s size fool you — it doesn’t equate to the amount of exercise that dog needs. Small dogs can require as much exercise as big dogs. They also need a lot of attention.

Apartment dwellers: Are you willing to walk up and down flights of stairs six times a day to exercise your dog early in the morning and late at night.

If you live in a rural area, consider that petite Pomeranian might be the groomer’s worst nightmare with dirt, bugs and stickers constantly tangled in its long, silky hair.

If your dog is going to spend time in the yard, make sure there’s a secured fence so that she doesn’t pay your neighbors an uninvited visit.

3. Consider training. Training your dog is a benefit to you, the neighbors and the greater dog community. Even if you send your dog to obedience training you will still need to dedicate time to work with him on a regular basis. Some dogs also need socialization training if they are shy or skittish.

4. Be prepared to pay for veterinary and other expenses.  Did you know the cost of a pet over its lifetime can be as much as $20,000? These costs range from veterinary visits for routine vaccines and teeth cleanings to unexpected illnesses and accidents. Also consider: Micro chipping, grooming, leashes, dog bowls, food, flea medication, toys etc. You might need to hire a dog walker if you work long hours or need to make accommodations for your dog when you travel.

5. Purebred dog or do you want to rescue a dog from a shelter or foster home? A little nosing around can help to educate you as to which breed or mix is right for you. Ask other dog owners, search the web; ask trainers. Do research to pick the right dog for your lifestyle.

While getting a dog is a big commitment, it’s also the beginning of a long and fulfilling relationship!

Kathleen Krebs is a member of WBOM and owner of Fetchers K9 Academy in South Bend, Indiana specializing in customized dog obedience training to enhance dog-owner relationships for a happier pet!  For more information regarding pet selection or dog training contact Kathleen at (574) 968-8610; Or by email at Kathleen@FetchersK9.com

5 Tips to Unravel the Mysteries of Homeowners Insurance

By Patricia Bailey, Commercial/Personal Lines Agent – Hoffman Insurance Group (IN, MI, OH, IL)

With natural disasters in the news, from tornadoes and hurricanes to earthquakes, even homeowners out of harm’s way wonder if they have the right homeowners insurance.   How much or how little should I have on my policy?  Sometimes people don’t know what coverage they have until they find out what coverage they didn’t purchase.  Here are tips to help you understand personal insurance coverage for the home.

1) Replacement cost vs. Market Value; what’s the difference?  My home is worth $150,000.00, why does my insurance company want me to insure it for $295,000.00?  While Market Value is a valid calculation of a home’s worth for buying and selling, it has little to do with rebuilding after a disaster.  The estimate the carrier provides is the amount to reconstruct your home (like-kind) at today’s cost.  Just keep in mind, the insurance carrier is going to build you a new home, not buy one for you down the street.  Therefore, it is important to insure your home 100% to replacement cost.

2.  The most comprehensive home policy is Guaranteed Replacement Coverage.  In this case, your policy will pay to rebuild your home regardless of the amount of coverage carried.  For example if you have full replacement value of $150,000.00, you carry $150,000.00 coverage for your premise.  If you have a Guaranteed Replacement cost endorsement on your policy and the home is lost in a fire and the house costs $200,000.00 to rebuild, the policy will pay $200,000.00.

3)  Personal Liability coverage protects you and all the family members living with you against claims.  If you own property, there is a risk of being sued. It covers you for your legal responsibility for injury caused to others whether on or away from your own property.  Don’t overlook Personal Liability coverage in your homeowner’s insurance.  Protect your personal assets (wealth) from a suit by having the right amount of liability on your policy.  Additional personal liability limits can be purchased through an Umbrella Policy.  

4) Earthquake Coverage  – to buy or not to buy?   According to some sources, if a truly historic earthquake did strike along the New Madrid fault line (in Missouri), the amount of damage to surrounding states such as Illinois and Indiana could be unimaginable.  Earthquake insurance is a type of catastrophic coverage.  Most policies carry anywhere from a 2 to 20% deductible.  Discuss this coverage in depth and get a quote from your agent. 

5) Homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage.  A Flood Insurance Policy takes 30 days from the date of purchase to go into effect. Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause thousands of dollars in damage.  Flood Insurance can only be purchased through an insurance agent.  A Flood Policy is different from Water and Sewer backup coverage.

The best tip, however, is to talk with your agent about your needs and to learn about the options available to you.

Patricia Bailey is a member of WBOM and  a Commercial/Personal Lines Agent at  Hoffman Insurance Group serving Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. For answers to your personal or commercial  insurance questions, contact Pat at 574-277-5511 or  patb@higagency.com.  Learn more about the Hoffman Insurance Group, located in Granger, IN  at www.higagency.com/

 

Avoid Your Own “Debt Crisis”: Tips for Personal Finances

by Rita Miller, CPA , Kruggel, Lawton & Company

The debt crisis and volatile stock market has many consumers worried over the state of affairs in our country.  It’s a good reminder to take stock in your own personal fiscal responsibility.  Here are five tips to help you with your personal finances:

 1. Prepare a personal financial statement.  This simple listing should detail your assets and liabilities at this point in time.  Assets are items such as checking accounts, savings accounts, your home, and personal belongings, including boats, cars, and artwork.  Liabilities are items such as mortgages, lines-of-credit, and credit card balances.  Total the balances and if your liabilities exceed your assets, see a financial planner for help in readjusting those balances!

2. Pay off your credit card debt and make purchases in cash.  This is easier said than done, but it is essential to empower yourself for taking charge of your finances.

3. Plan for the future.  Start small if necessary, with a possible contribution to an IRA.  Ask for help if you don’t know the benefits of different retirement plans.  Keeping up with tax law changes can be challenging, so  talk with a specialist to determine what tax strategies are needed for your personal financial goals.

4. Check your credit report, understand the score, (Your personal banker can help you) and work diligently to keep it in good standing.  Pay bills on time, talking with creditors if necessary to keep your credit status acceptable.

5. Finally, don’t forget others.  Clean out your closets; donate to charity, and take the tax deduction on your personal income tax return.

It’s important to keep track of your finances, so you don’t fall into your own personal “debt crisis”!

Rita Miller is a board member of WBOM and a manager with Kruggel, Lawton & Company, a public accounting firm in South Bend/Elkhart, IN that offers tax and other accounting services. For more information regarding tax tips, contact Rita at rmiller@klcpas.com or go to the web site klcpas.com.

5 Tips to protect your home while you are on vacation

by Pam Proctor, Realtor

Summer vacations are in full swing. If you don’t have a live-in house-sitter, here are some tips to keep your home and its contents safe while you are away.

1. Stop the mail and paper. Make sure to hold the mail and newspaper if you can’t have someone pick it up every day. Piled up papers and bulging mail boxes are a giveaway that nobody’s home and can be a green light for burglars.
2. Save energy costs and protect your electronics. Unplug all electronics that don’t need to be on, such as the television, coffee maker, and home computers. This will also protect your electronics in case of an electric surge. Unplug cell phone chargers, too.  Lower the temperature on your water heater.
3. Make it look lived in. If you can, leave a car in the driveway and use timers to turn on outdoor and indoor lights to give the impression someone is home. Some timers have variable on-off settings. Leaving the porch light on the entire time you’re gone is a bad idea. If you don’t have a timed light, leave an interior light on for the duration of your trip as long as you can’t easily notice it during the day.
4. Don’t post it. As excited as you may be to go on vacation, avoid advertising it over Facebook and Twitter. Also, keep this in mind while posting updates from your cell phone on vacation.
5. Ask someone to keep an eye on things. If possible, leave a key with someone you trust, preferably a neighbor, and have them keep an eye on your home while you’re gone. Make sure to offer to return the favor and thank them with a gift when you return. If  your house is on the market, you can ask your REALTOR® to stop by and check in. (While you’re on vacation, it’s a great time for showings because you won’t have schedule conflicts.)

 If you follow these tips the next time you are out of town, you will most likely protect your house and your peace of mind.

Pam Proctor is a board member with WBOM and a realtor with Coldwell-Banker providing residential sales and marketing in and around northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Pam enjoys working for both buyers and sellers in making their Real Estate experience as pleasant and seamless as possible. Contact Pam at 574-707-9537 or email her at pam@pamproctor.com or visit her web site at www.pamproctor.com/

Celebrate Your Style: The Benefits of Nature-Based Art

By Laurie Balla, Artist

If you are looking for an office face-lift or a new spark for a room in your home, consider a work of art with a nature or outdoor theme. I have found that art based in nature makes people feel happy and content. 

1. If you want to foster a calming atmosphere, choose works with a lot of greens and blues in the painting.
2. Art based on nature can help us escape!   Choose subjects that make you happy, and hang the piece where you can see it easily when you need a bit of stress relief. We can almost feel the wind on our cheeks and hear the birds sing their sweet songs.  I will study a piece that I have collected over and over, sometimes seeing something completely new!
3. Nature elevates our moods and helps us feel connected again. Something as simple as a walk outside for 10 minutes can relax us.  When you can’t be outdoors or see greenery, studies show that photos and paintings of the outdoors can provide similar effects on your mood. This is also valuable in health care situations where views of the outdoors are often limited.
4. Nature is universal, and nature-based art can make a treasured gift. Selecting artwork for a gift can be tricky, since each of us has our personal tastes and style, however, because nature is all around us, and we are part of it like the trees and birds, it can be a lovely gift selection. Consider a floral painting for a wedding shower gift, or choose a painting of animals for a baby shower gift.  
5. Summer is the time for art fairs! If you are part of the Sho-Lo (Shop Local) movement, local art fairs are a great way to support artists in your community. Often talking with the artist directly enhances your appreciation for the piece. The artist may also be flexible enough to swap frames for you, and if your budget won’t support the purchase of an original, inquire if the artist has prints of a favorite piece.  Web sites such as Etsy.com also provide opportunities to browse and purchase a wide variety of art.

When you can’t breathe in the fresh air, or feel the sunshine on your face, a work of art rooted in nature can be the next best thing! Think of art as an occasion to celebrate your personal sense of style.

Laurie Balla is a WBOM member and an artist specializing in close-focus florals in watercolor, oil and acrylic.  She loves to do custom pieces as well, including portrait work and abstracts to match home or office decor.  For more info about collecting nature based art, visit local art fairs or galleries, or Laurie’s web site: LaurieBalla.com

Plan Now for April 15, 2012

by Rita Miller, CPA , Kruggel, Lawton & Company

April 15th has come and gone and you are breathing a sigh of relief…..not so fast! A close inspection of your 2010 form 1040 return can provide valuable tax planning tips in 2011. Following are 5 areas to examine to determine ways to try and minimize your taxable income.

1. Deferred Compensation. Pull out your W2 and review box 12 to see if you have any amounts in box 12. This box reflects your 401(k) deferred compensation contributions. If eligible, are you contributing to a 401(k)? Maximizing a 401(k) or other deferred compensation contribution reduces your taxable wages and can lower your tax bill.

2. Interest and Dividend Income. Move on to Schedule B of your 1040. Do you have interest and dividend income? Make an appointment with your broker to discuss ways to reduce taxable interest which is taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. Check your sources of dividend income and ask your broker about “harvesting capital gains,” a move that may allow you tax savings in years to come on Schedule D of your return.

3. Health Plan and HSAs. Go to line 25 of your 1040. If you or your company has a High Deductible Health Plan, you may be eligible to take a deduction. Any after-tax amounts you contribute to your Health Savings Account (up to IRS limits) can offset your taxable income.

4. Line 32, “IRA Deductions” are the next place to check. If you have made an IRA contribution, see if you are eligible for this deduction. More importantly, recent tax law changes have made this a great time to review your IRA account and think about converting to the popular Roth IRA. The amounts converted are taxable, but any future earnings can later be distributed tax free.

5. Kids in College. Do you have children in college or are you enrolled in a higher educational institution? Line 66 of the 1040 is the place to report the American Opportunity Credit, a refundable credit of up to $2,500 per year.

Tax laws can be confusing, but with careful review and planning, you can save yourself money. Plan now to save money next year! As always, consult with your tax advisor for advice regarding any of the above items.

Rita Miller is a board member of WBOM and a manager with Kruggel, Lawton & Company, a public accounting firm in South Bend/Elkhart, IN that offers tax and other accounting services. For more information regarding tax tips, contact Rita at rmiller@klcpas.com or go to the web site klcpas.com.

Feeling fit at work

By Evie Kirkwood, St. Joseph County Parks

Feeling healthier means you are more productive at work, and you will have more energy at the end of your work day. Making a change in your lifestyle doesn’t require major effort. Lots of little steps throughout your day can add up! Here are a few things that work for me.

1) Watch those business lunches. Eating out at lunch can pack in the calories. If you won’t or can’t pack your lunch, some restaurants will comply with requests for “half orders” or children’s portions. Or, get a carry out box when your meal arrives, and put a portion of your food in the box right away.

2) Get moving. Gyms and fitness centers are great, but you can’t always get there on a busy work day. To put a few more steps in your day, park farther from your office door. Take the steps for a floor or two instead of the elevator. If you are seated at a computer most of the day, get up at least every hour to walk around. After work, carry your bags of groceries to the car, instead of using drive up. Wear a pedometer and see how many steps you tally in a day! Watch those office snacks.

3) Find a treat you like. One delicious medjool date satisfies my sweet cravings with a quarter of the calories of a candy bar. A handful of raw almonds or walnuts stifles my urge for crunchy stuff and contributes Omega 3 fatty acids – which are good for you! Keep a bowl of fresh fruit in the break room instead of a bowl of candy.

4) You are what you drink. Skip the soda. Try water or de-caf iced tea. If you feel like something fizzy, drink carbonated water with a splash of fruit juice. Around the office coffee pot, learn to love skimmed milk. Instead of sugar and fat-laden “creamers,” keep a little cinnamon or cocoa in your desk drawer to add as a flavor treat. For Business After Hours events, remember beer and wine are loaded with calories. Try a seltzer or tonic water with lime.

5) Get outside. During lunch, or after work, visit your nearest park. Hike the trails, climb on the playground equipment, fly a kite, walk the dog. Studies show being outdoors is a great mood elevator. With some simple changes you can have a productive, feel-good day!

Evie Kirkwood is Director of Communications for WBOM, and the Director of St. Joseph County Parks in Indiana.