Marys Community Corner

You can probably accomplish financial goals by focusing on one specific priority each month. This calendar of ideas will stimulate your thinking about dollars-and-cents objectives. January Now is a good time to establish a budget for the year. There are many tools on the internet to help. Here is a template. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010233421033.aspx . Just click download and away you go. Use last years expenses and income as a starting point, then make any reasonable adjustments to maintain a standard to can stick to for the year. Also, pay off any holiday season credit card bills as soon as the charges show up on your monthly statement. If spring and summer arrive and you're still paying interest on last year's gifts, then the cost of those items will continue to rise. February Consider getting tax related documents ready ahead of time to avoid a last-minute rush. Make sure that you have receieved all necessary paperwork from your employer and your finan...

Many people who are interested in growing their assets in the marketplace but are concerned about putting their money into companies that don't have their moral or ethical values concerning. Over the course of the past decade (longer for some), the industry has started to respond to these investor's concerns. At Stockton Financial we have always kept the individual concerns of our clients at the top of our priorities. We are not a one size fits all financial planning company. As a result we have relied on many different professional tools to anazlye the Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) many of our clients maintain. Many people do not realize that Dow Jones established and has maintained an index to help advisors. http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/default.html . At Stockton Financial this is a tool that is used frequently to assess both individual stock investors', as well as mutual fund investors' portfolios. Another great tool for individual investors is a sit...

Last nights dinner with homemade stuffing and a colorful salad 6 boneless pork loin chops - 3/4 inch Salt and pepper to taste 1 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil 2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1-3 clove garlic, cut in half 1/4 c. dry white wine 1/3 c. chicken broth Heat the oil in a skillet large enough to hold chops and apples (when they are added) in a single layer. Add the chops and garlic to the skillet and brown well on both sides. Push the chops to the side and add the apples in one layer. Cook for about 15 minutes, turning frequently to brown and cook evenly. Remove chops and apples to a warm serving dish. Pour the fat from the skillet. Add the wine, stirring to dissolve browned particles. Add broth and simmer to a sauce-like consistency. Discard garlic. Pour sauce over chops and apples. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

How many of these 10 secrets of success do you practice? How you think is everything . Remember to “think positive” at every opportunity. Visualize success, not failure. Avoid negative environments and people. You are what you think. In fact, a study shows that positive thinking actually increases longevity . Decide on your dreams and goals . Be specific about your goals. For example, say “I am taking a cooking class next month,” rather than “I would like to take a cooking class sometime.” Create a plan to reach your goals, and stick to it. Take action. Goals alone have no meaning; you need to take action to make them real. Don’t let fear hold you back. "Just do it." Never stop learning. Take classes, go back to school, read books, join a discussion group. If you are interested in a subject, make time to learn about it. Keep acquiring new skills. For more information, read The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Older Adults . Be persistent and work hard . You’ve probably hear...

You probably know someone who has needed long-term care. Maybe you have witnessed a family member, friend or colleague struggle with the emotional and financial issues that can come with a long-term care experience. The truth is, no matter when the need arises, because of age, disability, or because of an unexpected illness or accident, long-term care can affect any age group, any social strata, and any geographic location. But what is it and how can you plan for it? What is Long-Term Care? Long-term care is help you may need due to a lengthy illness, an unexpected injury or accident, or a severe cognitive disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease. It’s assistance with the everyday tasks, or the activities of daily living (bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, transferring, and continence). Long-term care may be provided in a variety of locations, from nursing homes and assisted living facilities to adult day care centers and even your own home. Who needs Long-Term Care? Most of us strive t...

Last nights dinner: Baked Chicken 1 c. butter 12 chicken thighs 1 c. flour 2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 2 tsp. paprika 1 recipe sauce Heat butter in skillet. Shake the chicken thighs in mixture of flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Arrange chicken in skillet, skin side down and fry to golden brown. Transfer chicken to baking dish. Cover with sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. SAUCE: 1 sm. clove garlic, grated 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 c. salad oil 1/2 c. lemon juice 3 tbsp. onion, chopped 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. thyme Blend and let stand several hours before using. We had it with steamed zucchini... Back on South Beach!

She IS my girl... even though she is mad at me now... ;)

Dance grew out of our ancient roots of story telling, expression, and even healing. Today we have the joy of sitting and experiencing visually and viscerally the beauty of the human body and the ability to communicate through movement. There are infinite forms of the stories that can be communicated through movement and infinite forms of movements that relay those stories. Interpretation of those stories lays in the hands and vision of the choreograher who then works in collusion with the dancer to mold the body into a language of it's own. When one is sitting in an audience and sharing that story with both loved ones and strangers alike, it enfolds that audience into a community sharing an experience that will only happen once, in that moment. Emotions explode that the dancer(s) move through the space, often times with musical accompianment, but sometimes not... It'll merely be the dancer occupying that particular space in that particular moment. It becomes a moment of social ...

Opportunities Abound with a Deductible Traditional IRA Making the most of your hard-earned income was made easier with the passage of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (“EGTRRA”). With increased eligibility limits and higher contribution limits, these IRAs now offer more taxpayers financial advantages that can help them maximize their retirement savings, and meet more immediate needs, such as the costs of higher education. A traditional IRA now offers eligible taxpayers the front-end advantage of tax-deductible contributions up to $5,0001 in 2000. With a traditional IRA, contributions and earnings are not taxed until they are withdrawn, and earnings accumulate tax-deferred. Because of this deferral feature, funds may accumulate more quickly than they would in a taxable account. Keep in mind, though, that withdrawals prior to age 59 1⁄2 are generally subject to a 10% penalty tax in addition to income taxes. Increased Eligibility for a Traditional IRA Higher i...

If you haven't seen this play you MUST see it... it is timely, VERY well written, and funny. Our friend Paul has written a play about gay marriage, race relations, and family relationships. "When Jesse returns home to Chicago for his brother's wedding, he surprises -- or, as his best friend Nina says, "ambushes" -- his family by bringing along his Swedish boyfriend, Kristian. Jesse's three siblings have varying reactions to the couple: half-sister Ronnie is supportive and anxious for the family to fully accept Jesse and Kristian as a couple; younger brother Tony, once he conquers his initial homophobia, is resistant to welcoming a white man into their African-American family; and deeply religious sister Evie thinks that Jesse is betraying the memory of their deceased parents by "choosing" what she considers a sinful, unnatural lifestyle. Through card games, language lessons, and literature, they all strive to live, love, and give as much as they ca...

I currently sit as President of Diversionary Theatre in San Diego. To get folks to the shows is, at times, like pulling teeth... well, unless there is nudity.. or music... WHY is it so important for us to attend local theatre and support the arts? That question is mirrored in the question: WHY is each show in any given production, such a different experience from day to day... Jokes are responded to differently depending upon who is sitting in the audience, tears shed, laughter shared, concern exuded, successes celebrated... When an actor is live, the experience of the story being told is molded by the actor's experience with the audience and the audiences experience with the actors. When you attend a movie.. your emotions and reactions to the story are manipulated by the technology, the music, the acting is static. When the story is being told live, the story lives and unfolds live, there are no retakes. The emotions and reactions that are occurring are in collusion with the...

Using Planned Giving to Add Value to Your Charitable Donations The generosity of the American people is evident in the record of charitable giving in the United States. 89% of American households give to charitable causes each year, individually averaging $1,620 annually. [1] The government also offers tax benefits to those who wish to give. In short, charitable giving is a win-win situation – the charity [2] receives the financial assistance it needs to operate, and the donors receive the gratification of knowing they helped make a difference to a cause or organization they care strongly about. Planned giving is one way to achieve this. What is Planned Giving? Planned giving allows you to provide for your favorite charity as well as your loved ones, all the while protecting valuable assets from income and estate taxes. Planned giving can help provide the donor guaranteed income for life, create a gift that will live on after the donor's death, or both. There are a variety of way...

Last night I cooked dinner with our gorgeous house guest. Paul Oakley Stovall. He is the playwright for the latest play at Diversionary Theatre, As much As You Can. WOW! What a play, what a man, and what a guest!! So, since he was in for just two nights from the East Coast (he is currently working with Barrack on the inaugruation), I asked what he was craving. SEAFOOD was his answer, and that was after he cleaned up on the Macademia Nut Encrusted Salmon leftovers we had. LOL. So, I decided on scallops. Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds sea scallops 3/4 cup fine dry unseasoned bread crumbs 1/2 cup butter 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper dash paprika 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, about 1 large lemon Preparation: Roll scallops in bread crumbs. Melt half of butter in skillet over medium low heat. Add salt, pepper, and paprika. Add scallops and sauté slowly for 7 to 9 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn to brown evenly. Remove scallops ...

A Parent’s Game Plan For College Funding Most people look back on their college years with great fondness — and many look ahead to their children’s education with some fear. Gay and lesbian parents face the same concerns. You and your partner may be wondering, “With costs so high, how can we afford to send our kids to college?” You and your partner have good reason to worry. According to the 2005-2006 College Board numbers, a college education currently averages over $5,491 a year at a four-year public college, and nearly $21,235 a year at a four-year private school. Looking at the Ivy League? Four years of tuition, fees, and room and board can now cost $125,000 at elite schools like Harvard and Yale. And costs keep rising: the College Board’s 2005-2006 figures show that public and private institutions raised their tuition and fees an average of 6% in just one year, which far outstrips the national average rise of inflation and wage increases overall. Your children deserve the enrichin...

Parenting is a tough job. But if you’re an LGBT parent of one of the six million school-age disabled children in the U.S. today, you know that job can be even more challenging, especially financially. Costs often include special residential homes, employment assistance, and more. And these are typically ongoing expenses for you and your family. Help from the Fed If you’re a same-sex parent or caregiver for a disabled loved one, you can help meet expenses and ensure quality care through two primary government programs designed to meet your unique needs: Supplement Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. SSI provides cash benefits to help you pay for a loved one’s food, shelter and clothing. SSI also automatically makes your loved one eligible (and, in some states, qualified) for Medicaid. Through SSI your disabled loved one may be eligible for other benefits as well, depending on what state you live in. Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage for medical care, physical therapists, social p...

Tonight I am cooking my infamous salmon for my sweetie: Ingredients: 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided (I used butter substitute) 1/4 cup macademia nuts, coarsely chopped 1 full salmon fillet, about 2 1/2 pounds 1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice 1/4 cup chopped cilantro Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet and add macademia nuts. Cook 2-3 minutes or until lightly brown. Remove from heat. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a roasting pan. (Place in oven for a few minutes). Place the salmon filet in the roasting pan and season with salt and pepper. Spread the toasted nuts over the salmon. Bake for 10-15 minutes (depending on thickness of fish). Transfer salmon to the serving platter. Sprinkle with cilantro and fresh lime juice. This is positively her fav recipe. :) Enjoy!

Everyone wants financial success for themselves and their families. The dreams that we spend long hours working toward – whether it’s a first home, a college education for the children, or a retirement home some place warm – are all goals on the path to financial security. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to stumble on the way to your destination – especially for gay and lesbian couples, who have to take additional precautions to ensure that both partners are properly covered. I’ve compiled a list of what I’ve found to be the most common errors people make in achieving their insurance and financial goals. They’re all potentially costly, and they could mean the difference between financial success and failure. 1.Failure to Plan — An old saying goes, “Most people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” This is particularly true when it comes to insurance and finances. If any planning is done it’s on a piecemeal basis, but that’s just not enough. To have a shot at accomplishing what we wa...

For busy gay and lesbian families, it seems there’s just never enough time. But when it comes to planning for our financial future, there’s always too much “T.I.M.E.” T.I.M.E. stands for Taxes, Inflation, Mistakes, and Emergencies. Building a nest egg that can withstand the test of T.I.M.E. requires careful planning. We can’t change T.I.M.E., but there are some steps we can take to help minimize its ravages. “T” Is for Taxes The old saying is that only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. It’s true, we can’t evade taxes, and as gays and lesbians we are denied some of the tax advantages of getting married and having a family. Fortunately, some financial products do have particular tax advantages, allowing us the opportunity to recoup some of our losses. Permanent life insurance, which is purchased for death benefit protection, has three distinct tax advantages: cash value accumulates within the policy on a tax-deferred basis; loans taken against cash value* are generally not...

When gays and lesbians partner later in life, or for the second time, life can become a lot more fulfilling—and a lot more complicated. This is certainly the case when both partners bring substantial assets to the table, an ex is in the picture, or there are children to consider. To help minimize or avoid serious financial complications in your new life together, it’s important to talk candidly with your partner before committing to a long-term relationship. Fear of the “M” Word: Money Money isn’t always a pleasant or easy subject to talk about. For this reason, newly committed gay and lesbian couples may be tempted to stay as far away from it as possible. However, arguments over money can cause significant partnership strain, and it’s important to get a complete financial picture before your commitment—liabilities as well as assets. Among those that should be carefully examined are: Debt, including outstanding loans, credit card balances, tax liabilities, mortgages, etc. Salaries Chec...

With concerns about our economy on everybody’s lips, many gays and lesbians may feel tempted to make immediate and drastic adjustments to their 401(k) or 403(b) accounts. Such knee-jerk reactions are understandable—few things can invoke panic like the thought of losing everything you and your partner have worked to build. Be Patient—These are Long-term Growth Vehicles Gays and lesbians need to resist the urge to sacrifice stability for a quicker fix. The truth is, defined contribution retirement savings plans are designed for long-term, tax-deferred accumulation. Although many companies provide a “company match” percentage of what you contribute, you and your partner should both be aware that you won’t be building your nest egg overnight. When growth is this gradual, down years can be nerve wracking—but resist the urge to make too many changes. According to market historians, the stock market has registered twice as many positive return years as negative, and in the 57 positive years s...

Last weekends menu was DIVINE! Boston lettuce salad with walnuts and dried cherries Cous Cous Sauteed Leeks with Prunes and (OMG it was GOOD) Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Sauteed Onions: Ingredients: 6 beef tenderloin steaks 1 inch thick 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons butter 1 small red onion cut into 6 wedges 2 cloves garlic minced 1 teaspoon crushed dried basil 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oregano 2 tablespoons whipping cream 6 teaspoons orange marmalade Directions: Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat then add onion and garlic and cook and stir for 8 minutes.Remove onion from skillet.Increase heat to medium high.Add steaks to skillet and cook 6 minutes on each side turning once.After turning sprinkle with basil and oregano.Remove meat from skillet and place on serving platter.Return onions to skillet and heat through.Remove skillet from heat and stir in whipping cream.Spoon cream over steaks.Top eac...

Orgy , originally uploaded by Mary Stockton . One of my new hobbies in the last few years has been taking photos. I just loved viewing this dance on one of our Sunday walks.

What is happening to our economy? This is a question many of us may have on our minds these days. There are some strategies to help us work through these frightening times. First of all, WHY is this happening? The current economic situation is due, in large part, to the housing bubble. This bubble was fueled by easy to obtain subprime mortgages, lax regulation of mortgage brokers, housing speculation and exotic investments based on securitization of mortgages. Experts called it “financial innovation gone wrong”, and it led to a credit crunch, bank losses in the United States and abroad, and worldwide credit turmoil. So far, the 2008 bear market most resembles the downturn of 1990, when thousands of savings and loans (S&Ls) failed. The 1990 bear market also had its origins in financial innovation and lax regulation. In the late 1980’s Congress substantially loosened S&L lending standards and let S&Ls diversify into riskier and more profitable real estate lending. Between 198...