The Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign recently had its funding renewed by the Michigan state legislature. State Representative Brad Jacobsen was quoted as saying "Pure Michigan is essential in promoting Michigan tourism to both residents and out-of-state visitors. The program has been a tremendous boost to our struggling economy and investing in the campaign will bring additional recognition and business to Michigan tourist attractions." The Pure Michigan campaign is being funded largely from the 21st Century Jobs Fund.
The campaign was launched in 2006. In its first three years the advertising is said to have brought 5 million new visitors to Michigan and they spent approximately $1.3 billion dollars. The Pure Michigan campaign has been recognized with both state and national honors. This high quality marketing effort has yielded measurable results. So why has it been so successful and what can the average business owner learn from the strategy and the message? We'll look at the answers to those questions and more in the next few days. For today, use the link below to view some of the ads in the Pure Michigan tourism campaign. www.michigan.org
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Happy Tax Season
Finally some good news about income taxes! Everyone knows that the tax filing deadline is usually April 15th. This year, all of us tax payers are getting a break. Tax deadline 2011 to file 2010 tax returns is delayed until April 18th 2011. The slight reprieve is due to the April 15th Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. By law, holidays in DC have the same impact as a federal holiday on the income tax filing date. Tax day cannot fall on a Saturday, so we all have until Monday April 18th to file.
Of course the next question on almost every one's mind is "How do I pay lower taxes?" The first thing to do is consult a tax advisor to see if there are any deductions you may have missed. If your tax paper work is fine, it's time to consider something you may not be doing that could help reduce your tax bill.
You may be eligible to take advantage of the tax savings feature of a tax-deductible Individual Retirement Account. You may be able to contribute between $4,000 and $12,000 depending on your age, income, marital status and if you participate in an employer's qualified plan. Your contributions to tax deductible IRA reduces the income which is considered taxable. With less income to tax, you could pay lower taxes.
The tax deductible contributions and earnings on the contributions are taxable when withdrawn. Tax penalties are likely to apply if IRA funds are withdrawn before age 591/2 depending on the reason for the withdrawal. So in most cases it's best to think of your IRA funds as locked away for the "golden year". Setting up an IRA with automatic deposit is easy. Automatic deposits to an IRA can be debited from a bank account or a pay check. Unseen money is so much easier to save. If you don't see it, you don't miss it.
If the possibility of reducing you tax bill sounds appealing, email me at mlolds30@Gmail.com. Not all situations are suitable for an IRA so research the topic before proceeding. I'm only licensed as a life, health and annuity producer in Michigan and cannot assist individuals, couples, families or businesses in other states. I'd be happy to work with you on evaluating your insurance and financial picture to help you plan for tomorrow today.
Of course the next question on almost every one's mind is "How do I pay lower taxes?" The first thing to do is consult a tax advisor to see if there are any deductions you may have missed. If your tax paper work is fine, it's time to consider something you may not be doing that could help reduce your tax bill.
You may be eligible to take advantage of the tax savings feature of a tax-deductible Individual Retirement Account. You may be able to contribute between $4,000 and $12,000 depending on your age, income, marital status and if you participate in an employer's qualified plan. Your contributions to tax deductible IRA reduces the income which is considered taxable. With less income to tax, you could pay lower taxes.
The tax deductible contributions and earnings on the contributions are taxable when withdrawn. Tax penalties are likely to apply if IRA funds are withdrawn before age 591/2 depending on the reason for the withdrawal. So in most cases it's best to think of your IRA funds as locked away for the "golden year". Setting up an IRA with automatic deposit is easy. Automatic deposits to an IRA can be debited from a bank account or a pay check. Unseen money is so much easier to save. If you don't see it, you don't miss it.
If the possibility of reducing you tax bill sounds appealing, email me at mlolds30@Gmail.com. Not all situations are suitable for an IRA so research the topic before proceeding. I'm only licensed as a life, health and annuity producer in Michigan and cannot assist individuals, couples, families or businesses in other states. I'd be happy to work with you on evaluating your insurance and financial picture to help you plan for tomorrow today.
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