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You may also want to check out HEB Health Insurance for no obligation health insurance quotes. | | On Kindness | On Faith | | "Ibelieve...that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another."-- Thomas Jefferson "Theworld is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is myreligion." -- Thomas Paine "Toooften we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listeningear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of whichhave the potential to turn a life around." -- Leo Buscaglia "Becausethe soul has such deep roots in personal and social life and its valuesrun so contrary to modern concerns, caring for the soul may well turn outto be a radical act, a challenge to accepted norms." -- ThomasMoore | "Whenyou come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step offinto the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things willhappen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taughthow to fly." -- Barbara J. Winter "Certainthoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitudeof the body, the soul is on its knees." -- VictorHugo "Spiritualvalues transcend the material artifacts that we can touch and see. They take us into the realm of beauty, inspiration and love." -– Nido Qubein |
 | Understanding Required Minimum Distributions |
| The objective of the required minimumdistribution rule is to ensure that the entire value of a traditional IRA oremployer-sponsored qualified retirement plan account will be distributed overthe IRA owner's/retired employee’s life expectancy. When MustRequired Minimum Distributions Begin? In the case of traditional IRAs, required minimum distributions must begin no later than April 1 ofthe year following the year in which you reach age 70-1/2 and must continueeach year thereafter. In the case of employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans, required minimum distributions must begin by April1 of the year that follows the later of (1) the calendar year in which youreach age 70-1/2 or (2) the calendar year in which you retire from employment withthe employer maintaining the plan (unless the plan requires that you beginreceiving distributions by April 1 of the year that follows the year in whichyou reach age 70-1/2). Ifyou wait until the year following the year in which you reach age 70-1/2 or, inthe case of a qualified retirement plan, retire from employment, you mustreceive a minimum distribution on behalf of the previous year by April 1 of thecurrent year, and a minimum distribution on behalf of the current year byDecember 31 of that year. How Are RequiredMinimum Distribution Amounts Calculated?
IRS regulations regarding required minimumdistributions include a "Uniform Lifetime Table" with"Distribution Period Factors." The appropriate "Distribution Period Factor," based on your agein the distribution year, is divided into your account balance as of theprevious December 31 in order to determine your required minimum distributionfor the current tax year. What Happens if MinimumDistribution Requirements Are NotMet? The difference between the requiredminimum distribution you should have received and the lower amount you actuallyreceived is subject to a penalty tax of 50%...an outcome to be avoided! Financial institutions report IRA distributionsto the IRS on Form 5498 and are required to indicate if the IRA is subject torequired minimum distributions. May I Withdraw MoreThan the Required Minimum Distribution? Yes, although minimizing qualified planand IRA distributions may result in substantial tax savings. Consult your financial advisor for a morein-depth analysis. NOTE: The abovediscussion does not apply in 2009, when required minimum distributionsare suspended. Minimum distribution requirements, however, must be metagain beginning in 2010. In addition, non-deductible Roth IRAs are notsubject tominimum distribution requirements. | | MESSAGESfromthe Masters... | WORDS by Zig Ziglar
Frequently, we become so pragmatic that we fail to be effective. Years ago the editor of the Dallas Morning Newspointed out to the sportswriters that "Bill" was not a suitablesubstitute for "William," and "Charlie" was not a suitable substitutefor "Charles."
Taking him literally, one of the sportswriters, in the heyday of DoakWalker of Southern Methodist University, wrote about an important game.In his story he pointed out that in the third quarter Doak Walker hadleft the game with a "Charles horse." I think you'll agree that thestory lost some meaning with the use of "Charles."
Perhaps the ultimate absurdity occurred in an article in a nationalpublication when the writer set up the computer to analyze Lincoln'sGettysburg Address. Incidentally, that address contains 362 words and302 of them are one syllable. It's simple and direct, but powerful andeffective.
The computer, however, made some recommendations about how the speechreally should have been given. For example, instead of saying, "Fourscore and seven years," the computer deemed that approach too wordy andsuggested, "Eighty-seven years." The efficiency in the reduction isobvious, but the loss of effectiveness, power, drama, and passion iseven more obvious.
When Lincoln said, "We are engaged in a great civil war," the computerquestioned whether the word great was justified. This despite the factthat our nation suffered 646,392 casualties, including 364,511 deaths.The computer stated that the sentences were too long, and it criticizedthe statement that we could never forget what happened at Gettysburg asbeing negative.
I think you'll agree that eloquence and drama, combined with passion,logic, and common sense, are far more effective in inspiring people todo great things than technical correctness.
Think about it. Knowing their power, use your words carefully. You'll be a greater contributor to humankind.
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