My wife, Cindy, and I were having a lovely dinner at home with friends in Tucson, when I happened to notice that our front door was open! That wouldn’t be a particular problem except for the fact that we have two indoor cats, Nala and Sasha. Our friendly, and sociable Siberian cats, part of our family for 16 years, were missing.
A quick search revealed only one cat, Nala. In Pittsburgh that’s a bad thing, but not as menacing as in Tucson, where our backyard is frequently visited by coyotes, javelinas, snakes, large owls, and other wildlife. A further search of the yard and neighborhood came up empty. I was at a loss for next best steps.
Somewhat desperate, I consulted AI, specifically, Claude. The suggestion which made good sense after hearing it was to put Sasha’s litter box outside, along with some of my dirty clothes, and a can of smelly tuna. Cats have a strong sense of smell, and these things might lead her home. I waited, but it was past my bedtime and there was still no sign of her.
I consulted Claude again asking if it might help if I slept by the door. It said yes and hazarded the opinion that she might come back home at either 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. Claude was very specific. For some reason those seem to be the magical hours for cats returning home. So, I set up a little cot right next to the door and tried to sleep. It was a pretty rough night. Twice I heard coyotes howling. I had a bad feeling that this was the end for her.
Sure enough, at three in the morning, Sasha showed up. She was reluctant to come inside, but with some coaxing, I brought her in. No obvious injuries! Enormous relief! Back to my own bed!
Nala, our other cat had been dealing with relatively advanced kidney disease. We had changed her diet, and she seemed to be doing reasonably well. But then, literally days after the escapee came home, she took a sharp turn for the worse. A conversation with AI, combined with our own observations, helped us realize she was within days of death and was in terrible pain.
Cindy’s immediate instinct was to take Nala to a vet, but that felt like a terrible way to go. First a car ride, which she would have hated. Then a cold table in an unfamiliar place. It just wasn't right for a cherished family member.
Another consult with Claude, and I learned that there are vets who provide home end-of-life care for a very sick pet, and we found a local provider. What a difference that made. Nala had a gentle, loving death in her own environment, wrapped up in a favorite blanket lying on my lap while Cindy and I petted her and said goodbye.
There was an added benefit we hadn't fully anticipated: Sasha was present and could witness what was happening. Apparently, cats understand death, and it seemed far better for her than having her companion of 16 years simply disappear one day without explanation. Sasha is needier than usual since Nala passed, which is completely understandable, and we are happy to be patient with her. We share her loss.
One reason I'm sharing this story is because many clients have pets. If you are ever faced with end-of-life care for an animal you love, I would strongly encourage you to look into in-home euthanasia. It was better for us, better for our cat, and better for the cat we still have.
We have read that older cats generally don’t like a kitten being introduced to the family. So, our plan is to cherish the time we have with our surviving girl, and when the time comes, get two kittens, preferably from the same litter. And we will make an extra special effort to keep the front door closed.
The IRS Will Not Call or Leave a Message Threatening Anything!
Have you received the following call or voice message?
"This call is officially a final notice from the Internal Revenue Service. The reason for this call is to inform you that the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file, please call immediately on our department number, xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you."
Or perhaps you've received a call claiming to be from the IRS telling you that you owe them an additional payment? If so, you are not alone. It seems that the number of IRS phone scams has risen dramatically. According to an article released directly by the IRS, the IRS will never:
- Call you to demand immediate payment, nor call you about taxes owed without first having sent you correspondence or a bill in the mail.
- Demand payment without allowing you to question or appeal what you owe.
- Require a specific method of payment, like a debit or credit card.
- Ask for credit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to bring in local police or law enforcement groups to have you arrested for non-payment.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be the IRS and threatening a lawsuit or asking you for money, please hang up; never give them any information. Do not put yourself at risk by answering any questions or returning the call out of curiosity or fear. If you have any concerns about your taxes, speak with your CPA or call the IRS directly to discuss the matter.
Clear the Clutter:
How Long to Retain Records
Some of us are pack rats while others are determined dumpers, but the best strategy is to keep tax-related records only as long as necessary.
As you know, the IRS typically has three years to audit returns. But it has six years if it suspects that the return understates income by more than 25%. And no statute of limitation applies if fraud is involved or the person fails to file.
To help you determine which records to toss and which to keep at the end of tax season, please review this handy record-retention list, which is based on legal as well as tax considerations.
| Copies of Tax Returns | Forever |
| Tax/Legal Correspondence | Forever |
| Audit Reports | Forever |
| Contracts & Leases | Forever |
| Real estate records | Forever |
| Corporate Minutes & Stock Records | Forever |
| Bank Statements | 6 Years |
| General Ledger & Journals | 6 Years |
| Sales Records & Journals | 6 Years |
| Employee Expense Reports | 3 Years |
| Personal Investment Records | 6 Years after sales |
| IRA Records | 6 Years after withdrawals |
| Canceled Checks | 3 Years |
| Paid Vendor Invoices | 3 Years |
| Employee Payroll Records | 3 Years |
| Depreciation Schedules | Tax Life of Asset + 3 Years |
Note: Always use a cross-cut shredder when disposing of statements to prevent identity theft. Plan to shred all paperwork that includes account numbers, birth dates, Social Security numbers, personal identification numbers, and signatures.
Chili-Spiced Turkey Meatloaf with
Roasted Carrot Salad
- 6 garlic cloves, halved
- 2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 3 large omega-3 eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- Sea salt
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 2 pounds carrots, peeled & cut into steak fries
- 2 tablespoons, plus 2 teaspoons grapeseed oil
- ½ cup pepitas
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Nutritional analysis per serving:
Calories 395; Fat 23g; Saturated Fat 5g; Cholesterol 168mg; Fiber 8g; Protein 29g; Carbohydrates 20g; Sodium 521mg.
Protein keeps the nighttime munchies at bay. If you tend to feel hungry or have a habit of grazing after dinner, this meal will help you meet your intake of nutritious protein, which keeps your blood sugar stable and prevents cravings.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the garlic, celery, and onion until everything is very finely chopped.
Then, transfer the vegetables to a larger bowl and add the coconut flour, eggs, the chili powder, 1 tablespoon of the paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the turkey and, using your hands, mix all until combined. Note: do not overmix the ingredients or the meatloaf will be dense.
Gently pat the meat into a loaf and place in an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan. Do not press down or into the corners. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake on the top rack for 50 minutes.
While the meatloaf cooks, toss the carrots with 2 teaspoons of grapeseed oil and a pinch of salt on two large, rimmed baking sheets. Roast on the bottom and middle racks of the oven, tossing once halfway through, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and tent with foil to keep warm.
When the meatloaf has baked for 50 minutes, stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons of paprika and 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil. Brush the top of the loaf with the mixture and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf registers 155°F, about 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven, and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
While the meatloaf rests, place the pepitas in a small skillet and lightly toast them over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until they take on the slightest hint of color, 3 to 5 minutes.
Combine the carrots, pepitas, cilantro, and cumin, tossing to combine. Serve with the meatloaf.
© 2015 by Hyman's Enterprises, LLC, The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet Cookbook
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Disclaimer: Lange Accounting Group, LLC offers guidance on retirement plan distribution strategies, tax reduction, Roth IRA conversions, saving and spending strategies, optimized Social Security strategies, and gifting plans. Although we bring our knowledge and expertise in estate planning to our recommendations, all recommendations are offered in our capacity as CPAs. We will, however, potentially make recommendations that clients could have a licensed estate attorney implement.
Asset location, asset allocation, and low-cost enhanced index funds are provided by the investment firms with whom Lange Financial Group, LLC is affiliated. This would be offered in our role as an investment advisor representative and not as an attorney.
Lange Financial Group, LLC, is a registered investment advisory firm registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Banking, Harrisburg, PA. In addition, the firm is registered as a registered investment advisory firm in the states of AZ, FL, NY, OH, and VA. Lange Financial Group, LLC may not provide investment advisory services to any residents of states in which the firm does not maintain an investment advisory registration. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any strategy will be successful. Indexes are not available for direct investment. If you qualify for a free consultation with Jim and attend a meeting, there are two services he and his firms have the potential to offer you. Lange Accounting Group, LLC could offer a one-time fee-for-service Financial Masterplan. Under the auspices of Lange Financial Group, LLC, you could potentially enter into an assets-under-management arrangement with one of Lange’s joint venture partners.
Please note that if you engage Lange Accounting Group, LLC and/or Lange Financial Group, LLC for either our Financial Masterplan service or our assets-under-management arrangement, there is no attorney/client relationship in this advisory context.
Although Jim will bring his knowledge and expertise in estate planning to this workshop and to the meetings, it will be conducted in his capacity as a financial planning professional and not as an attorney. This is not a solicitation for legal services.