Financial Planner Shares Tips for a 21st-Century Filing System

Jane was not looking forward to going through her parents’ belongings to get their house ready to sell. Their health had been failing for some time and they finally agreed to move to a retirement community. Now that they were both comfortably moved into their new apartment, it was up to Jane to get rid of the things they no longer needed. Her parents had lived in the same house for more than 50 years, so Jane expected to find things that should have been tossed out years ago. But she was amazed to discover 50 years of tax returns and bank statements carefully stored in boxes in the attic. Her parents had saved all their financial records! Many people are confused about what records they need to keep and for how long. They hold onto tax returns, bank records, brokerage statements and other financial information simply because they don’t know if they’ll need it again. Like Jane’s parents, the documents get packed in boxes that eventually take over valuable living or storage space. Financial planner Rick Rodgers, author of The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach To Retirement Planning (www.TheNewThreeLeggedStool.com), says tax time is a great time to get organized. “Most people are going through their records to get ready to file their return,” he says. “This is the time to get smart about what you need to keep and then set up a system to store it efficiently going forward.”
Rodgers suggests these five steps to help you effectively organize your finances for 2012 and beyond:

1. Out with the old – Discard the records you no longer need: Tax returns older than seven years; bank records and credit card statements that are not related to the tax returns you’re keeping; brokerage statements that aren’t related to purchases of current holdings. Be sure to shred all your old documents before throwing them out.
2. Go digital – Convert the documents you plan to save into digital images that are stored on your hard drive. Invest in a good scanner and scan as you go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing the hard copies as you go. On your computer, file by tax year, so your 2011 folder will contain your tax return for 2011 and all pertinent bank records and receipts. Organize the previous six years the same way. Next year you can delete the oldest folder when you add the 2012 folder.
3. Save a forest – All of the financial institutions you deal with would prefer to send your statements electronically. Stop receiving paper statements. Instead, download your statements electronically and store them in your new filing system. Most banks and credit card companies keep at least a year’s worth of statements available. You need to download these files only once a year to complete the year’s file.
4. Save backups in case of emergency – Make backup copies of your files on a CD. Choose a CD-R (recordable) as opposed to a CD-RW (rewriteable), because CD-R cannot accidentally be overwritten. Depending on your computer operating system, you may be able to continue adding data to a CD-R each year, until the CD is full. However, some operating systems won’t allow that, so you’ll need a new CD for each year.
5. Go paperless – Your new electronic filing system can be expanded to include all your financial records, from car maintenance receipts to pay stubs. Wills and insurance policies can also be scanned and stored but, of course, keep the originals of those in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.

Gone are the days of saving your financial documents in box and shoving it into the attic. Technology advances have made organizing your personal finances easier with minimal cost. Make 2012 the year you get organized by moving your finances into a 21st century filing system.

How to Choose Your New Best Friend from an Animal Shelter

Among the biggest victims of the economic recession are the once beloved family pets surrendered to shelters as their owners deal with extended joblessness. The U.S. Humane Society estimates 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year—and 3 to 4 million are euthanized. “We don’t have firm numbers but we know anecdotally that the communities that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn are seeing that reflected in their shelter intake numbers,” says Inga Fricke, director of sheltering issues for the U.S. Humane Society. “And, unfortunately, while the majority of the public is in favor of adopting pets from shelters, very few—usually about 20 percent—actually do. That has recently gone up slightly to the mid-20s.” Fricke and retired police officer Irvin Cannon, a confirmed dog lover whose new book, For the Love of Dog Tales (www.FortheLoveofDogTales.com), gives voice to man’s best friend, hope people getting back on their feet will consider adopting a shelter dog, perhaps in observance of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month in April. “You won’t find a better companion, whether you bring home a mystery mixed-breed or a purebred Labrador,” he says. “Everyone thinks mutts are smarter and generally healthier, but really, it all depends on their mix of breeds and which breed strain is dominant.” Border collies and Rottweilers are two of the smartest breeds, Cannon says. But they tend to have other traits, too, which are just as important to consider when choosing what dog best suits your lifestyle. Remember—dogs are as individual as people. A dog’s breed, or breed mix, is no guarantee that it will have certain traits. That said, border collies tend to need lots of room to run and lots of attention—they’re high-maintenance, Cannon says. If you can’t spend a lot of active time with them, they’ll be unhappy and you’ll have problems. Rottweilers are fast learners and loveable family animals, but they also tend to have bold personalities associated with pack leaders. If you don’t think you can assert your authority, or if you have young or shy children, you might want to consider a more submissive breed. Dominant dogs that are allowed to bully their family members can become dangerously aggressive.

Here are some other tidbits regarding breeds:

• Among other dog breeds known for intelligence: Shetland sheepdogs, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, poodles, Australian cattle dogs, Papillons, and Doberman pinschers.
• Bulldogs, beagles, and Basset hounds all start with ‘B’ but get much lower grades for smarts.
• It’s a myth that mutts have fewer health issues than purebred dogs. Because some breeds have tendencies toward problems such as deafness, blindness or hip dysplasia, remember, these are genetic issues that are inherited. So if you’re mixed-breed includes some German shepherd, it may also have hip dysplasia (a problem with the joint’s bone structure).
• If you’re in the market for a purebred dog, you have a 25 percent chance of finding one – although maybe not the breed you want – at a shelter. If your heart is set on a specific breed, check your area for a rescue group specializing in that breed.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, which recognizes the 1866 charter signing of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Visit http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/ for 10 ways you can help prevent cruelty to animals.

Inaugural event comes to Capital City in June

Granite State Music Festival takes New Hampshire’s capital city by storm June 23 and 24, 2012. This first year of the festival promises the state’s best bands, with a national headliner. The festival’s epicenter will be the waterfront at Concord’s Kiwanis Park, a riverfront venue with overhanging shade trees, plenty of grass, and parking. By day, the festival features a family-friendly rotation of music by New Hampshire’s best bands, playing original music. By night, the action spills into the downtown bars for those who want to keep the party going. Though rock will be the festival’s focus, other genres will demonstrate the underrated diversity of the Granite State’s music scene. The festival website, granitestatemusicfest.org, is the best source of information about bands, tickets, and other important information as the event nears.

Granite State Music Festival began as the vision of Executive Director Scott Solsky. Solsky, a professional musician himself, saw the capital city as the perfect location for the festival for a variety of reasons. Easy access from I-93, I-89, and Route 4 make Concord a convenient, central location for a festival that truly seeks to represent New Hampshire as a state. Beyond the obvious logistics, and the capital city status, Concord itself has a growing music scene and creative community. The Concord community has welcomed the infusion of other arts-related events into the city’s cultural landscape in recent years and the addition of this type of festival will continue that development.

Concord is also home to the charitable recipient of proceeds from the festival: Concord Community Music School. Concord Community Music School is the largest employer of musicians in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Benefit to the music school is one of Solsky’s primary goals for this inaugural season.

The festival’s offerings will be rounded out with the participation of food vendors and an artisan marketplace.

Find out more about the Granite State Music Festival at the festival website, granitestatemusicfest.org.

Email ssolsky@granitestatemusicfest.org with general inquiries, or call (603) 534-3592.

For information relating to booking, email lgallo@granitestatemusicfest.org.

Interested in volunteering? Email ksolsky@granitestatemusicfest.org.

Quick breads are healthy snacks. Check out these tips and recipes from allrecipes.com:

• Bake a loaf fresh for the week, then slice as you go.
• Bake several loaves and freeze, pulling them out as needed. (Muffins and quick breads can be frozen for up to three months.)
• Slice loaves and freeze servings individually (wrap each in plastic wrap, then in a resealable plastic bag). Kids can grab one from the freezer in the morning for a snack if they are going straight from school to an after-school activity.

Date Nut Bread

Makes 2 loaves

• 1 1/2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 1/4 cups boiling water
• 3 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 Tbsp margarine
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine baking soda with the boiling water. Soak the dates in the water and baking soda solution for 30 minutes.
2. Cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs, vanilla, dates, nuts, flour, and salt.
3. Divide batter equally between two 9×5” inch greased loaf pans. Bake 1 hour at 300 degrees (or until loaf tests done). Can be frozen when cool.

Cranberry Bread

Makes 1 loaf

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp orange zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the cranberries and walnuts, and stir to coat with flour. Mix together the egg, oil, orange juice, and orange zest. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack, and cool completely.

Banana Bread

Cream cheese gives this bread a creamy new twist and texture.

Makes 2 loaves

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Cream the butter or margarine and cream cheese together. Gradually add the sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, and soda; mix until batter is just moist.
2. In a small bowl, mix together chopped pecans, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and cinnamon.
3. Divide 1/2 batter into two greased and floured 8×4 inch loaf pans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over batter in pans, and top with remaining batter.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

The light displays and Santa’s Village are created by 3 Dudes Productions and Winterland, Inc. After success with previous light parks across the country, the two companies were eager to join forces to bring this event to New Hampshire. David Fred, owner of Winterland, the Indiana-based company responsible for installing the lights. “The light park is a staycation! It is affordable entertainment that creates everlasting memories,” says Fred. “As people return each year, they say they have been looking forward to experiencing the magic of the holiday season by coming to our light shows.”

All of the light parks created by the 3 Dudes and Winterland partnership will be giving back to charitable organizations. One hundred percent of New Hampshire Motor Speedway proceeds will be given to Speedway Children’s Charities, an organization that cares for children in education, financial, social, and medical need.

The event also will be a drop-off site for Toys for Tots, the US Marine Corps Reserve program that aims to collect new toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. Lastly, Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will benefit the Salvation Army, helping further their mission of assisting those who are homeless, abused, or disadvantaged. Visitors will receive discounts in exchange for donations to either of these two organizations. “Giving to those in need is really what the Christmas season is all about,” says Mike Miller, president of 3 Dudes Productions.

The light park is open nightly from November 18 through January 1, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours of operation are Sunday–Thursday, 6pm–9pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm–10pm. Admission is $15 per car. For more information, visit www.NewHampshireGiftOfLights.com.

And they make perfect holiday gifts!

by Jeff Cambron

With football season in full swing and the playoffs approaching, make the most of the remaining games with the latest cool equipment.

1. Binoculars
A must-have for any pigskin aficionado worth his or her salt, these come in especially handy for those stranded in the cheap seats. Don’t miss a single play with a Bushnell H20, available at Amazon.com. There are cheaper models out there, but this waterproof and fogproof pair will lockout moisture and make sure you catch all the action, no matter the weather. [$72 or less]

2. Cameras
Smartphone snapshots might be all the rage these days, but there’s no replacement for a quality photograph from a real camera. Fortunately, there are some top-notch, inexpensive models you can slip right in your pocket. Pick up a Nikon Coolpix with up to 16 megapixels at Target. Snag a discounted Target gift card from sites like GiftCardGranny.com and cut costs even lower. [$200 or less]

3. Grills
Become the star of your next tailgate party with a grill that shows off not only your culinary skills, but your team pride as well. The Team Grill model gas grill comes featuring the colors and logo of you favorite squad, and the Game-Day model can be picked up for a very reasonable price. [$349]

4. Beer Coolers
Now this is fun. A product tailor-made for your next Sunday Beer-B-Q, the remote-controlled Shoot a Brew cooler will toss you a beverage from up to eight feet away. Perfect for football fans, and the extremely lazy. A word to the wise: Since you probably don’t have hands like your favorite wide receiver, just be sure to stay sober enough to avoid getting beaned. [$295]

5. Surround Sound
If you can’t be there, might as well make it sound like you are. You’d be amazed how a quality sound system can enhance your viewing experience. Hear every bone-crunching tackle like you’re right on the front line. Best Buy has several affordable options from top-tier brands like Panasonic, Samsung, or Sony. Want to save more? Pick up a factory-refurbished model for even less. [$200 or less]

6. NFL Sunday Ticket
For about the price of one day at the stadium with the family, you can instead enjoy up to 14 games every Sunday from the comfort of home. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Ever better, this year the Ticket is available to PS3 game system owners without the need for a satellite dish installation or even a DirecTV subscription! [$339.95]

7. Fantasy Apps
Football purists may think it sullies the experience, but the fact remains fantasy football has become almost as popular as the real thing. Stay on top of your team all season long with ESPN’s awesome new Fantasy Football 2011 app. Add/drop players, propose trades, stay on top of league news, and more, right from your iPhone. [FREE]

8. Madden 2012
Still soured by the off-field shenanigans this summer? There’s always the latest edition of the long-running game franchise to keep you busy. With no labor disputes and hours of football fun, this might be the best deal of all. Grab a GameStop coupon and save a few bucks for next season. [$59.99]

Jeff Cambron has worked in the technology space for over 10 years, fueling an obsession with all things digital. He is currently waiting online for the iPad 3, but can be reached via Jeff@Kinoliinc.com.

Treat family and friends to this fun, elegant dessert

• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 3/4 cup cake flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1-1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp unflavored gelatin
• 1 Tbsp cold water
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 12 oz crème fraîche
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1. MAKE THE CAKE. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks until pale, about 2 minutes. Add the molasses, 1/4 cup of the brown sugar, and the fresh ginger and beat until combined. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, allspice, black pepper, and salt. Beat the dry ingredients into the egg yolk mixture until combined.
2. In a clean bowl, using clean beaters, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and beat until firm and glossy. Fold the egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain. Spread the batter onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Transfer to a rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the cake with the remaining 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Run the blade of a sharp knife around the edge of the pan. Cover the cake with a clean kitchen towel and top with a large cutting board. Holding the pan, towel, and cutting board, invert the cake onto the cutting board. Remove the pan and carefully peel off the parchment paper. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let the gingerbread cool completely.
4. MEANWHILE, MAKE THE FILLING. In a small microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Microwave at high power until the gelatin is melted, about 10 seconds. In a clean bowl, beat the cream cheese with the cinnamon and melted gelatin until smooth. In another bowl, whip the crème fraîche with the confectioners’ sugar. Fold the cream cheese into the crème fraîche.
5. Spread the filling evenly over the entire surface of the cake. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake jelly roll–style. Wrap the gingerbread roll tightly in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.

The finished roll can be refrigerated overnight.

Recipe adapted from Jennifer Giblin, Blue Smoke, New York City, originally published in Food & Wine.

Thinking of making tapenade for friends and family but daunted by the pits? Here are some easy tips for pitting a pound of olives in minutes.

Many chefs use a large knife to make pitting olives easy. Place the flat side of the knife on top of the olives and tap the knife with your fist to split the olives and slip out the pits.

I prefer to use a meat mallet. Give the olives a good tap with the mallet to crack them. Slip the pits out of the cracked olives.

Don’t have a meat mallet? Take a can—whatever you find in your cupboard that fits easily in your hand and has a little weight behind it. Carefully clean the lid, and then lightly crush the olives with the can and slip out the pits.