Wednesday, July 19, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Fit For
Sisters
Andrew Luscutoff
Columnist
Free local support
for the wellness
journey
Our nation, our society,
our future is faced with
a growing obesity chal-
lenge. Our nation needs to
make some changes. These
changes offer complex con-
siderations. Many of these
are insurmountable even
with the most aggressive
legislation, regulations, or
promotion.
One of the biggest pre-
dictors of health seems to
be the health and wellness
of the others a person sur-
rounds themselves with. If
friends and family follow
healthy habits, those hab-
its translate. If someone’s
friends belly up to the bar
every Friday night, it’s
hard not to do the same.
On the other hand, if some-
one’s friends are engaged
in healthy activities, then
that person is likely to join
them.
Part of the joy of a career
as a health and fitness pro-
fessional has been crack-
ing the perceptions and
helping people realize that
they can enjoy fitness and
health whilst still enjoying
much of their life like they
always have. Whether this
is through moderating diet,
teaching exercise routines,
or training for mobility and
balance, when a person
moves toward their goals it
empowers and opens new
opportunities.
In order to reach this
point of self-actualization,
someone needs a starting
point. All too often a person
attempts to begin their jour-
ney from the expert plat-
form, skipping the prerequi-
site base of practice before
jumping right in. Over-
ambition and gumption get
the better of us, which inev-
itably leads to dropout and
often a sour taste in one’s
mouth.
The feeling of failure
leads to disdain against try-
ing again, and people often
develop the notion that
they’re too far gone.
This is why as a pro-
fessional, it’s important to
approach a person as an
individual case, with indi-
vidual aspirations, needs,
and prior perceptions. This
is also how an individual
must consider themselves,
knowing that the magazine
workouts, the diet “pro-
grams” and fitness videos
are not one-size-fits-all.
Arming others with alli-
ances, knowledge, and
peace of mind is also essen-
tial. If anyone reading this
has ever deemed them-
selves a failure, struggled,
or even thought that their
journey would be better
with a support group then
it would be worth consider-
ing a new community-based
group at Sisters Athletic
Club.
The group focuses on
diet, and follows an eight-
week format. Every two
weeks there will be a group
gathering complete with
a topic to discuss. Local
experts are on hand and
everyone is treated with
respect as a peer, not a
patient.
The first meeting is
August 8, at 5:30 p.m.
These are free to the com-
munity, and a gym member-
ship is not required. Please
RSVP to the meeting to
Andrew@sistersathletic
club.com or ask questions
for more info!
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Look At What We Can Do For You.
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Fridays & Saturdays 5 to 7 p.m.
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27
Celebrating
11
Post Officer...
PHOTO PROVIDED
Lance Trowbridge (left) was presented with his certificate of
graduation by Tom Harris, 1st Vice Commander, Department of
Oregon American Legion. Lance completed Post Officer training
for the year 2017-18 in Albany on July 16.
Let’s Paint Nature Watercolor
lor Class
NO DRAWING EXPERIENCE NEEDED!
ED!
Learn to paint from photos of beautiful butterfl
terfl ies,
birds, fl owers, dragonfl ies and much more!
Jodi Schneider teaches you to easily transfer
any photo to watercolor paper.
Ongoing classes begin
July 24; Mondays | 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Ages 9-13 | Only $50
SPRD. Call 541-549-2091.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
The Benefi ts of Donating
IRA Distributions to Charity
If you’ve accumulated a signifi cant amount of money in traditional and rollover
individual retirement accounts (IRAs), you may want to consider tax-effi cient
strategies that can reduce your tax burden and benefi t your favored charities.
IRAs, while an effective tool for retirement savings, may also create tax
challenges when you start taking distributions, which are subject to income
tax. So how can you turn your IRA distributions into charitable
donations and reduce your tax burden? One tax-effi cient way to make
charitable contributions is through a Qualifi ed Charitable Distribution (QCD).
A QCD is directing your IRA custodian to make a direct transfer of funds from
your traditional IRA to a qualifi ed charity. The amount transferred from your
IRA as a QCD is not included in your taxable income.
Multiple tax benefi ts Making a direct distribution to a qualifi ed charity
from your IRA is an option limited to those who have reached age 70-1/2. An
individual can direct up to $100,000 tax-free per year from their traditional IRAs.
The distribution must come from an individual IRA or rollover IRA. The option
is not available for workplace retirement plans, active SEP or SIMPLE IRA.
The QCD approach creates a variety of potential tax benefi ts, including:
• Avoiding limits on charitable contributions. The qualifi ed charitable
distribution allows you to direct up to $100,000 to be paid directly by the
custodian, regardless of your adjusted gross income in a given tax year.
• Using a standard deduction. The QCD excludes income from the IRA
distribution, freeing up the standard deduction to offset taxable income.
• Retaining the full benefi t of itemized deductions and personal
exemptions. If you make a charitable contribution, a QCD allows you
to avoid having to take a large IRA donation as income because you are
donating it. Therefore, you won’t infl ate your income to higher levels that
could impact your ability to itemize deductions and personal exemptions.
• Other tax benefi ts. Keeping your income lower through direct
distributions from IRAs to charities also may help you:
- Reduce taxes you might have to pay on a portion of your Social Security benefi ts;
- Avoid paying higher Medicare Part B premiums;
- Potentially limit state income taxes;
- Claim other deductions that can only be declared when your expenses exceed a
percentage of your adjusted gross income.
Meeting required distribution rules Another important tax advantage of
qualifi ed charitable distributions is that you can use the strategy to satisfy
required minimum distribution (RMD) rules each tax year. After you reach age
70-1/2, you are required to take distributions from traditional IRAs. A QCD can
satisfy your required distribution obligations in any given year.
As you consider a planning strategy that includes QCDs, consult with your
tax and fi nancial advisors about your situation. Also, check with the charitable
organization of your choice to be sure they are a qualifi ed charity and can
accommodate a direct distribution from your IRA.
Mark Greaney is a Financial Advisor with
PacWest Wealth Partners, an advisory practice
of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Bend,
Oregon. He specializes in fee-based fi nancial
planning and asset management strategies and
has been in practice for 17 years. Contact Mark
at www.PacWestWealthPartners.com, or call him
at 541-389-0889. Mark is located at 35 NW
Hawthorne Avenue, Bend, OR.
Ameriprise Financial and its affi liates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their
tax advisor or attorney regarding their specifi c situation. Investment advisory products and services are
made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise
Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2016 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.