If you or someone in your family is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may be eligible for some important tax benefits. According to the IRS, military families may benefit from:

• Filing deadline extensions if you served in a combat zone or meet other requirements.
   
• Combat pay exclusions. Some forms of combat pay are not subject to income taxes.
   
• Expense deductions for moving, transitioning to civilian life, and traveling as a reservist.
   
• Free tax help on military bases. 

For more information about filing taxes as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, consult a tax professional in your area or refer to Publication 3, "Armed Forces' Tax Guide."

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

At first glance, seemingly little. Yet, these two types of golf shots share something in common: a lack of "moving parts."

A good chip starts with a narrow stance of about 60% of your weight on your left leg (assuming you play right-handed). You play the ball back in your stance, which promotes your club shaft to lean forward. Your stroke is like a putting stroke: you keep your hands locked and steady. You aren't trying to use your hands to make the shot work; you are letting the loft of the club do the work. These are the fundamentals of a good chip.

• Keep your heart healthy. Good cardiovascular health allows for the optimal delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain.
   
• Get some rest. Seven to nine hours of sleep every night gives your brain time to recharge and rejuvenate.
   
• Eat well and exercise. Doing so has a positive effect on your entire body.
   
• Engage with others. Social time can reduce stress.
   
• Learn a new skill. Neural connections are built when we challenge ourselves. There's more benefit to doing this than mindless, repetitive brain "exercises."

Earth Day is officially celebrated on April 22, 2020. But what can you do to make every day Earth Day? Here are a few simple tips that you can do to help make your home - and the world - a little bit greener.

• Swap out a disposable plastic bottle for one made out of stainless steel.
   
• Replace incandescent lights with energy-efficient ones. Switching to CFL or LED light bulbs can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• Reduce the amount of paper mail you get. Cancel subscriptions to magazines or newspapers you no longer read. And with how easy shopping online is these days, you can ask the companies you receive catalogs from to stop mailing them to you.

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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.

International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative,

Broker dealer or Investment Advisor and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial professional for further information.

Summit Financial Group
Summit Financial Group of Indiana
4050 Britt Farm Dr
Suite C
Lafayette, IN 47905
866-582-5721
jon@summit-fp.com
http://www.summitfinancialgroupofindiana.com