With this year's tax deadline moved to July 15th, you might be tempted to push your taxes to the back of your mind. Now is a good time, however, to set up a system that will keep your tax records safe and easy to find. Here's how to make organizing your taxes even easier:

• Speak to a professional about tax minimization strategies you can employ.
   
• Already worried about next year's tax burden? Adjust your withholding to avoid a big bill at tax time.
   

• Take action when your life changes. Getting married or divorced, having a child, incorporating a business - these are all life changes that may affect your taxes. Speak to a professional about updating your tax information.

   
• Keep all your tax documents organized in one place. Add files, documents, and receipts as they arrive.
   
• Find a tax specialist. If you're not currently working with a tax professional, now is a good time to interview one.

* 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.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov[9]

Most of the tour pros who crush the ball off the tee have long, flowing backswings, featuring a great takeaway and a big arc that sets up a powerful downswing. One simple exercise can promote this.

Find a backless bench about 1' wide (you might see one on the next tee, in fact). Get your driver and take your stance on one side of the bench and put your driver over the other side. (In other words, put the foot-wide bench seat between you and your club.) Now make your takeaway with your driver and try to go as far back as you can. The bench prevents you from pulling your driver to the inside, and it teaches you how to extend your takeaway for a larger, powerful arc.

• It calms your mind. When you're stressed and can't work out how you're feeling, writing your thoughts in a stream-of-consciousness style may help you determine your stressors, find solutions, and resolve conflicts.
   
• You get to know yourself. Once you begin examining your inner thoughts, you'll have a better barometer of who you are.
   
• Be a better problem solver. Allowing your right brain to have some leeway can help you find creative solutions that your left brain may not have been unable to concoct on its own.

What is permaculture gardening, and how does it compare to regular gardening?

Quite simply, permaculture gardening is shorthand for "permanent agriculture." Rather than changing your garden every year, a permaculture garden is designed to be a year-round affair, working with your natural environment. Every part of the garden design and planting is considered with these principles in mind: to do the least amount of labor without destroying the land.

Plant stacking is one of the easiest ways to implement permaculture gardening into your own plot. Trees are the top layer, followed by shrubs, herbaceous plants, and then ground-cover plants. Vines can be incorporated as well. Plant stacking protects your plants from exposure to wind and rain, while also maximizing the amount of space in your garden.

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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
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