S2-Pointe West Living-Vol.565

EAST COAST TAX & FINANCIAL PLANNING

Your Accountant, Financial Advisor, & Insurance Agent... All

By Gabby Gregory

When was the last time you sat down with your accountant, nancial advisor, and insurance agent all in one room or on a conference call to talk about you, your money, and your goals? If you’re like most other people, then your answer is “never.”

At East Coast Tax & Financial Planning, however, you receive comprehensive advice about all three — accounting and taxes, insurance, and investment/ nancial management — during each and every meeting. After all, as the owner and CEO of the business — Danny Howes, EA, RFC — says, “You can make the best nancial investment decisions in the world, but if you’re giving most of it to Uncle Sam, it’s not a good investment strategy.”

Discovering the Dangers & Disconnect

For the past 20+ years, Danny has been working in the nancial services industry with a speci c mission in mind: to prevent people from going through the same unfortunate scenario that his family did.

Indeed, Danny’s father had no plans in place when, suddenly, he died of a heart attack at 60 years old. This tragedy led to a dif cult and challenging journey to put the pieces back together and ensure his mother and family were taken care of properly. In response to the experience, Danny transformed his whole approach to nancial planning and went to the drawing board, designing a planning process to help others avoid similar situations.

As he spent more time in the nancial industry, Danny realized that there was a “huge disconnect” between taxes, insurance, and investments. He decided the best solution would be to bridge those gaps himself, as he had the training, experience, and licenses for each.

in One!

Comprehensive Financial Planning for Everyone

East Coast Tax & Financial Planning is a full-service accounting rm and insurance agency that offers investment management and nancial advice. Even if the experts at East Coast Tax & Financial Planning aren’t providing services in all three of these areas, they are happy to collaborate with your other providers to ensure that the advice and guidance given in any of these areas is accurate.

Danny and his professional team strive to educate and empower their clients to make smart nancial choices, whether they are business planning, saving for retirement, or already retired. Their process meets their clients where they’re at now, and they work together to develop a plan and a strategy to help their clients get where they want to go.

“It’s essential to look at potential pitfalls that can derail your plan and then proactively add measures of protection and maneuvers to navigate through the ‘what-ifs’ in life.

Like in science, we look at your nancial plan and apply pressure. We want to see what your plan looks like in alternative environments. For example, economic downturn, disability, premature death, long-term care, etc. Planning for these things makes it much easier to handle them when they arise, instead of dealing with them in real-time with no clear plan in place.”

— Danny Howes, EA, RFC

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

Visit East Coast Tax & Financial Planning sooner rather than later to make the proper plans to protect yourself, your family, and your loved ones! Danny attests that his clients have expressed that they wish they had started the process much sooner.

Danny Howes, EA, RFC

Wealth Management and Investment Advisory Services are offered through Truvestments Capital LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.

Top Reasons

Full-Service Financial Planning: As a nancial advisor knowledgeable in all three areas (tax, insurance, and investments), we can provide a more thorough nancial plan that considers all the important aspects of a client’s nancial situation.

Coordination of Financial Strategies: With expertise in accounting, insurance, and investments, we are able to coordinate di erent nancial strategies to maximize their e ectiveness and minimize any potential con icts or pitfalls.

Tax Planning: As tax accountants, we can provide valuable advice to help our clients minimize their tax liabilities and maximize their retirement income. We help our clients avoid the April “Shock & Awe” tax bills by proactively planning the tax year.

Risk Management: ere is more risk to your nancial life than just whether the market is up or down. As an independent insurance agency, we help clients solve for the “what ifs” in life, such as long-term care, loss of a spouse, disability, and income gap planning.

Fiduciary Investment Advice: As duciary investment advisors, we are required to make recommendations that are in your best interest. We provide expertise in investing, including asset allocation, diversi cation, and risk management, which can help clients achieve their long-term investment goals.

thorough

nancial situation.

Coordination of Financial Strategies: With expertise in accounting, insurance, and investments, we are able to coordinate di erent nancial strategies to maximize their e ectiveness and minimize any potential con icts or pitfalls.

Tax Planning: As tax accountants, we can provide valuable advice to help our clients minimize their tax liabilities and maximize their retirement income. We help our clients avoid the April “Shock & Awe” tax bills by proactively planning the tax year.

Risk Management: ere is more risk to your nancial life than just whether the market is up or down. As an independent insurance agency, we help clients solve for the “what ifs” in life, such as long-term care, loss of a spouse, disability, and income gap planning.

Fiduciary Investment Advice: As duciary investment advisors, we are required to make recommendations that are in your best interest. We provide expertise in investing, including asset allocation, diversi cation, and risk management, which can help clients achieve their long-term investment goals.

For What It’s Worth

I know I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, but I must have been living under a rock not to have appreciated the full magnitude of AI. For those of you who do not know what those initials stand for, they are Arti cial Intelligence. You know those little boxes with the pictures in them, that you have to click on to make sure you’re not a robot. ey ask you to identify the squares with the motorcycles or trees or school buses? Well, apparently AI’s cannot think for themselves so they get stumped at the pictures because they have not been programmed to respond to them. Not yet. ankfully they can’t think for themselves. (I use the word “they” as if they have taken on a human form, but to date, they are just computerized machines as far as I know). You know what else they can do? Rumor has it that they can apply for jobs, on sites such as INDEED, which makes life easier for the applicant. But what if they could think for themselves? What if they evolve into a thinking and acting machine one day. e reason I ask is because I understand that people such as Elon Musk are asking for a “pause” on further development of AI’s because these people are “concerned” about what they might be able to do in the future if the rapid rate they are evolving continues. Now I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “concerned,” it freaks me out. To me that is a code word for “what until you see what happens next”. Imagine if AI’s could actually think for themselves and begin to run amok. I have friends who say that is impossible. I’m sure Orville and Wilbur Wright were told

by Dr. Mel , Ph.D.

the same thing when they took their rst ight. Besides, AI’s don’t have to think for themselves to do damage. All they have to do is get programmed some whacko who wants to do harm to people or the country at large. And I don’t think I have to tell you we have bad people living among us.

Of course the other side of the argument is that AI’s can do so much good in the health care eld, possibly coming up with solutions to medical problems and make advances that can save lives some day. at would be for the greater good, but there is potential to do the greater bad, and I don’t like it. On a personal level I am discouraged if not downright disgusted by the fact that AI’s have crept their way into the novel writing arena. If they are given a plot, some characters, and a genre, such as mystery or love story, they can come up with a pretty darn good book, and soon writers like me (who are still waiting to get my book on Amazon, but soon I hope) don’t have a chance, and what’s worse, when you, the buyer, purchase a book, you won’t know whether it was written buy a real author or an AI. AI’s have also made their way into the world of academia, and are doing homework, writing term papers and book reports, and even thesis papers as we speak. To me, all that might look good on paper, but it’s just going to make students stupid if they don’t have to do the work themselves.

Look, I don’t have all the facts, but from what I’ve heard, I’m getting a little nervous about the future. I mean we

already have enough trouble communicating with each other with the addition of texting, and social media substituting for actual phone calls and good old fashion letter writing. Imagine this scenario. You want to have a ght with your husband, but he always bullies you into giving up. He can’t win an argument with you because once you start crying, he caves. But suppose each spouse programs their AI (in the future of course, when they live with you) to ght each other while you both go to bed. Each of you enter the necessary information, and your AI’s duke it out, without emotions. en, you wake up in the morning and nd out who wins the argument. Science ction? Maybe. But what if it isn’t? For what it’s worth, I like a good old fashioned argument where we say stupid things, and then make up. It keeps the relationship new and our brains in good working order. We win some, and we lose some. If I want to make a point, I certainly don’t want to have a machine take the credit, but that’s just me.

Comments or Suggestions

Treasure Coast Trimlight: For Life’s Moments

By Gina Zuk

• Roo ine Lighting

• Patio Lighting

• Deck Lighting

• Commercial Lighting

• Downlights

• Pool Covers

• Boat Docks

• Pergolas and Awnings

Why Choose Treasure Coast Trimlight?

Awesome Warranty and 100% Guaranteed

Long-lasting and elegant, Treasure Coast Trimlight permanent lighting will have you feeling like every day is a holiday. e permanent lighting system is out tted with the highest quality RGB LED, energy-e cient lights that are bright and low pro le. Owners and operators, John and Brennan Brown discovered the endless possibilities and safety features of the Trimlight product when they purchased the system for their former home on the west coast. Now, residents of Port St. Lucie, John and Brennan have enlightened customers in communities on the Treasure Coast from Sebastian to Hobe Sound and Okeechobee. Enjoy year-round stunning aesthetic appeal with Trimlight’s patented channel system built to match your home and hide wires from view. is keeps your home looking beautiful and keeps the system HOA-compliant. Trimlight’s system is virtually invisible during the day and radiant at night allowing for 16 million light color options that are custom-catered to your every need. One installation and you have hands-free, yearround lighting built for any occasion.

From your design call, to install. John and Brennan are committed to their customers by providing the very best warranty on product and labor. Although all the bulbs are waterproof and designed to withstand adverse weather conditions, Treasure Coast Trimlight still o ers the following: Lifetime Guarantee On All Parts: is amount of time is dependent upon the usage the individual part sustains. ree Year Labor Warranty: is may include faulty bulbs, power supply parts, LED controllers, connections, aluminum channel nish, etc. In addition, if a bulb were to go out, John and Brennan are an easy phone call away.

ey will come out to your home to replace the bulb at no charge.

Safety is a Priority

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Each year in the U.S., more than 100 people die and thousands more are injured from ladder-related falls.” So why risk your health by stuggling to put up holiday lights with endless wires and cords year a er year? Treasure Coast Trimlight will provide you with a permanent, one-time install of bulbs that last ten times longer and use 1/10th of the energy! Treasure Coast Trimlight is not all about aesthetics. e system is a perfect solution to added security for you and your family.

e ush-mounted so t downlighting system easily attaches to your home and looks identical to current models of recessed can lighting. It provides a perfect splash of light that is not only curb appealing, but is perfect for security lighting.

Cutting Edge, User-Friendly Technology

e Trimlight app is amazing, making your entire lighting system completely customizable based on what you want to achieve from your lighting system. With virtually unlimited color and animation options, our programmable system gives customers the control and versatility to set their lights for every major holiday, sporting event, or any special occasion throughout the year. e app is extremely user-friendly and compatible with Android and Apple devices. e app comes with over 180 presets, pre-con gured holiday patterns, and daily timers, which is very helpful for those who are less

tech-savvy. For those who want complete customization, users caalso set custom sequences and make their own color combos as well as the ability to sync to music.

It is also Alexa and Google Home enabled. Set it and forget it. At the time of installation, customers will receive an overview and training on how to use the app, so they are good to go without any confusion or questions!

Fully licensed and insured, Treasure Coast Trimlight’s permanent programmable holiday and year-round lighting is designed to make your home or business stand out in excellence.

John and Brennan are happy to o er obligation-free complimentary design consultations at your home or virtually.

During the consultation, John and Brennan will discuss what your new lighting should accomplish, and what features you would like to accentuate. John explains, “Customers can pick and choose what they would like for their home.” Once you see the endless possibilities and bene ts of permanent lighting, you will sure to become one of many Treasure Coast Trimlight’s shiny, happy customers!

To schedule a consultation, call 772-919-5082 or visit www.treasurecoasttrimlight.com to see their gallery of photos and request aquote. Flexible nancing options are available.

Copyrighted© My Living Media. 2023 All Rights reserved. To Advertise call 772-247-6849

medical MARIJUANA Is

By Gabby Gregory

just more…FAKENEWS?

By now, you’ve likely heard the almost miracle-like anecdotes from “patients” on the news about medical marijuana as it becomes more mainstream. When I hear these stories, I have to wonder: are they legitimate? I had to know the TRUTH, so I arranged to sit down with Dr. Anne Lynn Morgan, the Chief Medical Of cer at MMJ Health, Florida’s toprated medical marijuana doctor’s of ce.

Many people don’t know that medical marijuana is legal in Florida, let alone readily available at over 250 in-state dispensaries (imagine a pharmacy speci cally for medical marijuana). For years, pop culture has depicted marijuana primarily as a recreational drug, but there’s more to the plant than what’s shown on the silver screen. Since its legalization, medical marijuana’s profound effects have changed the lives of countless Floridians. Dr. Morgan, as Florida’s top rated Medical Marijuana Specialist, is responsible for much of this positive impact. Indeed, she and the staff at MMJ Health were honored to be named by The Palm Beach Post as the “Best Medical Marijuana Card Provider” for their level of service and ef cacy in 2020!

Additionally, Dr. Morgan is an expert in the eld of medical marijuana, and is among one of the most respected clinicians in the industry. She sits on the board of directors for the American Academy of Cannabis Medicine, is a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, and is considered to be one of the industry’s highest-rated cannabis clinicians (no pun intended). Dr. Morgan has been in practice for 33 years and was the former Medical Director for United Health, Metropolitan Health, and Humana.

Dr. Morgan has been practicing marijuana medicine speci cally for the last 9 years, with licenses in Florida, Washington, and Pennsylvania. After years of education, research, and handson experience, Dr. Morgan attests to the relief medical marijuana brings to people, saying, “We have found that we have over a 90% success rate with medical cannabis.”

Dr. Morgan explains that medical marijuana patients at MMJ Health, rather than experiencing psychoactive effects or feeling high, nd relief from various medical conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, arthritis, cancer, IBS, epilepsy, PTSD, autoimmune disorders, migraines, Parkinson’s, ADHD, Fibromyalgia, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and more. Medical marijuana is not for getting high, it’s for feeling better! How does it work? It’s simple – THC and CBD.

THC and CBD are two chemical compounds that come from the marijuana plant and affect the endocannabinoid system, the human body’s natural system for processing cannabis. “The endocannabinoid system’s reason for existing is to keep our bodies in homeostasis, i.e. healthy and balanced. Cannabis can positively affect so many systems in the body that are not being managed properly by pharmaceuticals,” says Dr. Morgan. Many of MMJ’s patients, since using medical cannabis, have been able to drastically reduce their prescription medication regimen, or have stopped taking prescriptions altogether!

Marijuana is still classi ed as a Schedule 1 substance federally, but Dr. Morgan explains, “It’s not what you think… Medical marijuana is not a narcotic. In fact, after using medical marijuana, many of our patients have reduced taking narcotics and/or opiates without even being asked!”

Medical marijuana is not like anything sold on the street... it’s completely safe! When you get your marijuana from a dispensary, you don’t have to worry about whether it was adulterated. Dr. Morgan clari es, “Florida has very stringent rules about how medical marijuana is grown and prepared, so you know it’s clean, pesticide-free, and has no bacteria or viruses.”

Medical marijuana has become a go-to for doctors across the nation to give their patients relief from a myriad of conditions without having to worry about the severe side effects associated with many pharmaceuticals. For the patients at MMJ Health, medical marijuana is 100% making a difference in their everyday lives. The stories are real. Dr. Morgan says that it is not uncommon for patients to cry, hug, and thank her because they are feeling better than ever since using medical cannabis. Dr. Morgan has seen the results, and she urges anyone and everyone to consider trying medical marijuana.

MMJ Health is at the forefront of technology, so nding out if you qualify for a medical marijuana card is super simple! The MMJ Patient Quali cation System, accessible at www.mmjhealth.com, allows you to nd out in minutes whether you qualify. If you do, then the MMJ Health of ce will contact you. MMJ Health has all of the resources necessary to get your health back on track!

So the real question now is: why wait? MMJ Health is the only all-inclusive medical marijuana of ce in Florida, so you can get quali ed for your medical marijuana card in one visit. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will ll out the tricky government application for you, take your ID photo in their of ce, and submit all of your paperwork to the Florida Health Department. The only thing you have to do once you leave their of ce is wait for your card!

“You shouldn’t have to suffer… medical cannabis can help you! We are real doctors who provide real results,” says Dr. Morgan. The expert staff at MMJ Health encourages you to “Please come and see the MMJ Health difference. We care, we make a difference as a team, and we know our cannabis medicine. Isn’t it time to live your life the way you want, symptom and side-effect free?”

MMJ Health is located at 600 Sandtree Drive in Suite 108 in Palm Beach Gardens. MMJ Health also has locations in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Melbourne, Wellington, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton. Their of ces are open Mondays-Fridays from 9AM-7PM and Saturdays-Sundays from 10AM-7PM. For more information, please call 561-631-7994 or 772-212-4032, or visit www.mmjhealth.com.

Don’t Wait Until

The Top 9 Bene ts of Hurricane Impact Windows

By Gabby Gregory

1.) Stronger Protection and Greater Insulation from Storms Impact windows (a/k/a hurricane windows) are designed to withstand Category-5 hurricane winds (200-mph+). An interlayer is situated between two thick layers of glass, ensuring that absolutely no water, debris, and/or wind will enter your home to cause damage. Even if the outer glass of the window is somehow punctured, the glass is designed to crack in a spiderweb pattern, thus eliminating the possibility of the window blowing out entirely.

2.) Energy-Ef cient

Hurricane windows seal off the interior of your home so well that your air conditioning bill can decrease. You don’t have to worry about your air, or your money, going out the window—literally.

3.) Less Time, Energy, and Anxiety

With alternative storm protection methods, you need to invest your time and energy preparing your home for the impending storm. This preparedness can cause you stress if something suddenly does not work or requires more than one person to work. Hurricane windows, on the other hand, are hassle-free and require no work on your part.

4.) Increased Lighting with UV Protection

In the event of a hurricane, with impact windows, you can rely on having natural light as a resource without compromising your security. Additionally, the glass has greater UV protection, so any light that does come through will not cause fading on your carpeting or furniture.

5.) Noise Reduction

Impact windows are thicker, so you can relax in your home without having to hear the hustle and bustle of the outside world... or any neighbors’ pets.

6.) Intruder Protection

If 200-mph winds cannot destroy hurricane windows, then burglars stand no chance! Would-be intruders will be disappointed to learn that your home has impact windows because there is little chance that they will be able to break them.

7.) Lower Insurance Rates

Your insurance company will be so excited to learn that you are giving your home the best protection possible that it will likely reduce your rates.

8.) Higher Property Values

Homes with hurricane windows have higher property values. If you ever sell your house in the future, you will attract buyers who are willing to pay more for the added protection.

9.) Made in the U.S.A.

Hurricane windows from Max Guard are crafted entirely in the United States of America. When you choose Max Guard impact windows, you are supporting the American workforce and economy!

So, what are you waiting for? Give the professionals at Max Guard a call today to nd out more about how their hurricane windows will protect you, your family, and your home.

The new Max Guard Hurricane Windows showroom is located at 2257 Vista Parkway, Suite 28, in West Palm Beach. It is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM and Saturday 10AM to 2PM. For more information, please call 561-566-5MAX (5629) or visit MaxGuardHurricane.com.