Vol. 10, Issue 2, February 2021
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Your community. Your magazine. ™
The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To Over 15,000 Homes In Citrus Park, Westchase & Surrounding Areas This Independent Community News, Business & Dining Guide Is Directly Mailed Once Each Month To:
Arlington Park • Aston Villas • Bay Arbor • Berkeley Square • Calf Path Estates • Enclave At Citrus Park • Fawn Ridge Fawn Lake • Forest Lakes • Hampton Lakes • Highland Park • Lake Chase • Mandolin • The Eagles • Tree Tops Twin Branch Acres • Waterchase • West Hampton • Westchase • Westchester • Westwood Lakes • Windsor Place
Rizzotto Wealth Management As the 2020 tax return deadline approaches, it is a perfect time for those ages 60 or older to take advantage of a $99 fee to have their income taxes prepared with a company that is trusted for going the extra mile for its clients. Rizzotto Wealth Management extends their $99 flat-rate fee for federal returns (state returns are included if applicable) to Active & Retired Military, First Responders, Government Employees and Educators of any age. All tax returns are prepared by one of the firm’s Senior Tax Preparers or IRS Enrolled Agents. If you don’t fit into one of the mentioned categories, give them a call to inquire about their special pricing. Through changing tax environments, it is crucial to work with a firm that is
up to date on policy and can help you navigate through the stressful tax season ahead. At Rizzotto Wealth Management you will find a team of Investment, Insurance, Tax & Legal Experts. They have recently opened their doors in a more spacious and upgraded office and are ready to serve all of your financial needs at their new location. They specialize in educating their clients on subjects such as: how to preserve your assets, how to diversify your portfolio for growth and safety, and how to create more income for retirement while reducing your taxes. Rizzotto Wealth Management is committed to assisting their clients every step of the way when it comes to Investing, Retirement, Income Planning, and Taxes. The firm is
Nic Ranocchia, Managing Partner and Ed Rizzotto, Founder and Managing Partner
dedicated to providing exemplary service while displaying the highest standards of ethics and professional knowledge. They are approved members of the National Ethics Association and the National Association of Tax Professionals. Rizzotto Wealth Management’s main See “Rizzotto” on page 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor.....................5 Tech Talk with Bob................8 SAT/ACT Improvement...12-13
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February is Full of History! I want to start by saying Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their incredible and historic 2021 NFC Championship win. Since Tom Brady signed with the Bucs this offseason, not one but three professional Tampa Bay teams have made it to their respective championship matchups. My beloved Tampa Bay bolts ended the 2020 season as the Stanley Cup champions after beating the Dallas Stars. The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the World Series in October but fell to the L. A Dodgers, and now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a chance to win the Super Bowl this February. Go Bucs! Besides football, February is full of romance and food. Many of the days celebrated in national monthly events during February are food-oriented; I see you “Valentine’s Day” and “Chocolate Lover’s Month.” If you’ve read any of my previous articles and editorials, you know how big of a foodie I am, but this is not my focus. February also happens to host “American Heart Month” and “Black history month,” a couple of important causes that I wanted to bring awareness into. Focusing on your heart health has never been more important. Heart disease is the No.1 killer of Americans. People with poor cardiovascular health are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The good news is that heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include: • Not smoking. • Maintaining a healthy weight. • Controlling blood sugar and cholesterol. • Treating high blood pressure. • Getting at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity a week. • Getting regular checkups. Research shows that we’re more successful at meeting personal health goals when we make them “public,” which gives us a sense of accountability. So if you’re
on social media, that means sharing your personal goals on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social platforms. Share your health goals with your relatives, friends, and acquaintances using hashtag #AmericanHeartMonth and #OurHearts, and see what others all over the country are doing to reach their goals. Bring awareness to the importance of having a self-care routine and inspire yourself and others to have a healthy heart! Since 1976, every American President has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2021 theme, “Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” explores the dispersion and diversity of Black families across the United States. February is an opportunity to honor Black Americans’ too-often neglected accomplishments in every area of endeavor throughout history. Some ways to celebrate Black History Month include but are not limited to; Supporting an African American business. Visiting a Black History or Civil Rights Museum in your local area. Donating to a Black charity or non-profit organization. Signing up to mentor an African American child in your community. Calling out racism and prejudice in your community. Reading books and articles on Black leaders, authors, and other historical figures, amongst others. I hope you’re all still finding ways to stay positive, strong, and healthy throughout these unprecedented pandemic times. I know we were all hoping and expecting COVID19 to stay in 2020 and be over by now, but it’s still in full force. Please continue to do your part, and continue to make smart and healthy choices for yourself and your loved ones. Until next time,
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi
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By Bob Dalles
Tech Talk with Bob: Upgrade Safely
If you just got a new computer or are thinking about upgrading to a new system, you might just have a need for my team. Clients have found peace of mind with these two services we offer businesses and individuals. Data Transfers: If you are upgrading from an older computer to a newer one, you probably want to have all of your personal data transferred from your old computer to your new computer too. A lot of folks ask me if we can move their existing data (music, pictures, documents, videos, etc.) from their old computer to their new computer. We do this routinely. Clients tell me countless stories of data losses from attempting to transfer their files without using the proper techniques. We will safely and securely move your data quickly and painlessly. If the reason you are getting a new computer is because your old computer will not boot up, I usually can still recover your data off of your old dead system. Once you have upgraded to your new computer and have successfully transferred all of your pictures, documents, and other personal files over to it, what do you do with your old computer? First, never throw your old computer into the trash. It needs to be disposed of properly and responsibly because it contains elements that are not safe for our environment. In addition, most municipalities have laws
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and impose fines in regard to the proper/improper disposal of these items. Second, your discarded computer has a disk drive in it (hard disk drive/solid state drive) that stores your information, including your personal data. Even if you delete your personal files, there are still methods cyber criminals can use to extract data that you thought was permanently erased. Therefore your data on your old computer sitting by the curb or in a dumpster can be intercepted by anyone willing to rummage through your trash from the time you throw it out to the time it gets to the landfill. That is why I also offer my clients… Safe and Secure System Disposals: Let me explain the process. First, we remove the disk drive mounted inside your computer that actually stores all of your personal data and private information. It is usually in the form of a hard disk drive or solid-state drive. Second, we disassemble and dispose of the remaining components through proper industry channels we have in place. At this point all that is left is your old disk drive. Finally, we place that drive into an industrial shredder that converts the drive into a pile of rubble. There is no way any data will get into the hands of anyone, let alone cyber criminals, through an old computer we discarded. We can provide you with this quick and easy way to dispose of your old environmentally toxic computer. Plus, you also
have peace of mind knowing that the data that was on your old computer is safe and inaccessible because your computer has been dismantled and its disk drive is no longer in one piece. Cyber criminals will exploit the easy, unprotected systems. Protecting your data is your responsibility, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself. My staff and I are here to help you navigate through these cumbersome
and often confusing tasks. If you are not sure your system is safe, please have it looked over by a Professionally Certified Computer Technician. If you need a certified professional, call us now at 727-534-4000. We’ve been helping folks restore their peace of mind, and sanity, with their technology for decades. We Keep You Safer In Your Digital World!
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“Rizzotto” - continued from page 1 objectives are to help you Plan, Invest, and Protect. They work with clients to develop an overall plan that encompasses your entire financial picture, taking the time to establish a deep understanding of your financial needs in order to find the best investment strategy for you. Amidst the vast sea of negatives, they want to make sure you are properly positioned for the significant opportunities ahead.
Meet the Rizzotto Team Ed Rizzotto, Founder and Managing Partner, moved to Florida 48 years ago from New York and has been a Trinity resident since 2000. A graduate of Clearwater Central Catholic High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from National-Louis University in Evanston, IL. Ed also served both active and reserve duty for 13 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He started his Insurance and Financial career over 20 years ago. In 1999, he joined a local retirement planning firm, where he helped hundreds of people with tax and retirement planning for over six years. Ed Rizzotto enjoyed the opportunity to benefit the community, and was determined to create a complete local business where he could help clients (both pre-retirees and current retirees) save money on their taxes, better manage their portfolios, plan for the future and focus more on enjoying their retirement years – and The Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group was established in 2006. In 2019 Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group officially rebranded as Rizzotto Wealth Management to reflect the services they’ve always been passionate about, investments and retirement planning. Ed holds a state-regulated
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Life & Health license and specializes in finding the appropriate insurance vehicles for clients as well as retirement planning and tax reduction strategies. Nic Ranocchia, Managing Partner, is a graduate of the University of South Florida, with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Nic is a financial advisor who takes pride in digging into clients’ portfolios and making suggestions that make sense based on data and trends. He also brings a modern approach to the table using the latest technologies available to ensure all information is considered before a decision is made. With these techniques, Nic has been able to help many clients reach their financial goals. Together, Ed and Nic work efficiently as a team to serve their client’s financial needs as a whole. He is securities licensed and registered with FINRA as an Investment Advisory Representative and specializes in managed brokerage accounts. Lorrie Rizzotto, Director of Operations, joined the firm in 2009. Before joining Ed in running their family business, Lorrie specialized in corporate incentive and meeting planning. Married for 30 years, Lorrie and Ed have two children. Jennifer Alt, Administrative Assistant, gives everyone a warm reception and oversees the day to day office operations. Jennifer brings over 20 years of human resources and customer service experience to her role as Administrative Assistant and is a graduate of Florida State University. Lauren Schafer, Marketing Coordinator, oversees their marketing functions. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Entrepreneurship and has been with the team for over 2 years.
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Their team of IRS enrolled agents and senior tax preparers have an average of over 20 years of experience in tax preparation and tax law and are ready to assist you with all of your tax preparation needs. They also have a long-standing relationship with a trusted elder law attorney who specializes in wills, trusts and estate planning.
They go beyond just taxes Many members of the community have grown to know and trust the firm as a tax service, but their services stretch far beyond just taxes. They handle investments, insurance, brokerage accounts, portfolio management, retirement income planning and more. Rizzotto Wealth Management is guided by your goals and objectives and is not
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obligated to any single product or company. They look at your complete financial picture to serve as the single source for all of your financial needs. Through all phases of life, the Rizzotto Wealth Management team can help you establish the appropriate portfolio to help you pursue your financial goals. Rizzotto Wealth Management is committed to assisting their clients every step of the way, whether you’re looking for something with higher growth potential or safety they’ve got you covered! To schedule a tax consult or complimentary financial review, please call 727.683.9119. Fee-based financial planning and investment advisory services are offered through Truvestments Capital, LLC an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.
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SAT AND ACT IMPROVEMENT: THE MENTAL SIDE By Dr. Wayne Adams When I started helping students learn and achieve optimum performance at the college and grad school level many years ago, I was committed to the idea that half of optimum performance was mental. This has proven correct! All of my students today know that I firmly believe HALF OF THEIR ACHIEVING THEIR BEST SCORES on the SAT or ACT is MENTAL … and HALF is academic foundation, test “smarts”, strategies, specific knowledge, and techniques. In our classes, we incorporate many ways to Achieve and Maintain Your Peak Mental Performance Zone which has proven extremely helpful for my students. These principles and practices are incorporated into all areas of our classes, and I now have written an 18 page Guide which every student receives as part of the class. Not long ago, I asked one of my top-scoring students (SAT 1540) if he had test anxiety. On the surface, he was very calm and focused, so I would never have guessed his answer. “That is my biggest problem on these
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exams.” At the other end of the spectrum, another student had been going through a very difficult time outside of our classes and it spilled over into his taking a baseline exam. About halfway through, he totally broke down, started crying, and kept repeating “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.” Of course, we stopped and talked about what was happening in his “real life”, he calmed down, reestablished his zone, and moved ahead. In the middle was a young lady, very calm on the surface with a quick mind that thought on multiple tracks at the same time. During the first part of our first class, a “get to know you and hear the philosophies underlying the class” for my students and their parents, I asked if she ever had test anxiety. It was like she had been struck by lightning. She nodded vigorously while her mom spoke at the same time saying, “She gets so nervous the night before an exam that she can hardly talk or think, and has a very hard time going to sleep.” We all have some test anxiety before a big exam, we are all human. But how we manage this and turn it into peak mental performance
throughout the test is very important. Very few of my students ever say they never get nervous, sometimes lose focus, go down “rabbit trails” in their thinking, and other symptoms of losing their peak mental performance zone. The differentiating factor is how much this disrupts their ability score at their best, and how they can handle it when it happens. FULL ANXIETY RANGE CHART: We begin by understanding what can
happen just before and during the exam by reviewing my Full Anxiety Range Chart. This can range from the right balance of calm and a little anxiety in or peak performance zone, through multiple attacks by what we call “Gremlins” that can take some students “down the rabbit hole” mentally, emotionally, and even physically. The key is understanding these are all attacks aimed at the Will, and then how to stop them in their tracks.
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YOUR TEST TAKING PERSONALITY: Part of our thinking is guided by each student determining their “Test Taking Personality”. While there are many personality evaluations and classifications, none I have found focus specifically on test anxiety and peak mental performance zones. So I created four major types: Oh Wells, Intuitives, Logicals, and Perfectionists. Each has specific strengths and weaknesses related to scoring on exams, and many students have traits from several types. These four types span all test taking and learning levels ranging of my students from IBs, Cambridges, APs, AVIDs, general student population, public high schools, private high schools … to those qualifying for additional time on the exams (Section 504 students) including those with
ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Asperger’s. FOURTEEN THINGS YOU CAN DO: Once understanding what can happen and test taking personalities, our next step is how to use the 14 Things You Can Do During The Exam In Your Seat to stay in your peak mental performance zone and, if needed, quickly reestablish it. We also practice these during our baseline exams and Dress Rehearsal Exam. One of the things I really like about the mental preparation part of our classes is that what my students learn can help them the rest of their lives: high school, college, graduate school, and especially “life situation” exams which we all face from time to time. As all of my students and their parents know, my ultimate goal is for each
student and family to have their best possible futures, including doing their best on the SAT and/or ACT Exams. If You Would Like To Talk More About Your Student … Please contact me at 727-2530639 or send me an e mail at wwa0811@mykolab.com. Dr. Wayne Adams is one of the leading SAT and ACT tutors in the country. His students normally improve 200 – 350 points on the Writing, Reading, Writing and Essay, and Math, and 4 – 7 points on the ACT composite. They have been admitted to 8 of the top 10 universities in the country, 18 of the top 25, and many schools in Florida. These schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Notre Dame, Emory, UC Berkley, UCLA, USC, UNC (Chapel Hill), NYU,
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Northeastern (Boston), Boston College, Georgia Tech, Naval - Air Force - Merchant Marine Service Academies, Penn State, LSU, Auburn, UF, U Miami, FSU, USF, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, FIU, New College of Florida, Stetson, and Julliard – Manhattan - New England - and Berkley Conservatories of Music. Many have received academic, athletic, or music scholarships. This year, he also tutored three juniors who scored at the national merit finalist/semi-finalist levels on the most recent PSAT. He is a former Dean of a Graduate School of Business and Full Professor, and began college teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968. He has degrees and advanced studies at Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Columbia International, and Luther Rice.
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