A FREE Monthly Newsletter From Your Friends At FRANKS & RECHENBERG, P.C.
Volume 15
Issue 3
MARCH
2015
MARCH EVENTS
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME MARCH 8
ST. PATRICK’S DAY MARCH 17
SPRING BEGINS MARCH 20
INJURED ON THE JOB? Insurance company pushing you around? Need to get your bills PAID? Want to know what is your case worth? CALL David N. Rechenberg at (847) 854-7700 so he can
start working on your case right away!
Page 1
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We will send them a welcome letter along with the first issue letting them know that you gave them a free subscription to our monthly “Tidbits for Today” publication. This is a wonderful idea to help your friends and loved ones enjoy the most out of life.
Are You Ready For March Madness?
Americans are enthusiastic supporters
of big sporting events. But in March,
they go from fans to fanatics over
basketball. Get your brackets ready,
the NCAA Basketball tournament begins
March 17. Some say March Madness was
originally isolated in Illinois from
1908 to 1939. But the madness has
since spread as teams throughout the
country enter the tournament.
The first three rounds begin on March
17. The championship will be played
April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis, Ind. There are 64 teams
this year that have a shot at the
national title. In this one-loss-and-
out format, if the hottest team gets
cold, the entire tournament is upside
down -- not to mention millions of
brackets. But that is one of the
tournament's charming and alarming
qualities.
(Continued to page 4)
Staying well
New Study: Caffeine Reduces Risk Of
Kidney Stones
Doctors used to tell kidney stone
formers to avoid caffeinated
drinks. Now they are doing the
opposite because an analysis of
studies given in the Journal of
Clinical Nutrition suggests that
caffeine actually helps to prevent
kidney stones.
The research on three large studies
of health professionals, who had
never had kidney stores, found that
those who consumed the most
caffeine were 25 percent less
likely to develop stones than those
who seldom consumed it.
The researchers say coffee contains
various antioxidant and anti-
inflammatory compounds that play a
role in kidney stone prevention.
Know a friend who was arrested for DUI? Offer them great advice! Tell them to call
David Franks at 847.854.7700 NOW!
www.McHenryCountyDUILawyer.com Page 2
Seven Big Tax Changes
For 2015
Though 2014 taxes don't need to be
filed until April, some late
starters won't make it. For 2014,
the penalty for late payment is 1
percent of your household income
or $95 per person. Changes for
2015:
1. The Health Insurance Penalty.
All Americans must have health
insurance or pay a penalty. For
2015, those penalties will be 2
percent of household income or
$325 per person, which can really
add up.
2. About 401(k) limits. Employee
contributions to a 401(k) plan
will increase to $18,000, up $500
from 2014. Tell your payroll
department now to adjust your
contributions.
3. Flexible Spending Accounts. The
2015 limit on employee
contributions is $2,550 for
qualified health care expenses.
That's up $50 from 2014. (continued to page 4)
Summary of Tax Forms for 2014
IRS implores you not to lose or ignore essential paperwork. This year there's a new tax form to fill out and include with your 2014 tax return. It's name is Form 1095-A, the Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. If you bought health insurance through the Marketplace, you should have it by now. If Form 1095A is lost, never shows up, or is wrong, you can get information on how to reach the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov and IRS.gov/aca. Think of the form like a W-2 from your employer or a 1099 that you'd get from a bank. The Marketplace reports the 1095-A information to the IRS, so be sure your tax return matches up. The IRS recently released a 21-page publication on how the Affordable Care Act affects taxes. It is IRS publication 5187 "Health Care Law: What's New for Individuals and Families." If you just started collecting Social Security in 2014, you should have received SSA-1099 by now. It's sent in January to people receiving Social Security Benefits. If you lost it or didn't get one, call 800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. A 1099 can also be sent to you for gambling winnings, self-employment or subcontractor income, interest and dividends on investments. So you might get two or three 1099s.
(continued to page 3)
March 25 is International Waffle Day
If you don't prepare waffles on a regular basis,
now's the time to seriously consider making them.
Waffles can become the focus of your next lunch
or supper, your 'just pop in the toaster' snack, or
your impressive dessert to finish off a dinner party.
They're inexpensive, easy-to-prepare, offer endless
inspiration and earn consistent accolades. Here's a
recipe that's delicious, and healthful. Gourmet
waffle styles include the Scandinavian vaffels,
Belgian or Liege yeasted waffles (gaufres, thicker
grid pattern), Dutch stroopwafels (two thin layers
of crunchy baked batter with a caramel-like
molasses filling), Hong Kong egg waffles (gai daan
jai, tiny and ball-shaped, fluffy inside and crusty on
the outside (pulled apart to eat one by one). Each
requires a special waffle iron, but low-cost brands
are available.
Oatmeal, Honey 'n Nut Waffles
This recipe makes 8. Extras can be frozen and re-
crisped in your toaster.
*1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
*2 teaspoons baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*2 eggs, lightly beaten
*1 1/2 or 2 cups milk
*1/4 cup butter, melted
*2 tablespoons honey
*1 cup quick-cooking oats
*1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
*Preheat the waffle iron. In a large bowl, combine
the flour, baking powder, oats and salt. In a smaller
bowl, whisk eggs, milk, butter and honey; stir into
dry ingredients and mix. Fold in nuts.
*Pour batter into center of the waffle iron. Close
lid and bake until waffle is golden brown. If the
batter seems runny or thin, let it sit for 5-10
minutes before putting on the iron; it will thicken
to the right consistency. Top waffles with warm
syrup or fresh fruit/jam with whipped cream or
yogurt.
(continued from page 2)
Summary of Tax Forms for 2014 Special events paperwork: Special events can create a string of paperwork. If you bought a house, be sure to keep the HUD-1, the closing statement you received when you bought or sold a house. If you refinanced a mortgage, you'd also have received the HUD-1 statement. If you have a newborn, be sure to have the child's Social Security card ready for tax time.
GETTING DIVORCED? WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILDREN? CONCERNED ABOUT WHO WILL
PAY THE BILLS AND MORTGAGE? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH YOUR SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT? HELP IS ON THE
WAY! REDUCE YOUR STRESS AND CALM YOUR FEARS. GET ROBERT S. MEDANSKY ON YOUR SIDE! ROBERT IS A
FAMILY ATTORNEY WITH OVER 29 YEARS EXPERIENCE HELPING PEOPLE GET THROUGH A DIVORCE! CALL ROB
NOW AT 847.854.7700. Page 3
Football Players Intimidate With
Colored Contact Lenses
It's bad enough to look across the line
of scrimmage into the eyes of a huge lineman.
But imagine if that guy was the devil himself!
To psyche out opponents, Mario
Williams, among others, is wearing a demonic,
blood-red pair of contact lenses. He says it
does nothing for his performance, but it's
like wearing a scary mask.
According to Athlon Sports, other
football players who have tried it include
Clemson's Kalon Davis, Vanderbilt's Caleb
Azubike, NFL receiver Santonio Holmes, and
retired NFL player Kyle Vanden Bosch.
(continued from page 2)
Seven Big Tax Changes For 2015
4. The Standard Deduction. The basic
tax break for all Americans each year
rises to $6,300 for single filers and
$12,600 for married taxpayers filing
jointly for 2015. That's up $100 and
$200 respectively. It's important
because if you can't itemize enough
deductions to pass this amount, this
is the only tax break you're likely to
get on your 2015 tax return.
5. New Tax Brackets. Tax thresholds
have been adjusted for inflation. The
highest rate of 39.6 percent will now
apply to single taxpayers who make
$413,200 and married couples making at
least $464,850. The figures are up 1.6
percent from 2014. For more
information, check the IRS website.
6. IRA Rollovers. In 2015, you can
only make one rollover from an IRA in
a 12-month period. But you can still
make as many "trustee-to-trustee"
transfers as you wish, moving your
money from one provider to another.
Limit all rollovers to direct
transfers in 2015 if you plan on
moving money more than once.
7. AMT changes. The "alternative
minimum tax" sets a limit on tax
breaks and ensures a minimum tax
burden on the middle class.
The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption
for 2015 is $53,600 for individuals
and $83,400 for joint filers, or up
about 1.5 percent from 2014.
INJURED ON THE JOB? Need to get your bills PAID? Wondering how the new Worker’s Compensation Law will affect your
case? Want to know what your case is worth? CALL David N. Rechenberg at 847.854.7700 for answers to your questions and so he
can start working on your case! www.IllinoisWorkInjuryLawyer.com Page 4
(Continued from page 1)
Are You Ready For March
Madness?
What is Bracketology? To heighten
viewers' interest, contests ensue
called NCAA Bracketology:
contestants pick the winners in
each geographic bracket.
Bracketology could bring the most
popular betting frenzy in sports,
generating a lot of interest for a
small investment.
Bracket contests are held in many
companies. The results are so
unpredictable that even the novice
can compete with the so-called
experts, making it fun for all.
“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow
where your thoughts take you.”
James Allen: British philosophical writer
ENJOY tea with honey and lemon. The tea hel
How about the meat group?
People Over Age 55 Are Fraudsters'
Favorite Targets
No question about it. Some age 55-plus Americans
have the most financial savvy of any group. But some
that age and older are targeted for various types of
fraud. They have income and savings, are open to
"good deals" offered by scammers, and, surprisingly, if
they turn out to be victims, 75 percent of them are too
embarrassed to report being robbed. Frauds are easier
to report since the Senate Special Committee on Aging
launched a Fraud Hotline to help deal with the
"epidemic" of frauds and scams recently targeting
older Americans.
You can call the hotline at 855-303-9470 or visit the
website at aging.senate.gov. Frauds include lottery
scams where "winners" pay large upfront fees to
collect; computer scams where people are tricked into
believing they have malware and charged a lot to "fix"
the problem; tax-refund schemes which may include
identity theft. In the grandparent phone scam, the caller
says he's a grandchild in need of big money for a legal
or health problem.
Then there are Social Security scams, and Medicare
fraud where victims are convinced they owe money for
care or procedures they never had. The Senate
committee often deals with two issues: the
frequency with which victims don't report fraud,
and the difficulty victims have when trying to
report the scam. (continued to page 6)
ARRESTED FOR A CRIME? Don’t know where to turn?
Call David B. Franks at 847.854.7700! www.McHenryCountyCriminalLawyer.com Page 5
ESTATE PLANNING! LEARN HOW TO PUT THE PROPER PROTECTIONS INTO PLACE AND AVOID
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BY SCHEDULING A FREE ESTATE PLANNING CONSULTATION WITH ROBERT
MEDANSKY AT FRANKS & RECHENBERG, P.C. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY! HURRY!
CALL ROBERT MEDANSKY AND SCHEDULE YOUR
FREE ESTATE PLANNING CONSULTATION TODAY! 847.854.7700 Page 6
(continued from page 5)
People Over Age 55 Are
Fraudsters'Favorite Targets
Hotline personnel provide
consumers with advice on the steps
that can be taken, including where
to report the fraud locally, and
ways to reduce the likelihood of
becoming a victim a second time.
What Would Lincoln do?
Abraham Lincoln had less leadership experience
than previous presidents. George Washington and
Andrew Jackson were generals, some had been
governors, and the Southerners owned plantations.
Yet Lincoln filled the office of president so
effectively that he regularly tops historians' ranking
of great presidents. Which of his principles of
action can guide has successors?
Cite precedent. Ever the lawyer, he found
precedents and men he could look up to in
America's founding fathers. His career was a long
effort to show that his positions were those of the
founding fathers, especially when it came to
slavery, human nature, liberty and equality. Make
your case. Lincoln could play inside baseball, says
biographer Richard Brookhiser. He could make
deals and manipulate colleagues when he had to.
He recognized that democracies are not ruled by
such maneuvers but by the people. Lincoln once
said, "Public opinion in this country is everything."
It depends on wooing, shaping and educating
public opinion. Use Humor. He often used jokes to
distract people he knew he couldn't satisfy
immediately. His humor worked on a deeper level
to keep things in proportion, reminding people that
they shouldn't be surprised at the unexpected, but
carry on, jauntily if possible.
(continued on page 7)
Mission Statement
It the mission of Franks & Rechenberg, P.C.
to continuously earn our reputation as a pre-
eminent local law firm by always providing
our clients with responsive, zealous, cost-
effective and highly competent legal service
and representation, in a professional,
courteous and respectful manner.
www.FnRLaw.com
Involved in an automobile accident and the Insurance Adjuster is asking to take your recorded statement and requesting
you to sign an authorization? Find out what to do by ordering our free Audio CD and learn the 7 questions you must ask
the Claims Adjuster when he calls demanding answers from you! Call 847.854.7700 to get your free CD today. Page 7
(continued from page 6)
What Would Lincoln do?
Be inclusive. The Republican Party, formed in
1854-56, included longtime abolitionists, Whigs,
Democrats, and Know Nothings, who disliked both
slavery and immigrants. Some called his cabinet the
"Team of Rivals."
In his 1854 Peoria speech, Lincoln said, "Stand
with anybody that stands with RIGHT. Stand with
him while he's RIGHT and part with him when he
goes wrong."
It worked for Lincoln and might work for you.
Congratulations To Our
Client Of The Month!
Every month, we choose a very SPECIAL client.
It’s our way of acknowledging our great clients
and saying thanks to those who support our firm
by telling others about us.
This month’s Client of the Month is Mr. Brian
Eichhorst. We’re treating Brian and his wife to
popcorn and the movies!
1301 Pyott Road, Suite 200, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
A Referral is
the Best
Compliment
You Can Give Us!
TidBits for Today…! Is a FREE monthly newsletter from your friends at
FRANKS & RECHENBERG, P.C. Attorneys at Law 1301 Pyott Road, Suite 200 Lake in the Hills, Illinois 60156 (847) 854- 7700 www.FnRlaw.com, www.TheIllinoisPersonalInjuryLawyer.com
www.McHenryCountyDUILawyer.com www.FnRlaw.com Fax: (847) 854-7700
What’s Inside?
1. Are You Ready for March Madness?...…………………..…..(Pg 1) 2. Seven Big Tax Changes for 2015............….…………………(Pg 2) 3. Oatmeal, Honey ’n Nut Waffles Recipe...............................(Pg 3) 4. Crossword Puzzle…..…………...…………….…………………(Pg 5) 5. What Would Lincoln Do?.………………………………………(Pg 6) 6. Client of the Month! ………………………………………....…..(Pg 7)
The Answers To These And Many Other Questions Are Inside The March 2015 Issue!
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