Many customers would rather have a root canal than go to a dealership to buy a car or truck. Dealerships used to sell cars on a whim, without much knowledge of what that car will bring in profit. All they knew is that they wanted to make as much money on that car or truck as they possibly could. Sure, they had book values and bank guidelines, but they still wanted all that they could get. Well, times have changed for most dealerships. No longer do they have the high margins in the new and … [Read more...] about Buying a Car Has Never Been Easier
Columnists
Exchanging Real Estate Tax Free
Under the new tax laws, we are seeing a large influx of high income, high net worth individuals moving from high-tax states to low-tax states such as Arizona (ranked as one of several “Most Tax Friendly” according to Kiplinger). Relocating a primary residence is generally completed with little to no tax consequence (capital gain tax liability for a primary residence held over two years is tax-free for gains up to $250,000 for an individual, and $500,000 for married). Selling investment real … [Read more...] about Exchanging Real Estate Tax Free
NAU Encouraging Students to Bring Their Aspirations
Twice a year – in the fall and spring – I share an update on the current health and future outlook of Northern Arizona University with students, faculty and staff, the local community, our Regents, supporters and stakeholders. At our Fall Campus Forum, I reported that NAU’s future is bright. Our retention numbers are strong – up 4 percentage points (77.6%, from 73.5% last fall). We have a plan in place to focus recruitment on areas of growth and are strengthening programs to ensure we sustain … [Read more...] about NAU Encouraging Students to Bring Their Aspirations
A Return to Flying
The Quad Cities area is home to a lot of pilots, retired pilots and inactive pilots. Many of these pilots are what we in the aviation business call “rusty pilots.” These are pilots who haven’t flown for some time and are not current under Federal Aviation Regulations. Quite frequently, these individuals will not be up on the latest regulation changes or all the technology changes that have become pervasive in the aircraft cockpit. For example, when I learned to fly, all calculations were done … [Read more...] about A Return to Flying
Leaders Don’t Waffle When Waffles aren’t the Right Decision
If you’ve ever gone to lunch with someone who couldn’t decide what to order, you know the pain of indecision. While you, everyone else at the table and the server are quietly on standby, that individual is thoughtfully considering whether it’s a quinoa-bowl kind of day or a full-on loaded burger event. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is … [Read more...] about Leaders Don’t Waffle When Waffles aren’t the Right Decision
Hydration and Exercise: How to Get the Right Mix
Hydration is essential to life itself! Our bodies especially need water, which carries nutrients to all cells and helps convert food into energy. Water protects and cushions vital organs, lubricates joints, regulates temperature and moistens the air we breathe. Indeed, water joins carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fat as the necessary ingredients to live and thrive. In spite of this, clinical studies through the past 10 years have shown that nearly 75% of adults are measurably … [Read more...] about Hydration and Exercise: How to Get the Right Mix
Exploring the Benefits of Rock Climbing for Your Kids
Climbing is not the typical activity offered in PE class and is often overlooked by parents who are deciding which sports their children should try. However, more and more playgrounds and gymnasiums are adding small-scale module rock walls for kids to climb on. The popularity of indoor climbing gyms is growing across the country and even in Prescott! Climbing will even be featured as an Olympic Event at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Rock climbing can benefit your children … [Read more...] about Exploring the Benefits of Rock Climbing for Your Kids
Celebrating Chino Valley’s 50th Anniversary
Many Chino Valley senior residents still remember the big news of Sept. 21, 1970. On that day, Chino Valley incorporated to become an official town. A major motivation for the incorporation was to gain the authority to control its own water resources. Next Territorial Days in 2020, the official Town of Chino Valley will be 50 years old! Just how significant is a 50-year celebration within the context of American history? For one thing, 1970 was only 11 years after Alaska and Hawaii were … [Read more...] about Celebrating Chino Valley’s 50th Anniversary
Making Holiday Meals Special
Celebrating the holidays with family and friends is a special time of year. I can recall so many food memories. My Grandma, Betty Scardine, would make homemade pasta and hang it over pipes in the basement. She called it “macaroni!” The lingering aroma of fresh sauce stills stays with me to this day. We would also have calamari. We would go to the local Jewel [grocery store] and order several pounds of the fresh squid. Sitting alongside her and cleaning it was fun. Then we breaded it and fried … [Read more...] about Making Holiday Meals Special
Strategies to Improve Communication
One inevitable side effect of hearing loss is increased difficulty communicating with others. Specifically, the person with hearing loss will often not hear, or will misunderstand, what someone has said. Sometimes, the misunderstanding can be humorous. More often, though, it is frustrating and embarrassing. Some people with hearing loss will eventually began to retreat from social interactions, reducing quality of life. Hearing aids can be of great benefit in restoring these communication … [Read more...] about Strategies to Improve Communication