Flying L Distributors hosting a Seminar on Overcoming Drought Landscape Damage

Seminar available to help you maintain landscape during extreme conditions.

Georgetown, Texas, April 14, 2012 -- Last summer’s drought conditions in the area were one of the most damaging to landscapes in recent history. According to Mark Countryman - a Georgetown horticulture expert “No plant will be totally resistant, but properly utilizing drip irrigation, ‘water-wise’ plants and mulch can give you an attractive, low-maintenance landscape even through extreme weather conditions”. The other factor we will be dealing with now and in the future is water rationing - according to Paul Lindholm “using the right soil conditioner is one way to help manage your valuable water resources”.

Flying L Distributors, a local Shaklee Independent Distributor, will be hosting a seminar on Wednesday April 18th at 2:00PM and again at 7:00PM on “Overcoming Drought Landscape Damage.” The location will be at Independent Bank in Georgetown, Texas 1503 Rivery Blvd. There is no cost for the event and it will last less than an hour but will be packed with information that you can put to use right away with your yard, garden or other spring landscape project. Mark Countryman will be presenting valuable information that will help you not only survive but thrive in all conditions. Mark has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M and a Masters degree from Texas Tech combined with over 30 years experience in the landscape industry - including projects in the Middle East where heat is abundant and water scarce.

Nature has put everything in your soil that is necessary to grow abundant healthy plants. The most economic way to manage your soil is to add an igniter to the soil and thus begin inner action never before possible. This is where Basic H, a Shaklee product, comes in. Basic H is not a plant food as such, but helps get action in the soil that builds soil health. Basic H can improve water infiltration, or penetration, up to 300%. Paul Lindholm, a local rancher and Independent Shaklee Distributor who uses Basic H on his ranch will also present how Basic H makes “water wetter than wet.” Holding water at the root level longer will help your plants in drought or extreme conditions.

Media Contact:
Mary & Paul Lindholm
Flying L Distributors
Independent Shaklee Distributor
512-355-3431

DeYoe Wealth Management Advises Clients to Prepare Now for End of Bush Tax Cuts

Berkeley-based Financial Advisor Offers Concrete Strategies To Minimize Negative Impact from Pending Loss of Tax Incentives.

BERKELEY, Calif - April 14, 2012 -- Jonathan K. DeYoe of DeYoe Wealth Management cautions that planning ahead to address 2012 taxes is just as important as filing 2011 return by April 17. DeYoe is advising his firm’s clients to begin preparing immediately for the end of the Bush Tax Cuts.

Bush signed a number of tax cuts into law in 2001 & 2003 that were extended after a very contentious debate on the congressional floor in 2010. Once they complete their 2011 taxes, DeYoe recommends to his clients that they immediately begin their tax planning for 2012 and beyond, a time without the Bush-era tax incentives.

Once someone receives a benefit, it is very hard to take it away,” said DeYoe. “Unfortunately, given the state of our federal budgets, I think it’s highly unlikely we'll see a continuation of the Bush tax cuts after the end of this year. Spending must come down and tax rates must go up.”

DeYoe recommends that his clients discuss the following strategies with their financial advisor or accountant:

1. No one knows for sure where income tax rates are going, but unless Congress acts with new legislation, both income & investment taxes will increase in 2013. To ease into these tax increases, the first thing taxpayers can do is to accelerate income into 2012. For example, if they are expecting a year-end bonus from their employer, ask to be paid no later than December 31, 2012. If they are a small business owner, taking more income in 2012 and less in 2013. At the same time, defer as many deductions as possible into 2013. If a business can wait to purchase that new equipment or remodel an office until next year, it might be a good idea to do so.

2. To make sure taxpayers are not caught short of cash come tax time next year, review federal and state withholding exemptions now. Should tax rates spike, it will probably be a lot easier to pay a little bit of that tax every month this year rather than having to come up with a large lump sum at tax time in 2013.

3. Once the Bush tax cuts expire, taxpayers can expect that taxes will consume a larger share of all future investment returns. However, investors probably won't see an even increase across the board. For example, taxes on capital gains could go from 15 percent to 20 percent (a 33 percent increase) while taxes on qualified dividends might go from 15 percent to 40 percent (a 164 percent increase). Since the tax changes will affect total return based on the type of assets held, this is definitely worth discussing with a financial planner or investment advisor. Everyone should review their asset allocation together and reduce the “expected” returns built into their financial plan.

4. If investors have large gains in their current portfolios or have company stock options they've been waiting to exercise, 2012 might be a better year to recognize those gains rather than giving up more of those gains to taxes in 2013.

5. Finally, the estate and gift tax exemption is slated to drop from $5 million to $1 million in 2013. This estate and gift tax exemption may be the single best tax management opportunity for large estates in the tax code today. Anyone with a large estate should talk to a CPA, attorney and financial advisor about taking advantage of the gifting portion of this benefit before it disappears.

The clock is ticking,” said DeYoe. “Our recent history tells us that Congress, especially one as divided and contentious as this one, is unpredictable. We can wish that they come together, but a wish is not a plan. We must consider and act upon the reality of coming tax increases at all levels of income.”

About DeYoe Wealth Management
Based in Berkeley, California, DeYoe Wealth Management is passionate about helping clients pursue financial independence on their terms. The firm offers access to comprehensive financial services, including customized asset management, holistic financial planning, and insurance solutions tailed to meet the needs of our clients and their families. Our objective is to help our clients maximize their Happiness Dividend, working towards financial independence while realizing their dreams. DeYoe Wealth Management uses a six-step process to make sure our clients’ investment strategies keep pace with their changing lifestyle, planning for current needs and future goals. For more information, visit http://www.deyoewealthmanagement.com.

-Ends-

Jonathan K. DeYoe is not a CPA. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations to any individual.

Jonathan K. DeYoe, AIF® & CPWA® is a registered principal with and securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor - Member FINRA/SIPC.

Contact:
Nancy Wright Cooper
DeYoe Wealth Management
(510) 848-0012, ext. 103

Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
(415) 259-5638

Brazil is Attracting Alternative Investors, says AAA

Brazil is attracting a huge amount of investment attention at the moment, claims AAA, who urges investors to consider the Latin American country as a place to make some cash.

Boston, MA, USA, April 14, 2012 -- Brazil is attracting a huge amount of investment attention at the moment, claims Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), who urges investors to consider the Latin American country as a place to make some cash.

A large number of people who had never before considered alternative investments are now taking a closer look at some possibilities in emerging economies, such as Brazil, China and India. “It’s not as easy as it once was to invest in stocks and shares and make your fortune in the US,” claims AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Instead, many of us are looking to alternative asset classes, such as real estate, forestry and impact investing in countries that are experiencing rapid economic growth.”

Brazil is set to host the Olympics in 2016 and the FIFA World Cup in 2014. Both of these events have ensured that the local steel industry is booming. AAA said that this has meant growth for the demand for sustainably produced charcoal.

Mr Johnson explained: “Measures have been taken to discourage the steel industry from using unsustainable timber in their charcoal. As a result, plantations, such as the one managed by Greenwood Management, are likely to see huge demand for their ethical products.”

Plantations, such as the ones managed by Greenwood, usually focus on fast-growing, hardy species that can be used in charcoal manufacture, furniture making and construction. AAA said that the demand for timber from sustainable sources is likely to increase further in the coming years as China and India continue to seek out raw materials.

Anyone interested in investing in Brazilian timber plantations can do so from as little as around $15,000. “AAA advocates ethical forestry investment as a way to make a difference while making money.

Ensuring timber is grown using sustainable forestry management methods helps locals to safeguard the future of the industry for the next generation,” added Johnson.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

TravelTools Launches Revolutionary Map Cloning Software Capacity for Destination Marketing Organizations

Cartonova recently announced a version upgrade to its TravelTools software. This upgrade gives destination marketers the capacity to build an endless number of interactive Google maps in minutes without additional investments in time, programming, or licensing fees.

Wenonah, NJ, USA - April 14, 2012 -- Cartonova recently launched a new version upgrade of TravelTools-a one-of-a-kind software application that handles DMO website tools such as maps, events, and itinerary-builders. The recent upgrade brings unlimited map-building power to destination marketers and event planners.

Company President Mark Mattson explains, "TravelTools has always made great interactive maps. It’s what we're good at. Like other developers, we made maps one at a time and our clients had to pay for each new map. All that is a thing of the past with Version 2.0. Now, our users can make their own maps in minutes without cost. Each map can have its own geographic focus and zoom level. It can have its own categorization scheme and points of interest. We even added a page template selector so the maps can be fed into specific web pages or mobile apps. Each map is outputted as an embeddable URL or short code.”

Mattson emphasizes the wide-ranging potential of his new product. “Organizations don't need just one good interactive map. They need hundreds. Using our new version, an organization can launch a new map for every convention or trade show. It can even launch a sophisticated map for events as small as block parties or concerts at the park. This type of custom mapping not only helps people, it empowers local businesses and dues-paying members by giving them a chance to be seen at the very times and places where people congregate. Because these maps cost nothing to make, a destination marketer can run a sophisticated $3,000 map for an afternoon event of 500 people and then trash it the very next day. Maps take minutes to make and cost absolutely nothing.”

Mattson also talks about what this means to the overall value propositions of local destination marketers. "These good folks are being asked to do more with less in hard economic times. Dues-paying members increasingly grumble about what organizations have done for them lately. Revenue streams are dwindling. Organizations are looking for ways to fill funding gaps by cutting costs and/or monetizing their assets. Since this new system is highly interactive at any geographic scale or location, destination marketers can use it for general promotions of dues-paying members and/or fee-for-marketing services. Imagine how valuable a system is if you can connect local businesses with attendees at targeted venues and events using advanced technology that is cost free and instantly deployed.”

Moreover, Mattson sees his new product as expanding the tool market horizontally by representing economies that can be passed along to even small organizations that have been traditionally disenfranchised by over-priced technology solutions.

Media Contact:
Mark Mattson
Cartonova
307 N Jefferson Ave
Wenonah, NJ 08090
856-889-0102