Studies have shown a strong relationship between the health of the body and the health of the brain. Exercise revs up complex processes inside the brain that can deter depression, help you stay calm and keep your mind sharp.
Exercise Boosts Mental Fitness
The brain has approximately 86 billion neurons designed to give orders to the rest of the body through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Studies show that deficiencies of two of these neurotransmitters (glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA), can lead to mood disorders such as depression. However, moderate exercise can increase the amounts of the two neurotransmitters, contributing to increased mental fitness.
Exercise Decreases Stress
When you're stressed, your brain secretes the "fight or flight" hormone, cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can create a constant and unnecessary feeling of stress. But, if you exercise, you expose your body to "controlled stress," which helps regulate your brain's stress response, keeping you more calm.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
On May 16, 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued final rules that describe how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) apply to employer-sponsored
wellness programs.
The final ADA rule provides guidance on the extent to which employers may offer incentives to employees to participate in wellness programs that ask them to answer disability-related questions or to undergo medical examinations.
The final GINA rule clarifies that an employer may offer a limited incentive to an employee whose spouse provides information about his or her current or past health status as part of the employer’s wellness program.
The final rules’ notice requirements and incentive limits apply as of the first day of the first plan year that begins on or after Jan. 1, 2017 (for the health plan used to determine the incentive amount).
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
Despite polls predicting British citizens would vote to remain in the European Union recently, they voted to end 43 years of EU membership by a narrow margin of 52 to 48 percent.1 Wall Street’s immediate, negative reaction to this historic event wasn’t surprising. Investors typically don’t respond favorably to significant change or uncertainty.
While the long-term effects of the vote remain to be seen, an article in Friday’s New York Times said few expect Britain’s departure to set off a long-term financial crisis like the one that began when investment banking giant Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008.2 The United Kingdom is still part of the EU. It has two years to negotiate the terms of its exit from the time it notifies the EU it intends to leave. If Britain strongly disapproves of the deal, it could seek a second vote about leaving and potentially reverse its decision. If the deal stands, trade and financial agreements would likely be phased out rather than terminated.
Britain may face a recession. But the effect of such a decline on other nations is difficult to predict. Although Britain’s economy is ranked fifth globally, it accounts for less than 4 percent of total global GDP.3 The impact on international corporations also remains to be seen. To discourage such departures, Continental Europe is warning of ramifications on British exports. But it should be noted Continental companies will still want to trade with Britain’s large, wealthy market.
The referendum’s outcome may reflect a populist movement toward more protectionism and less global integration. How Britain fares in the coming months and years may influence whether this movement grows. On the flip side, Scotland’s leaders have warned of a potential renewed bid for independence so it can remain with the EU.
When the markets react emotionally, it’s imperative to think rationally. It may be a good time to review your portfolio, assess your current situation and evaluate your risk level. As always, I am monitoring the market conditions. Please feel free to contact me if you have concerns you want to discuss.
1USA Today, June 24, 2016, www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/06/24/britainvotesleaveeuropeanunion/86324662/
2New York Times, June 23, 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/business/international/brexit-financial-economic-impact-leave.html?_r=1
3The Economist, June 24, 2016, www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21701292-uncertainty-abounds-expect-global-chilling-effect-investment-why-brexit
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
TSG Financial wishes you and your family a safe and happy Independence Day!
Life is full of unexpected frustrations. Running late, spilling coffee on yourself or getting into an argument can start your day off on the wrong foot. The good news is that you can control your mood and prevent these obstacles from ruining your entire day.
The most important thing you can do is to focus on the positive. Here are a few ways to turn a bad day around:
- Pinpoint the concrete reason for your frustration and address it immediately.
- Write down or recite three things you are grateful for.
- Choose not to be a victim of your frustration. Make a conscious effort to be positive.
- Set realistic expectations for your day.
Negative emotions can be contagious. It is worth taking control of your mood—not just for yourself—but for those around you.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
On April 12, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released new guidance on the percentages used to determine what is considered “affordable” health coverage.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the affordability of an employer’s plan may be assessed for the employer shared responsibility penalty, the individual mandate and the premium tax credit. The affordability test varies for each provision.
For plan years beginning in 2017, the ACA’s affordability contribution percentages will be adjusted to the following percentages:
- 9.69 percent under the employer shared responsibility rules (up from 9.66 percent in 2016). The shared responsibility rules, or pay or play rules, require applicable large employers (those that employ 50 full-time employees or full-time equivalents) to offer coverage that does not exceed 9.69 percent of an employee’s household income for the year.
- 9.69 percent under the premium tax credit eligibility rules (up from 9.66 percent in 2016). If employees’ required contributions exceed 9.69 percent, those employees could be eligible for a premium tax credit through the Marketplace.
- 8.16 percent under an exemption from the individual mandate (up from 8.13 percent in 2016). Individuals that lack access to affordable, minimum value coverage are exempt from the individual mandate.
Failing to meet any of these requirements could trigger significant financial penalties for your business. Remember that these percentages only apply to self-only coverage, and do not include any additional costs for family coverage. These new percentages are effective for taxable years and plan years beginning after Dec. 31, 2016.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
Some retirees who don’t have long-term care insurance or adequate savings to cover an extended stay in a care facility might be jeopardizing their children’s future financial well-being. Twenty-nine states have archaic, filial responsibility laws on the books. Although rarely enforced, these laws can hold grown children responsible for impoverished parents’ financial support, and in some cases, medical and long-term care expenses. A small number of states even extend this responsibility to grandchildren.
Up to this point, most judgments holding children responsible for parents’ long-term care have been tied to fraudulently transferring a parent’s wealth to a child in order to qualify for Medicaid. However, there has been at least one case that held a child liable without any evidence of wrongdoing. In 2012, a Pennsylvania appeals court ordered an adult son to pay his mother’s $93,000 nursing home bill after she moved out of the country. The court based its decision on the state’s filial responsibility law and the son’s ability to pay.
As financial pressures mount from growing longevity, long-term care costs and government deficits, some observers wonder if more states and nursing homes will turn to these laws to recoup their losses. Of course, children can hire an attorney if that happens. Defenses include an inability to pay or parental neglect or abuse during the child’s youth. But sharing joint property or accounts can increase a child’s liability. And children should be extremely careful not to sign a care facility’s admittance contract that makes them responsible for unpaid bills.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
Replacing unhealthy eating habits with healthier ones can be difficult, especially if unhealthy habits are all you’ve ever known. One key to making lasting improvements in your diet is to make changes in stages. Start with a small, simple change and stick to it for a week. After one change has been mastered, add another.
Some Ideas to Get You Started
- Eat breakfast.
- Replace one sugary drink per day with a glass of water.
- Eat one to two more fruits or vegetables each day.
- Plan a healthy snack for each day of the week.
- Switch to a low-fat version of one of your favorite foods.
- Plan three meals and two snacks every day.
- Plan as many home-cooked meals as you can, as they usually have fewer calories, more reasonable portions and cost less than typical meals eaten at restaurants.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule regarding overtime wage payment qualifications for the “white collar exemptions” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The final rule increases the salary an employee must be paid in order to qualify for a white collar exemption. The required salary level is increased to $47,476 per year and will be automatically updated every three years. The final rule does not modify the duties test employees must meet to qualify for a white collar exemption.
Action Steps:
- Employers must become familiar with the new rule and identify which employees will be affected. Employers should reclassify employees as exempt or non-exempt, as necessary, by Dec. 1, 2016.
- Employers should also consider communicating any work schedule changes to affected employees before the date mentioned above.
- Finally, employers should evaluate whether implementing new timekeeping practices and training for managers and supervisors on the new requirements is necessary.
Want more information? Call us today at (516) 747-3355 to learn how to sign up for newsletters from TSG Financial.
TSG Financial LLC is a Financial Services company located in Garden City, NY. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC (www.sipc.org). Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. TSG Financial and Securities America are separate entities. Securities licensed in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, DC . The third-party comments displayed are not verified, may not be accurate and are not necessarily representative of our client experience.
