With tax time right around the corner, here is some great info to help with tough tax questions from our friends at USAA.  JJ has been on our show before and he is awesome when it comes to helping us navigate our financial world, this info just might be helpful for you or someone in your extended family and/or friends.  We have a new feature on our blog that allows you to share with your Facebook friends or Twitter followers, look for it in the upper right hand side of this post!

5 tax tips for tough tax situations

As the April 15^th deadline looms, tax time becomes crazier and crazier.  And that’s in the best of circumstances.  If you add in a few of life’s curveballs, you could have a downright disaster. So, your returns may be relatively uncomplicated, but new circumstances can make tax preparation a bit trickier.

This year, says USAA’s J.J. Montanaro, a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, you may want to consider engaging the help of a tax professional to make sure you are taking advantage of the tax incentives. However, whether you tackle your taxes yourself or turn to a tax pro, follow these tips to avoid mistakes.

1. You Got Divorced

Notwithstanding reality, when it comes to your filing status it’s black and white.  Even if the final date on your divorce is Dec. 31, the IRS views you as divorced for the entire year – so don’t choose married filing jointly status on your return.

If you have children, your divorce decree should state who can claim them as dependents. If that wasn’t decided, you and your former spouse can arrange to alternate years using IRS Form 8332. Visit IRS.gov for more information.

2. Your Spouse Dies

You can file as married filing jointly for the tax year your spouse died (unless you remarried by the end of the year). Additionally, you may also be eligible to file as a qualifying widow(er) with dependent child for 2 years following the year your spouse died.

Keep in mind that life insurance payouts are generally free from federal income tax. But if you invested the money and earned interest, the interest still needs to be reported.

3. Your Dependents Go Solo

You can still claim an exemption for your children if you pay at least half their expenses, they are full-time students, they are younger than 24 at the end of the year, and meet other IRS requirements. Make sure they don’t file returns claiming themselves as dependents, which is viewed as “double dipping” by the IRS.

4. You Have W-2s From Employers In Multiple States

This can be a problem if you must file a state return for one or more states. State laws and filing requirements vary, so check with the state in which you had earned income for specific requirements.  Remember, bad news doesn’t get better with time.  Keep in mind that relocating for employment reasons can make moving expenses deductible.

5. Your W-2 Is Wrong

Contact your employer immediately if your name, Social Security number, street address, or pay amount contains errors. The employer should then file a Form W-2c with the proper details.

USAA or its affiliates do not provide tax advice.  The tax information contained in the material is not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding paying taxes or tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. Taxpayers should seek the advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates.

www.usaa.com

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If you listen to the show then you know Marla and I both use MyCAA.

Its just been announced MilitaryOneSource.com has ceased accepting/processing applications.

This is not good.

From the ArmyTimes

Spouse tuition aid shuts down without warning

By Karen Jowers – Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 16:44:33 EST

Defense officials have abruptly shut down the My Career Advancement Accounts, a program that gives qualified military spouses up to $6,000 in tuition assistance to help them pursue portable careers.

Officials said the MyCAA shutdown is temporary, but no date has been set for resuming operations. Officials “hope to resume accepting financial assistance applications in a few months,” Defense Department spokeswoman Air Force Maj. April Cunningham said.

Cunningham said defense officials are “reviewing the software applications, financial assistance documents and overall program,” but she offered no specific details on the reason for the sudden halt and review.

“We’re reviewing it from top to bottom to ensure the program is meeting the intent established in legislation,” she said.

Meanwhile, spouses are finding out about the program shutdown at the worst time — when they are trying to request funding for classes that start within a month.

“I found out this morning when I logged in to have money sent to my school,” said Army wife Julie Thornton, who lives near Fort Gordon, Ga. Her education plan had been approved, and she had registered for two courses at Augusta State University. But the MyCAA program regulations require that spouses must wait until 30 days before classes start to request payment of funds to their schools. When Thornton called Military OneSource to ask what to do, she said, she was told that employees were informed at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 that the program was shutting down.

“I can’t use the application to get the funds for courses already approved,” Thornton said. She is taking refresher courses to get her teaching credentials up to date.

When she asked a Military OneSource consultant about what to do, she said, “I was told, ‘Can’t you apply for other financial assistance?’ Where else can I get funds in 30 days?”

Cunningham said no new or pending financial assistance accounts will be approved during the review period.

Without any formal announcement of the program’s existence, nearly 133,000 military spouses have applied for the MyCAA program since it started early last year, Cunningham said. Currently, 98,000 are enrolled in courses or have been approved for tuition assistance.

Although the financial assistance no longer will be available, spouses can receive career counseling support at local installations and through Military OneSource, Cunningham said.

“They should have sent an e-mail to people” in the program, Thornton said, to let them know about the halt, so people could start trying to find alternate funding.

“I sent an e-mail to DoD telling them my problem is with the way they’re handling this,” Thornton said. “It’s beyond poor.”

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4WmAvwr4AA]

Occasionally, we will feature our favorite youtube videos.  Be sure to leave us a link to your favorite video!

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Military Spouse employment can be the key to a military family’s quality of life.

On today’s episode we got you covered if your on the job hunt!

You’ll want to join us as we welcome back federal resume expert, Kathryn Troutman. Kathryn is the author of several Federal job strategy books to include *10 Steps to a Federal Job*. Vist Kathryn’s website www.resume-place.com for more information and to sign up for her free 1 hour webinar.

Check out your local Fleet and Family Support Center (or equivalent for your branch) for resume help and to sign up for the “10 Steps to a Federal Job” class – free to you as a military spouse!

Federal Job Search sites:

http://www.usajobs.com – The Federal Government’s Official Job Site

https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/ – Department of the Navy Jobs

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Also joining us, John Dipiero from USAA’s Military Talent Recruitment (interview plays at appx. 46:00). As the #1 Ranked Top 10 Military Spouse employer by Military Spouse Magazine, USAA is committed to recruiting the best and the brightest. Listen in as we learn what you should know when it comes to pursuing a career with USAA.

Meet John DiPiero

John is a 29-year veteran of the Air Force and Texas resident for many years. During his Air Force career, he spent most of his time in the training and education business. He was a pilot and amassed over 3,500 hours in both helicopter and fixed wing jet aircraft, and retired in the rank of colonel. Upon retirement in 2000, he spent two years as the commandant at a military academy in Virginia, Randolph-Macon Academy. He moved back to San Antonio in 2002 and began his career at USAA in military marketing. John is now a military recruiting and talent management specialist, responsible for reaching out to the military community (and spouses) ensuring they know USAA is a military friendly employer for both veterans and actively serving Guard and Reserve members. John received his BS from Southwest Texas State University and an MA in Communication and Management from the University of Oklahoma. He also attended numerous military schools, including Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College and numerous flying training programs in a number of different aircraft.

To search for jobs at USAA visit http://www.usaa.apply2jobs.com

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day delivery, Debora from WireACake.com also stops by to talk about how we can send a homemade cake to our loved ones deployed or at home.

Debora George is a hard working mother of three who started her own telecake nationwide cake delivery service,WireACake/HB Bakery Connection in 1987 after an unsuccessful attempt to have a cake delivered to her father for his birthday. In 2008 she found an opportunity to ship birthday and all occasion cakes {complete with personal inscription on the cake!} to soldiers overseas from her hometown of Huntington Beach, CA. For more information and to order a cake log onto www.WireACake.com

Testimonial:
“Hi Debora- My husband Chris received his cake today and he absolutely LOVED it! I think he was really surprised to have received an actual birthday cake in Iraq. He shared it with his buddies and they all loved it too, they said it tasted great! Thank you so much for providing this service to us and for helping me make his birthday away from home a little more bearable. Thanks again!
~ Ashley 01/28/10″

Show Date: 24 Nov 09, 9pm CT

Listen on demand 24/7

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/navywiferadio/2010/02/03/military-life-radio-navy-wife-radio

USAA Ranks No. 1 on Military Spouse Magazine’s List

Posted on Sep 09, 2009 from USAA.com

Experience, loyalty, work ethic cited as top reasons for recruiting military spouses

Military Spouse magazine has ranked USAA No. 1 on its 2009 list of America’s “Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employers.” The third annual list, which is the magazine’s October cover story, recognizes a variety of major corporations for demonstrating a significant commitment to hiring spouses of military personnel.

“USAA was named No. 1 because of its sustained and effective efforts to recruit military spouses,” said Military Spouse managing editor Josie Cellone. “And once the spouses are hired, USAA has the programs in place to support them and their unique lifestyle.”

USAA was chosen from among 2,500 companies achieving $1 billion in annual revenues. Companies were evaluated on their efforts to recruit military spouses, results in recruiting from them and policies affecting them.

“We know that military spouses sometimes feel corporate America prefers not to hire them because of their transient lifestyle. Well, we’re different,” said USAA CEO Maj. Gen. Joe Robles, USA (Ret.). USAA was founded by military personnel who were experiencing the same discrimination from insurance companies that thought their transient lifestyles made for a bad risk. That kind of corporate thinking was wrong in 1922 and it’s wrong today, because military servicemembers and spouses are great employees as well as great customers.”

USAA’s military spouse program ranges from hiring to employee benefits. Highlights include:

• Military spouses make up 40% of USAA’s 2009 new hires with military experience.
• Benefits programs assist military spouses with childcare during deployment by providing a “Life Referral” counselor who helps identify alternative childcare options.
• Company-sponsored intranet sites guide spouses with financial, legal and benefit-related information.
• USAA’s Employee Assistance Program provides mental health and well-being services to help address deployment-related challenges that military spouses may experience.

“Military spouses bring a very specific set of skills to the company, such as flexibility, loyalty and adaptability,” said USAA employee Maggie Hahn, wife of a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel. “As a military spouse, we spend our lives living the mission of the armed forces right along with our soldier. Working at a company that embraces those core values makes being a USAA employee a perfect fit.”

To search for jobs at USAA visit http://www.usaa.apply2jobs.com

Show Link:  Click the link below to listen on demand 24/7

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/navywiferadio/2010/02/03/military-life-radio-navy-wife-radio

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MyMilitaryLife.com extends our deepest sympathy to the victims and families in Haiti.

To make a contribution to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, please:

• Call 1-800-REDCROSS
• Visit www.redcross.org
• Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 – This will charge $10 to your cell phone bill

Every little bit helps!  Join us in Texting to give $10.

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Have you taken a vacation using Space A?  Maybe you met your hubby for his RR by using Space A?  We are currently looking for guests for our Space A show.  Contact us here or leave a comment, we are looking forward to hearing from you.

We already have an Air Force spouse who met her hubby in Germany for their RR and can’t wait to hear your story.

Contact us today!

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Wondering how to make your New Year’s Resolutions stick?

When it comes to setting new goals and changing a behavior it can be hard to create and maintain momentum.  Zig Ziglar says, “motivation comes from doing”….which to me seems opposite of what I have always believed…but OK, I’m willing to try that.

Whether you are setting new goals this Jan or not, here are some tips to help you along the way.

—-

[via About.com]

If you want to make lasting changes, there are three things you can do to make your resolutions work all year long: Adjust your attitude, change your lifestyle and come up with a plan for success.

Adjust Your Attitude

If you have the wrong attitude about fitness, you’re already setting yourself up for failure. Most people look at exercise as:

• Punishment for bad eating
• An obligation
• Painful
• Time consuming
• Impossible to sustain over a long period of time
• Boring

If any of these sound familiar, how long do you think you’ll stick with your program? Nobody wants to do something painful, boring or obligatory. Before you throw yourself into weight loss, suss out your attitudes about exercise and figure out whether these attitudes are true or just lies you’ve been telling yourself for years. Then, try a different perspective and look at exercise as:

• A break from a stressful workday
• A way to boost energy and mood
• The only time you’ll have to yourself all day
• A chance to get totally physical and let your mind rest
• A chance to reward your body for working so hard
• A way to improve your quality of life immediately

And here are some more key points about exercise that you must understand:

1. Willpower won’t work. Willpower is for short-term success. Long-term success requires planning, discipline and finding ways to motivate yourself every day.
2. Motivation will not magically happen. What motivates you will change from day to day. You have to recommit to your goals each day, tweak them to fit changes in your lifestyle and attitude and find new ways to motivate yourself over the course of your life.
3. You will not always want to exercise and eat healthy. Even the most committed exerciser doesn’t always want to do it. Know that you will have to work on it every day.

Your next step is to adjust your lifestyle so you have the best chance of success.

Read more

[via About.com]

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USS New Mexico on sea trials

I recently read about the USS New Mexico’s sea trials over on Bubbleheads Blog and gosh how I LOVE seeing that NM flag flying in the sail.  NM just in case you didn’t guess is my home state.

The commissioning date has finally been set and will be March 27, 2010.  I am planning on attending and I’m so very excited!  I have never been to a commissioning before and I can’t wait.

In my research of what to expect, I came across this video of the USS New Hampshire being commissioned.

Even though New Mexico has two other submarines, for some reason I am very excited about this new submarine.  Maybe it is because it is called “New Mexico”, vs Albuquerque or Santa Fe.  I’m seriously considering adopting this boat.  Maybe it has something to do with the galley being called “La Posta”, a local favorite in Las Cruces.

La Posta owner Tom Hutchinson said the naming of the galley after his restaurant has “extra special significance” because he served in the Navy from 1977 to 2002. Nine of those years were in active duty. His service was as an aviator, and he worked with Navy submarines to coordinate the tracking of Soviet Union submarines.

Hutchinson said he plans to name a room in his restaurant after the sub.  read the entire article.

—

From navy.mil

Future USS New Mexico Completes Sea Trials

12/3/2009

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Pre-Commissioning Unit New Mexico (SSN 779), the U.S. Navy’s newest submarine, successfully completed its initial sea trials, or Alpha Trials, Nov. 26.

The submarine departed Newport News, Va., Nov. 24 to evaluate its seaworthiness and operational performance. New Mexico’s Alpha Trials included diving to test depth, executing an emergency surfacing, and testing the ship’s propulsion plant performance.

Successful completion of these sea trials is a significant step towards ensuring that New Mexico meets all specifications and is ready for delivery to the Navy, which is anticipated by the end of 2009, following completion of Bravo Sea Trials and the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey trials.

“New Mexico’s successful completion of sea trials is a testament to the hard work of the Navy’s shipbuilding team,” said Capt. Michael Jabaley, Virginia Class program manager. “It is this partnership that has helped get New Mexico to where it is today, ahead of original contract schedule.”

New Mexico is the sixth submarine of the Virginia Class and third that Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding will deliver. Delivery of the ship prior to the end of the year would be four months early to its contract delivery date.

When commissioned in early 2010, New Mexico will join the five subs of its class as flexible, multi-mission platforms designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the Submarine Force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; special operations forces; strike; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

	Future USS New Mexico Successfully Completes Alpha Trials

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Listen in to our interviews with Sally Pressman and Drew Fuller as they stop in to chat about ARMY WIVES, the hit Lifetime TV series.

Drew Fuller interview –

Sally Pressman interview –

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090328-N-6597H-427 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 28, 2009) A flight deck director gives hand signals to the pilot of an F/A-18C Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 as it moves onto catapult one in preparation for launch from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Husman/Released)

I just love this picture.

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