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The Planner News Briefs	December 2008
Welcome to this edition of Financial Planning Association of Southern Nevada’s monthly news brief. In it you will find useful information about our chapter and its programs promoting the financial planning profession.
President’s Message Andrew Patai, CFP^® Hope you are all enjoying our wintry weather. For those that have been here for some time, you know we do not see this much snow very often. Enjoy it while it lasts! Our holiday party was a great event and we would like to thank everyone that came by. Eleesa was kind enough to open her home and host the event. The food was great and the White Elephant gift exchange brought a smile to everyone’s face! Good times. As part of our chapter outreach with the community to support our profession, this year 4 high school students were selected to receive scholarships. Last week we visited the Clark High School, Academy of Finance Board meeting to officially deliver the scholarships that our chapter provided. Though it was not a substantial financial scholarship, it was enough for each of the four students to pay the application fee for their college of choice. Many high school students and their families do not have the resources for the application fee, let alone the funds for college. We are excited to share this with them and know that each of them will do well. We met each of them and had a chance to hear more about their goals. We will share their stories shortly once we receive the newsletter in which they are spotlighted. As we enter a new year, you will see many changes within our chapter. We have been polling our membership and listening to what you have to say. Your input and participation make our chapter a success. As always, let us know your comments, concerns or questions. If you would like to help with the chapter activities and events, let us know and we can connect you with the right committee. All the best to everyone! Here’s to a great new year full of fun, educational and enlightening events from the FPA of Nevada. Cheers! Upcoming Programs Judy Moore, CPA, CFP^® You spoke and we listened! In order to reach more of our members through-out Nevada, the Board of Directors has revamped our education program. We are going to a quarterly half-day format offering four contact hours of education and networking at each educational session. Our next program will be on Wednesday, January 28 from 8 am to 1 PM which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. We also changed our venue. We will now be meeting at the Albrecht Board Room at UNLV’s Richard Tam Alumni Center. We have reserved parking in front of the Alumni Center at 4505 S Maryland Pkwy. The meeting will also be webcast so that members outside Las Vegas can participate in the program. This kick-off meeting will focus on the economic forecast, investments, and insurance strategies that make sense. We are still putting together the line-up of speakers. You will receive an announcement shortly. The meeting will be free to members and guests of members who register in advance. There will be a meal & facilities fee for non-members. Mark your calendars for our other quarterly education meetings: Wednesday, April 29—Retirement & Estate Planning Issues Wednesday, July 22—Lifestyle Planning Wednesday, October 7 (Annual Business Meeting & Financial Planning Week)—CFP^® Ethics & Tax Update Meetings will be from 8 AM –1 PM at the Tam Alumni Center at UNLV. Membership Mixer-Holiday Party by Eleesa Aimaq, ChFC Our annual Holiday Party, held at a private home, was a big success… such a success, in fact, that the consensus was to continue this new tradition next year.  The organizers, Eleesa Aimaq and Jocelyn Holzwarth, secured the main course of three types of steaming barbequed meat and a golden smoked white fish.  All the attendees brought a side dish of their choice.  We ended up with a spectacular holiday meal with lots of variety from soup to fudge.  Toys were donated by the attendees and distributed through a direct channel to children who were really in need.  We gave and “stole” presents when the White Elephant Gift Exchange began.  I don’t think any of us have laughed so hard in a long time.  Considering the economy, it was a needed release.  Those of you who didn’t attend really missed a great party!  That’s OK; you can try again next year. News Briefs FPA-NV Board Makes Major Enhancements to 2009 Program. The Board of Directors announces the election of the following new members to the 2009 FPA-NV Board of Directors: Gregory Crawford, CFP^® Reno Karyn Davenport, LV John Dubé, CFP^® LV Patricia Meidel, CFP^® Reno Lizette Sundvick, Esq. LV This brings our board up to 11 members. The board will finalize the directors’ roles and responsibilities at the January board meeting when Staci Scharadin will take on the presidency. Since we are now a state-wide chapter, the board made some sweeping improvements to the program to make sure that all members are represented and receive full benefits of FPA membership. The board is also revamping our contributing partners program to provide expanded benefits to our corporate sponsors. 2009 will bring expanded educational programs as well as increased networking opportunities for our members, partners, and guests. Visit our website regularly for the latest updates: www.fpanv.org. Among the changes include: v Quarterly Meeting format. v Enhanced pro-bono program v Increased networking opportunities v ’Tween specialty meetings v Enhanced public relations opportunities v …and much, much more. Members will receive a special mailing next week outlining the changes and benefits. Featured Article Wash Sales and Your IRA Portfolio evaluation is an essential component of tax planning at year- end. Realized capital losses protect realized gains from taxation dollar-for-dollar, without limit. If your losses exceed your gains, or if you don’t have any gains (a distinct possibility for some this year), you can deduct up to $3,000 of your losses from your other income—wages, dividends and interest, for instance. And you can carry losses forward into future years. What if your gains are real, and your losses only on paper?... Click here for complete article Other News & Announcements SSA Provides Public Information via Podcasts Rita Meier of the Social Security Administration announced that the SSA now has public podcasts online. Tune in to messages about America’s most popular domestic program! Hear presentations and conversations about Social Security programs and services that benefit us all. Go to: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/podcasts/ to listen or to refer your clients.	Support Our Corporate Sponsors—They Support Us FPA-PAC
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