October 2015 Students of the Month Honored by St. George Exchange Club

St. George, Utah, October 30, 2015 — The October Students of the Month recipients were recently honored by the St. George Exchange Club.  The St. George Exchange Club sponsors the Student of the Month Program, which honors one student from the area high schools each month. This program recognizes the students’ accomplishments in academics, service and leadership in their respective schools. Dixie State University has partnered with the St. George Exchange Club and will provide a one-year, full-tuition scholarship to the Student of the Year from each high school at the end of the school year as selected by the St. George Exchange Club’s Student of the Month Committee. The Exchange Club is honored to work with Dixie State University in recognizing and supporting the outstanding high school students of our community.

In addition, two students from the area high schools who have been honored as Student of the Year will have the opportunity to go on to the Rocky Mountain Exchange Club District competition where they could win a $1,000 scholarship; and then if they win district, they can go on to national competition and win a $10,000 scholarship. The 2013 Student of the Year, EmRee Moody from St. George, was selected as the National Student of the Month and received a $10,000 scholarship from the National Exchange Club.

The St. George Exchange Club meets Thursday mornings at 7:30AM at George’s in Ancestor Square. For more information about the St. George Exchange Club, contact James McFadden at 435-632-7978.  We congratulate the St George Exchange Club 2015 October Students of the Month.

Front Row: Allison Lang (SCHS)
Back Row: Coby C. Oram (THS); Kayla Greer (DHS); Christian Crawford (MHS); Colby Heaton (DHHS); James McFadden (Exchange Club President)

Leading Utah CPA Firm Changes Its Name to Hawkins

 

Kevin Simister, senior partner, Hawkins

Orem, Utah, October 23, 2015 – Hawkins Cloward & Simister, one of Utah's leading professional services and advisory CPA firms, today announced that it has changed its name to Hawkins. The firm's full service retirement plan division will be known as Hawkins Retirement.  In conjunction with the name change, the company is launching a new branding campaign and corporate Web site, MyCPA.com.     
 

"We have made tremendous progress expanding the Firm's capabilities," says Mark Whittaker, Managing Partner.  "We are now strongly positioned to respond to the challenges and risks facing businesses today as a result of the changing economic and regulatory environment. Our strategic growth across each of Hawkins' services has been critical to establishing Hawkins as an independent resource and partner to many world-class corporations. We will continue making the necessary investments to align all aspects of the brand with the Company's evolution."      

The launch of the company's new branding campaign, "Hawkins" was developed to parallel the Company's approach to providing individuals, professionals and corporations with hands-on value. The campaign's primary focus is on Hawkins' project team members, emphasizing their seamless integration with client organizations. The Company's Website, which has undergone a complete redesign, reflects Hawkins’ presence and service offerings on a much wider scale.

The Hawkins name embodies the Company’s 64-year focus on excellence and service to employers and professionals and better represents the evolution of the Company into a powerful resource for all financial needs of its clients. 

"The name of our website says it all.  MyCPA.com reflects our goal to focus on our clients.  As the specialty destination for businesses, professionals and individuals, we will deliver a rich working relationship to you.  We are proactive and deliver ideas and analysis that will make a difference. We seek clients who want more and make every effort to insure that our services are so convenient; it feels like an in-house function.  Our RAVE guarantee assures our Relationships, Accountability, Value, and Expertise will meet the highest standards of quality and performance. We believe it is the right time to change our name to one that reflects the advisors we have become," Kevin Simister, senior partner of the Firm stated.

Hawkins has clients across the United States and will continue to serve the needs of individuals and privately held businesses, concentrating on solving the problems faced by professionals and families.

Hawkins has been serving Utah and national clients since 1951, and will continue to do so with better practices and capabilities. During that time they’ve established a reputation for excellent professional services. When you hire Hawkins you’re tapping into their reputation as the firm-of-choice for many of Utah’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Hawkins will maintain its location at 1095 South 800 East, Orem, Utah. For more information contact Kevin Simister at ‪801-224-1900.

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Spencer Stirland, Au.D Joins Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists

 

Spencer Stirland, Au.D

Advanced Hearing and Balance is pleased to introduce to you the newest member of our team, Dr. Spencer Wm. Stirland. Dr. Stirland was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where his parents were both teachers. Both his father and mother instilled in him the love for teaching. He admired his parents and their ability to make an impact on people lives. Although Dr. Stirland was unsure about what he wanted to be when in grew up, he knew that he want to do something that would be meaningful. He attended Utah State University where he fell in love with the profession of Audiology. He remembers being taught that Audiology, hearing and balance, is not about ears but about people. That is when he decided to be an Audiologist. Here was a way for him to have an impacted on people's lives and that of their loved ones.

After graduating from Utah State University, he continued his education at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center where he obtained a Doctorate in Audiology. Dr. Stirland has worked at Cook Children's Audiology, Waco Ear, Nose and Throat's Physician's Hearing Center, and Hearing Counselors. Dr. Stirland is thrilled to be working and serving the community in beautiful southern Utah as a member of Advance Hearing and Balance. Dr. Stirland moves to St. George with his wife and four children, who are also excited to become your neighbors and friends. He looks forward to meeting, visiting with, and helping all those he can.

Dr. Stirland specialties in Audiology include adult and pediatric medical hearing exams, hearing instrument counseling, selection and fitting, assessments for dizziness and imbalance, and assessments for middle ear disease.

Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists has been providing audiology services for more than 40 years. With offices in 9 communities throughout southern Utah and Nevada, they make it convenient for you to receive the highest levels of hearing and balance care. The Audiologists at Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists always put their patient’s concerns first, matching each individual’s needs with the treatments and tools, which fit their lifestyle.

At Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialist we offer hearing solutions for all ages and hearing loss types. Come visit one of our Audiologists and learn how we can enrich your life. Call now at 435-688-8866 or visit http://www.hearingaiddoctor.com/ for more information.

What You Think You Know About Wills and Probate

Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles, Attorneys at Law

Most of us have a basic understanding of Wills and Probate but sometimes that knowledge is as basic as Wills are good, Probate is bad.  While there is some validity to that thought process, here are a few misconceptions:

If I die without a will, the probate process will take years.  The probate process, while time consuming, does not have to take years.  The biggest delay is the time given to creditors to file claims.  Once that time has passed, and the Personal Representative has paid legally enforceable bills and taxes, a final distribution can be made and the estate can be closed.  This will take some time but it does not have to be an extended period.    

There are a number of reasons why the probate process becomes long and complicated.  Some of those reasons include the decedent has a large taxable estate, or the decedent has an estate that continues to generate income.  Celebrity estates, such as those of Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson, have been known to generate income for decades.   The majority of us do not fit into the aforementioned categories and the likely reason for an extended probate is dissention within the family.  If a family member challenges the will, or the beneficiaries cannot agree on distribution, then the court may have to make the decision.  The best way to stop a protracted probate is for the beneficiaries to stop fighting. 

If I die without a will, the state will get everything.  Generally, the state does not inherit your estate.  The rules of inheritance, known as intestate succession, mean your estate will likely be divided between your surviving spouse and children.  If you leave no surviving spouse or children, your estate may go to your parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, or your long lost cousin.  The state will only get your money when no relatives can be located.

The cost of probate will be more than the value of my estate.  This is likely not the case especially if you own real property.  Costs will include court filing fees and publishing fees to announce the creditor claim period.  Additionally, there will be attorney fees, and possibly appraisals, real property recording fees, and certified copies of court documents.  This amount could be thousands of dollars all together but it will likely be a small portion of the value of the estate.  Of course, proper estate planning would be more cost effective.

I will be the Personal Representative because I am the oldest.  Neither birth order nor gender are determining factors when it comes to the Personal Representative of a deceased parent’s estate.  If the decedent named a Personal Representative in his or her will, the court will appoint that person unless there is a good reason why that person cannot or should not serve.  (A disability preventing the person from serving or a felony conviction are considered good reasons.)  The court will usually appoint a spouse or an adult family member to act as Personal Representative or the court may appoint two people to serve as Co-Personal Representatives.  

When choosing a family member to act as your Personal Representative, you should consider naming your most responsible and conscientious child or family member to act in that capacity.

JensenBayles, LLP provides a broad spectrum of legal services.  Thomas J. Bayles has been actively providing advice in the areas of trusts, wills, probate and tax planning in the St. George market for over 15 years. Please visit our web site www.jensenbayles.com or call 435-674-9718 and ask for Thomas J. Bayles or Phillip G. Gubler. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice.

Hearing Loss Linked to Depression, Social Isolation in Seniors…If Left Untreated

Jacob Burrows, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology

Untreated hearing loss has serious emotional and social consequences for older persons, according to a major new study by The National Council on the Aging (NCOA). The study was conducted by the Seniors Research Group, an alliance between NCOA and Market Strategies, Inc.

James Firman, EdD, president and CEO of The National Council on the Aging reports "This study debunks the myth that untreated hearing loss in older persons is a harmless condition". The survey of 2,300 hearing impaired adults age 50 and older found that those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and paranoia and were less likely to participate in organized social activities, compared to those who wear hearing aids.

Statistics show that hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in the United States, affecting more than 9 million Americans over the age of 65 and 10 million Americans age 45 to 64. But about 3 out of 5 older Americans with hearing loss do not use hearing instruments.

This study reveals that hearing instrument users reported significant improvements in many areas of their lives, ranging from their relationships at home and sense of independence to their social life. In virtually every dimension measured, the families of hearing aid users also noted the improvements but were even more likely than the users to report improvements.

At Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialist we offer hearing solutions for all ages and hearing loss types. Come visit one of our Audiologists and learn how we can enrich your life. 435-688-8866
Article information derived from: Audiology Today, Vol. 11:4, 99.

Tonaquint Networks Announces Gigabit Internet in St. George

St. George, UT, AUG 24, 2015  — Tonaquint Networks has announced construction of its fiber to-the-home gigabit network build out of St. George with plans to offer the network to all residential and business properties within the City.  Tonaquint Networks is the first fiber optic network in St. George to deliver a fiber-to-the-home data connection of 1 gigabit per second.  The average American broadband speed is 11.5 Megabits per second with gigabit service being about 100 times faster.  Construction will commence on selected neighborhoods within the City.

According to Matt Hamlin, Manager of Tonaquint Networks, each identified neighborhood selected for this technology is referred to as “fiberhoods”. Shadow Mountain has been selected by Tonaquint Networks as its first gigabit fiberhood in St. George with construction already underway.  To celebrate the announcement, Tonaquint Networks will host a celebration and ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 3, at 5:30PM at the Shadow Mountain St. George City Park, 305 North Stone Mountain Drive.  Utah’s Lt. Governor Spencer Cox and St. George Mayor Jon Pike will be the featured speakers.

According to Hamlin, “Tonaquint Networks is more than a typical broadband or television service provider. Gigabit technology provides Internet speeds not previously available to residential customers in St. George. You will be amazed at the speed of downloads and the digital quality for watching movies, live sporting events, video games and soon to be live television programming. We have had a great deal of interest and enthusiasm from St. George residents—even to the point of some offering to canvas neighborhoods and sign up potential customers!   We are also working with several major home builders who want to have gigabit technology available in their development to offer to new home buyers—this gives the builder a competitive edge.”

According to Hamlin, “Tonaquint Networks owns its own fiber infrastructure providing 100% redundancy with 24/7/365 local support.”  The Tonaquint Network team of network professionals has been doing business as a fiber optic carrier and provider in Southern Utah for more than 12 years providing data network services to governments, educational institution, and many large and small corporate customers with one of the fastest and most reliable data networks in the U.S.  Tonaquint Networks is a Kay H. Traveller Company.  For more information contact Matt Hamlin, Manager, Tonaquint Networks at (435) 772-8282 or go to http://www.tonaquintnetworks.com/


About Fiberhoods 1 Gigabit Internet Service
Your Internet service can now be 100 times faster providing a care free Internet experience. With gigabit speeds right to your home, you’ll never have to worry about movies buffering, slow song downloads, or multiple people dragging your Internet speed while using the same Internet connection in your home.
Fiber optics is a technology where laser-generated pulses of light are transmitted over hair-thin strands of glass fiber at the speed of light. Fiber is vastly superior to radio transmission over copper. Because traditional copper lines focus much of their available bandwidth on sending signals out, they’re extremely limited when it comes to uploading new information. Fiber optics, however, are capable of producing upload speeds that are just as fast as download speed. Uploading/downloading, image quality and phone clarity are all improved by the use of fiber optics. And when it comes to upload speeds, fiber optics cannot be matched.

About Tonaquint
Tonaquint has been building fiber and providing IP solutions in southern Utah for the past 10 years. Now Tonaquint is positioned to provide services directly to businesses throughout the region. With redundant fiber lines throughout St. George and the surrounding areas, Tonaquint is poised to provide your business the most secure and true business grade IP services in town, with the local support to match. Tonaquint is also a partner with Tonaquint Data Center, providing the most secure environment for resources to your business. Tonaquint is the only provider that can offer a true “Fiber to Customer” experience all over the region.

Why should you choose Tonaquint fiber?
Much faster upload speeds, Better image quality, Improved phone clarity, Enhanced Security, and we don’t use outdated phone technologies (copper wires). We only provide dedicated fiber optic services with flexible plans to fit your needs. With options to choose from in both residential and business applications, we provide a variety of speeds and installation options to best fit your unique situation.

My children are irresponsible and cannot handle money. What can I do to insure they will not waste their inheritance?

Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles, Attorneys at Law

My children are irresponsible and cannot handle money.  What can I do to insure they will not waste their inheritance?

You worked hard all your life, lived frugally, saved money and invested wisely.  As you start the estate planning process, you may have concerns related to your children’s ability to manage money.  You may worry that providing your children with a cash distribution will encourage them to stop working hard; the very thing you did to gain your wealth.  You may worry your child, who has a drug or alcohol addiction, will use his inheritance to fuel his addiction.  Obviously, these are legitimate concerns and should be considered in estate planning.

If you are concerned how your child might handle a cash distribution, you could consider testing them by making some distributions now.  You can gift up to $14,000 (2015) per year to whomever you would like with no gift tax consequence.  If you are married, you and your spouse can give $28,000 per person.  You could consider gifting your children with no restrictions on how they use the money and watch what happens.  Will your child spend the money, apply it towards debt or invest?

You could skip the step where you test your children and make a gift by paying down a debt, such as mortgage principal or student loan.  This will provide some relief of financial obligations without putting the cash in their hands.  Since mortgages and student loans are significantly higher than when you were young, this can be a tremendous help to your children.  You should always make sure there are no negative consequences or pre-payment penalties.

The distribution portion of your Trust can be linked to age and life events.  For instance, you can create your trust so your children receive a distribution when they reach certain ages, such as 35, 40, or 45.  You could direct the distribution to pay for college tuition, down payment on a home, or other major life events.  You can also construct your Trust to allow distribution when your child reaches a certain point in his sobriety, such as anniversary events at 5, 10 and 15 years.   

It is reasonable to worry how an inheritance will affect your children.  With  proper planning, you can put some of your concerns to rest.