A new start, and some old 2024 business left to wrap up.
Best wishes from our team for a joyful and prosperous 2025! There’s a lot tend to in January, from wrapping up 2024 financial statements and filing tax returns to trying your best to make those new year’s resolutions stick as new habits. (You did make some new year’s resolutions, right?) Check out this month’s SmartTips lifestyle feature for some tips on how to follow through and make good on those promises you’ve made to yourself.
As you do, keep in mind this additional nugget of wisdom. It crossed our minds again recently, and we think it’s worth sharing:
Managing life’s many responsibilities and roles is like a juggling act. In 1991, former Coca-Cola CEO Brian Dyson told students during a commencement speech at Georgia Tech that this juggling act involves two kinds of balls—rubber and glass—that represent two different consequences if dropped:
- Work is represented as a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back and can be recovered without lasting damage.
- The other four balls—family, health, friends, and spirit—are like glass balls. If you drop one of these, it may become irreparably damaged or shattered, symbolizing that these aspects of life require more care and attention. The effects of neglecting them are more severe and the stakes are higher.
As you enter 2025, join us in remembering to put first things first in life every day.
More quotables
Here are a few more bite-sized proverbs to consider as we roll into the new year:
“Every day, have your today self do something your tomorrow self will thank you for.”
– Sean Patrick Flannery
“Don’t miss the plum because you were afraid to shake the tree.”
– Logan Pearsall Smith
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
– C.S. Lewis
“New Year’s Day is every person’s birthday.”
– Charles Lamb
It’s National Hobby Month
Established by the Hobby Guild of America in 1955, this month-long celebration is an excellent occasion to explore your interests. Hobbies can enhance well-being, reduce stress, foster creativity and promote social interaction. Try a new hobby or revive an old one this winter. From backgammon to bassoon lessons, there’s no shortage of new frontiers to explore.
It’s tax time!
Time to start gathering all the documents you need to file your 2024 returns. Our main feature story this month will help guide you through the process of organizing all of your resources, along with useful tips for both wage earners and the self-employed. Check it out, and you may save some time and angst.
While January marks the start of the filing season, there are also a few intermediate tax deadlines during the month. Here’s a list of January deadlines to keep on your radar screen:
- January 10: Tips for December 2024 reported to employer
- January 15: Estimated tax payment for 4th quarter of 2024 (Note: You can skip your estimated quarterly payment if you file and pay your 2024 taxes in full by January 31.)
- January 15: Farmers and fishermen pay estimated tax for 2024
- January 31: Deadline to file and pay 2024 taxes in full if you’re not making an estimated tax payment in January
Each year, the IRS extends tax deadlines for taxpayers in designated areas impacted by severe storms and natural disasters. If you live in one of the states with extended IRS tax deadlines due to natural disasters, your January estimated tax payment (and other relevant tax obligations) can be paid in accordance with that revised deadline. For a complete list of affected states, see the IRS official disaster relief website.
Ready or not, tax season is starting. Call our experts for help—it’s what we do!
Chicken soup to warm your winter.
Now that we’ve finished tempting with our holiday favorites in November and December, we’ll dial it back with a healthy and flavorful chicken soup recipe that you can easily make at home:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or ghee
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 6 cups chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 dried bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1½ teaspoons salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (plus more to taste)
Instructions
Sear the Chicken:
Heat the avocado oil or ghee in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Sear the chicken for about 4-5 minutes on each side until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside.
Sauté Vegetables:
In the same pot, add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until fragrant and the vegetables begin to soften.
Build the Soup Base:
Return the seared chicken to the pot. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, turmeric powder, salt, and thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Simmer:
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
Shred Chicken
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back to the soup.
Finish with Herbs and Lemon
Stir in fresh dill or parsley and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired.
Serve
Ladle into bowls and enjoy. Craving a heartier version? Try adding some egg noodles!
