Chilled Prawns with Balsamic Mustard Aioli

The  recipe calls for 24 medium Alaskan spotted prawns, but works well with the Costco 31-40 shrimp which we keep on hand.   It makes two cups of Aioli that stores well, although the garlic keeps intensifying the longer you leave it in the refrigerator.  Definitely a garlic lover’s appetizer, so if sharing with friends make sure everyone has some.  Not good to have only half the room with garlic breath and the other half hiding from them!

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IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2014

Professional Alliance member Victoria Trigg reminds us that while contribution limits for 2014 remain relatively unchanged, income limits for determining the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions have increased for 2014, as have income limits for those making Roth IRA contributions.  

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Trends & Innovations: 3D-Printed Hand

A British inventor hopes to revolutionize the health industry after producing 3D printed prosthetic limbs. The engineering graduate has created The Dextrus hand, a fully-working prototype built with a 3D printer.  The NHS currently has to pay around £70,000 for a prosthetic hand, but robotics expert Joel Gibbard, 23, has come up with an alternative which could cost just £600.

Click here to view full article by Emma Innes, The Daily Mail Online

329 BC – The Opening Of The Silk Road To The East

The propensity to trade, barter and exchange is as old as man.  However, there are limits to the benefits of trade.  Be it in rural hamlets or isolated city-states, the division of labor and gain from exchange is bound by the variety of locally available resources and technologies.  The greater the area of trade, the greater the potential variety from which to benefit.

Click here to read full article © Russell Investments 2013. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Pepperoni and Cheese Scrambled Eggs

Robert Irvine from the Food Network inspired this delicious breakfast recipe that only takes about 15 minutes to whip up.  The creamy scrambled eggs with spicy pepperoni are the perfect way to start the day.  

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Social Security and Medicare Figures for 2014

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive a 1.5% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for 2014. According to the SSA's announcement, after the COLA adjustment, the estimated average retirement benefit will rise from $1,275 in 2013 to $1,294 in 2014.

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Year-End Charitable Giving Enhanced with Tax Planning

As the holiday season approaches, with the end of one year and the start of another, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. Professional Alliance members Neil Larson and Victoria Trigg remind us that charitable giving can be enhanced using income tax deductions, and so it can be much more effective when it is included as part of year-end tax planning.

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