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Show ' Rl IMRTl R TARA DUUiAN U4-:5(- Coll ege savings plans 'drawing Merest POSITIVE STRUGGLES fen v K " By TAR A Dl'GGAN The Daily IKtuM Finding a balance in life is no act In "Having Our Say," (Dell Publishing Co., 1996) Sadie and Bessie Dclaney recount their remarkable lives. These two sisters both lived to be over 100. BeBsie was a dentist and Sadie a teacher. What kept them so alive and alert for so long? Balance had plenty to do with it. Until she was 98, Bessie would mount a ladder and saw the branches off a tree so the two had a clear view of the African-America- n . New York skyline. Sadie did yoga exercises for more than 40 years. She started when she was 60. Sometimes, they even spiked their Jell-- 0 with a little wine. As Sadie put it, "Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet." Steven Covey, in his classic "First Things First," (Fireside, 1996) sends a wake-u- p call to workaholics world wide: "We are not in control of our lives; principles are." Without the right principles, you're out of luck. Covey links this to "the frustration people have had with the traditional time management' approach to life." To me, balance means leveling out the different roles we have: wage earner, spouse, parent, commu... "whatever. nity-member Balance, according to Covey, demands that you also be a first-rat- e organizer. The most frustrating feeling is the "scarcity mentality," feeling always short on time. But, aren't we often short on planning instead? What can you do to make your different roles work together better? Balance doesn't mean speed. So many "supermoms" and "superdadLs" race through the day. Balance isn't a bunch of ticks on a checklist. It's easy to leave kids and colleagues feeling slighted. It's no fun playing tag with a barreling express train, is it? Once, New York Yankee great Phil Rizzuto was driving with another Yankee star, Yogi Berra, Rizzuto said: "Hey, Yogi I think we're lost." Berra answered: "Yea, but we're making great time!" can't balance your life without confidence. Karl You ' a a mtrhana 1a aerial artist of our greatest time. In 1978, Wallenda did Wnll&nHa a 75-fo- ot ix high performance over downtown San Juan. His wife told leadership expert Warren Bennis: "All Karl thought about for three straight months prior to it time he'd ever thought about that, and it seemed to me that he put all his energies into not falling, rather than walking the tightrope." The result was fatal. What's true for high wires is true for life. Concentrate on mak- L,lc funiuvcB imyytii. Balance: It's never too late to think about it. Given the choice between unlimited personal success and a more evenly weighted life, 1 go for balance. People think of me as a workaholic. That's not my modus operandi. Daughter Jojo's dance recitals ... daughter Mimi's tennis tournaments ... and son David's numeractivious ties. My wife Carol Ann's art lectures always came ahead of a sales conference or a business meeting. Ill remember those moments more than any time I lost at extra-curricul- ar the office. Mackay Moral; Life- PROVO many parents are getting ready to tfvjid their kids oil' Harvey Mackay lines beat deadlines any day. money grow tax-fre"One nice thing about these plans is that, each state is different and you don't have to live in a state e. As the graduation season winds down, . anyone to put away money for education and let that to college. And with those kids, parents are sending n lot of t heir money. The cost of college has increased four times faster than the typical household income and saving for children's education is the second most important financial concern for most adults. Retirement is the first. ' Almost every stuto recognizes the importance of a college savings plan and by the end of the year, each will offer its own version of the 529 college savings plan. "These came out about 1996, but not very many people used them," said Michael Frandsen, a financial planner with AXA Advisors in Frovo. "They really became attractive with the tax reform act of 2001." The plans, many of which are new or revised, allow parents, grandparents or to use that state's plan," Frandsen said. "You can choose the 'most attractive plan for you." The individual plans vary by the maximum amount per child that can be invested, as well as state tax 'deduction income allowances and the number of invest ment choices. Utah's plan, for example, only allows up to $101,650 be invested for each child who will attend an school. North Dakota, on the other hand, caps the investment at $269,000 per child. There are several advantages to the plans, according to Frandsen. "Everybody is eligible for this, the interest is and it can be used for all college expenses," he said. tax-fre- e, Kimball Hodges, a financial consultant at AXA, said those can include everything from tuition and evvme 529 PLAN HIGHLIGHTS Accounts can be opened in any state, regardless of residency. Accounts can be opened for the same child in more than one state If It Is anticipated that child will need more than the maximum amount to earn multiple '. degrees. Accounts can be switched to different beneficiaries and to different states., A family can use one account for multiple children, Everyone Is eligible and If a child Is given a scholarship, the money can be withdrawn with no penalty. Money withdrawn to pay for "non education related expenses" Is taxed at a rate of 10 percent of the Interest earned. books, to housing and trans- "That way you don't have with a bunch of money going through the Harley vs, Harvard dileman portation. "The wording leaves it pretty vague, but a golfing trip to St. George probably as an g education expense." The money can be used to pay for .education at four-anr schools, as well as some vocational and ma," Hodges said. the parents isnr-gmn- of a child who chooses the NFL over age-base- to, use the money for a sibling, niece or grandchild. If the investor decides not to use the money for education, it can, be withdrawn with a 10 percent penalty on the interest, unless, the child for whom the money was intended received a scholarship, d two-yea- foreign' schools. One of the biggest advantages to the plan is that the person who opens the account maintains control and has the ability to change the beneficiary. "There's no penalty for having smart kids," Hodges said. Some will see the small penalty as an opportunity to use the plan as a tax the because shelter, accounts and gains are excluded from the person's taxable estate. In addition, the option in the 52!) law that allows a person to open an account in their own name makes doing so easier, although Hodges recommends using that option to open an account for an unborn child. The money can also be switched to a different slate's plan once a year. Although most states allow flexibility in how the money is invested, Hodges said most people are opting for portfolios, which shift the assets into less risky investments as college gets closer. For more information, www.savingf'orcol-lege.covisit or contact your financial advisor. HYU d 7'nrrt Uuwian ran be or at readied at tdtiKHa n till era hlextra com. M4-2MV- , pDsum 'i I Airlines try to make flying enjoyable By BRAD FOSS AP HuWnc NEW YORK Writer - yoga. More legroom. Better food. The airline industry, cripterrorist attacks and a downturn in business travel, spent the past several months trying to convince Americans that flying is safe and affordable. Now, as business slowly recovers, the airlines are trying to make people believe that travel can be enjoyable, too. "They're trying to get everybody in the mood pled by the r li Pi 7(1 C airport lounges. The more recent amenities represent a subtle but significant shift in marketing strategies, said Robert Mann, an airline consultant at R.W. Mann & Co. in Port Washington, N,Y. , "It's a ing 2 101," Ifll & u Hi y if . return to market- Mann said, "The airlines are back to the product differentiation factors to take the edge off this perception that the airports should be avoided." Continental announced last week that it will sere chicken breasts instead of c chicken thighs on and that flights Gloribel again," breakfast will be upgraded Rodriguez, who flies to Puerto Rico once a month to visit from a cold croissant to a warm bagel with cream family, said on a recent mornLa Guardia Airport. cheese.. The only catch: Con- ing at tinental will charge $4 for "They know they need to satalcoholic drinks on isfy the customer. If we're not flights, an amenity no have money." happy, they used to be free. that JetBlue Airways is enairline JetBlue, to couraging passengers which never served has relax a little with placards in the back of seats that show meals, is using quirky humor to try to make its how to do simple yoga without standing up. Continental customers happier. "A flight attendant may food y is serving ask you if you need somecoach on to passengers JetBlue's thing," And flights. yoga manual says. "Tell them American is spending millions on advertising to bally- that we all need inner peace." hoo several inches of legroom Recognizing the stress involved in going through added on every plane. The little extras run countairports these days, JetBlue is also encouraging travelers er to the ruthless to release tension before of the past several months. With passenger traffic down they board the plane: 'Die airline is installing heavy12 percent in April ami pa red with last year, and security weight punching bags that costs on the rise, major US. travelers can take a whack airlines have canceled meals at once they get through on short flights, removed pilsecurity at Kennedy Airport. lows and blankets and closed The nine largest U.S. air- trans-Atlanti- Wk- ' Jf - r F trans-Atlanti- c : ... f t ' ' 4 Low-far- e higher-qualit- trans-Atlant- ht ic - cost-cuttin- g It. '. JOHN - MAMSMM I, MAMU, IIk. AkijIU I'ttw Watching the planet coma In: Gloribel Rodriguez, right, and her friends Solcides Salazar, Center, and Jenny Nue, relax In rocking chairs at New York's LaGuardia Airport while waiting for Nue 's flight to Peru on Wednesday. Airlines are making an effort to increase the level of services and comforts available to travelers. lines lost a combined $2.4 billion during the first three months of the year. the only Southwest major US. airline to record quarterly profits since Sept, 11 is sticking with its strategy, "When's the last time low-fri- ll anyone bragged about an meal?" spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said. "We'd rather you saved money on the cost of the flight and be able to have a steak dinner when you get to your destination. Mary Jo DeMartini, 38, ht who flies once a month as a public relations manager for Parade magazine, said the best way, to put a smile on her face would be to reduce the hassles 'of baggage and passenger screening "I'm not a gimmicky girl," she said. Business Trends - PROVO Dr. Wynn II. Hemmert, director of the Endoscopy Laboratory at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, was presented the Physician of Distinction award Wednesday by Intermountain Health Care. Hemmert was selected for this honor in part for his commitment to the fields of gastroentology and endoscopy and for his ; dedication to his patients, and colleagues. Over the years, Hemmert has been the president and chairman of the board for Central Utah Medical Clinic and very instrumental in improving the quality of care offered there. He has also been the medical staff president at UVRMC and a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the Department of Medical Dietetics atBYU. Hemmert is the chairman for the Compliance Committee at the Central Utah Medical Clinic, an adjunct professor at BYU for the College of Nursing and Department of Medical Dietetics and on the board of trustees for the Utah Medical Association. Hemmert and his wife are leaving later this year to serve as a mission president for the LDS Church. AMERICAN FORK Brian O. Chritenften of Orem received his Profes sional Engineers license in the state of Utah. He is a transportation design engis neer employed with Engineers in American Fork and holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Utah State University. Hor-rock- - SPRING VI LLE Rod Warren has opened a new design firm in Springville called RW1D, Rod Warren Illustration and Design. The firm is a small, independent operation that pro- vides art- - 7 Z . work for small- - to 491-807V- Rod Warren medium-size- d businesses and clients. Warren graduated from BYU and has been working as an illustrator and graphic designer since 1978, Warren has over 23 years of professional design and illustration experience in ad agencies, magazines, printing companies, newspapers, screen printers and embroidery companies. Warren has won awards for both illustration and r design, attended numerous graphics seminars, and has taught classes in cartooning and Adobe Illustrator, To contact Warren, call 368-059- 1 ore-ma- il rwidxrrtission,corn. Ml I! 1' AfrWMMrtrUmMNgfACMtKf |