Are You Eligible for Advance Child Tax Credit?

You've probably been hearing a lot about the child tax credit payments that the IRS is sending many American families. You may have already seen the money show up in your bank account. 

This episode will review what the child tax credit is and who qualifies for it. You'll find out how much you could receive and if it could affect your future tax refund.

What Is the Child Tax Credit?

The child tax credit isn't a new benefit for Americans - it's been around since 1997. However, due to COVID relief, known as the American Rescue Plan of 2021, the credit has changed significantly for a limited period.

If you have kids, you're probably familiar with the child tax credit. But if you don't, the credit may be news to you. So, here's a primer. 

The child tax credit is a federal benefit for qualifying taxpayers with one or more qualifying dependent children. It puts more money back in the pockets of families by reducing the amount of tax they owe or increasing their tax refunds. 

Unlike a tax deduction, a tax credit cuts your tax bill on a dollar-for-dollar basis, making it more valuable. For instance, if you owe $1,000 in taxes and qualify for a $250 tax credit, your tax liability gets cut to $750. 

Let's compare that scenario to getting a $1,000 tax deduction. A deduction doesn't reduce the actual amount of tax owed but instead reduces your taxable income. Let's say you qualify for a $1,000 tax deduction. Depending on your average tax rate, it may end up saving you about $200 in taxes, which is much less than for a $1,000 tax credit.

How Much is the Child Tax Credit?

How much money you could save by claiming the child tax credit depends on your income and family size. Before the pandemic, it paid qualified taxpayers $2,000 per child under age 17. 

Legislation boosted the credit to $3,000 per child under age 18, starting in 2020. Additionally, if you have a child under age six, you qualify for a $3,600 credit.

Another change for 2021 is that the child tax credit is fully refundable. That means you receive it even the amount exceeds what you owe in taxes. 

For example, if you owe $1,000 in taxes and qualify for a $3,000 credit, the IRS pays you the...

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Superfood Alert: What's a Pili Nut?

Nutrition Diva listener Alex writes:

"Can you do an episode on the pili nut? I'd never seen or heard of it before but all of a sudden it's popping up in my social media feeds. Supposedly, it's super nutritious but I feel like we've been down this road before. What's the real deal?"

Isn't amazing in this era of global everything that there are still so many foods that you've never heard of? And Alex is right, the pili nut is having a moment. In the already crowded nut space, pili nut vendors are trying to carve out a niche for this little-known nut. So, of course, it was only a matter of time before the "superfood" label would be invoked. 

An internet search for "health benefits of pili nuts" will quickly yield a list of impressive claims:

• fights inflammation
• reduces cholesterol
• neutralizes free radicals
• strengthens bones
• helps you sleep
• enhances cognitive function

The first thing you need to know is that none of these claims are based on human research that's specifically on the pili nut. To my knowledge, there is no research linking pili nuts to specific health outcomes in humans - with the exception of a single study reporting an allergic reaction. In fact, there are only 6 papers mentioning pili nuts in the entire Pubmed database, and all but one of them were published since 2017!

If you have a tree nut allergy, exercise caution with pili nuts.

All of the health claims that you'll see for pili nuts, if they are based on anything at all, are based on their nutritional content. For example, calcium has been found to strengthen bones and pili nuts contain calcium. Therefore, pili nuts must strengthen your bones.  (Although it's worth noting that an ounce of pili nuts provides only 4% of your daily calcium needs.) 

So, if the nutrient content is the sole basis for these health claims, how do pili nuts stack up nutritionally to other nuts? Are they higher or lower in specific nutrients?

Are pili nuts nutritious?

Most nuts are high in fat, which mean that they provide a lot of calories in a relatively small package. But pili nuts are even higher in fat (and calories) than most other nuts, with the exception of macadamia. Unlike macadamia nuts, however, which are mostly monounsaturated fats, the pili is about half saturated and half monounsaturated fat.  Although you may run into claims to the contrary online, the pili nut is not a good source of omega-3 fats. 

Pili nuts contain less protein per serving than...

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6 Amazing Home Improvements for Quality of Life

It is easy to get stuck focusing on the wrong things when deciding where and how to renovate our homes. We know that it’s important to get as much return on our investment as possible when improving our house, so adding value is crucial. However, if you are planning on staying in your home for a while, investing in quality of life is essential too. Your home should not be just a brick-and-mortar investment that you look forward to selling one day in the distant future. The perfect home is one where you can relax and unwind, escaping from the common stresses of day-to-day life. If you’re thinking of making some changes to your home, and you want to do something that you know is going to make you happier, the following options might be ideal for you.

Upgrade your bathroom

Your bathroom is one of the most essential spaces in your home for quality of life. It’s where you spend a significant portion of your time taking care of yourself, so it should feel like an oasis of tranquility whenever possible. Think about how you can transform your current bathroom to make your everyday maintenance experiences feel as wonderful as possible. Would installing a larger bath so you can fully stretch out and enjoy some bubbles after a long day make you happier? Are you looking to switch your bath to a shower, so you don’t have to worry about spending time to fill an entire bath when you’re rushing to work? Make your bathroom into a place that’s perfect for your needs. Don’t forget to invest in your plumbing too. Installing a whole-house filtration system doesn’t just make your water taste better, it can also reduce the risk of dry skin and hair from your shower.

Invest in a good night’s sleep

Life is easier when you sleep well. Unfortunately, too many people fail to invest properly in a good night’s sleep. We choose beds and mattresses based on their affordability and can sometimes ignore things like bedding. Next time you have some spare cash set aside for updating your home, ask yourself how you can make your bedroom more welcoming. If you are constantly struggling to find the right level of comfort on your existing bed, then it might be time to update with a new frame or mattress. If your bedroom feels cluttered, think about how you can open up the space by transforming cupboards into built-in storage spaces.

The more comfortable you are in your bedroom, the more likely it is that you’ll sleep well.

Invest in a passion

We all have things in life that we enjoy. For some, it’s reading a good book, for others, it’s spending a few hours on a video game. If your home doesn’t have the perfect space for you...

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5 Tips for Boosting Engagement on LinkedIn

More than ever before, careers and business opportunities are being found and conducted online. A 2016 survey found that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn, which is known to its users as the “professional social networking site.” It’s important to stay active and connected online, regardless if you’re networking, seeking a job, recruiting for one, or promoting your brand. Read on for how to build your LinkedIn page to grow your number of followers and increase engagement.

Tip #1: Start with a strong headline

Your LinkedIn headline, which appears at the top of the page under your name, should summarize your expertise and knowledge in your niche. If you’re wondering how to succinctly craft your headline, think “what topic or field do I want to share content and gain followers for?” Your headline can be an opportunity to speak directly to your audience and show how you will help them. For example:

Public Speaking Coach | I Help Professionals Build Confidence and Public Speaking Skills in Just 30 Minutes a Day

If you have a website, it’s also helpful to include the link in the headline as well. Here’s an example from the LinkedIn page of our Modern Mentor podcast:

Tip #2: Make your posts easy to read

While image and video posts do well on many social networks, like Instagram and Facebook, text posts are generally most favored on LinkedIn. Since this is a professional site, people tend to seek advice on self-improvement, productivity, and career advancement, which is why text-based posts do better.

If you’re sharing a website link to an article, consider removing the preview image so that the post contains a plain link within the text. There will be an “X” button to remove the preview image.

Format your post content into 1 to 2 sentences per paragraph. This way, the text is easier to read and keeps your audience’s attention. Feel free to use emojis or bullets to list items!

End your posts with a call to action, like asking your audience a question or for their...

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How to Craft a Job You Love

With books, movies, or music, I’m a tough customer. If I’m not jazzed in minutes, I’m moving onto the next. There are too many choices for me to stick with something that's not lighting me up. A job, however, is not a song. It’s not so easy to change. But unlike a book or a movie, which you only see as a finished product, a job is malleable. You can bend and shape it to your will. The way you do this is through job crafting. A term coined by Jane Dutton and Amy Wrzesniewski, job crafting is the act of customizing your job to better fit your motives, strengths, and passions.

Your job, presumably, has a formal description. But that description’s purpose is to capture what you need to deliver – client outcomes, financial reports, HR processes, etc. But how you get that done – the tasks, activities, and interactions you engage in – is up to you to mold. As long as you deliver that outcome.

I used to work in Operations Management for a logistics company. I had to ensure thousands of items made it onto shelves daily. Many of my peers did this through a focus on technology and process efficiency. But my strengths and passions aligned better to people. And so I achieved success by focusing on talent – hiring, training, and rewarding them – to ensure the same outcomes were achieved.

So if your job has you dreading Monday mornings, here are 5 steps you can take to craft a job you love without having to update your resume:

Step #1: Decide to act

Job crafting begins with a choice. You must choose to recognize that jobs are not jail. You are not a prisoner to the description on the page. Every job can be bent, twisted, or molded within its boundaries.

“Crafting” is an action verb. So don’t sit back and wait for something to happen. Choose to take action. Begin with a commitment to yourself. Repeat after me: “I will take responsibility for crafting this job into something I love.”

Look at you – already making things happen!

You are not a prisoner to the description on the page. Every job can be bent, twisted, or molded within its boundaries.

Step #2: Choose what to chase

Job crafting isn’t about changing your title, function, or salary. It's about infusing more joy into your days. And to infuse joy, you must first know what brings you joy – the tasks, actions, projects, conversations, interactions, challenges, etc. that fuel your energy tank. It’s about finding the things you love, you’re good at, you want to be known for.

So start by asking yourself some reflective questions:

• When do I find...

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Meet the New Get-Fit Guy (Part 1)

It's true! This two-part episode will be the final time you will read my words and hear my voice as the Get-Fit Guy. But don't despair! There is a great new Get-Fit Guy and he's ready to dive headfirst into guiding you on your fitness adventures. 

Before I introduce you to your new host, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you have allowed me into your life for these last four years. I know that there are so many places to get fitness information and the fact that you have trusted me to lead you is not something I take lightly. So from the bottom of my well-toned heart, I thank you for making these last four years so much fun.

If you enjoy and value what I bring to your fitness life, I would encourage you to visit BrockArmstrong.com/newsletter to sign up for updates on where you can find me next. I have a very exciting and fun project coming soon that you won't want to miss, so join me (I am CoachBrockArm on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and if you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube Channel, so you won't have to miss me and my movement filled content at all. 

Meet the New Get-Fit Guy, Dr. Jonathan Su

Brock:

You are an award-winning physical therapist and bestselling author who has worked one-on-one with more than 10,000 clients of all ages. Can you tell us, in your own words, what makes you a great fit as the next Get-Fit Guy?

Jonathan:

The first thing that comes to mind is my desire to make fitness work for anyone regardless of age, weight, ability or goals. Research shows that the benefits of being even slightly more fit are transformative. From better mood, energy, and sleep to improved brain function, protection from chronic diseases, and help with weight management. Everyone should be empowered with the knowledge on how to be fitter, healthier, and happier.

What also comes to mind is the unique perspective I bring, having spent years in the trenches working with diverse groups of people, including managing functional training for soldiers in the field, prevention of repetitive strain injuries for office workers, and reconditioning and fall prevention for older and frail adults. This gives me a deep base of knowledge that listeners can draw from. At this point, I can confidently say that while I don’t know everything, I know what works and what doesn’t.

But I believe the most...

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Coming Soon: Relationship Doctor Returns!

Did you know that 63% of college-aged men and 83% of women want to be in a traditional relationship? And 70% of Millennials want to get married?

Given these numbers, why is it that so many relationships fail? Why do so many of us ride the rollercoaster of ups and downs in dating? What’s the secret to finding love?

I’m Dr. Rachel Vanderbilt, and I’m a scientist specializing in the study of romantic relationships. I’m thrilled to be the new host of the Relationship Doctor podcast. If you listened to the previous season of this show, stick around: this season is going to bring you even more advice on how to make your relationship successful - advice that is always grounded in real science.

Researchers have been studying relationships in America since the 1950s. And I’m here to sift through all that data and give you the truth about what works and what doesn’t - and why!

I bet you’ve often heard that conflict is the sign of a bad relationship; that secrets are always harmful in a marriage; that you should experience “the spark” with someone instantly, otherwise they aren’t worth pursuing.

Turns out, none of these are true!

Each week on the Relationship Doctor podcast we will get to the bottom of all your questions - and debunk a lot of myths. My advice will be based in science, not hearsay. And we will tackle the full spectrum of relationships without judgment or fear.

So please join me every week on the Relationship Doctor podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episodes every Monday starting August 2. 

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