Weaverville


Next Step Recovery provides transition


By Matt Tate Treatment centers for alcohol or


drug abuse can often be intensive ex- periences for patients as they work to rid themselves of the addiction that plagues their lives. At the end of the treatment, it is


not uncommon for an individual to feel they are in limbo, ready to move past the detox experience but un- prepared for immersing themselves back into regular everyday life. Tat is where Next Step Recovery


steps in. Te Asheville-based non-profit


transitional living program opened a women’s-only facility last year in Weaverville and moved in January into the former location of the Se- cret Garden Inn and Spa on Main Street. Te impetus of the program is to


provide a structured, safe and sup- portive environment for adult wom- en looking to rebuild a substance- free life after treatment.


similar to 401(k) or IRA Financial Focus


Benefits of 529 Plan If you have young children,


the end of another school year means you are now one year closer to the day when you send them to college — and one year closer to dealing with the high costs of higher education. How- ever, you still have time to save and invest — and one of the best investment choices you can make is a Section 529 college savings plan. In fact, a 529 plan contains, in


just one account, some of the key advantages found in other attrac- tive investment vehicles, such as a 401(k) or IRA. Consider the following: • Tax-advantaged earnings —


Susan Stader, Mark Vander Galien and Laura Haas make up the experienced team at Next Step Recovery.


“It’s a between phase,” house clini-


cian Laura Haas said. “It’s the bridge between the two.”


TAX-FREE


With an Edward Jones Roth IRA, any earnings are tax-free, and distributions can be taken free of penalties or taxes.* You may even benefit from converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.


* Distributions of earnings from a Roth IRA could be subject to taxes and a 10% penalty if the account is less than five years old and the owner is under age 59 1/2.


At Edward Jones, we spend time getting to know your goals so we can help you reach them. To learn more about why an Edward Jones Roth IRA can make sense for you, call or visit your local financial advisor today.


Bill Boughton, AAMS® Financial Advisor


.


61 Weaver Boulevard Weaverville, NC 28787 828-645-0341


www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Staff and volunteers help with re-


INCOME IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF AT RETIREMENT.


lapse prevention and life skills exer- cises for the residents. In addition to assigned chores around the complex, residents must also attend a requi- site amount of hours each week for school, work or volunteering as well as Alcoholic Anonymous or Narcot- ics Anonymous meetings, according to executive director and founder Susan Stader. “Tere is a lot of accountability


and availability from us to the wom- en of the house,” Stader said. Daily random screenings for


drugs or alcohol is also a part of the agreement, she added. Stader, a professional counselor


specializing in substance abuses is- sues, began the program in 2006 and also runs two homes for men in the Montford neighborhood of Asheville. Te Weaverville location can host up to 17 women and each are committed to a 90-day stay al- though they may stay up to one year, according to Mark Vander Galien, the director of the women’s program. Seeing each of the house’s resi-


dents and interacting with them on a daily basis is an effective and rewarding aspect of the job, Vander Galien, a nationally certified coun- selor, added. Next Step Recovery is currently


immersed in annual campaign for contributions. For more on the pro- gram or how to contribute, go to nextsteprecovery.com or nextstep- forwomen.com.


www.weavervilletribune.com


Roth IRA earnings accumulate tax free and are distributed tax free, provided the account is at least five years old and the ac- count owner doesn’t start tak- ing withdrawals until at least age 59½. Similarly, a 529 plan’s earnings accumulate tax free and are distributed tax free, provided they are used for qualified higher education expenses. (Keep in mind, though, that 529 plan distributions not used for quali- fied expenses may be subject to federal and state income tax and a 10% penalty.) Furthermore, your 529 plan contributions may be deductible from your state taxes. However, 529 plans vary, so be sure to check with your tax advisor. • High contribution limits


— For 2010, you can put up to $16,500 into a 401(k) plan, or $22,000 if you’re 50 or older. If you have an IRA, you can con- tribute up to $5,000 in 2010, or $6,000 if you’re 50 or older. Te lifetime contribution limits for 529 plans may be more generous. While the limits vary by state, many plans allow contributions in excess of $200,000, according to the U.S. Securities and Ex- change Commission. Contribu- tions to 529 plans are considered


gifts; therefore, the $ 13,000 gift limit should be considered. • Asset allocation — One key


to being a successful investor is choosing the mix of investments — such as stocks, bonds and government securities — that are appropriate for your risk tol- erance and time horizon. A pro- fessional financial advisor can help you create a suitable asset allocation for your 401(k), IRA or other investment accounts. Most 529 plans also offer an as- set allocation strategy, typically based on the age of the child or the number of years until col- lege enrollment. For example, if your child is younger, your plan might start off with a higher percentage of aggressive invest- ments in order to maximize your growth potential. As your child gets closer to college, the plan may take a more conservative ap- proach to help reduce the effects of volatility before you start tap- ping into the plan. Clearly, a 529 plan has much


in common with popular invest- ment vehicles, but it has other characteristics of which you’ll want to be aware. For one thing, the financial aid impact: Assets in a 529 plan are considered an asset of the account owner, usu- ally the parent. Federal financial aid formulas generally expect parents to use a smaller percent- age of their assets for college funding. Consequently, you’ll want to explore all aspects of any 529 plan, possibly in consulta- tion with your financial and tax advisors, before taking action. But don’t wait too long — your children will move from day care to dormitories in what seems like a blink of an eye.


Tis article was written by


Edward Jones for use by Bill Boughton, Weaverville’s local Edward Jones Financial Advi- sor.


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May 27 - June 2, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE 5


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