>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, THE DANGERS OF STARTING A NEW DIET.

WHY AVOIDING SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS IS JUST ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN STARTING A HEALTHY EATING LIFESTYLE.

THE DEADLINE FOR TAX DAY IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING.

AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAITS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO FILE, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

AND AS THE POPULARITY OF PICKLEBALL CONTINUES TO RISE, ONE LOCAL GROUP IS LOOKING TO KEEP THE ACTION GOING WITH AN INGENIOUS RECYCLING EFFORT.

HELLO, I AM JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SPRING IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TIMES OF THE YEAR TO START A NEW DIET.

AS PEOPLE LOOK FOR A RESET FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAYS.

HOWEVER, DOCTORS WARN THAT AN OBSESSIVE FOCUS ON HEALTHY EATING CAN BECOME AN EATING DISORDER.

DOCTORS ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE WITH ORTHOREXIA, AN EATING DISORDER WHERE PEOPLE ONLY EAT CERTAIN FOODS AND CUT OUT ENTIRE FOOD GROUPS.

DESPITE THE HEALTH BENEFITS, IT CAN LEAD TO AVOIDING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPING AND THEY GET IF SELF IMAGE ORTHOREXIA IS NOT ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT LIKE ANOREXIA OR BULIMIA, BUT THE RESULTS CAN BE JUST AS HARMFUL.

>> EVEN IF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE UNDERWEIGHT AND CAN STILL BE DANGEROUS TO ENGAGE IN OR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.

BECAUSE ELIMINATING ENTIRE FOOD GROUPS NAME THE TO NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.

IT WILL LAST IN SEVERE CASES IN ADDITION TO REALLY SHRINKING SOMEBODY STILL LIFE SOCIALLY AS RELATIONSHIPS, TRAVEL CELEBRATIONS AND OTHER THINGS CAN BE REALLY REVOLVING AROUND THOSE 2 ROLES.

>> TO LEARN MORE ON PROPER NUTRITION AND GOOD WAYS TO DIET.

WE'RE JOINED BY ERIKA GRAZIANI, A REGISTERED DIETICIAN WITH LEE HEALTH.

MISKE WAS IANNI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, ERICA.

WE ARE OVER 2 MONTHS INTO 2026, WHICH REALLY LONG TIME FOR SOMEONE TO TRY TO STICK TO A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION.

NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS PROMISE TO START A NEW DIET THIS YEAR.

WHY IS IT REALLY TOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO STICK TO THAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION THIS FAR?

AND WE'RE INTO MARCH ALREADY.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT DEPENDS.

BUT OFTENTIMES JUST THE THINGS I HEAR FROM PATIENTS THAT I THAT I HAVE IS THAT I THINK THEY HAVE A TENDENCY OF.

TRYING TO DO TOO MANY THINGS AT ONCE.

MAYBE THEIR GOALS ARE A LITTLE LOFTY OR THEY'RE THEY'RE CHOOSING APPROACHES THAT ARE A BIT RIGID.

AND SO I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU KNOW, THERE'S KIND OF AN ENDPOINT ONLY I CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS FOR SO LONG.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THAT AND OFTENTIMES TO THAT KIND OF RUN OUT OF STEAM BECAUSE IT'S IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH AT ONCE.

>> DO YOU HAVE SOME TIPS TO HELP PEOPLE TRYING TO STICK TO THEIR RESOLUTION INTO THESE DIETS THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH, YOU KNOW, THE GOALS THAT YEAR.

THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

AND THEN SETTING SMALL REALISTIC GOALS ALONG THE WAY?

EVERY TIME WE YOU KNOW, YOU REACH A GOAL OFTENTIMES THAT ACTUALLY INDUCES A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFIDENCE FOR THE PERSON.

YOU KNOW, STARTING SMALL AND REALLY ACTUALLY ASKING YOURSELF, YOU KNOW.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN KIND OF GET IN THE WAY OF ME ACHIEVING WHATEVER THAT SAID GOAL IS.

BUT I THINK IF WE JUST START WITH SOME SMALL THINGS, USUALLY IT'S BETTER IN AND IT MIGHT BE THAT MIGHT RESULT IN LIKE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW OR WEIGHT LOSS.

LET'S SAY ONE A POUND A WEEK OR SOMETHING.

BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO STICK WITH, THEN IN THE END, THAT'S GOING TO BE BETTER THAN MAY BE LARGER.

THINGS THAT MAKE A QUICK WEIGHT LOSS ONLY FOR IT TO KIND OF GET REVERSED SOON AFTER.

>> AND THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF DIETS THAT ARE POPULAR TODAY FROM THIS NO CARB QUITO.

WE HAVE PALEO VEGETARIAN.

THE BLUE ZONE, MEDITERRANEAN DIET.

HOW DO YOU FIND WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU?

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I WILL ALWAYS SAY EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHAT MIGHT FEEL GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT AGAIN, I WAS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY THE WEIGHT LOSS PIECE BECAUSE THAT'S A PIECE OF OUR OVERALL HEALTH, BUT ALSO NOT IGNORING OTHER ASPECTS.

SO WE WANT TO TRY TO CHOOSE AN APPROACH.

AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO ALSO PROMOTE HEALTH.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO LOSE WEIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS OUT THERE THAT HAVE A LOT OF YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE THE DASHER MEDITERRANEAN DIET.

IT'S RIGHT THAT ARE, AGAIN, NOT RIGID.

THERE'S NOT ONE WAY OF DOING IT, BUT IT DEFINITELY PRETTY, YOU KNOW, PROMOTE SOME MORE IN THE WAY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS, LEAN PROTEINS AND HEALTHY FATS SUCH AS AVOCADO IS OR NOT.

AGAIN, YOU GOT TO WATCH ON THE OF THOSE IN TERMS OF THE PORTION BECAUSE THEY CAN BE QUITE CALORIE-DENSE.

BUT AND THOSE TYPES OF APPROACHES ARE EASIER TO ALSO STICK WITH LONG-TERM, WHICH IS THAT WHAT I THINK MAKES THEM GOOD.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S THERE'S REALLY NOT LIKE A HEY.

THIS IS LIKE THE BEST APPROACH TO TAKE BECAUSE EVERYONE'S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT I WILL SAY YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH KIND OF PLAN YOU'RE FOLLOWING, YOU HAVE TO THAT RESEARCH SHOWS IF YOU'RE STICKING WITH THE PLAN AND IF THERE'S A CALORIE DEFICIT THAT TYPICALLY IS GOING TO RESULT IN WEIGHT YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A DEFICIT NO MATTER WHAT PATTERN YOU DECIDE TO KIND OF FOLLOW.

BUT AGAIN, AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, HEY, WHAT'S THE BEST ONE FOR ME?

AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT THINGS, WHAT TYPES OF FOODS DOES IT INVOLVE?

YOU KNOW, CAN I SEE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, MAKING MEALS AROUND THESE THINGS AND AND REALLY JUST KIND OF GETTING IN TUNE WITH YOURSELF BECAUSE IF YOU JUST KIND OF PICK, SOUNDS OMINOUS, FOLLOW THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, LIKE HALF FOODS ON THERE, I MEAN, AGAIN, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO STICK WITH A VERY LONG WHICH, AGAIN, KIND OF GOES BACK TO THAT BALANCED APPROACH WITH SMALLER, MORE REALISTIC GOALS ALONG THE WAY.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO GO ONLINE WITHOUT SEEING PLANS LIKE THIS INTERMITTENT FASTING BLOWING UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED.

I'VE SEEN ADS FOR EVEN WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS.

IF YOU'RE A SIZE, 2 AND YOU ONLY NEED TO LOSE 5 POUNDS AND THERE'S A LOT OF DANGERS.

IT WOULD SEEM IF PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING ARE LOOKING TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA DIET TRENDS FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT, WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT?

YES, I THINK.

>> NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT MANY PARA PROBABLY CRINGE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, YOU KNOW, SEE OR HEAR ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I CAN'T SOURCE LIKE WE'RE I HEARD THIS, BUT THEY DID A A KIND OF A A CHECK OF LIKE A FACT CHECK AGAINST OF OF.

THEY SAID IT WAS LIKE CLOSE TO IT.

I-80 OR 90% OF WHAT'S OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS ACTUALLY INCORRECT AND FALSE.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SCARY TO THINK ABOUT THE MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THAT STUFF.

SO AGAIN, I GUESS I JUST COULDN'T STRESS ENOUGH.

SEE THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS REALLY HAVE TO TAKE IT.

LIKE A GRAIN OF SALT AND KIND OF ASSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY ONE THING SOUND.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

GOOD TO BE TRUE.

ARE A LITTLE BIT OFF KILTER LIKE IT'S PROBABLY NOT THEIRS BY SOMETHING.

NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S COME IN THE GREAT THING OF LIKE CHECK IN WITH LIKE DOCTORS DIETITIANS YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN CERTAINLY DIVE INTO THAT AND HELPED HIM.

I GUESS, PUT A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXCELLENT INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

YES, THANK YOU, ERICA DIETICIAN AT LEE HEALTH.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE STORIES ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

MAKE SURE TO HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCu DOT ORG.

COMING UP, ARE YOU CASHING IN ON ALL OF YOUR POSSIBLE TAX BREAKS?

WE LEARNED FROM TAX EXPERTS ON HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR RETURN THIS YEAR.

EVERY YEAR IN NAPLES, THE IMAGINE SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST MINDS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SHARE GROUNDBREAKING BREAKTHROUGHS THIS YEAR.

TOPICS INCLUDE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AMERICAN HISTORY AND MEDICAL DISCOVERIES FOR SOME IN ATTENDANCE.

THE CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE TOPICS CAN BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SPRING.

>> THE IMAGINE SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE BRINGS INNOVATORS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO NAPLES, FLORIDA.

>> INCLUDING GEORGE BARBIE.

MISTER BARBEE IS AN AUTHOR, A BUSINESSMAN AND ECONOMIC EXPERT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

GREAT TO BE HERE TO WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE IN NAPLES?

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I THINK I TEACH INNOVATION CAUGHT IN THE NATION FOR 20 YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

AND THIS.

CONFERENCE IN NAPLES IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S, IF NOT INTERNATIONALLY, ONE OF THE BEST COLLECTIONS OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS.

IT'S LIKE 20 TED TALKS.

AND THEN FOR THAN ONE DAY.

IT'S JUST FABULOUS ACROSS A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES.

>> YOU SAID YOU SAW 20 PRESENTATIONS IN SCIENCE AND TECH.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU SAW?

I'D SAY 3 THAT STICK IN MY ONE IS.

>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE APPLICATION IN MEDICINE.

SECONDLY, IS ADVANCES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO VISUALS AND WITH RESPECT TO PHOTOGRAPHY, IT'S LOOKING MORE AND MORE REAL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ARTIFICIAL.

AND I GUESS THE 3RD IT HITS ME IS.

THE POPULATION IS AGING IN THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE ARE NOW LIVING UPWARDS OF 90 AND SO HOW THEY CONTINUOUSLY LEARN AND STAY CURIOUS.

IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A DRAW FOR THE VERY DIVERSE CROWD.

>> NOW YOU TOLD ME YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND TAKE ME BACK.

YOU WERE INFLUENTIAL IN HELPING TO EXPAND THE 401 K.

>> YEAH.

THE 401 K WAS CREATED FOR BASICALLY BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESSES.

AND WE BECAME A MAJOR COMMUNICATOR AND EXPAND OR THAT WITH CORPORATE EMPLOYEES BACK IN THE MID 80'S.

SO THAT ACTUALLY ECHOED NICELY IN THIS CONFERENCE BECAUSE IN TODAY'S MARKET, IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, SOME OF THE BEST MONEY IN TOWN IS THE MATCH OF A 4, 1, K SO FOR.

>> PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE 401 K WORKS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SUMMARY OF THAT?

>> WELL, LET'S TAKE YOU CAN INVEST UP TO $24,000 OF YOUR INCOME.

BUT LET'S TAKE WHAT IS REALLY THE POWER CONNECTOR IN 4, 1, K'S IS THE COMPANY MATCH.

SO LET'S SAY YOU ARE MAKING $100,000 AS A FAMILY.

10% OF THAT WORLD SIT, LET'S TAKE 6%.

THAT'S EASIER.

6% TO $6,000.

AND IF A COMPANY MATCHES YOU $3,000 YOU'VE GOT NOW $9,000.

BUT THE IMPORTANT THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT 3,000.

OVER THE 6, AS YOU HAVE A 50% RETURN.

>> THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT FOR WORKING AMERICANS TO DC I BELIEVE IT'S ONE IN 3 WORKING AMERICANS HAVE A 4, 1, K, WHY IS IT SO POPULAR AND SO IMPORTANT TO RETIREMENT?

WELL, 2 THINGS.

ONE IS TO IMMEDIATE RETURN ON YOUR MONEY.

>> WHICH IS POWERFUL.

>> AND THE OTHER IS GET YOU THINKING ABOUT YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY AND INVESTING.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AND IT GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IF YOU TAKE $10,000 A YEAR.

>> THAT'S THAT 6,003 1000.

LET'S ADD ANOTHER 1000.

MAKE IT EASY.

>> IF YOU INVEST THAT FOR 30 YEARS AND YOU MAKE 8%, PEOPLE CAN MAKE 6 TO 10% OVER THE LONG RUN.

BUT THAT $10,000 A YEAR WILL BE WORTH OVER A MILLION.

DOLLARS IF IT EARNED 7% OVER THE LONG HAUL.

SO AS SENT ESSENTIALLY IT'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE.

IF THE HAVE THE DISCIPLINE OF TAKING SOMETHING AROUND 10%.

>> OUT OF THEIR INCOME.

WE WERE ALSO DISCUSSING THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING LATER IN LIFE.

RETIRING LATER IF AT ALL.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THEIR SAVINGS FOR RETIREMENT?

WELL, YOU HAVE TO PLAN ON A LEAKY BUCKET IN RETIREMENT, SARAH.

SO MANY PEOPLE DO EXTEND THEIR.

>> WORKING CAREER.

>> BUT THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING, I THINK OF >> THIS STATISTIC IS IF YOU'RE IF YOU REACH 60, YOU HAVE A 75% CHANCE OF GETTING TONIGHT.

SO THE OTHER REASON FOR WORKING OR STAYING CURIOUS AND EVEN EXPLORING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH WILL BRING US BACK TO THIS CONFERENCE.

KEEP YOUR BRAIN CELLS GOING SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN AND CONTINUE LEARNING WAS A PART OF THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> IN THIS CONFERENCE AND WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE LEARNING AND GROWING, ALWAYS NO MATTER OUR AGE THROUGH RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU VERY MAKE YOU SO MUCH.

IMAGINE SOLUTIONS ALSO OFFERS AN UPCOMING SEMINAR ON U.S.

MILITARY POWER.

THE GUEST SPEAKER, 4 STAR GENERAL TIM RE COMING UP ON MARCH 19TH FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN HEAD TO IMAGINE SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE DOT COM.

WE ARE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM THE END OF TAX SEASON.

TURBOTAX SAYS NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF AMERICANS WAIT UNTIL THE FINAL 2 WEEKS TO FILE THEIR TAXES.

TAX EXPERTS SAY THAT'S NOT ADVISED.

WGCU TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID COMMON MISTAKES AND GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TAX RETURN.

>> SO FOR MORE ON HOW YOU CAN AVOID MAKING COMMON MISTAKES DURING TAX SEASON, WE'RE JOINED BY MARK STEBER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF TAX OFFICER FOR JACKSON HEWITT, TAX SERVICES, MR.

STEBER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

VERY IMPORTANT TIME IN A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>> WELL, WE ARE ABOUT ONE MONTH AWAY FROM THE FINAL DAY OF TAX SEASON AND MANY ARE GETTING THE RETURNS IN NOW.

SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF FILING EARLY.

>> TECHNICALLY YOU'RE NOT FILING EARLY.

IT'S HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON.

SO ALSO WE SAY, MAKE THE MOST USE OF THE TIME YOU HAVE REMAINING, EVEN IF IT'S JUST BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THOSE WERE REALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THE WAY TO THE LAST SECOND.

BUT SOME OF THE STANDARD BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY FILING.

AS WE KNOW, 100 MILLION PEOPLE GET REFUNDS EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S TYPICALLY ABOUT 300 OR 400 BILLION DOLLARS WITH A B THE EARLIER YOU FILE THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR MONEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FINANCIAL.

SOME WANT TO KNOW.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

SECONDLY, I'M OFTEN TOLD BY PEOPLE, WELL, MY SIDE MADE MONEY THIS YEAR OR MY CRYPTO MADE BANK AND I'M GOING SO I'M NOT GONNA PAY THE MAN ANY EARLIER.

WELL, THE REALITY IS YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW.

SO THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR TAXES DONE AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU OWE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY STARBUCKS TRIPS YOU'RE NOT MAKING.

AND HERE'S THE SECRET FOR YOUR VIEWERS.

YOU CAN STILL FILE YOUR TAX RETURN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNTIL APRIL 15TH AT MIDNIGHT.

SO FILING IS SEPARATE FROM PAGE.

AND THIRDLY AND AS IMPORTANT AS THE OTHER 2, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING UP AGAINST THE LAST MINUTE.

HEY, DO YOU KNOW YOU GET THE NEW TIP DEDUCTION OR THE NEW OVERTIME DEDUCTION OR THE NEW SENIOR DEDUCTION OR THE NEW INTEREST DEDUCTION PURCHASED AUTOMOBILES AND YOU'RE SCRAMBLING FOR DATA.

SO FILE EARLY.

GET YOUR MONEY FILE EARLY.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALL YOUR STAFF AND YOU CAN STILL FIND OUT WHAT YOU DO NOT PAY TO APRIL 15TH, THE MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH ALL THE LIFE CHANGES AND TAX CHANGES AND OTHER CHANGES, YOU JUST WANT A LITTLE EXTRA TIME IN CASE SOMETHING POPS UP THAT YOU GOT TO GO DO A LITTLE MORE DIGGING TO GET THE BIGGEST REFUND THAT YOU CAN NOW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE SWITCHED TO SELL FILING.

>> AND BECOMING A MORE COMMON PRACTICE.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON AREAS YOU SEE PEOPLE MAKING?

AND IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO AVOID THEM?

YEAH, THE ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION FIRST.

>> DON'T USE SELF PREP EYES.

JUST NOT A GREAT IDEA ON YOUR SINGLE LARGEST FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.

>> AND THE VOICE A MARCH TIER IS A SHILL FOR PAID PREP.

WE HAVE OUR OWN SELF PREP IN JANET JACKSON.

YOU IT.

WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE A COUNTRY FOUNDED ON ASTRONAUT COWBOY MENTALITY, BUT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SINGLE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.

THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT YOUR TAX RETURN.

SO SOME OF THE MISTAKES WE SEE EVERY YEAR THAT ARE SIMPLE TO AVOID IS PLAN ON EITHER LEARNING THE RULES AND LEARNING THE NOMENCLATURE LEARNING THE WORDS IN TERMINOLOGY OR HAVING RISK AND A GOOD PAID TAX PROFESSIONAL CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE THAT RISK AND IN MANY CASES EVEN PAY FOR THEMSELVES BY LOWERING YOUR STRESS FINDING EVERY DEDUCTION AND CREDIT AN ELECTION THAT YOU DESERVE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GIVING YOU TIPS TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EVER CHANGING WORLD OF TAX LAW CHANGES AND A GOOD PRO CAN HELP MAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE NEXT 30, 40 OR 50 YEARS THAT YOU'LL BE FILING YOUR TAX RETURNS.

>> AND NOW MOST OF THE TAX RETURNS THAT COME IN ARE SIMPLE TAX RETURNS.

BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS OR ARE SELF EMPLOYED AND MIGHT HAVE A MORE COMPLICATED FILING.

>> YEAH, THAT'S SIMPLE.

TAX RETURN IS KIND OF LIKE THAT OFF.

>> RIDING THE UNICORN DOWN THE RAINBOW.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT AND I GUESS IT MIGHT EXIST, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN IT.

LOW INCOME, HIGH INCOME, MODERATE INCOME, NO INCOME.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS.

BUT YOU REALLY HIT ON A KEY GROUP, A KEY DEMOGRAPHIC, THE SELF EMPLOYED PEOPLE EVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF AND FIRED AND HAD TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE AMENDS.

YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE 30 OR 40 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE CONTINUED.

THEY LIKE IT.

THEY LIKE THE EXTRA MONEY.

AND THAT'S AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE SET OF VERY GOOD BUT CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED RULES.

SO IF YOU HAVE SIDE-HUSTLE INCOME, IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UNION GUM, KNOW THIS, LIVING OFF YOUR TAX RETURN IS PROBABLY THE WORST IDEA.

FIRST THAT'S NOT LEGAL UNTIL YOU MAY BE LEADING OFF DEDUCTIONS THAT COULD EVEN CREATE A NET LOSS TO OFFSET YOUR REGULAR INCOME.

A LOT OF RULES, A LOT OF ELECTIONS, A LOT OF THINGS TO KNOW BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE ON THAT SIDE, HUSTLE INCOME, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AMERICA, THOSE ARE GOOD RULES.

YOU JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH A SIDE.

HUSTLE IN GUM, GET SOME HELP OR PAY TOO MUCH.

>> AND FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT DO WAIT TO THE LAST MINUTE, ARE THERE ANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM FIND BETTER WAYS TO FILE THEIR TAXES?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THERE'S EVEN FREE OPTIONS ON THE IRS WEBSITE.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE TROUBLE OF DOING IT YOURSELF.

AND ALSO WE SAY RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS A WONDERFUL TIME.

THOSE EXTRA HOURS, EXTRA STAFFING AT ALL THE CREDIBLE TAX COMPANIES.

BUT AS YOU GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THAT APRIL 15TH DEADLINE AND 10, 20 30 MILLION PEOPLE DO WAIT TO THE LAST MINUTE THAT TENDS TO EAT UP THOSE RESOURCES.

NOW COMPANY LIKE MINE.

WE DO ADD EXTRA HOURS AND EVERYBODY WILL BE SERVED.

BUT WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LULL RIGHT NOW?

YOU HAVE ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS OR YOU SHOULD.

AND IF YOU DON'T, HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY.

YOU NEED TO TRACK THAT DOCUMENT DOWN.

BUT RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GO TALK WITH YOUR PRO.

AND IF YOU NEED EXTRA TIME ON THAT NEW TIP INDUCTION OR OVERTIME DEDUCTION OR LIFE CHANGE OR CRYPTO, WHATEVER YOU THERE'S A LOT OF TIME LEFT ON THE COUNTER AND A LOT OF TIME LEFT FOR THAT TAX PRO TO HELP YOU GET THE BIGGEST REFUND AS YOU GET UP AGAINST A DEADLINE.

MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE RUSSIAN.

AND AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN THEY SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO GET YOUR TIP, THAT ACTION.

HELP ME WORK THAT OUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARDER THING TO NAVIGATE BOTH WITH YOUR EMPLOYER AND WHAT YOUR TAX PRO AND WITH THE IRS AND STATE SYSTEMS.

SO NOW'S A GREAT TIME LATER.

NOT AS OPTIMAL.

I'M SURE THESE TEMPS ARE GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS SEASON.

SO MISTER STAVER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

GO GET YOUR MONEY.

IT'S YOUR MONEY AND IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, KEEPING THE IN PLAY.

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS INVENTION TO GIVE NEW LIFE TO BROKEN PICKLEBALL.

PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA.

WITH PARTICIPATION SOARING OVER 300% IN THE PAST 3 YEARS, NEARLY 20 MILLION PLAYERS NATIONWIDE LEADING TO A GROWING PROBLEM.

MILLIONS OF BROKEN PICKLEBALL IS GOING TO WASTE EVERY YEAR.

WGCUS KATE CRONIN SPOKE WITH THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR WORKING ON A WAY TO CHANGE THAT.

>> PICCOLO PLAYERS GO THROUGH 500 MILLION VOLS EACH YEAR.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OFF THE COURT?

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENT DYLAN ROSENTHAL HAS A SOLUTION.

TURN THEM INTO EVEN MORE PICKLEBALL US.

>> THIS IS THE WORLD'S FIRST RECYCLE.

TAKE A WALK.

>> A FEW COMPANIES RECYCLE PICKLEBALL CENTER, KEY CHAINS OR PLASTIC PRODUCTS.

BUT ROSENTHAL IS THE FIRST TO SUCCEED IN TRANSFORMING CRACKED BROKEN PICKLE INTO NEW ONES.

HE STARTED PLAYING WITH HIS FRIENDS AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.

WHEN I STARTED COMING OUT HERE >> EVERY DAY IN THE MORNING SPOT A YEAR AGO.

IT'S COLD OUT AND THESE CRACK REGULARLY AND WHATEVER, WHETHER YOU'RE IN.

BUT WHEN IT'S COLD, YOU CAN CRACK A BALL AND ONE HIT FIRST HIT FRESH BALL OUT OF THE PACKET.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, EVERY TIME I LIFTED UP THE TRASH CAN THROW A BALL IN THERE.

I'D SEE 25 30 OTHER IN THERE.

I WAS LIKE THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING HERE.

>> ROSENDAHL STARTED HIS COMPANY BOUNCE BACK.

PICKLE AFTER WINNING FGCU USED INNOVATION CHALLENGE.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

BINS ARE PLACED AT PICKLEBALL COURTS TO RECOVER BROKEN.

THEN THEY ARE COLLECTED GROUND INTO FINE PARTICLES.

HENRY MOLDED INTO NEW READY TO PLAY BECAUSE HE JUST COMPLETED HIS FIRST TEST RUN AND IS NOW WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN ORLANDO TO KEEP PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WHAT WE'RE BUILDING AS THE BASE OF TURNING THE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT INTO THE WORLD'S FIRST SUSTAINABLE SPORT.

AND IF YOU KIND OF BREAK THAT DOWN, IT'S SUPER IMPACTFUL.

AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, SOCCER FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, NONE OF THESE SPORTS HAVE ANY SORT OF MAINSTREAM RECYCLING SOLUTION FOR THEIR WHEN THEY'RE AT THE END OF LIFE.

WORST PICK A BALL, SOMETHING SIMPLEST BOSTIC.

WE REALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING THAT'S COME COMING OUT OF THE SPORT AND SAVE MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF PLASTIC.

THAT JUST GOES TO LANDFILLS EVERY YEAR.

>> THAT'S BACK.

PICKLE NOW HAS OVER 50 PENCE FROM HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ALL THE WAY TO LOS ANGELES WITH A PROMISING START, ROSENTHAL AIMS TO BRING RECYCLED PICK UP TO PLAYERS ACROSS AMERICA.

>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT THESE PLAYED JUST AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER.

TAKE A BALL THAT'S OUT THERE BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT MISSION.

TELL EVERYONE HOW MUCH WASTE IS GETTING CREATIVE IN THE SPORT AND SHOW THAT WE HAVE A REAL SOLUTION FOR.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> IN ESTERO WITH ANDREW MELENDEZ, I'M KATE CRONIN FOR WGCU NEWS >> IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADDING A PICKLEBALL RECYCLING BIN TO YOUR LOCAL COURT, YOU COULD HEAD TO BOUNCE BACK PICKLE DOT COM COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS HELD CAPTIVE BY THE TALIBAN FOR 7 MONTHS.

WE TALK WITH MS NOW REPORTER DAVID ROHDE ABOUT THE LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG, WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUSED.