Whether you've filed for an extension on your taxes this year, or have waited until the last minute to complete paperwork, or want a better strategy for the future, chances are you could be doing a better job throughout the year to save on income taxes, says seasoned investment advisor Paul Taylor, a member of the National Ethics Bureau.

Forty-nine percent of Americans think they personally pay more than their fair share in taxes, according to 2013 Rasmussen reports.

"Come tax time, many of the other half could be doing more to legally and strategically save money," says Taylor, an architect-turned-founder and owner of Capital Advisory Group & Tax Planners of Lake Norman and Capital Investment Advisors, Inc, (www.CapitalAdvGroup.com).

He cites mistakes that many taxpayers are liable to make now and in future years.

• Not knowing which tax deductions are available. Tax reform measures are enacted frequently by Congress, which makes it hard for U.S. taxpayers to know which deductions are currently available for maximizing savings. One of the most overlooked deductions is state and local sales taxes. Taxpayers may be able to take deductions for student-loan interest, out-of-pocket charitable contributions, moving expenses to take a first job, the child care tax credit, new points on home refinancing, health insurance premiums, home mortgage interest, tax-preparation services and contributions to a traditional IRA.

• Misunderstanding deduction value for medical expenses. The Affordable Care Act has altered the guidelines for tax-deductible medical expenses. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, the new policy increased the threshold for the itemized deduction for unreimbursed medical expenses from 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income to 10 percent of adjusted gross income for regular tax purposes. The increase is waived for individuals age 65 and older for tax years 2013 through 2016.

• Confusing when taxes must be paid on IRA and employer-sponsored retirement funds. Traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans are tax-deferred accounts, which mean they are typically funded with pre-tax or tax-deductible dollars. As a result, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn. Exceptions are the Roth IRA and the Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b). Roth accounts are funded with after-tax dollars. That's why qualified distributions - after age 59½ and the five-year holding requirement has been met - are free of federal income tax.

• Overlooking tax-advantaged investments. Tax-advantaged investments can include real estate partnerships, oil and gas partnerships and suitability, which refers to how appropriate an investment may or may not be to an investor. Two of the most common types of real estate partnerships, for example, are low-income housing and historic rehabilitation. The federal government grants tax credits to those who construct or rehabilitate low-income housing or who invest in the rehabilitation or preservation of historic structures.

• Uncertainty when accounting for gift taxes. The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living. The federal estate tax, on the other hand, applies to property conveyed to others, with the exception of a spouse, after a person's death. There are several exceptions to gift taxes, including gifts of tuition or medical expenses that you pay directly to a medical or educational institution for someone else, gifts to a spouse who is a U.S. citizen, gifts to a qualified charitable organization and gifts to a political organization.

About Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor is the founder and owner of Capital Advisory Group & Tax Planners of Lake Norman and Capital Investment Advisors, Inc. Taylor, a fully licensed investment advisor, has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and is committed to providing personalized service to those he serves. Since 2007, he has been a member of the National Ethics Bureau, which acknowledges individuals who prove they are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in their practices.

The Moline Public Library welcomes Coleman Harris, Dorian Byrd, and Shellie Moore Guy as they present Celebrating Langston Hughes on Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30 p.m.  Poet and storyteller Ms. Guy, musician and composer Mr. Harris, and dancer Ms. Byrd will collaborate to bring to life the words of one of America's greatest men of letters.

This performance is presented as part of the six-week series Created Equal and Changing America, which explores our nation's civil rights history through film, exhibition, and presentations.  More information about the series can be found at molinelibrary.com/createdequal, by visiting the Moline Public Library at 3210 41st Street, or by calling 309-524-2470.

Pianist Coleman Harris has performed his blend of classical, New Age, and jazz music both locally and internationally.  He is an associate professor at Black Hawk College and earned his master's degree in counseling education from Western Illinois University. A lifelong dancer, Dorian Byrd studied at Wayne State and Julliard, and earned a master's degree from the University of Iowa.  She has taught and performed internationally, including in her current position at Augustana College. Quad City Poet Laureate Shellie Moore Guy serves as the Director of the Healing Waters Empowerment Project.  She has worked as a community organizer and creator of youth and artistic programs throughout the Quad Cities.

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Changing America is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Local support for Created Equal and Changing America has been provided by Friends of the Moline Public Library, WQPT, and The Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/QCOnline.

Ideal Location at I-80 and US-65 in Altoona

(April 14, 2014)   New England Development announced its plans today to develop a 325,000 square foot outlet center in Altoona, Iowa at the intersection of I-80 and US-65. Featuring approximately 75 of some of the best brand names in retail, Des Moines Outlets will serve the Des Moines metropolitan area and beyond. With no other outlet center located within 80 miles, this new center will meet the region's need for brand names at outlet prices.

Des Moines Outlets will be an integral part of The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing, being developed by Heart of America Group. The site consists of 174 acres and over 1.4 million square feet of leasable space with plans for hotel, additional retail, office, and residential uses. This summer, Johnny's Italian Steakhouse will open on the development's eight-acre lake.

New England Development, one of the nation's premier real estate developers with a growing portfolio of outlet centers, expressed enthusiasm about the Des Moines market and this location in particular.  Douglass Karp, Executive Vice President of New England Development, commented, "The Des Moines market is well-known nationally for its dynamic growth and quality of life.  The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing provides an ideal opportunity for us to be part of this market in an exciting development at a terrific location."

The 32-acre Des Moines Outlets site, at exit 142 off of I-80, is at an established destination for shopping and entertainment and just six miles from downtown Des Moines.  The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing sits adjacent to Prairie Meadows Racetrack, Casino and Hotel, Adventureland Amusement Park, Bass Pro Shops, and the Facebook Data Center.  Currently, these established uses attract over 6 million visitors a year to the surrounding area and Des Moines Outlets will significantly add to these counts.

New England Development is in the initial stages of developing a plan to submit to town officials.  Mr. Karp commented, "We look forward to working with Altoona, the state, and the local community on this exciting project."  Mayor Skip Conkling calls this a "tremendous opportunity for the City of Altoona. Des Moines Outlets are the perfect complement to Altoona's growing entertainment, retail and hospitality industry. This project will draw visitors to our community from all over the Midwest."  "This is exactly the kind of project that fits the regional draw already established in Altoona and it will be a dynamic addition to the State of Iowa," stated Mike Whalen President and CEO of Heart of America Group.

New England Development

Founded by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen R. Karp in 1978, New England Development is one of the nation's premier real estate development and management companies, with nearly 50 million square feet of retail, commercial and residential space to its credit. Led by Steve Karp, together with principals Steven S. Fischman and Douglass E. Karp, New England Development has 35 years of retail development, leasing and management experience and is acclaimed for some of the country's most widely recognized and successful regional malls.  The firm is also known for its growing portfolio of outlet centers, in communities including West Palm Beach, Florida; Asheville, North Carolina; and Little Rock, Arkansas, and for developing mixed-use complexes featuring retail, residential, hotel and office uses; outlet centers; power centers; marinas; golf courses; resort and convention hotel properties; and even an entire planned community.

Heart of America Group

West Des Moines, Iowa, April 14th, 2014 - The Architect 401(k), LLC (The Architect), a leading retirement plan solution provider for employers wanting to outsource their fiduciary and administrative responsibilities of offering a 401(k) plan, has created an easy way to offer low-cost, high-efficiency retirement plan management by launching its new and enhanced website effective today.

The Architect Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) eases the burden for employers by becoming the Plan Sponsor and taking on full fiduciary responsibility, while managing all aspects of administration and operations. The result is a turn-key solution for employers to extend a quality retirement program for employees.

The Architect was created to help in designing, building and supporting the next generation of "Open" MEPs, built on an open-architecture platform to maximize flexibility and minimize expenses. The Architect's new website eases the administrative headaches of retirement plan management.

The new Architect website provides mobile-friendly on-demand tools. That means when days are filled with appointments, online access is available after normal business hours?saving time by doing business in real time. Greater assistance is delivered through streamlined access for Employers, Advisors and Participants to all account information. With just one click, they can access their account, get a quote, get a sample proposal or download a marketing brochure.

According to Steve Finnegan, Managing Partner, "The Architect's new website assists with the day-to-day operations of plan management as it relates to enrollments, notifications, administration and documentation?leaving more time for our clients and key employees to focus on the business at hand."

The Architect's "Open" MEP has been reducing risk, saving time, eliminating headaches and saving money for their clients for years?now their new website offers these same benefits. The Architect 401(k) is a collaborative effort between the Finway Group, a TPA; 401(k) Advisors, a 3(38) RIA and Aspire Financial, a technology-enabled recordkeeper and business process outsourcing provider.

The Architect is a single point of contact that eliminates confusion, enhances the retirement plan experience and delivers best-of-breed retirement plan solutions. The new Architect website makes it easier and faster to do business. http://www.thearchitect401k.com/.

About The Architect401k.com

The Architect 401(k) LLC was established for the sole purpose to help employers today walk through the many land mines of the 401(k) retirement plan industry. The Architect 401(k) MEP takes the fiduciary risk and responsibility of offering a turn-key 401(k) retirement plan for employers to provide a quality program to their employees without administrative burden or incurring unnecessary costs. To learn more, visit www.TheArchitect401k.com.