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Great Health From the Inside Out H E A LTH + W E LLN E S S

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O P E N 7 DAY S A W E E K

January 2023 PUBLISHER

Michelle Taylor Willis michelle.taylorwillis@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Your Health Matters, #SoFu! For many of us, this time of year is full of excitement. It presents us with a reset, new horizons and goals to pursue. But for others, January can be a reminder of failed attempts from years past and the burden of expectation that this year will be different. We approached this issue of #SoFuLifestyle from a mindset of not supplying quick fixes to check boxes in the short term but valuing what is sustainable over the long haul. We wanted to provide inspiration for making lasting, realistic, long-term improvements to your physical, emotional and mental health. This month we have so many great articles to help you preserve your mental and emotional well-being. Dr. Machal Hunt has some great tips for you. We introduce Dr. Alonzo Sexton in this issue and he sheds light on some healthcare disparities and what he’s doing with his practice to level the playing field. And we profile the owner of Uptown Comedy Club in Hapeville who believes laughter is the very best medicine! When it comes to anything in life—business, finance, food, home and personal health—it’s not what you do some days that move the needle, it’s what you do MOST days. For better or worse! For instance, as Katina Morrison of Mocha Travel can attest, taking a vacation every day would be financially and practically unfeasible but taking a trip a few times a year is doable. She even offers some great payment plans! And when you get to Dubai, having a beautiful steak dinner with a few cocktails and creme brulee every night for dinner isn’t best for your health, but doing so once in a while might be fine! It’s not the “sometimes” choices we make, it’s the “most of the time” choices that make all the difference. Plan the vacation AND work to establish more regular rest in your work week. Join a fitness community or gym AND enjoy that dessert you’ve been wanting to try at Piece of Cake. It’s what you do most days that will lead to a more peaceful, filling and fabulous 2023!

EDITOR

Erikka Searles Mitchell | emitchell@citylifestyle.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Kyra Hatter | Kshatter@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Katrina Morrison, Machel Hunt CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Janie Jones, T. Charles Erickson

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Hunter Richie LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

ERIKK A SEARLES MITCHELL, EDITOR @ S O U T H F U LT O N L I F E S T Y L E Pictured above: January is a celebration of my sister around here! She's a tiny powerhouse, the boss, and a world traveler with the biggest heart! Happy birthday to you, Erin! Photo by Kristi Liddelow.

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/SOFU |

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise Proverbs 3:5-6 SOFU Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the South Fulton area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in SOFU Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

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inside the issue The Health & Wellness Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 Dr. Alonzo Sexton

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Healthy Lifestyle

Spa Day

Back Stage

Artist’s Palette

Trend Setter

House Call

Financial Buzz

ATL Orthopedics and Shining a Light on Healthcare Disparities

18 5 Reasons You Need a Getaway! Katrina Morrison of Mocha Travel Believes Travel is Self-Care!

22 Laughter is Medicine!

A Conversation With Angelo Sykes of Uptown Comedy Corner in Hapeville

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Janie Jones Fitness on the inside is more than skin deep. Let's build those mental wellness muscles in the new year!

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city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

1-7: SoFu Lifestyle and Gagnant Media served as sponsors for the SoFu Legends Ball, created to bring the eight cities in South Fulton together to celebrate and honor people in our community. A formal affair that included the Mayors Reception, a delicious dinner, music, casino games and more had a “Carnaval Masquerade” theme this year.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @southfultonlifestyle

C I T Y SC E N E

ABC AFFINITY GROUPS & COMMITTEES 2022

OUR MISSION

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TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

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MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS ADVERTISING & TECHNOLOGY

The Atlanta Black Chambers is a non-profit organization consisting of individuals engaging in Business, Community and Government activities. Our mission is to serve as an advocate for the creation and growth of competitive, profitable and sustainable Black owned entities. We are committed to providing quality education and training programs that emphasize economic development, ownership and wealth building practices.

We create opportunities for our members in the areas of Business, Community and Government. Our membership base represents over 400 unique market sectors from an array of privately owned entities to non-profits.

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business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Union City Mayor Williams Elected to Permanent Role Mayor Vince R. Williams takes a permanent role on the National League of Cities Board of Directors having served as outgoing 2021-2022 president. Elections for new leadership was held at 2022 City Summit in Kansas City, Missouri. NLC is the largest and most representative organization for cities, their elected leaders, and municipal staff and advocates for city priorities in Washington, D.C. by building strong federal-local partnerships.

National Black Arts Festival Appoints Odeleye as New Artistic Director Oronike Odeleye brings over 20 years experience as an arts and entertainment administrator specializing in creating meaningful public engagement focused on the art and culture of Africa and the Black Diaspora to the prestigious role. Her diverse career experience, combined with her deep connections within the local and national Black arts community, is an ideal match for the organization as they look to return to larger scale annual and biannual programming.

South Fulton Institute Film Premiere Featured tributes to John Lewis's "Good Trouble" quilt exhibit; Spoken Word Artist Charlotte Abotsi; live performances from Atlanta Music Project students, and more, including two independent short films by SFI partners Ebony Blanding and Ethan Payne. SFI is pleased to shared the fifth annual South Fulton Institute Filmer Rolling Premiere on January 13 at the Southwest Arts Center, January 26 at the Plaza Theatre, and January 27 at Union City Gathering Place.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/SOFU

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DR . ALONZO SEXTON ATL ORTHOPEDICS AND SHINING A LIGHT ON HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES

We’d love to introduce you to Dr. Alonzo Sexton, co-founder and orthopedic surgeon at ATL Orthopedics, the first African American-owned and -operated orthopedic practice in South Fulton. Discover why he moved to Atlanta and launched his own private practice and why he’s so passionate about his practice.

1. PLEASE SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AS A CHILD. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND ATTEND COLLEGE AND MEDICAL SCHOOL? I was born in a small town in western Illinois called Rock Island, which is about 3 hours west of Chicago. My family moved to North Carolina when I was in high school. I went to Stanford University for undergrad and Emory University for medical school and my orthopedic surgery residency. I completed my fellowship training in Sports Medicine in New York at Lenox Hill Hospital.

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S

2. PLEASE GIVE AS MUCH INFO AS YOU WOULD LIKE ABOUT YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY HERE IN ATL. My wife, Shenara and I met in medical school. Shenara is a dermatologist. We have two boys (Ty, 17, and Austin, 14). As for Atlanta, I love the diversity, energy and opportunities for African Americans to collaborate and build. We moved here to give our children an opportunity to experience a more diverse and limitless upbringing.

3. WHAT IS ATL ORTHOPEDICS AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LAUNCH YOUR OWN PRACTICE? One of the most important tenets of our practice is that black patients receive better outcomes from black doctors. Of the 31,000 orthopedic surgeons in the country, only 1.9% are African American (which is approximately 600 physicians). Representative care matters. We are the largest black orthopedic group in the city of Atlanta and we will soon be the largest in the nation.

4. HOW HAS THE SPOTLIGHT ON RACIAL DISPARITY IN HEALTHCARE CHANGED THE WAY PROVIDERS OFFER MEDICAL CARE? I see patients in my office every day that tell me stories about how they were treated when they went to see orthopedic surgeons who were not black. They shared with me how they weren’t listened to, how they were made to feel like a drug addict and how their pain and loss of ability to have a good quality of life was diminished and overlooked. CONTINUED >

JANUARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

Orthopedics is a specialty that deals with strains, sprains, back pain, knee pain and broken bones. My mission in life is to help my patients find what they have lost in terms of a high quality of life. Patients that come to see us have lost the ability to play sports, work, sleep, travel or even play with their kids. We help people get back to who they want to be. Black patients deserve to have access to people that can help and care for them without having to leave their community.

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S

VISIT DR. SEXTON AT ATL ORTHOPEDICS 3885 Princeton Lakes Parkway, Bldg 2 Suite 306, Atlanta, GA 30331 Telephone: 404.662.3585 Email: info@atlorthopedics.com

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All moms have dealt with the guilt of leaving their family—that gnawing sensation in the pit of your stomach when you’re about to do something special for yourself. It’s time you let that go, sis! Mom guilt can be debilitating and cause more harm than good. Take a trip without the kids or hubby and work through your mom-guilt issues from the comforts of an ocean view cabana while sipping a freshly prepared Pina Colada. You’re guaranteed to return home a better version of yourself and wonder why you didn’t go sooner.

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5. YOU DON’T NEED A REASON TO TRAVEL!

Sure, 2022 was an improvement from the past few years, but it is not without challenges. We are all still trying to flip the world right-side up after 2020, and it’s exhausting—but you survived! Celebrate getting through the year by treating yourself to a much-needed getaway. You’ve earned it!

Travel is self-care, and you don’t need to explain your reasons to anyone. You’re grown. You’ve worked hard for what you have. You survived some really tough stuff. You’ve earned the right to fall asleep in crisp 1,000+ thread count sheets and wake up to breakfast in bed made to order.

4. YOU NEED A RESET! Getting out of town is the best way to hit the reset button. The weekends are way too short to fully relax and recover by Monday morning. Spending a few extra days on a vacation getaway will guarantee you a much-needed break from adulting.

Katrina Morrison Founder of Mocha Travel | Small group trips for families. Mocha-Travel.com IG @MochaTravel

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Laughter Is Medicine! A Conversation With Angelo Sykes of Uptown Comedy Corner in Hapeville

B ACK STAGE | EN TERTA INME NT

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Angelo Sykes traveled a lot after his mom joined the Army. He lived in several places, including Germany, for over 3 years. Sykes has been married to his wife, Robbie, for 21 years and they have three sons, ages 20, 18, and 14. Their oldest, Aspen, is a junior at UGA, AlecZander is a freshman at West Point, and their youngest is a freshman in high school. Sykes graduated from West GA College—now University of West Georgia—in 1992 and was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army on the same day. After returning from his military assignment, Sykes joined the Atlanta Police Department. During his time with the Police Department, he met comedian Earthquake, who asked Sykes to run the security at his new club, Uptown Comedy Corner, on Peachtree Road. “I did this until they eventually sold the club,” says Sykes. “In 2004, I joined with one of the original owners of the first Uptown, along with Craig Wilson, and opened the All-New Uptown Comedy Corner on Marietta Street.” The club remained open until the property was eventually sold to build an apartment complex. Then they moved to #SoFu—Hapeville, specifically, on Central Avenue—from 2018 to 2021 until that location was also sold. “We opened our current location in May of 2022, and we are excited about the new location. It is the first time that our location has been surrounded by a lot of other businesses and hotels,” Sykes notes. Uptown has been the stage for just about every urban comedian around, from Steve Harvey, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Cedric the Entertainer, and of course Earthquake, to D. L. Hughley, Monique, Rickey Smiley, DC Curry, Deon Cole, TK Kirkland, and so many more. “It has been the birthplace for so many comedians, whether serving as the location of their first show or where they made a name for themselves,” he says. A few more examples of the superstar comedians that have graced the Uptown stage include Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, Desi Banks, Sean Larkins, Nard Holston, and K Dubb. “Some of my favorite moments have been having conversations with some of the legends in comedy, like

Dick Gregory, Paul Mooney, and John Witherspoon, and hearing their history of comedy. Seeing young comedians start and seeing them ascend to stardom all over the world. Seeing all the many stars, entertainers, athletes, politicians, TV, and radio personalities come to Uptown and enjoy themselves. Most of all, I enjoy seeing the audience members roaring in laughter! There is nothing better than that!” Sykes goes on to talk about the healing power of laughter. “Laughter is fuel to the soul; it helps heal broken hearts and sad situations and gives hope. It is amazing, but the audience may not be aware that they help the comedians as well. Their craft is often healing for them as well—literal therapy for both the audience and the comedians. We are so big on giving people the Uptown Comedy experience, as it is often just what the doctor ordered for so many.” The COVID-19 pandemic was an extremely difficult time for all, and Sykes’ business was no different. “We were completely shut down for 3 months, yet we were still responsible for all of our expenses. We lost so much inventory, as a lot of food had to be thrown away, so when it was time to reopen, it was literally like starting over, except it was at half capacity. People were naturally concerned about being around others, so we had to limit seating even further as to not put any customers near others that they did not come with. We went from 315 capacity to 100 people maximum.” As soon as people began to return and the room started filling up again, they learned the building was sold, so they are starting all over again. “Due to our love for comedy, we want to continue the Uptown Comedy Corner legacy. Uptown is one of only six Black-owned comedy clubs in the country and we take pride in that. We want to continue to provide comedy even against the battle of the chains’ attempt to close the rest of us down.” Visit Uptown Comedy at UptownComedy.net.

“Laughter is fuel to the soul; it helps heal broken hearts and sad situations and gives hope. It is amazing, but the audience may not be aware that they help the comedians as well.”

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DIVERSITY AND THE DYNAMIC WOMEN BEHIND HADESTOWN

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ED UCATI ON

“Hadestown” demands that theater make space for diverse voices. Its modern premise reflects the values of our changing culture through a transformative musical that reimagines Greek mythology. Beyond artistic excellence, Hadestown’s diversity cements the musical’s lasting influence. Director Rachel Chavkin, and writer and composer Anaïs Mitchell, are the women behind Hadestown’s greatness, accentuating and deepening each other’s strengths. “We sought out the folks whose work we responded to most, and many of them were women,” Mitchell says. A Broadway production team led by women is rare, but the dynamic benefited “Hadestown” greatly. “It was an extraordinarily empowering experience working with so many women,” says Mitchell.

Written by Mitchell in various forms years before Broadway, “Hadestown” would prove to need the influence of Chavkin in order to reach its fullest potential. Mitchell sought Chavkin’s talents to help develop “Hadestown” into a full-length musical, and the folk musical became a product of each artist’s best. After helping escort “Hadestown” to Broadway’s pinnacle, Chavkin was the only woman nominated for a 2019 TONY in the Best Direction of a Musical category, which she won. “When you look at the small number of women directing on Broadway it is shocking and more than a little depressing,” wrote producer David Stone in 2005. Little has changed in 15 years, but Chavkin has said publicly that she hopes her work can open doors for women and artists of color. When assembling teams for her productions, Chavkin draws from the best and selects the most talented artists. By intentionally embracing inclusivity, she builds a diverse company that understands the needs of a global audience. “I think a [diverse] room is far more interesting, just purely on a dramatic level. It’s so much better stylistically, emotionally to have varied voices.

And so, with “Hadestown” specifically, we have reaffirmed time and again that racial diversity in particular is core to our vision of excellence.” “Theater depicts and celebrates humanity, and humanity is diverse,” asserts Mitchell. And so, thanks to the shared commitments of its creators, “Hadestown” strives for connection to every human experience, showing diversity to be colorful, productive, and exciting. “Hadestown,” the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play at the Fox Theatre from January 10 – 15, 2023. Tickets will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308), or by visiting FoxTheatre.org/Hadestown.

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JANUARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

LEGGINGS 3 WA Y S ARTICLE BY HALEY WILLIAMS

Our suggestions for styling faux leather leggings As we move through the season of spandex when most of us feel we’d rather not leave our stretchy pants, we wanted to feature three distinct looks using the same pair of Foil Snake Print Faux Leather leggings from Spanx. Whether you’re brunching with the babes or getting ready for date night, these versatile leggings can carry you through from casual to chic. While there are endless ways to wear them, we’re going to show you three ways to start styling them today.

BRUNCH A FTER BA R R E Who doesn’t love a good brunch with the girls after your workout complete with mimosas to celebrate? Our suggestion is to layer your tank with loose layers and a light jacket to swiftly transition you from the barre to breakfast. Don’t forget a cute tote or bag. Consider throwing in any makeup or face wipes you may need for freshening up on your way.

MOTO MAMA What we love about Spanx is their inherent ability to elevate your look, regardless of the occasion. Pair them with edgy booties or colorful pumps for a more elegant aesthetic. Consider a chunky sweater with some unexpected details like the bare shoulder shown here, a thick boucle or intricate detailing.

SAT U R DAY SPORTS CH IC Whether you’re headed to a child’s sports game or a bar to watch the big game with your friends, leggings offer the structure and flexibility you’ll want. Layers are life for this look. We tied a button-down around the waist and added fur-lined high tops to provide practical footwear.

Snag some of the key details of the outfits here!

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JANUARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

ARTICLE BY DR. MACHAL HUNT

BUILDING YOUR EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

9 WAYS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

How you feel can affect your ability to carry out everyday activities, your relationships, and your overall mental health. How you react to your experiences and feelings can also change over time, as situational factors and circumstances evolve. Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. There are many ways you can improve your mental health and emotional well-being. While everyone feels stressed from time to time and stress can give you a rush of energy when it’s

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needed most, if stress becomes pervasive (a condition known as chronic stress), those “high-alert” changes become harmful rather than helpful. Learning healthy ways to cope with stress can also boost your resilience. Harnessing stress can be a great kickstart to your lifelong goals toward a healthy mind, body, and soul. At Therapy For You, it is our goal to encourage positive mental health and well-being as we highlight the important benef its of counseling and therapy.

HERE ARE NINE WAYS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING: 1. Value yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-defeating thoughts. 2. Take care of your body: Pay attention to what your body needs. 3. Enjoy good company: Surround yourself with people who contribute positively to your life. 4. Be patient with yourself: Everyday won’t be your best day. 5. Learn to cope: Develop healthy strategies for coping with stress, disappointment, and changes. 6. Take care of yourself: Learn new ways of self-maintenance and practice self-care as a routine. 7. Set realistic goals: If your goals are unrealistic, then you can never meet your own expectations. 8. Break unhealthy cycles and patterns: Just because it’s how it has always been does not mean it has to continue being that way. 9. Find someone to talk to about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors: Once you receive objective feedback, you can begin the process toward change.

Machel Hunt Machel Hunt is a clinical therapist based in Atlanta specializing in relationship counseling and psychosexual therapy for individuals and couples. Learn more at www.sextherapyforyou.com. JANUARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / S O F U

HERE’S A QUICK OVERVIEW OF FOUR EXPANDED TAX BENEFITS IMPACTING THE 2022 TAX YEAR FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES:

Alex Ming

It’s Always a Good Time to Think About Giving! ARTICLE BY ALEX MING

December has come and gone. Decisions are upon us. All of the normal holiday decisions, like which new gadget to buy the little one or which relatives to invite (or not invite) for Christmas dinner, have danced through our heads. Now in the new year with things back to normal post-coronavirus and election mania, we remain busy helping clients adjust for a more favorable tax return in 2023. One way to have a more favorable tax return is to take advantage of the increased charitable-giving deduction through some IRS-approved charitable giving. Each month provides us an opportunity to identify some causes to give to. After a few years of hard hits on the economy, along with the impact of climate change, there are plenty of people and places needing help. Here are some tax-break giving ideas to get you started. Color Of Change: Best charity that supports the Black community Color Of Change is a civil rights advocacy nonprofit that works to build a better world for Black people. This nonprofit has 7 million members, making it the biggest online racial justice organization in the U.S. The Innocence Project: Best legal aid charity More than 365 innocent individuals have been exonerated, thanks to DNA evidence. The Innocence Project fights for justice by re-examining cold cases with new DNA evidence and freeing those who were wrongfully convicted. Center for Reproductive Rights: Best women’s health charity This nonprofit envisions a world where every woman is treated as an equal and is free to make crucial decisions related to her own reproductive health. Operation USA: Best disaster relief charity From ongoing earthquake recovery in Ecuador and Nepal to programs for Native Americans in South Dakota, Operation USA delivers aid to all corners of the globe. The nonprofit has worked in over 101 countries since 1979.

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

1. Increased charitable-giving deduction: For your 2022 tax return, provided you itemize expenses, you can deduct up to 100% of your adjusted gross income (AGI – total income minus other deductions) by way of qualified charitable donations. If you take the standard deduction, you can claim up to $300 ($600 for married filing joint) for charitable contributions made in cash. 2. Increased standard deduction: For the 2022 tax year, the standard deduction amounts allowed have increased in line with inflation. A single filer can claim $12,950; married filing jointly can claim $25,900; married filing separate can claim $12,950; while someone filing as head of household can claim $19,400. 3. Business deductions: As in any tax year there are a ton of deductions one can claim for business purposes, including travel and home office expenses. However, if you are one of the millions of people who work remotely you will not be able to claim the home office expense deduction, as this is reserved for the self-employed only. Structuring one’s affairs via a business vehicle, including an LLC, is a prudent way to mitigate annual tax exposure. However, the appropriate structure must be in place and effected prior to Dec. 31 of each year. To determine if this strategy can benefit you, call our office for a consultation at 470.207.8717. 4. Child Tax Credits: The IRS mailed out increased checks for the Child Tax Credit payments ($3,600 per child, up from $2,000 per child in 2021) in 2022. These checks represent an advance of allowable credits for the 2022 tax year. This means your tax refund will be reduced by the amounts received earlier in the year. However, if your income significantly rose this tax year, you may owe the IRS, as the early payments were based on your 2021 income.

At Alexander Fitzgerald & Associates, LLC, we’re always game to help you think things through to suit your specific tax situation. Please contact us at 470.207.8717 for a consultation.