Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 December 2001 — Page 26

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14,2001 ■ PAGE D1

INSIDE*D*SECTION*CLASSIFIED*REAL ESTATE

Calls to loved ones: senior citizens get special gift [ from Merrill Lynch >u

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€ By ROBIN YATES Recorder Correspondent They came in wheelchairs, with

walkers, and some by their own footpower, gingerly stepping off the elevator onto the 42nd floor of the Bank One Tower one crisp,

wintry day last weekend. Celebrating its 14th year in In-

dianapolis, and 21st year world- £ wide, Christmas Calls 2001 was an If invitation to selected Indianapolis ' senior citizens of all backgrounds, to place long-distance calls to friends and families free of charge. Sponsored by Merrill Lynch/ Indianapolis, the event is also held worldwide in other Merrill Lynch locations. Last year, 187 Merrill & Lynch domestic offices took part r ~ in this event; helping more than

22,000 seniors place calls. Approximately 1,400 seniors

participated in European offices

also.

This year, the company expected to host 24,000 seniors at more than 191 offices. The event was staffed by employees and their families and Lit who assisted in helping calls, according to r-Wwt, employee coordinator of the event. St In 1987, Merrill Lynch was hon- ?.. ored with a Presidential Award for Private Sector Initiatives, the ? nation’s highest honor recognizi ing volunteer service and community outreach programs, for the Christmas Calls program. Approximately 250 seniors participated last Saturday, and for many of them, this was the first time in years that they have spoken to friends and family members in ■ far-off comers of the globe. obbie Rhea, 79, who lives in a '' nursing facility in downtown In1 dianapolis, was thrilled to be making calls to her brother and friends *_ in Clarksville, Tenn., her childv hood home.

“I've been awa for42 years from there,’’ she explained, “but I want to get in touch with my friend, Flora, and tell her I’m trying to get home this Christmas. I write to my brother and some other friends, but 1 never get to call them because of the cost. This is why this program is so thrilling to me. It means getting in touch with people I haven’t talked to in a long time and to touch base with my home.’’ Sister Demetria Smith, 69, a nun with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, was placing calls to friends in Germany, England, Uganda, Canada, and Italy. It was her first time at Merrill Lynch also. Smith, part of the order of Missionary Sisters of our Lady of Africa, said, “because of our vows of poverty, we would consider this an extravagance. These calls mean so much to me ... to actually hear my friends’ voices and to be able to encourage my one friend who has

been very ill lately. It’s so wonderful to hear the voice of someone I love, bringing up old times — to talk directly and share feelings.’’ For Donald Dewar, 81, a resident of St. Augustine Home for the Aged, this was his second year. “I ‘ ve placed a call to my retired Baptist minister brother-in-law,” he explained, “It was a really happy call.” The retired manufacturer’s rep and World War II veteran also placed calls to a niece in Maine and a daughter-in-law in Kentucky — relatives he sees infrequently. “They were so glad to hear from me,” he beamed. “I just talk to them on the phone only about once a year.” After the calls were placed, tears were dried, the excitement worn down, seniors were provided a brunch, with food being donated by several area restaurants.

Daughter Lorraine Knox takes time to bring mother, Eva Knox to the Merrill Lynch facility to call loved ones afar. (photo/J. Buntin)

Blacks suffering most in economic struggle

By HAZEL TRICE EDNEY NNPA Washington Correspondent

... WASHINGTON — Dorothy ’ ■ Hilliard paused to gather herself ^ before speaking into the micro- ^ phones at the U. S. Capitol. The , t fanfare of the mahogany podium, lights and cameras seemed to belie the struggles of the unem- : ployed mother of a pre-schooler. _ j The 35-year-old, who has lost a; her kitchen job in the Sky Chef at the Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C., has also lost her apartment, daycare for her 4-year-oki son and her debts are far greater than her monthly unemployment checks. ‘Though I was not harmed physically or lost a loved one, I too suffer mentally and emotionally,” Hilliard told reporters. “The livelihood I once had was so easily shattered. Each day is a constant struggle for survival.” Hilliard is one of 415,000 Americans who lost their jobs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that crashed four planes in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania. Many are executives who lost positions at the World Trade Center, which was destroyed. But most are employees of the hospitality industry.

such as minimum-wage servers, hotel workers, kitchen staff, and — like Hilliard — most are Black. ■ Economists agree that Blacks and other people of color, who normally suffer more economically, have been hit the hardest by the recession — the slowing down of spending and the loss of jobs. The Black unemployment rate was at 8.7 percent before Sept. 11. It is now at 9.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Latino unemployment rate is at 7.2 percent. The overall unemployment rate is at 5.5 percent. Hilliard told her story at a press conference that was called by the Congressional Black Caucus, chaired by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas; the Hispanic Caucus, chaired by Rep. Giro Rodriguez. D-Texas; and House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. It put a human face on the debate that has been raging for months over a so-called economic stimulus package. She said she came to the Capitol to implore Congress to quickly do something to help people in situations like hers who are huffing economically, but unable to benefit from private

and non-profit funds set up for the relatives of those who were killed in the attacks. With the Sept. 11 honeymoon clearly behind lawmakers, party politics have slowed the debates. They hope to pass a compromise bill before Christmas recess. In short. Republicans, with a more business oriented plan, stress that providing tax incentives for businesses will restart the economy and help to create more jobs overall. Democrats stress that people will spend more money if they have it in hand; especially the poor who need extended unemployment benefits and health insurance that many have lost with their jobs. The Republicans stress: • Tax relief for low-and moderate-income people. • Lower taxes for employers who buy new equipment to expand their business, and hire more people. • Reformed tax laws so employers don’t pay more taxes as their profits shrink. • Quicker access to the income tax cuts that Congress passed in the spring. • Extended unemployment compensation by 13 weeks in the Sm STRUGGLE, Page D2

Black Business Profile Information provided by business owners

Name of business: Edna Faye Kemp. DDS Address: 5660 Caito Drive, Building 3,Suite 130 Phone number: 545-5367 Sole proprietor: Dr. Edna Faye Kemp Number of employees: 5 What does your company specialize in (product services)? The office of Dr. Edna Faye Kemp specializes in providing complete dental care for the entire family. Included in the services provided are preventative care: exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, x-rays, sealants (special coating to prevent cavities). Cosmetic: tooth whiting, bonding (to close spaces or gaps), crowns and caps (gold or porcelains), bridges, porcelain veneers. Additional treatments include: partials, dentures, root canals (white or silver), extractions, periodontal therapy (gum treatments), and nitrous oxide (laughing gas). How does your company meet the needs of its clients? I provide comprehensive dental care to all my patients. I ensure that my patients receive ample education about their overall dental health and I provide extensive consultation before performing each procedure. Along with a very competent and industrious staff, my office makes every attempt to render gentle dental care in^ relaxed, comfortable environment. How and why did you start yott#*' ' business? It has always been my longtime aspiration to start my own private practice as a dentist. Shortly after graduating from dental school at Indiana University, I went about garnering the working capital to make my dream a reality.

What challenges have you overcome? Starting and maintaining a business presents many challenges. However, initially, one of the greatest obstacles 1 faced was developing an adequate clientele or patient load. Upon graduating from dental school, many dentists either partner with someone or assume an existing dentist’s practice. I was starting fresh and on my own. At the dental office of Dr. Edna Faye Kemp, we value and care about each of our patients. My patients know this, and fortunately they have been very loyal to us. We are all one big family. And please know that we are always accepting and delighted to have more join that family. What are your business achievements? As a dentist in family practice, my ultimate achievements are educating and providing quality, gentle dental care to my patients. We try diligently to dispel the myths and trepidation about attending the dentist and receiving dental treatment. Along with my staff, we try to provide a relaxed, comfortable environment for my patients. I make every attempt to make myself available to my patients for all their dental questions and needs. What would be your pearls of wisdom for others interested in starting a business? For someone starting a business, I would suggest that you prepare .a good business plan. In addition, go about acquiring as much working capital as possible. It is also imperative that you be your own PR agent. Explore your circle of influence (the people that you know) and inform them of your new' endeavor. Creating awareness about the service or product that you are providing is tantamount.

Is it time to roll over to a Roth IRA?

By JESSE B. BROWN Many times IRA assets are invested the same way for years without thought to changing market conditions. Think back to the decisions you made, perhaps years ago, regarding your own IRA. Maybe you put your IRA contributions into one investment year after year and haven't investigated again whether that investment still meets your objectives. Or, perhaps your local bank has a standing instruction to roll over your IRA automatically into another certificate of deposit with no thought given to prevailing interest rates or other investment alternatives. If you expect your IRA to become a viable means of support during your retirement, you have to take an active role in managing these assets. Take care of your IRA by sustaining it with yearly contributions and nurturing it with appropriate investments. Take time to evaluate your IRA investments to ensure that they are in appropriate investments that will help accomplish your objectives Taxpayers with adjusted gross income not exceeding $100,000 can roll over balances from deductible or

nondeductible individual retirement accounts (IRAs) into Roth IRAs. Transferred amounts must be included in income if they would be taxable when withdrawn (i.e.. contributions and earnings to deductible IRAs and earnings from nondeductible IRAs). hut are exempt from the 10 percent early penalty tax. If the transfer was made in 1998, that income can be spread over a four-year period. Spreading the income over four years will not only give you longer to pay the taxes, but may also result in the income being taxed at a lower marginal tax rate. Some states and localities may not allow for this fouryear payment period. But many may be wondering, why would you want to incur taxes now when you can just keep the funds in your current IRA and pay taxes later? The answer is that the Roth IRA provides some benefits that are not available w ith deductible and nondeductible IRAs. Those benefits include: • Earnings on a Roth IRA are distributed tax-free as long as the distribution is qualified. Thus, by paying taxes on earnings you’ve accumulated to date, you forego bas ing to pay taxes on future earnings in your IRA. If you will not be withdrawing funds for

many years that could mean that a substantial portion of your IRA w ill not be subject to income taxes. (Qualified Roth IRA distributions may be taxable in your state.) • You do not have to withdraw funds from a Roth IRA after age 70 1/2. You can take out as much or little as you want, whenever you want. You don’t even have to make any withdrawals, making it an attractive way to accumulate assets for heirs. Before deciding w hether you should roll over your balances to a Roth IRA, you should consider a number of factors. Talk it over w ith your financial advisor. Jesse B. Brown is president of Kryshil Investment Management, a financial advisory firm in Chicago. Bor a free copy of his monthly electronic newsletter, write to him at Three First National Plaza, PMB Suite 14042. 70 IV. Madison, Chicago, III.. 60602. He is the Best selling author of the book Investing in the Dream: Wealth Building Strategies for African-Americans Seeking Financial Freedom and also Pay Yourself First a Guide to Financial Success. Contact him at: [email protected]: or visit the company '.v Web site at: www.lnvestinthedream.com.

JAMAD does medical billing Judicious Accounts Receivable Management and Direct (JAMAD) Reimbursements. Inc. is an Indiana corporation owned and operated by Victoria Keaton. Located in Indianapolis, the corporation specializes in full service medical billing for a select client base. The organization submits paper and electronic

claims to insurance companies for medical service providers. As a result of the medical billing company's success. Keaton also has established a medical billing training school, the Center for Health and

Human Services. It is the only agency that provides on-the-job training. For more information on JAMAD call (317) 802-0903, toll free (800) 455-8702 or visit www.jamad.org. For more information on the Center for Health and Human Services call (317)228-0378. The phone number for JAMAD was incorrect in last week's Recorder.