I often hear comments from friends that one of their greatest fears is getting a notice from the IRS or Illinois Department of Revenue. They fear that they will owe penalties, interest, or go to jail. Some of them fear tax notices more than motor vehicle tickets!

For many years, I believed that the healthcare benefits offered to U.S. veterans were limited to those who made the military a career and completed 20+ years with a branch of military service. In a casual conversation one day, I learned that a friend was getting his medications at a very low cost from the VA Healthcare system.

I used to travel quite a bit in the ‘70s and ‘80s and would rely heavily on travel agencies to schedule and book my airline, limo, hotel, and rental car arrangements. As a business traveler, I had a frequent traveler profile with my travel agency. They knew my travel preferences: favorite airlines, hotels, and car rentals. The convenience was wonderful.