In January, we wondered what the year would bring. Well, now we know what the first half of the year has brought, and it is good news for high-net-worth business owners. On Wall Street, the saying is buy low, sell high. In the world of estate planning, the saying is more like sell high, transfer…
Read MoreEmployee gift matching is a powerful philanthropic strategy that involves companies pledging to match the charitable contributions their employees make to non-profit organizations. General Electric created the first known gift matching program in 1954 and now matches more than $35 million in charitable donations each year. Microsoft has donated more than $1 billion since rolling…
Read MoreConstruction professionals operate in one of the most financially complex industries, where managing cash flow and cost control from job to job creates fluctuating liquidity patterns unlike any other sector. When combined with rising material costs, labor shortages, and economic uncertainty, strategic financial management becomes essential to avoid fallout and to protect long-term profitability. Fortunately,…
Read MoreAs businesses become increasingly reliant on digital technologies to run their operations, cyber-related attacks have taken a quantum leap in both number and sophistication, threatening to derail continuity and create long-term impact. According to Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report, 600 million cyberattacks occur around the globe every day. A single breach can devastate not only a…
Read MoreFor many small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs), hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer (CFO) can often exceed operational needs or current budget realities, despite the clear value seasoned financial leaders bring to the table. Because of this, many businesses are turning to fractional CFO services as an alternative to capture the executive-level expertise without the…
Read MoreIn 1977, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple Computer, a company that would revolutionize technology and consumer electronics and have a profound impact on the music, film, and wireless industries. Apple went public in 1980, and by 1983, it was one of America’s top companies. In 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form…
Read MoreMany small businesses are family-owned and operated with employees that have been with the company for years. Manager oversight can become lax. Staff and co-workers are like “family,” or they may actually be family. Long-term employees are trusted. But it is when owners and managers don’t maintain proper controls over their processes that those closest…
Read MoreNatural and human-caused disasters often occur without much warning and can disrupt even the most well-oiled operations. Being equipped with an emergency preparedness plan for your business can ensure continuity after an incident. Your emergency plan should include your business’s operational documents. Keeping these documents secure can facilitate informed decisions during a crisis, enabling effective…
Read MoreEmployer-sponsored PLESAs encourage employees to save for emergencies by allowing them to put aside a portion of their pay for that purpose. Authorized under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, pension-linked emergency savings accounts are individual accounts in defined contribution plans. They are designed to permit and encourage employees to save for financial emergencies. These are…
Read MoreThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) largely winds down at the end of 2025. Maybe. Many of its provisions are political, so much depends on who’s in the White House and who has control of the House and Senate at that time. Before you start planning, glean some understanding of what the TCJA does…
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