Are you considering ways to grow your business or planning for your retirement? You might hire new employees, bring in outside managers or have family members join the business and eventually take over. Bringing family into your operation could be good business — or, unfortunately, a fiasco. Some family businesses start out with teen-age children […]
You’ve worked hard to gain customers. Now what? Do you work even harder to keep the customers you have or aggressively seek new ones? Before answering that question, you probably should ask yourself two more. Are there other ways to strengthen relationships with your customers? Are there overlooked growth opportunities? Assuming the answers to both […]
People who run around in circles might appear efficient, but are they effective? There is a difference, one that could result either in a successful, growing business or a stagnant operation that’s just limping along. Consider the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions. Effective: producing a decided, decisive or desired effect. Efficient: capable of producing desired results without […]
Is this the year you set up or overhaul your company retirement plan? Have you considered where to get qualified advice and assistance with managing the investment options in your plan? Many professional advisors — from insurance specialists to stockbrokers to CPAs and more — offer assistance setting up retirement plans. They have all the […]
Insurance and financial advisors often find themselves in competition to provide for the benefit and pension plan needs of business owners. Many owners seek referrals from such other advisors as accountants and attorneys. Others talk to fellow business owners or friends. Still, many owners remain at a loss as to how to find and vet […]
Have you set goals for your business? Have you planned how you’ll achieve those goals? Consider this simple, five-step process to help you focus and get ready for a great new year. Create a specific, measurable goal or set of goals. Such goals as joining more organizations, attending chamber of commerce business after-hours events, or […]
When insurance professionals complete the process for property and casualty licenses, their knowledge remains limited. Their training consists of what’s needed to pass the licensing exams, not the nuts and bolts of the variety of products in the commercial and personal lines of insurance. Details about business owner, fleet and workers’ compensation insurance aren’t part […]
Thinking about retiring or selling your business? With some careful planning and professional advice, your business might be worth far more than you think. Or you might have unrealistic expectations. Many professional advisors across numerous specialties put themselves forth as business appraisers, business valuation specialists or some similar moniker. There are professional certifications and designations […]
You probably have a number of activities in your workplace that are repetitive, process-driven and require specific performance. These are the sorts of activities that should be documented in the form of policies and procedures (P&P) or standard operating procedures (SOP). Your P&Ps and SOPs have many applications. But one thing all P&Ps and SOPs […]
Employers can provide a number of options to help retired employees cover gaps in Medicare health insurance. The three main plan options are group Medicare Part C Advantage (GMA), group Medicare Part C supplement and group Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Group Medicare Advantage can be either preferred provider organization or health maintenance organization […]