With all of the talk about the so-called “fiscal cliff,” many people have forgotten about the Medicare surtaxes that have gone into effect. These taxes are part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) and affect income tax returns for individuals, trusts […]
Naming a product, and especially a new business, is really hard. There’s a lot of pressure to pick a great name. The name should be catchy and memorable, sophisticated and appealing and something customers will love. The sad truth is this task is so daunting that all too often entrepreneurs give up the struggle and […]
As we move forward into 2013, there will be changes to your payroll and income taxes along with implementation of portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many questions remain, here are some things we know for sure at this point. One of the bright spots that we see in all of this is […]
Large employers could face penalties under the “pay or play” provisions of federal health care reform legislation in 2014 if their group health plans don’t meet minimum value requirements. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) defines large employers as those with at least 50 full-time equivalent employees during the preceding calendar year. A penalty could apply […]
Did you know that 68 percent of the population lacks effective organizational skills? How about you? Is your desk a mess? Can you find your way through your office? Does your filing system need reorganization? Are important projects, tasks and customer followups falling through the cracks? Do you simply avoid all the clutter because you […]
Dear Employer’s Advisory: Some of my friends say that there is only one test to determine if a worker is an independent contractor — whether or not the worker performs work for another company during the contract period. I don’t think that’s right — there have to be other factors considered. But my Dad says, […]
Personality conflicts between team members are often the primary reason for a lack of collaboration within any given business or organization. These conflicts have a direct effect on business operations and almost always contribute to a decline in efficiency, productivity, retention, business growth and bottom-line profits. The degree to which your team doesn’t work together […]
A gift to charity could be a great financial favor to you, too — some charitable gifting methods offer notable tax advantages. Here’s a brief look at some popular options: Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) offer a useful estate planning tool. People with such highly appreciated assets as stocks or real estate are often hesitant to […]
The Grand Valley has experienced some good and bad times over the years that have affected both home sales and residential rental markets. I’ve found it interesting that this current cycle has had some decidedly different results than previous downturns. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, our valley experienced a roller coaster ride due […]
We’re approaching a new year and the overwhelming tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Every Jan. 1 becomes the day in which we write down the list of items that proclaims this will be the year we change our lives for the better. We’ll lose weight, break bad habits and save money. Will your list for […]