In today’s high-anxiety world, it is not uncommon for employees to battle personal problems such as substance dependence, financial and legal woes, and mental health issues. These struggles can negatively affect their productivity and the working environment around them. Employers can help by offering an EAP....
Did you know that the Financial Accounting Standards Board recently extended the simplified private-company accounting alternatives to non-profit organizations? Many merging non-profits, including educational institutions and hospitals, welcome these practical expedients. Here are the details. Alternative for goodwill The first alternative accounting method allows for the amortization...
Are you charitably inclined but have concerns about maintaining a sufficient amount of income to meet your current needs? The good news is that there is a trust for that: a charitable remainder trust (CRT). This type of trust allows you to support your favorite...
“Love and marriage,” goes the old song: “…You can’t have one without the other.” This also holds true for sales and marketing. Even the best of sales staffs will struggle if not supported by a well-researched and carefully executed marketing plan. Here are six ways...
It is no secret that this is a challenging time for charitable fundraising. In its annual Giving USA 2019 report, the Giving USA Foundation noted a decrease in individual and household giving, blaming such impersonal factors as tax law changes and a wobbly stock market. So...
As an employer, you must pay Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax on amounts up to $7,000 paid to each employee as wages during the calendar year. The rate of tax imposed is six percent but can be reduced by a credit (described below). Most...
When market competition heats up, you might provide extra incentives for your sales staff to perform. But be careful: some employees may step over the line — to earn bigger bonuses or out of enthusiasm for the challenge — and use unethical sales tactics. Take...
Technology is altering the traditional approach to internal audits. Instead of reviewing reams of paperwork, today’s auditor is learning to use electronic records. In turn, going paperless facilitates a concept known as ‘continuous auditing,’ where internal auditors continually gather data to support their procedures. Here...
There are thousands of service dogs hard at work in the United States today. Assuming it has not happened already, you may eventually field a request from either a new hire or existing employee to bring one of these animals into your workplace. It is critical...
Traditional and Roth IRAs can be powerful estate planning tools. With a ‘self-directed’ IRA, you may be able to increase the benefits of these tools by enabling them to hold nontraditional investments that offer potentially greater returns. However, self-directed IRAs present pitfalls that can lead...