Building a brand can transform your business into an enduring household name. But how do you build a brand when you are starting from scratch? One good place to start is developing a consistent company culture. Company culture can be leveraged to create a unique and memorable company identity. More than just a corporate buzzword,…
Power of attorney (POA) is a document that grants a specific person, called an agent, the authority to make important decisions on behalf of another person, called the principal. There are many different kinds of power of attorney. The scope of the authority the principal grants to the agent can be very broad or quite…
Building a business empire, enterprise, or even just a start-up has its price. The image of the confident and charismatic CEO often falls short of reality. Before, during and after public visibility often comes personal self-doubt, anxiety and mental anguish. Many business owners donot readily divulge the distress they feel because they don’t perceive it…
Financial aid is a valuable resource for students and their families. And sending a child off to college is one of life’s biggest (and often most expensive!) events. Unfortunately, certain assets may adversely affect student financial aid eligibility. That’s why careful financial planning is particularly important for families with college-age children. Federal financial aid eligibility…
Millennials are taking their places at office desks around the nation. This burgeoning generation is just starting out,which means changes for family businesses with millennial family members who stand to inherit the family business. Of course, this scenario raises certain concerns for baby-boomer business owners as they look to the next generation of workers. According…
Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life behind them. While established families may be concerned about what will happen to their family when they pass on, young, growing families can be more focused on what is happening to their family in the present. And you…
Buying an existing business is a great way to hit the ground running in the world of entrepreneurship. Because an existing business already has a legal structure, employees, a customer base, and is making a profit, you get to skip over one of the most challenging aspects of owning a business – starting it. But…
If you created an estate plan that includes a living trust, you must review it to determine if it contains language that could create unnecessary cost, effort and stress for your surviving spouse. Back in the day, when the estate tax exemption was $675,000 to $1,000,000, most living trusts were drafted to provide for a…
In Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, he said: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” When Jobs was 17, he read a quote that made an impression on him, and every day after he looked in…
What All Couples Should Know In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples nationwide finally enjoy marriage equality. And, whether you are legally married in the eyes of the law, or not, there are important additional legal planning steps you need to take to ensure your wishes are…
Too many estate plans are created and then quickly forgotten, put on a shelf, and never looked at again. While we do recommend that you review and update your plan at least every three years, no matter what happens in your life, your plan must be updated immediately in the event of any of these…
If your business is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you may be required to give all of your salaried employees who perform executive, administrative or professional (EAP) duties a raise. As of December 1, 2016, the new minimum wage for full-time salaried workers is $913 per week. Previously, the minimum wage was…
In our last newsletter, we shared the first part of our article on how to discuss estate planning with aging (or sick) loved ones. If you didn’t read it yet, go ahead and read Part 1. Discuss Estate Planning with The Right Questions The holidays can be the best time for you to be ready…
Many businesses maintain an industry advantage through control and utilization of trade secrets. Be it a formula, a design, or a process, trade secrets can provide advantages over the competition. Not surprisingly, trade secret misappropriation is a serious concern for many businesses. Until recently, it’s been state law at the forefront of regulating and protecting…
Someone you love is aging. Or maybe, facing a potentially terminal illness. And you know it’s time for them to think about end of life planning because the end of their life will impact you. So how do you broach this delicate topic when it feels so uncomfortable to acknowledge? The first step is to…
Opening a small business brings excitement as well as uncertainty. As a small business owner you face many risks, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself against them. Obtaining insurance coverage is one big way you can protect your small business and help minimize many of the risks you face. The kinds…
Bhutan is an independent state in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south. Nestled in the Himalayas, Bhutan is the last remaining Buddhist state in the world. But one of the most unique aspects of Bhutanese government is the country’s use of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index to…
If your business is on Facebook, you may wonder what happens to your business Facebook page when you die. To ensure someone you choose can take it over, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got your legacy contact set up for your personal page and another administrator set up for your business Facebook page. Legacy…
Even if you do not have an estate plan that you’ve created, the State has one for you. And it’s likely one you won’t like. It may be time for you to review the plan the State has for you and make more informed, empowered choices for your family. If you have created an estate…
It can be very difficult for you, as an employer to manage a 401(k) retirement plan for your employees properly. Federal law is replete with mandates, including when employee funds must be remitted and statements made available to employees. One area you may not have considered is how to handle a married employee’s 401(k). Federal…
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