As a business owner, you’ve spent the last 11 months of the year busting your butt trying to take your business to the next level. Or, perhaps you take after serial entrepreneur Jay-Z, “I’m not a business man, I’m a business, man!” Regardless of whether you’re a newly established company just getting off the ground or a stable well established business, sound year-end planning may be able to save you a substantial amount on your taxes. With the New Year fast approaching, it’s time to crack open your books and start your year-end planning because while the most wonderful time of the year is upon us, it’s back to reality with tax season soon following. (more…)
Business Owner
What Are Your Blind Spots?
Blind spots. We all have them. When you’re driving your car, you intuitively know that there are objects that you can’t see. In life, we’re often not as tuned in. We see based on our own experiences, assumptions and opinions. And, sometimes what we see is either completely wrong or slightly askew. Throw in gender, geography, ethnicity, and sexual orientation and it can feel like you’re hopping over mine fields. While comedians joke about political correctness every day, when we’re navigating the workforce, sometimes we’re just looking for a field manual. (more…)
What It Really Takes to Be a Role Model
Two years ago my daughter Lindsey had to select a role model for a report in her 7th grade class. She chose Taylor Swift. Not a bad choice actually given Swift’s girl power, philanthropic style.
This year she had to choose someone again for yet another report. This time, her report would be multimedia. And this time her role model was. . .me.
“Thank you,” I said with sincere surprise. “But why me?” (more…)
Business Owners: Reward Your Key People|The Executive Bonus Plan
I’ve worked with a lot of business owners over the years. In private practice as an attorney, as a consultant to financial practices, as a marketing attorney for financial institutions – the issues and opportunities that occupy a business owner’s time have been front and center in my professional life. What I’ve found is that, while no two businesses are exactly alike and while no two business owners are exactly alike – they do all share some common concerns. And, I found when I was running my own business I faced these concerns too. Do any of these sound familiar? (more…)
Qualified Plans Make Sense for Even Very Small Businesses
I have had the recent pleasure to work with a talented consultant and had the opportunity to talk about her success with her small business and her plans for the future.
She shared some interesting insights about her own business and personal planning that I thought may benefit any small business owner, and that is no matter how small your business is, you probably can benefit from a qualified plan. (more…)
