Every year, the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds (OASDI) issues its annual report on the Social Security system. The report...
Key Performance Indicators and Your Business - Part 1 of 2
July 2018
Key Performance Indicators, also known as KPIs, are core measurements that businesses use to monitor progress toward achieving goals and targets. KPIs, which vary widely by industry and entity structure...
Italian Economic Autonomy - What this means for the Eurozone and the Markets
July 2018
Italy’s newly formed government is a coalition between two populist parties: Lega Nord (the Northern League) and Movimento 5 Stelle (the Five Star Movement). This coalition is floating the idea of issuing...
The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1, has sent an unambiguous message that the current GOP-dominated Congress and Presidential Administration are decidedly...
Old School and Hi-Tech Ways to Keep Track of Passwords
July 2018
In 2017, nearly one-third of internet users reported being victim to online hacking or similar suspicious activity on their accounts. But as anyone who regularly uses a computer – especially for financial...
Brick and mortar versus the virtual office. It’s a dynamic that’s been ongoing for a couple of decades. But you might be wondering: how much has the traditional office really changed...
Congress at Work: Benefits for Veterans, More Money to Counteract Gun Violence and a Higher Loan Limit for Small Business Loans
July 2018
VA MISSION Act of 2018 (S. 2372) – This bill was introduced by Sen. John Isakson (R-GA) on Feb. 5 and signed into law by the president on June 6. This legislation permits veterans to seek care from...
This is a good year for buying a home, as prices are beginning to rise, interest rates are still low, and homeowner tax breaks are still available. To help...
Branding Considerations: What goes into the Naming Process?
Current Month
One of the first steps in conceptualizing and building a business is branding. An important component in branding a business is creating a name that makes a great first and lasting impression. For many startups,...
Business Leases: Essential Elements to Have (and Avoid)
Current Month
Whether for a first-time commercial lease or if it's time to move to a bigger and better building with a new business lease, understanding all of the elements in the contract can avoid a lot of potential problems down the...
If you're like most owners of growing firms, you might wonder about the best way to protect your personal assets and conduct your daily activities. For some...
It no secret that the U.S. economy is going through a great deal of upheaval these days. With the government taking control of the two largest funders of home mortgages, and major Wall Street players...
If the Pew Research Center's findings from its Mobile Technology Fact Sheet are any indication of mobile device usage, your business should consider developing a mobile app....
Some experts are predicting that the recent tax legislation will create a ton of new business creation and activity – just not the kind that lawmakers originally intended. These people are predicting......
For young couples starting out, money can be tight. Most likely, you're starting a new career or a family; paying back college loans; or simply suffering though...
If you have a business that deals with the public, it is almost inevitable that you’ll get a negative online review at some point. To a small business owner, a highly critical review can be alarming,...
As a homeowner, you probably do everything you can to protect your home, from taking care of maintenance items to locking the door when you leave, but how often do you check the...
Financial planning can be intimidating, but personal financial planning is more like a puzzle you have to work out. That's because traditional finance assumes that markets are......
The first step toward beating credit card debt is to keep it from happening in the first place. But if you are already overwhelmed with monthly credit card payments, there are...
When it comes to selling online, gaining users’ trust is a serious matter for businesses. Based on a July 2015 poll from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Telecommunications and Information......
How to Plan For a Long Life with Longevity Insurance
Current Month
People are living longer than ever, but that doesn't mean they are healthier. While modern medical science has done much to lengthen life spans, it has been less effective at preventing chronic...
When it comes to selecting a domain name, there’s more than just registration involved. Selecting the right domain name involves a lot of consideration. This includes making sure it represents the company and its...
Older generations were taught to save for a rainy day but the concept of saving for a rainy day or for an emergency or for anything unforeseen was lost on the younger generations. If your children are at a learning age......
Whether a business owner wants to sell a website or he has been approached by an individual expressing interest in purchasing it, understanding what it's worth is essential to a fair sale for everyone involved...
Making the Best Choice: Should You Rent or Buy Your Next Home?
Current Month
Most people see owning a home as a milestone; a marker of success; an important step in settling down and gaining stability. Should You Rent or Buy Your Next Home?...
Managing Risk - What a difference just a few years, a few weeks, or even a few Tweets can make. Ever since the turn of the century we've experienced a rapid boom in technology, the real estate and banking collapse, one of the...
As the Pew Research Center points out, the millennial population is expected to hit and exceed the 75 million mark. As one of America's largest upcoming demographics, business...
Did last year's family vacation create more stress than it was worth? Vacations should be a time to rest and relax, but poor planning and a hectic pace can make you want to retreat...
For several months, the Federal Reserve Board has hinted that it will begin to raise the target range for the federal funds rate when it sees progress toward its objectives of...
Planning a wedding can be complicated - even more so than you probably realize at first - but by tackling the most important steps as early as possible, you'll save...
Property Taxes: How to Pay Only What You Owe On What You Own
Current Month
Even seasoned homeowners might shudder a little when their property tax bill arrives, but there are steps you can take to make sure you don't pay more than necessary. All it...
By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. Among today’s retirees, 87 percent say they want to stay in their current home and community as they age. It’s easy to imagine those numbers will increase by...
Reverse Mortgages: Easy to get, but worth the price?
Current Month
Every so often, the topic du jour for financial planning is the reverse mortgage, especially when interest rates are low and older people find themselves in need of easily attainable sources of...
Refinancing is a matter of crunching the numbers. The real question is, will it save you money? The answer lies in several factors, such as the new interest rate, the new mortgage term,...
In the past, small business owners sometimes lacked the resources – both financial and human – to capitalize upon the latest productivity and customer service technologies. Fortunately, the......
Strategies to Run a Localized and Location-Based Marketing Campaign
Current Month
The potential for localized and location-based marketing is high – especially with estimates of retail sales from “beacon-triggered messages”, which grew from $4.1 billion to $44.4 billion between 2015 and......
When deciding upon a firm's record retention procedures, it would be wise to consult federal and IRS regulations and state and local government record retention...
Most people think that they are at the mercy of the IRS. They think they have no rights whatsoever - but they are wrong. Taxpayers have always had certain rights in dealing with...
Things to Know Before Applying for Social Security Benefits
Current Month
Social Security benefits are largely funded by today's workers via payroll taxes. However, the number of retired workers is projected to double in less than 30 years. Furthermore, the...
You can pay off your mortgage, never again seeing a bill from the bank for principal or interest, but you can never pay off your property taxes. Property taxes also, unfortunately, only seem to go one way...
Members of the so-called Generation Y are in over their heads. A new online survey by The PNC Financial Services Group shows that people in their 20s are carrying record debt, averaging $45,000 across the age range of...
