What are Your 2015 Sales Goals?
The New Year is just around the corner. Have you given any thought to your sales plans and goals yet? If not, it’s the perfect time to take some advice on how to get started. By managing these three things, you're sure to have a successful 2015: Sales meetings Budget Time Start by answering…
LEGISLATION NEWS: Senate Passes Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014
On Tuesday, December 16,2014 the Senate passed a bill to retroactively extend more than 50 expired tax provisions through 2014. The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 was passed by a vote of 76-16. What does this mean for you? This act temporarily extends several expired individual, business and energy tax breaks, as well as…
Why you should make annual exclusion gifts before year end
The 2014 gift tax annual exclusion allows you to give up to $14,000 per recipient tax-free without using up any of your lifetime gift tax exemption. If you and your spouse “split” the gift, you can give $28,000 per recipient. The gifted assets are removed from your taxable estate, which can be especially advantageous if…
2015 Cybersecurity Resolutions
Security breaches were front and center this year, including those that happened at high-profile brands such as Home Depot, AT&T, JP Morgan, eBay and P.F. Chang’s. Because these companies are so large, they were able to mobilize their resources and recover fairly quickly, but small businesses are not always so fortunate. A survey by Experian found…
Basic Instincts: Do Your Employees Have “The Nine?” for Fast Growth?
What kind of employees do you need to hire to grow a company? You can train and hire for skills, shaping the team personality, however, what you can’t train, shape or change are your employees’ primal basic work instincts: how they will first respond and react to all the dynamics in a fast growth company….
How much time is left to make donations you can deduct on your 2014 return?
To take a 2014 charitable donation deduction, the gift must be made by Dec. 31, 2014. According to the IRS, a donation generally is “made” at the time of its “unconditional delivery.” But what does this mean? Is it the date you, for example, write a check or make an online gift via your credit…
Network, Network, Network
Networking: it plays a crucial part in our careers and businesses. Whether it’s finding a new client or just passing and sharing knowledge…not everybody is doing it right. What might you be doing wrong? If you want to network successfully and get noticed by the person you want to connect with, avoid these mistakes:…
Review gains and losses now to see if action by Dec. 31 can save 2014 taxes
Appreciating investments that don’t generate current income aren’t taxed until sold, deferring tax and perhaps allowing you to time the sale to your tax advantage. Review your year-to-date gains and losses now to see if selling any additional investments by Dec. 31 can reduce your 2014 tax liability. For example, if you’ve cashed in some…