09.24.20

An Estate Plan Benefits You and Your Family
Jeffrey R. Green

Quick question: Who needs an estate plan? The answer is everyone, not just the affluent. While gift and estate tax liability is not an issue for most folks, most families can benefit from a comprehensive plan that divides their wealth, protects their well-being and provides a compass for the future. Asset distribution Estate planning is […]

09.22.20

Is Remote Selling the New Normal? Tips to Make the Most of Your Sales Program
Joyce Carlson

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way people interact and do business. Many of the changes that have been made to adapt to a social-distancing environment within the digital landscape will likely become permanent and evolve over time. Though pre-COVID-19 digital trends were already surfacing as a basis for contemporary selling, many experts agree that the […]

09.16.20

Classifying Workers as Employees or Independent Contractors: When Bringing Back Workers, Follow the Rules
Jeffrey Chiles

Part of your not-for-profit organization’s entrance into the “new normal” not-for-profit world may involve rehiring workers — and perhaps hiring some new replacements. For tax obligation purposes, you will be required to classify those workers as employees or independent contractors (ICs). Sizing up Independent Contractor benefits Treating a worker as an independent contractor (IC) rather […]

09.15.20

How to Handle Laid-Off Employees’ 401(k) Accounts Still in Your Plan
Stephanie Zaleski-Braatz

As employee headcount grows, some turnover now and then usually does not create many concerns about “orphan” 401(k) accounts.  However, employers forced to downsize during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic might have a larger proportion of accounts left behind by former employees. This could be a problem, but there are some […]

09.09.20

Three Steps to Create a Growth Culture: Involving Employees in Your Financial Success
Chris Arndt

To create a growth culture, involve employees in your financial success. It is not a new concept; however, for some business owners who want to create a culture of growth, it is not always obvious how to make it happen. We do not mean foosball tables and microbrews on tap; we mean big picture growth. […]

09.04.20

Can Our Public School Hold “Virtual” School Board Meetings During the Pandemic?
Mike Sullivan, Meredith Kirshenbaum

As public schools in Illinois are busy redesigning their curriculums for the fall, “COVID-19” continues to interrupt not only classrooms, but also other essential educational operations.  On March 9, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Pritzker declared all Illinois counties a “disaster area” and subsequently issued a series of executive orders designed to […]

09.03.20

Do Not Put Payroll Management on Autopilot
Robert Swenson

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the economy for a loop. Many law firms have had to trim expenses and furlough employees. Laying off or decreasing pay for support staff, associates and partners can add payroll tasks to your workload. If your firm is reducing people on the payroll or outsourcing work to independent contractors, there […]

08.27.20

How to Map Metrics to Your Mission
Chris Arndt

When you are strategic planning, do you map back metrics to your mission? If you have read any of our budgeting articles, you are familiar with my recommendation to set targets or benchmarks for your team. Creating this culture of growth sets your business up to scale. I recently wrote that in order to grow […]

08.26.20

The Tax Importance of Having a Profit Motive
Thomas Kosinski

Individuals with real estate businesses often expect to deduct business-related expenses for tax purposes. But those tax deductions might not be a guarantee. One married taxpayer recently learned the hard way when the IRS disputed business deductions that led them to the U.S. Tax Court. Sarkin v. Commissioner provides a helpful overview of how the […]

08.20.20

Five Planning Strategies in Uncertain Times

The COVID-19 pandemic, waves of civil unrest and rocky economic times have led to an abundance of external and internal forces for which many not-for-profit organizations have found themselves unprepared. Organizations are struggling to continue serving their constituencies while keeping their doors open, and their employees safe and employed. The uncertainty makes it challenging to […]