06.29.17

A Proactive Approach to Not-For-Profit Board Member Management
Caitlin G. Gibbs

A characteristic of a strong not-for-profit organization is an active board of directors that can support the organization in many ways—financially, with their time, and with the skills the members possess, both personally and professionally. Attracting the right people to your not-for-profit board can be challenging. You obviously want people who are enthusiastic about your mission and who are willing to give their time. This article explores a few best practices that not-for-profit board members can implement to successfully manage their board of directors.

06.23.17

How to Become a Reseller in Illinois

There are any number of variances in reseller store setups, products sold and reasons why you may want to become a reseller. Maybe you want to supplement existing services you offer with related products. Perhaps you have an “in” on a good source or manufacturer for new merchandise that you are confident will sell well. Whatever your reason, our latest Cloud Services Group blog provides a bit of advice on what you need to know if you wish to become a reseller in Illinois.

06.22.17

What Do Millennial Lawyers Want?

Millennials — generally defined as those born after 1980 — now account for the largest segment of today’s workforce, making up more than one-third of those employed. Like Baby Boomers, and to a lesser extent the Generation Xers that precede them, they will reshape the future of the way business is done in the U.S., including the business of law. More than 21.5% of today’s attorneys are Millennials. This blog focuses on their experiences and expectations as they relate to the legal profession. We’ll review what Millennials bring to the workplace and ways to successfully recruit and retain them at your firm. Looking at people through a generational lens offers useful predictability for those trying to reach, inform or persuade a large cross-section of a population.

06.20.17

E-Verify Helps Confirm Employment Eligibility

Immigration and legal residency are hot topics in today’s environment, and, as a result, closer scrutiny is being paid to employment eligibility. Federal law requires employers to verify employment status; however, dishonest workers sometimes use fake or stolen IDs to get hired. The E-Verify system helps employers comply with the law. This article explains how E-Verify works and why the requirements for using it might change in the future.

06.16.17

Eminent Domain: Understanding the Tax Treatment Issues
Thomas Kosinski

Eminent domain is the process by which a government or entity has the ability to take private property for public use. Any property claimed through eminent domain must be fairly compensated. This triggers a process by which “fair compensation” is determined. Once this process is complete, there will be an award to the owner of the property, based on “severance damages” for either loss in value of a larger parcel of property that was not acquired, or the value of the portion of the property that was taken. This article covers the intricacies and tax treatment issues behind eminent domain.

06.15.17

What to do if You Inherit an IRA
Jacqueline N. Janczewski

Individuals who inherit an IRA have several options for handling the funds, depending on their relationship with the original accountholder. This article summarizes options for spouses and non-spouses.

06.07.17

Company Health Check: Is Your Business Financially Fit?

How do you know your company is financially fit? We all talk it to death: profit, profit, profit. And for good reason—your profitability, and therefore your profit margin, is the single best measure of company health. However, it is a mistake to think that is all there is to it. This article outlines a handful of other metrics you should be using to gauge company health.

06.06.17

Avoid Litigation with Attention to Common ‘Red Flags’
James Quaid

Any size retirement plan can run into serious trouble when sponsors are not careful. With some planning, however, a qualified retirement plan can avoid ERISA litigation. This article reviews some of the most common red flags leading to litigation and reminds plan sponsors of the importance of regularly reviewing fees and expenses.

06.05.17

The New Revenue Recognition Standard: How Does It Affect My Not-for-Profit?
Barbara Miller

When the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB’s) new revenue recognition standard was released in 2014, many organizations and businesses were unsure on how it would affect them. In particular, not-for-profit organizations were unclear on the potential impact. However, the new standard applies only to revenue from “exchange transactions,” also known as reciprocal transactions. Many not-for-profit organizations receive contributions, which are non-reciprocal, and therefore, different rules apply. This article explains when you should report grant and contribution revenues under ASU 2014-09. A Sidebar reports on future FASB guidance that will clarify how and when to recognize grant and contribution revenue when receiving government funds.

05.30.17

Gross-up Provisions: Good News for Both Landlords and Tenants

In an uncertain economy, commercial landlords understandably look for ways to protect themselves from financial exposure. One approach is the inclusion of gross-up provisions in leases. This article explains that a properly drafted gross-up provision can help ensure that tenants pay their share for operating expenses when some units are vacant, while also protecting tenants from unexpected cost increases.