03.28.17

Alternative Financial Metrics to Consider in Real Estate Purchases
Kathy Z. Jeziorski

When approaching each transaction, real estate professionals anticipate to achieve the best possible outcome. The property’s net operating income (NOI) is often the first metric they will assess in determining whether an investment is going to generate cash inflow. However, this metric will not be enough for a savvy investor. In most cases, investors need to evaluate the property’s highest and best use. This article discusses the fallbacks of NOI, as well as introduce two alternative financial metrics worth considering when investing in real estate property: Net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR).

03.24.17

Joining the ORBA Team
Frank L. Washelesky

ORBA acquired Red Granite in 2016. This blog is meant to provide an overview of additional services and benefits that we can provide to our Red Granite clients who may not yet be familiar with our service model. Over the next few months, we will highlight both the traditional and unique services that we can provide to Red Granite clients and their owners and executives.

03.21.17

Spotlight on the Research Credit

After being continually renewed since the 1980s, the research credit was finally made permanent under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. This change allows manufacturers to plan (with certainty) for their research and development (R&D) expenditures. And, it is expected to survive any tax reform legislation that will pass in 2017. This article provides an overview of the current rules on how to claim credits for R&D spending, including how the break has been expanded for certain small manufacturers.

03.10.17

Prioritize Your Tasks by ‘Eating Your Frogs’ First

“Eat Your Frogs” has become part of our team language over the past few years and, more importantly, it has become part of our culture. It is an idea and approach to help you stop procrastinating and prioritize your tasks appropriately. Our latest Cloud Services blog breaks down the meaning behind this saying in order to help you tackle the tasks that you have on your to-do plate.

03.07.17

Fiduciary Duties: Reviewing & Benchmarking Plan Fees

Are the services a plan receives reasonably priced? Knowing the answer is a vital fiduciary duty. ERISA expects more from plan fiduciaries than simply shopping around for plan providers offering rock bottom rates. This article summarizes some key areas all fiduciaries must consider when benchmarking costs of their qualified retirement plan. A sidebar discusses a report that suggests ways employers can help current plan participants ease into retirement.

02.28.17

Is Your Not-For-Profit Organization Ready for Endowments?

With baby boomers (the largest and wealthiest generation in U.S. history) expected to transfer trillions of dollars of assets in the next few decades, this could be the right time to launch an endowment. This article explains the two main types of endowments, describes the pros and cons and addresses managing assets and spending restrictions. “Quasi” endowments also are discussed.

02.27.17

Could the Small Taxpayer Safe Harbor Work for You?

Although the final property repair regulations have been in effect since 2014, the question we still are asked most is how a property owner can tell the difference between a repair and an improvement to a unit of real estate. Stated differently, which costs can be deducted, and which must be capitalized and depreciated? This article focuses on the Small Taxpayer Expensing Election and the Small Taxpayer Safe Harbor Rule which allows a “qualifying small taxpayer” to treat costs as deductible expenses. We will also look at the other safe harbors applicable to real estate: The Routine Maintenance Safe Harbor and the De Minimis Safe Harbor.

02.20.17

Don’t Apologize for Raising Your Prices

Price hikes are always a delicate business decision to make. You do not want to raise your prices too high and scare your consumers or clients off, but you want to address your business needs. Our latest Cloud Services Group blog looks at strategies you can deploy at your business to raise the price of your product/service.

02.17.17

Four Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your Accounting

When and Why You Need a Virtual CFO and Accounting Team As Entrepreneur recently pointed out, there are certain things a growing business should not “skimp out” on, a primary one being who you have looking after your finances. Number one on their list of three alternatives to hiring a full-time CFO? A virtual CFO! Enter ORBA’s Cloud […]

02.17.17

Four Tips for Strengthening Cybersecurity
Robert Swenson

Law firms of all sizes have sensitive information that make them vulnerable to data breaches. This article outlines four strategies for preventing — or, at worst, minimizing the damage of — a cyber attack. These are encryption, employee training, cyber liability insurance coverage and recovery planning.