In 2025, global merger and acquisition (M&A) volume is expected to surge to the highest level in four years, according to Reuters. M&As require thorough due diligence to minimize risks and maximize long-term value. Some business combinations fail to achieve expected results due to financial missteps, overlooked liabilities and integration challenges. Here’s an overview of […]
Strong leadership is essential to running a successful business. However, as perhaps you’ve experienced, playing the role of a strong leader can force you to make tough decisions that expose you to legal claims. Business owners who are particularly worried about this type of risk can buy directors and officers (D&O) insurance to hedge against it. […]
President Trump and the Republican Congress plan to act swiftly to make broad changes to the United States — including its federal tax system. Congress is already working on legislation that would extend and expand provisions of the sweeping Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), as well as incorporate some of Trump’s tax-related campaign promises. […]
Running a small business often requires periodic cash infusions, and knowing how to secure the right funding can determine whether your business succeeds or struggles. Let’s explore the three primary types of funding available to small businesses: debt, equity and hybrid financing. Debt: Borrowing to grow Debt financing involves borrowing money and repaying it with […]
An inheritor’s trust is a specialized estate planning tool designed to protect and manage assets you pass to a beneficiary. One of its primary advantages is asset protection. It allows your beneficiary to receive his or her inheritance in trust rather than as an outright gift or bequest. Thus, the assets are kept out of […]
On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 122, reversing its controversial 2022 guidance to safeguard crypto-asset holdings. This reversal comes amidst growing pressure from the American Bankers Association (ABA) and a joint congressional resolution to remove barriers that a previous rule imposed on banks and other […]
Imagine you just discovered your organization lost a substantial amount of money to fraud. You’d probably feel various emotions, including dismay and anger. However, as bad as such a predicament would be, there’s something even worse: Suffering financial losses to fraud and not even knowing it. Earlier this year, payment security solutions vendor Trustmi surveyed […]
Saving for retirement is a crucial financial goal and a 401(k) plan is one of the most effective tools for achieving it. If your employer offers a 401(k) or Roth 401(k), contributing as much as possible to the plan in 2025 is a smart way to build a considerable nest egg. If you’re not already […]
In case you missed it, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) turned 50 earlier this year. If your organization has been administering employee benefit plans for any length of time, you’re likely well-acquainted with the law’s broad impact. However, many employers still occasionally get caught off guard by the sheer scope of ERISA. Take […]
Over your lifetime, you’ve likely accumulated various tangible assets. These may include automobiles, personal property or art. It’s relatively easy to account for such assets in your estate plan, but what about intangible assets, such as intellectual property (IP)? These assets behave differently from other types of property, so careful planning is required to preserve […]
It’s critical for business owners and managers to understand how to present contingent liabilities accurately in the financial statements. Under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), some contingent losses may be reported on the balance sheet and income statement, while others are only disclosed in the footnotes. Here’s an overview of the rules for properly […]
A federal district court judge has struck down the Biden administration’s new rule regarding the salary threshold for determining whether certain employees are exempt from federal overtime pay requirements. The first phase of the rule took effect for most employers in July 2024 and affects executive, administrative and professional (EAP) employees. With a Republican administration […]