Counting Your Employees for ACA Compliance Purposes
December 18, 2019 Knowledge Center
Counting Your Employees for ACA Compliance Purposes

It seems like a simple question: How many full-time workers does your organization employ? But, when it comes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the calculation can be complicated — and the answer is important. Potential penalty The number of workers you employ determines whether your organization is an applicable large employer (ALE). If you’re […]

Keep Your Head in the Game to Attract IT Talent
December 16, 2019 Knowledge Center
Keep Your Head in the Game to Attract IT Talent

There’s little doubt that nearly every type of employer will continue to rely on technology to beat — or even just keep up with — their competition. This means not only acquiring the right hardware and software, but also hiring and retaining the brightest IT people. Indeed, organizations that fall behind in tomorrow’s marketplace may […]

Using an E-Certification Process for 401(K) Hardship Distributions
December 12, 2019 Knowledge Center
Using an E-Certification Process for 401(K) Hardship Distributions

When participants request hardship distributions from a 401(k) plan, employers must collect and store documents showing that the participant had an immediate and heavy financial need to permit such a distribution. In today’s digital age, you might wonder whether you could instead allow participants to certify their needs electronically. The short answer is a tentative […]

Deciding Whether a Merger or Acquisition Is the Right Move
December 11, 2019 Knowledge Center
Deciding Whether a Merger or Acquisition Is the Right Move

Merging with, or acquiring, another company is one of the best ways to grow rapidly. You might be able to significantly boost revenue, literally overnight, by acquiring another business. In contrast, achieving a comparable rate of growth organically — by increasing sales of existing products and services or adding new product and service lines — […]

Small Businesses: Can’t Offer an FSA? Consider a QSEHRA
December 5, 2019 Knowledge Center
Small Businesses: Can’t Offer an FSA? Consider a QSEHRA

Like many small business owners, you may be unable to sponsor a major medical plan at this time. Perhaps you’ve thought about sponsoring a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) instead. Unfortunately, under federal regulations, you may not be able to do that either. There is, however, a relatively new option available to you. Compliance rationale […]

Run Your Strategic-Planning Meetings like They Really Matter
November 22, 2019 Knowledge Center
Run Your Strategic-Planning Meetings like They Really Matter

Many businesses struggle to turn abstract strategic-planning ideas into concrete, actionable plans. One reason why is simple: ineffective meetings. The ideas are there, lurking in the minds of management and key employees, but the process for hashing them out just doesn’t work. Here are a few ways to run your strategic-planning meetings like they really […]

Using Your 401(K) Plan to Save This Year and Next
November 12, 2019 Knowledge Center
Using Your 401(K) Plan to Save This Year and Next

You can reduce taxes and save for retirement by contributing to a tax-advantaged retirement plan. If your employer offers a 401(k) or Roth 401(k) plan, contributing to it is a taxwise way to build a nest egg. If you’re not already contributing the maximum allowed, consider increasing your contribution rate between now and year end. […]

Is Multicloud Computing Right for Your Business?
November 7, 2019 Knowledge Center
Is Multicloud Computing Right for Your Business?

Cloud computing — storing data and accessing apps via the Internet — has been widely adopted by businesses across industry and size. Like many technological advances, though, new derivatives continue to emerge — including so-called multicloud computing. Under this approach, companies don’t rely on a single cloud service; rather, they distribute their data and computing […]

Review and Revise Job Descriptions for Everyone’s Benefit
November 1, 2019 Knowledge Center
Review and Revise Job Descriptions for Everyone’s Benefit

A job description may seem like just so many words on a page or website. But those words have power. They can either set an employer and employee on a path toward a positive, fruitful relationship or on a downward spiral into confusion and conflict. To keep your organization on the road to success, review […]

Selling Securities by Year End? Avoid the Wash Sale Rule
October 28, 2019 Knowledge Center
Selling Securities by Year End? Avoid the Wash Sale Rule

If you’re planning to sell assets at a loss to offset gains that have been realized during the year, it’s important to be aware of the “wash sale” rule. How the rule works Under this rule, if you sell stock or securities for a loss and buy substantially identical stock or securities back within the […]

At the Very Least, Update the Financials in Your Business Plan
October 25, 2019 Knowledge Center
At the Very Least, Update the Financials in Your Business Plan

Every new company should launch with a business plan and keep it updated. Generally, such a plan will comprise six sections: executive summary, business description, industry and marketing analysis, management team description, implementation plan, and financials. Now, ideally, you would comprehensively update each section every year. But if the size, shape and objectives of your […]