If you have turned 50, by all means take advantage of the catch-up contribution to 401(k) plans, where you may defer an extra $6,000 for a total of $24,000 in tax-deferred dollars each year until you retire. Even if you don’t turn 50 until Dec. 31, you may add the extra $6,000 to your contributions…
The Congress at Work series of articles is designed to give you a glimpse of various types of legislation currently under consideration. While either the Senate or the House of Representatives may initiate a bill proposal, be aware that many bills never become law; they may never make it out of committee, be blocked by…
Following the Federal Reserve’s decision to approve a modest interest rate increase, banking insiders anticipate that larger banks will increase their lending to small businesses in 2016. Even before the Fed made its long-anticipated move, the percentage of loan applications approved by big banks already had increased to the highest level since the subprime mortgage…
Whether you prepare your tax return yourself or hire a professional, there are certain things you should know. Often it is not until a person reaches their mid- to late twenties that tax returns become more complex and they need to be more informed. Below are seven fundamental tax concepts that usually are not taught…
The Congress at Work series of articles is designed to give you a glimpse of various types of legislation currently under consideration. While either the Senate or the House of Representatives may initiate a bill proposal, be aware that many bills never become law; they may never make it out of committee, be blocked by…
Business challenges and setbacks – or even long winter days and gloomy weather – can conspire to sap employee motivation and productivity. Frequently, there are many factors involved. Some require proactive approaches to motivating and encouraging staff, and some can be as simple as a reorganization of work spaces. Take a look at the following…
Some states do not require a minimum wage while others are poised to mandate a minimum wage of $15 over the next few years. This makes the question of how to optimize the minimum wage a high priority for business owners. Labor costs make up a significant portion of a business’ expenses and, depending on…
The end of the year is approaching and now is the time to take action to lower your tax bill. Here are four moves you can make now so you can have a smile on your face when you do your 2015 tax return next year. 1) Reap What the Market Sowed Selling stocks or…
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to consider making holiday charitable gifts – which might come in handy during tax season. In addition to the usual year-end strategies, you might look a bit outside the gift box for donation ideas. For example, approximately $16 billion dollars’ worth of credit…
Many small business owners are unable to offer their employees retirement savings plans because they are overwhelmed with concerns regarding current regulatory issues and fiduciary responsibilities. This situation has become more critical in the past decade. The Federal Reserve issued a report last year showing that less than half of all private sector employees are…
