Advisor Insights
This month, our monthly Advisor Insights column in Smart Business Cleveland Magazine takes a look at lessons learned from the restaurant industry.
The restaurant industry is still feeling the sting of the recession, and the general consensus is that consumers are very pessimistic about 2010.Therefore, restaurants have had to adapt to survive as their longtime patrons trim their dining-out budgets.
What can other industries learn from the restaurant industries struggles? Click here to read the full article, "Lessons Learned from the Restaurant Industry."
HIRE Act Provides Employers with Tax Incentives to Hire Unemployed Workers
The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment, or HIRE, Act, was recently signed by President Obama after being approved by the Senate by a 68-29 bipartisan vote on Wednesday, March 17th. It is the first of a series of bills that the administration and Congress plan to introduce to reduce the unemployment rate.
Some key points are listed in our blog post here.
FRx Discontinued; Paves Way for Microsoft's New Business Intelligence Program
Microsoft currently offers three Corporate Performance Management (CPM) programs: FRx, Forecaster and Enterprise Reporting, which aid businesses in the areas of financial reporting, planning/budgeting/forecasting, and consolidation. Starting in May 2010, the capabilities of these CPM programs will gradually be combined into one program, Microsoft Dynamics Management Reporter, as part of an integration process that will take place over the next four years.
Click here to read more.
Skoda Minotti College Planning Seminars
In the coming months, we will be hosting free college planning seminars (great for current high school freshman, sophomores or juniors) on a monthly basis. We invite you to join us at one of the events listed below. All events will be hosted at our offices. Click the link to register.
- Analyze your ability to qualify for college funding and to what extent by computing your expected family contribution.
- Develop "college aid planning" concepts that may lower your out-of-pocket costs by increasing your eligibility for funding.
- Assume responsibility for the completion of the complicated FAFSA form annually. And at no additional cost, complete such other forms as may be required by individual colleges.
Click here for more information on Skoda Minotti College Planning Services.
Working at a Downsized Company
OK. You did it! After listening to the advice of your experts and looking at the balance in the checkbook, you downsized 25% of your personnel and cut management salaries by 10%. It wasn’t easy and, in fact, it was a terrible experience. You order a complete review of job descriptions and issue a hiring freeze. But how do you keep the employees operating at optimum efficiency with only 75% of the workforce?
Click here to read more.
Combining a Business Trip with a Vacation
With the warmer weather approaching, you may be looking to spend some time at the beach, on the golf course or just relaxing by the pool. If you can add a few days of vacation onto a business trip, so much the better. Besides saving money, you may qualify for some generous tax breaks.
Click here to read more.
New Case Allows Deduction for Business Education
No matter how old you are, you can still learn to do your job better. For example, you might take a refresher course to stay on top of the latest developments in your field. Or you may enroll in a curriculum that will start you toward a new career.
Click here to read more.
Six Estate-planning Steps for This Year
The scheduled one-year repeal of the federal estate tax in 2010, plus the related changes in the federal estate- and gift-tax system, have certainly clouded estate-planning matters this year. It is expected that Congress will eventually take some legislative action, but that does not mean you should stand by idly. It is important to have your estate plan reviewed to ensure it still meets your objectives and that it is positioned to accommodate future developments.
Here are six steps you may take to shore up your estate plan under the current conditions.
Aurum Capital Markets Summary
Please click here for a summary from Aurum Wealth Management Group on the performance of the major market indices through the end of February as well as a recap of the significant events influencing the markets.
Skoda Minotti Blood Drive
We are pleased to announce that we will once again be supporting the American Red Cross by hosting a blood drive for our employees on April 26th at our Mayfield Village office.
Last year, our employees donated 69 pints of blood through these blood drives and we are aiming to top that number in 2010.
If you have any questions about any of these articles, post a comment below or contact us at 440-449-6800. Or, if you would like to subscribe to this free, monthly e-newsletter, please send an email to information@skodaminotti.com.
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