There’s no reason that odd couple has to stay together. Benjamin Franklin reminded us that nothing is certain except death and taxes, and history proves him right. However, there is no rational reason the two should be linked and in fact much progress has been made in taking the tax sting out of death. Dead […]
The Fed is expected to make a move soon; what will the impact be? by Phil Britt The Federal Reserve is expected by many economic experts to hike interest rates as soon as September and perhaps again in December. The Fed took a pass on increasing the Federal funds rate at its June meeting, with
Rising Interest Rates Read More »
NLRB’s decision related to email systems may trouble employers. by Jerry Lutkus Many employers have email policies that prohibit employees from using the company’s email for non-work purposes. If you have a no-tolerance policy, a recent decision of the National Labor Relations Board should cause you to take another look at it. The new decision
Black and Blue Over Purple Read More »
Tell liability insurance company of claims or suits ASAP. by David L. Simmons, J.D. The Indiana Court of Appeals recently underscored the importance of giving prompt notice of an insurance claim in the case of Travelers Cas. and Sur. Co. v. Maplehurst Farms, Inc., 18 N.E.3d 311 (Ind. App., 2014). This case involved losses incurred
Give Prompt Notice of Claims Read More »
Mobile payment technologies nearly ready for prime time. by Phil Britt Consumers enter 2015 with a new payment option at some retailers–a mobile wallet that enables users to pay with their phone rather than swiping a credit or debit card, writing a check or using cash–but this alternate payment method is still in its very
Protecting your business from cybercrime and scams. by Shari Held Target. Home Depot. UPS. JP Morgan Chase. They’ve all made the headlines lately–and not in a good way. They’ve been hacked! And confidential information was compromised. “The threat is very real, and pretty much a weekly occurrence,” says Tanya Buerger, senior vice president and chief
Base your decision on job-related factors, and ask questions carefully. For employers, hiring quality employees has always been of critical importance. Various laws require employers to be more focused in this effort. For example, it was not that long ago that employers asked any questions they wanted: how old are you, do you have any
Hiring Dos and Don’ts Read More »
Card issuers pushing new system to fight credit card fraud. by Phil Britt Payment card issuers will be forcing merchants to take a more proactive stance against payment fraud by requiring that point of sale (POS) systems be able to meet so-called EMV standards, including the ability to accept chip-based cards, by Oct. 1, 2015.
Chipping In for Security Read More »
With loans and advice, Accion Chicago helps borrowers succeed. by Shari Held This year Accion Chicago, a non-profit microlender affiliated with Accion International, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. And the thousands of underserved, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners the lender has helped over the years are celebrating right along with Accion. That includes clients
An Alternative to “No” Read More »
Businesses must keep an eye on the courts and be ready to adapt to new marriage laws. by Nancy Townsend Indiana’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited same-sex marriage and refused to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, was ruled unconstitutional on June 25. Chief Judge Richard L. Young entered a final judgment in
Changing Definitions Read More »
