If your business is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you may be required to give all of your salaried employees who perform executive, administrative or professional (EAP) duties a raise. As of December 1, 2016, the new minimum wage for full-time salaried workers is $913 per week. Previously, the minimum wage was…
In our last newsletter, we shared the first part of our article on how to discuss estate planning with aging (or sick) loved ones. If you didn’t read it yet, go ahead and read Part 1. Discuss Estate Planning with The Right Questions The holidays can be the best time for you to be ready…
Many businesses maintain an industry advantage through control and utilization of trade secrets. Be it a formula, a design, or a process, trade secrets can provide advantages over the competition. Not surprisingly, trade secret misappropriation is a serious concern for many businesses. Until recently, it’s been state law at the forefront of regulating and protecting…
Someone you love is aging. Or maybe, facing a potentially terminal illness. And you know it’s time for them to think about end of life planning because the end of their life will impact you. So how do you broach this delicate topic when it feels so uncomfortable to acknowledge? The first step is to…
Opening a small business brings excitement as well as uncertainty. As a small business owner you face many risks, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself against them. Obtaining insurance coverage is one big way you can protect your small business and help minimize many of the risks you face. The kinds…
Bhutan is an independent state in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south. Nestled in the Himalayas, Bhutan is the last remaining Buddhist state in the world. But one of the most unique aspects of Bhutanese government is the country’s use of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index to…
If your business is on Facebook, you may wonder what happens to your business Facebook page when you die. To ensure someone you choose can take it over, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got your legacy contact set up for your personal page and another administrator set up for your business Facebook page. Legacy…
Do you want to compete globally? Do you want to compete globally? Then check out these tips to help you successfully expand your business internationally in 2018. Be Current on International Borders What if a foreign business listed Hawaii and Alaska as separate countries on its website? Think the U.S. government would be upset? The…
Even if you do not have an estate plan that you’ve created, the State has one for you. And it’s likely one you won’t like. It may be time for you to review the plan the State has for you and make more informed, empowered choices for your family. If you have created an estate…
It can be very difficult for you, as an employer to manage a 401(k) retirement plan for your employees properly. Federal law is replete with mandates, including when employee funds must be remitted and statements made available to employees. One area you may not have considered is how to handle a married employee’s 401(k). Federal…
In anticipation of the election and in response to public demand, Hillary and Bill Clinton have released their 2015 federal tax return. Tax returns have been a hot topic this year, as candidate Donald Trump continues to refuse to release his tax returns. What can you learn from reviewing the Clinton’s tax returns about how…
One day, you will be an elderly person, you hope. Maybe you are already there. Or, your parents are. And, unfortunately, as more of us age, there is more and more cases of elder abuse, and in order to stop it, we must first spot it and understand the totality of the problem. Physical abuse…
Some businesses rely on their ability to create and sell or otherwise leverage their original works. Obtaining a copyright for those works is not just important, it can actually make or break the business by allowing the owner to pursue copyright violations aggressively. Getting a copyright is not difficult. It just takes a little time…
Have you ever wondered which types of contracts must be in writing to make sure you get the benefit of your bargain? All of the U.S. states have some form of what is known as the “Statute of Frauds.” Under this law, or laws, some contracts must be in writing to be enforceable. The Statute…
In June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its operational rules for the commercial use of drones, also known as unmanned aircraft (UAS). These rules provide clarity for businesses who may be contemplating the use of drones for commercial purposes. Perhaps the most well-publicized intended use for drones came from Amazon, the online retail giant….
The quality of the education a child receives through public or private school systems can vary greatly. The end product is a function of many variables, including teachers, administrators, parents, and of course, the children themselves. In a school setting, the teacher-to-student ratio can have an enormous impact on how well any given child progresses…
This is an awful week. But I can’t say I didn’t see it coming… How do I officially begin saying good-bye to a man who put me to bed every night for years? Granted, he didn’t know my name, but we all knew Vin Scully and we knew with each Dodger game, Vin would basically invite us…
Just as it is difficult for many of us to talk about our ultimate death, it is also difficult for doctors to talk about this eventuality with their patients. Most doctors did not specialize in palliative or end-of-life care, yet they are often called upon to have these tough discussions with patients. You can make…
Many employers ask what they can do to avoid lawsuits. One of the best ways businesses can be more proactive in avoiding legal disputes and their attendant costs is to implement arbitration clauses as part of their employment contracts.Arbitration has traditionally been viewed as less expensive than litigation. While that’s not necessarily true in every…
Electronic technology has brought about tremendous benefits for today’s society. We can access goods, services, and information, all at the touch of a button. The flip-side of that coin, however, is that this same technology has also spawned countless new opportunities for dishonesty and crime. It is unlikely that any person who has a telephone,…
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