Author Archives for Service2Client

• How Businesses Can Adapt, Grow During COVID-19

  Posted Date December 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  In order to survive – and even thrive – during these unprecedented times, small businesses have had to find new ways to make money. The UPS Store’s Small Biz Buzz survey found that 41 percent of small businesses in the United States took steps to modify their businesses in hopes of survival. Fifteen percent provided customers with curbside delivery options, 28 percent moved to online sales as their primary source of sales, and 65 percent made a concerted effort to grow their e-commerce capabilities. More than 50 percent of those polled by a U.S. Census Bureau Small Business Pulse Survey... View Article

• Last Minute Financial Moves for Year’s End

  Posted Date December 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  There are certain year-end financial transactions that must clear by Dec. 31 to be reported on the 2020 tax return. It’s important to take a good look at your financial portfolio in light of the plethora of unusual events that occurred this year. Now is a good time to see if you have fallen off track and reposition your portfolio for better opportunities in 2021. Investment Portfolio Despite the dramatic stock market drop that accompanied the outbreak of COVID-19 on our shores, markets have recovered remarkably well. This means the traditional strategy of harvesting gains and losses at year-end could... View Article

• Dial 9-8-8 for a Mental Health Crisis; Enforcement Against Violence in the Native American Community; and Enhanced Protections for Veterans and Wildlife

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 (S 2661) – Introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) on Oct. 22, 2019, this bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to designate 988 as the universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide access to competent, specialized services for high-risk populations such as LGBTQ youth; minorities; and people who live in rural areas. The Act was passed in the Senate in May, the House in September, and was signed into law on Oct. 17. Savanna’s Act (S... View Article

• A Realistic Picture: Will You Be Able to Afford In-Home Elder Care?

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  By the end of September, the nation had recorded over a quarter-million cases of COVID-19 and nearly 60,000 deaths in nursing homes that were attributed to the disease. The recent pandemic offers yet another reason why more than 90 percent of seniors say they want to grow old in their homes rather than move into a senior housing facility. But just how feasible is that goal, from a financial perspective? Much depends on how independently you can live for the rest of your life. That is something we cannot plan. Even elderly people with an excellent gene pool and no... View Article

• Exploring Brain Computer Interface: Tech That Connects to Your Brain

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  Imagine using your mind to control machines, or your employer reading how you feel in real-time from a dashboard? This is the future of BCI technology. Do we really need this technology? What are the potential benefits and possible implications of this emerging field? What is BCI? Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is also referred to as a Brain-Machine Interface or Neural Interface. Wikipedia defines BCI as a direct communication pathway between an enhanced or wired brain and an external device. The brain is said to process billions of bits of information per second and runs on electrical signals that could control... View Article

• Why Gratitude is Important During a Pandemic

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  We’re living in unprecedented, challenging times. If you’re feeling stressed and scared, you’re not alone. However, there is a way to navigate through all of this uncertainty: gratitude. Studies have shown that keeping in mind the things you’re grateful for on a regular basis not only helps you mentally but also physically, which is something we all need these days. Gratitude Improves Your Immune System According to Lisa Aspinwall, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Utah, there’s data to back this up. In one study, researchers compared the immune systems of healthy, first-year law students who were under... View Article

• How to Effectively On-board & Train Employees Virtually

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  With COVID-19 still requiring remote working, companies that effectively on-board new workers retain their workers longer, have better worker performance, and increase their profits by almost 100 percent, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, there are many considerations that companies should take during this important process. For remote orientations, a welcome package that discusses the company’s products or services can be emailed to attendees prior to the live introduction. It’s also imperative that essential employees for the new hires (training and supervisors, for example) and existing employees who they will be working with are on the virtual meeting... View Article

• Our Top 6 Year-End Tax Planning Tips

  Posted Date November 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  This has been a year of economic and tax uncertainty with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, potential stimulus bills, and the presidential election. As a result, tax planning may be more important than usual this year. To help guide you, we will cover six year-end tax planning strategies – three for individuals and three for businesses. Individual Year-End Tax Planning Tips and Strategies 1. Take advantage of above-the-line charitable deductions. Unlike previous years, where taxpayers needed to itemize their deductions in order to see any tax benefit from charitable deductions, everyone can benefit on their 2020 tax return. The... View Article

• Plan for Business Continuity if Second Wave of COVID Hits

  Posted Date October 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  With winter around the corner and the threat of seasonal viruses looming, a second wave of COVID-19 poses a real threat to our health and business operations, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that the 2019-2020 flu season took 24,000 lives and sickened 39 million individuals. Then when we add the fact that there are children who might not be receiving vaccinations – be it for the measles, whooping cough, and others – due to COVID-19, the risk for infections multiply. Based on these factors, there’s a real possibility of... View Article

• Affordable Lunches for Kids Learning at Home

  Posted Date October 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in Service2Client

  Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, many schools across America have transitioned to at-home learning. This alone presents a whole new set of challenges for parents, not the least of which is figuring out what to feed your kids for lunch – every single day of the week. While peanut butter and jelly is a reliable standby, here are some cheap, easy alternatives you can whip up in no time. English Muffin Pizza Grab some English muffins and top them with pizza sauce or marinara. Either one will work. (Hint: use the store brand because it’s comparable and usually costs... View Article