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  • How To Use Qualified Charitable Distributions For Charitable Giving

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readEach year, millions of Americans make donations to charitable organizations and receive something in return – a tax break. However, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act curbed this tax advantage because it reduced the number of people eligible to claim a charitable deduction by raising the standard deduction. For 2020, the standard deduction is $12,400 for individuals and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly. If your list of deductions is not greater than those amounts, there is no tax benefit to itemizing – which means you might not be able to claim your charitable donation.... View Article

  • How Businesses Can Help Protect Themselves Against Civil Unrest

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readIf the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t a big enough strain on businesses trying to engage in commerce, whether it’s retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, or those in the service sector, civil unrest puts another strain on surviving the downturn. Based on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Small Business Administration, businesses can prepare for civil unrest. While the British firm Verisk Maplecroft predicts that 75 countries will see civil unrest in 2020, the United States has already seen its fair share recently. While the future intensity of civil unrest can’t be predicted, businesses can... View Article

  • In the Wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Congress Passes the Most Expensive Single Spending Bill in American History

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readPaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (HR 266) – This is a multilayered legislative bill divided into four distinct sections. Phase 1 authorized funding for coronavirus preparedness and response; specifically, for measures such as vaccine development and public health funding. Most of the money was allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 81 percent of funds were allocated domestically, with the other 19 percent allocated internationally. Phase 2 allocated $104 billion for three specific objectives: 1) Require private health insurance plans and Medicare to cover COVID-19 testing; 2) Expand unemployment insurance... View Article

  • How IT Spending Will Change When Business Resumes

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readMost states are starting to relax stay-at-home restrictions. As such, businesses are developing plans for bringing employees back to work. Many businesses are already affected by the pandemic and their future looks grim. Specifically, we are going to look at the IT sector and examine what spending might look like in a post-lockdown economy. Disruption The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented disruption in businesses. As a result, management has tried to reduce costs to survive or risk shutting down. IT departments have suffered the most with major budget cuts due to a reduction in... View Article

  • Understanding the Federal Government’s Proposal for Opening Up Again

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readAfter seeing a peak and then a sustained decline in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths resulting from COVID-19, the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rolled out a three-tier approach to get the nation back to its pre-coronavirus economic activities. While this program is led by the Federal Government, it is ultimately up to governors how they will reopen states and localities. However, there are some universal criteria that states must follow to gradually reopen the economy. Before transitioning from the stay-at-home orders to the three phases, certain criteria must be... View Article

  • IRS Questions and Answers on COVID-19 IRA and 401(k) Loans & Distributions

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThe CARES Act stimulus package substantially relaxed the rules around certain retirement account loan and distribution requirements, but with much confusion. As a result, the IRS recently put out a FAQ document to address the COVID-19 rule relaxation around IRA and 401(k) loans and distributions. This important information should come as welcome news for the nearly one percent of all retirement plan holders who have already taken a distribution under the new rules, according to Fidelity Investments. Who’s eligible? If you, a spouse or dependent tested positive for COVID-19, you automatically qualify. You also may qualify... View Article

  • How to Stay Productive When Working from Home

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readDue to the unprecedented effects of COVID-19, the line between our professional and personal lives has blurred. Trying to take care of job responsibilities from home requires new ways of navigating. Here are a few ideas to help you become more productive while working at home – and stay grounded in these uncertain times. Dress for Work As tempting as it might be to stay in your pajamas, don’t. Act as if you’re going into the office: shower put on your work clothes and head to your desk. You’ll feel more focused and professional. According to... View Article

  • Why Sequence of Returns Risk Matters Now

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThat year or two when you are closing in on your retirement date, followed by a year or two after you retire, are the worst times for a sustained market decline. Market analysts call this scenario the sequence of returns (SOR) risk – because once your principal has been significantly reduced, there’s not enough time in the market left for you to recover those losses. Two things will likely happen. First, the amount of retirement income you can withdraw each year is irrevocably reduced. For example, if you were planning to withdraw 4 percent a year... View Article

  • Payroll Protection Program Loan Forgiveness is Here

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 2 min read The first Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans were made over eight weeks ago, which means they may be forgivable if the guidelines set forth by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the United States Treasury Department are met. In order to have a loan forgiven, borrowers need to complete the 11-page application made available by the Treasury Department. Applicants can complete the forms either in hard copy or via an online platform if provided by their lender. Large borrowers, or those who took out more than $2 million from the PPP program, are required to... View Article

  • COVID-19 Recovery Responses are Crucial for Companies to Thrive in the Future

    Posted Date May 5, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readWith the coronavirus spreading across the globe, catching individuals and governments off guard, business owners have not fared any better. While the virus is having a grave impact on the health of millions across the globe, businesses have seen an equally serious impact on their bottom line. The virus is projected to hit businesses’ cash-flow and the ability to stay open post-pandemic.   While different parts of the country have been hit harder than others, the nation’s businesses, their owners, and employees are all dependent on the national and global economy. Looking to those who have... View Article

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