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KPIs: What are they, and which ones count?
Management needs timely, accurate feedback to guide operating decisions, anticipate problems and take advantage of emerging opportunities. Unfortunately, comprehensive financial statements take a long time to generate. Reporting key performance indicators (KPIs) on a monthly or weekly basis is a simplified alternative to gauge performance in real time. Popular financial metrics KPIs measure an organization’s…
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Reporting and managing inventory
Ineffective inventory management and reporting can result in bloated working capital and impaired business profits. In industries that rely on overseas suppliers, best practices for managing inventory may have recently changed. In today’s uncertain marketplace, it’s clearly a good idea to review your current approach and make adjustments as needed. What’s the right reporting method?…
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How to forecast smarter
Forecasting key business metrics — such as sales demand, receivables, payables and working capital — can help you reduce excess inventory and other overhead, offer competitive prices, and keep your business on solid financial footing. Although historical financial statements are often the starting point for forecasts, you’ll need to do more than just multiply last…
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Don’t forget to factor 2022 cost-of-living adjustments into your year-end tax planning
The IRS recently issued its 2022 cost-of-living adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions. With inflation up significantly this year, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many amounts increased considerably over 2021 amounts. As you implement 2021 year-end tax planning strategies, be sure to take these 2022 adjustments into account. Also, keep in mind that,…
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U.S. House passes the Build Back Better Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a crucial part of President Biden’s agenda by a vote of 220-213 on November 19. The Build Back Better Act (BBBA) includes numerous provisions related to areas ranging from health care, climate change and immigration to education, social programs and, of course, taxes. Impact on the deficit The House vote…
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Looking for a 2022 safety net for your business? Act on EIDL funding before year end
As the new year approaches, the future of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) — and the strength of the economic recovery — remains uncertain. One thing that’s not uncertain when it comes to your business is the impending deadline to apply for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funding, some of which needn’t be…
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Is your estate plan up to date following a divorce?
If you’ve recently divorced, your time likely has been consumed with attorney meetings and negotiations, even if everything was amicable. Probably the last thing you want to do is review your estate plan. But you owe it to yourself and your children to make the necessary updates to reflect your current situation. Keep assets in…
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A blended family requires smart estate planning
If you’re married and have children from a previous marriage plus children or stepchildren from your current marriage, your family is considered a blended family. And because you’ll likely wish to pass your wealth on to all of your biological children but also provide for your spouse and perhaps any stepchildren, estate planning can get…
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Have you named contingent beneficiaries?
Although your will or revocable trust governs the distribution of many or most of your assets, certain assets — such as retirement plans, insurance policies, and bank or brokerage accounts — require you to name a beneficiary (or beneficiaries). This can be an advantage, because when you die, the funds can pass directly to your…
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Could an FLP fit into your succession plan?
Among the biggest long-term concerns of many business owners is succession planning — how to smoothly and safely transfer ownership and control of the company to the next generation. From a tax perspective, the optimal time to start this process is long before the owner is ready to give up control. A family limited partnership…
