Category Archives: Business Reports

By Rob Shauger

When it comes to hard drive destruction there are a lot of questions and misinformation out there. This misinformation leaves a lot of personal data vulnerable.

In fact, a recent data recovery study showed that even after attempts to wipe drives, data could still be recovered. The study purchased 200 used hard drives on eBay and Craigslist and found that 67 percent of those drives still held personally identifiable information. Even more frightening, 11 percent of those drives contained sensitive corporate data such as company emails, sales projection spreadsheets, product inventories, and CRM records. 

In order to protect yourself and your business, you need to have the right information. For this reason, we have decided to debunk four of the most popular hard drive destruction myths:

Myth 1: You can destroy a hard drive by putting it in water.

By Brian M. Johnson

Our country is going through a dramatic demographic shift. Baby boomers are now turning 65 at a rate of 10,000 per day. With this comes planning considerations we must address to protect those we love and the assets we’ve worked for. With proper planning, generational wealth can be created and preserved; however, most people fail to address risks.

One risk that will impact nearly all of us, and potentially decimate the savings of millions of Americans is the need for extended health care or long-term care. We hesitate to use the words “long-term care,” as most associate those with nursing homes. The stark reality is that 80 percent of care is received either at home or in the community, and it’s often provided by family members or other informal caregivers. This raises a few questions:

• Do I want to burden loved ones with my care or would I prefer they supervise the care?

• Do I want to stay home as long as possible?

• Do I want to protect my assets for my children, grandchildren or other philanthropic causes?

• How long can I afford to pay for care out of pocket and how would those costs impact my priorities?

By Michael Billok

You just started your own small business. Congratulations. Maybe it’s a delivery service, a retail store or a carwash. Regardless of what it is, you’ve learned the hard way how difficult it is to be an employer.

You’ve arranged for workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, payroll tax withholding, work authorization verification, and a host of other regulatory requirements. Well, get ready for one more: scheduling requirements for employees that, if not met, will significantly impact your payroll.

Currently, there is only one “call-in” pay requirement: non-exempt employees who are called in to work for something that isn’t quite their regular shift are currently entitled to call-in pay equal to: (1) the lesser of four hours of pay at the minimum wage or (2) pay for the number of hours in the regularly-scheduled shift at the minimum wage, whichever is greater.

By John Conroe

Do you wait for May to take down your holiday decorations? Coast up to the gas pumps with your tank on empty? Put off grocery shopping until the only food in the fridge is leftover meatloaf? Then chances are you’re a procrastinator.

When it comes to managing your finances, procrastination can put you at risk financially and keep you from reaching your goals. If your financial checklist seems overwhelming, remember that you don’t have to do everything at once. Performing tasks throughout the year can make managing your finances easier.

The Winter Months.

Reviewing and updating your spending plan in January can get the year off to a good start. Track last year’s income and expenses and adjust your plan accordingly. Determining your net worth—your assets minus your liabilities—at the same time each year provides a snapshot of your finances.

By Jane Marie Schaeffer, Esq.

As you approach retirement, you will be faced with choices about your IRA plans, and you will have many questions, such as how much will you be required to withdraw every year, and how will your distributions be taxed. This article will address some of those questions, and give you the information you need to make smart choices about your retirement plan.

1. When do I need to take withdrawals from my IRA?

You need to start taking distributions from your IRA the year that you turn age 70½. The distributions that you are required to take are called Required Minimum Distributions, or RMD. The distributions must be taken by April 1 of the year following the year in which you turn age 70½. So, for example, if you turn 70 on June 1, then you will turn 70½ on Dec. 1. You will need to take a RMD for 2018, but you have until April 1, 2019, to take the distribution. After the first year, distributions from your IRA must be taken by Dec. 31 each year.