By David Kopyc
The days of working for a company for 30 to 40 years and leaving with retirement security for life are over with. For most of us the future of retirement will not be the same as the one our parents had and personal responsibility is your path to retirement security.
The Pepsi Company originated the gold watch back in the 1940s. The concept “you gave us your time, now we are giving you ours,” made sense when people worked with a company for several decades.
Business Report: Is Your Diet Decreasing Productivity?
By Maria Savino
Do you ever feel tired, sluggish, unproductive, and like you are struggling to get through your day? I’m sure all of us have experience this at one time or another, but the reason for it may not be what you think.
Your lack of motivation or energy is not always due to lack of sleep or your mindset. Often, low energy and decreased productivity are the results of a poor diet.
Food is fuel and the different nutrients that you receive from food are essential for your body to perform certain tasks.
For example, carbohydrates are needed for energy, protein is needed for growth, development, and tissue repair, and fats are essential for cushioning our organs and insulating the body.
When your body lacks a certain nutrient it will let you know, often through unpleasant physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, or irritability.
Business Report: Now Hear This!
By michael cruz
Sam Walton (Walmart founder) famously said “If you don’t listen to your customers, someone else will.” Too often we speak with customers without the intent to hear. We want to ‘tell’. The best sales people ask questions and then shut up. It is not by accident that listen and silent have the same letters.
Often business owners ask me what I think of an idea for a new product. My advice is always the same. ASK your customers. They can validate your idea. Or not. We don’t often ask questions that we do not want to hear the answer to. Or more accurately, hear what we consider to be the wrong answer. Listening is the core or learning. We never learn when we are talking.
Business Report: Sustainable Energy Saving Options
By Lee Evans
Running a household or a small business can be expensive. However, many people don’t consider the choice and control they have over their energy expenses.
Now the emerging green economy combined with high connectivity has given birth to a bold new era of energy saving options for everyone. What follows is a list of essential, straightforward items that both homeowners and businesses can check off to trigger the type of cost reduction they’ve always wanted in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
In general, the three main steps you can use to unlock the maximum amount of energy savings for your home or small business: Reduce, electrify and replace.
Reduce. This means that you should first take steps to audit and then lower your energy consumption by completing individualized identified Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). For example, switch to automated thermostats, LED lighting and controls, increase air sealing and insulation, reduce electricity or fuel use especially for heating and cooling requirements. A review of third-party fuel supply options for potential cost reduction is available at merited.www9.nationalgridus.com
Business Report: Homebuyers Should Get Chimney Inspection
By Jamie Wallace
People considering buying a home should not neglect getting a chimney inspection.
Here are five reasons why.
1) Chimneys are one of the most neglected structures in a home
Did you know that very few chimneys that vent a furnace or fireplace have ever been professionally inspected? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) is the national standard for chimneys and vents and states that a chimney shall be inspected annually. A chimney is always under attack by corrosive flue gasses which wreak havoc on its flue liner.
The average gas furnace is pushing out about one gallon of water vapor through your chimney every hour during freezing temperatures. A chimney also rises above the roof line, making it the most exposed part of a structure to the elements. Yet, it is estimated that less than 10 percent of all chimneys have been professionally inspected. That’s a staggering number of potential carbon monoxide and fire hazards virtually unseen to the homeowner.
Don’t inherit someone else’s damaged chimney. This is preventable through a Level 2 chimney inspection by a certified chimney company.
Business Report: Don’t Make Estate Plan A Family Secret
By Deborah Verni
Only about 40 percent of adults in America have a will, which may not be entirely surprising. No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time thinking about what might happen once they’re gone.
Many people are uncomfortable discussing how they will distribute their estate with their children. Perhaps you don’t want your children to realize how much they may receive after your death. Or you may think your choice of heirs could change in the future.
However, if you don’t discuss your estate plan, disagreements and conflicts could erupt once the details of inheritances are revealed. For instance, siblings may resent each other if distributions are not equal. Children may resent a spouse from a second marriage if they feel that spouse is using up their inheritance.
At that time, you won’t be able to explain your thoughts and wishes regarding the distribution of your estate.
Discussing your estate plans will give you an opportunity to inform your children about the distribution of your estate and why you decided to do it in that manner. You can go into specific detail, informing children how each asset will be distributed, or you can give a general overview of your estate plan.
If you have selected one child as executor or trustee, explain why you chose that individual. As an alternative, you can leave a personal letter with your estate planning documents explaining these items.
Business Report: Plans For A Successful Retirement
By James E. Amell, CPA
Though not certain like death and taxes, most individuals strive for an enjoyable, comfortable retirement that lasts a number of years.
To accomplish this goal when life expectancy at age 65 may exceed 20 years requires thoughtful consideration and planning years in advance. I recently hosted a webinar, “Planning for Retirement/Social Security Update,” where I reviewed how to budget your retirement spending, including income taxes, and determine your income and asset needs.
I also explained in detail how Social Security works so you can better understand how to plan for this important source of retirement income.
There are several steps to undertake to ensure the retirement lifestyle you desire, the earlier you start the better, but certainly no later than five years prior to planned retirement.
First, consider your retirement “vision.” Do you have hobbies and interests that you will pursue and fill your time? Do you want to travel? Relocate? Go south for the winter? Do you have social activities, volunteer and community involvement? And last, but not least, how is your health and your family health history?
Your retirement vision can significantly influence your annual expenditures.
Business Report: Changes To NYS SEQRA Regulations
By Sarah Lewis Belcher, Esq.
Anyone who has undertaken a project in New York State since 1978 has at least some familiarity with the state Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). All state and local governments must comply with SEQRA by considering the environmental impacts of projects before they are approved.
So, if your project must be approved by a governmental entity, the SEQRA process must be completed.
The regulations implementing SEQRA were recently revised by amendments that took effect Jan. 1. These were the first amendments since 1996 and will change the landscape of SEQRA review in some significant ways that projects applicants should understand.
The SEQRA process differs depending on how a project is classified. A Type I project requires a Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF) and if, based on that form, the project is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared. Type II projects are not subject to the SEQRA process, so the time to obtain governmental approvals can be substantially reduced.
Business Report: 3 Imperatives of Strong Leadership
All leaders wonder how they can get more from their people. The basics are not hard. The execution is.
First, leaders need to have a vision for their business. They need to have a plan for where they are going. How they will serve their customers. They need to help everyone know first thing first. In short, they need to help set priorities. People who work in companies need to know what to do – when you are not watching!
In order to achieve your priorities, you need the right people. You need strong players. Which means you need to hire well. That means that you have to hire for the right traits. Traits include soft skills like the ability to make good decisions and perform that extra service. Sell the customer the right products. And, help your customers be happy. Break down what you think success is and train and coach people to get there. You need to remove bad employees. Toxic ones. The ones who bring the rest of your team down. You probably believe you cannot afford to lose anyone. But getting rid of toxic people saves everyone else!
Business Report: Office Space Design Tips
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Dorothy Rogers-Bullis
Your business’s physical space says a lot about you, speaking volumes about your company culture and priorities. If you strive to attract and retain top talent within your organization, you must ensure your workplace is designed to meet those employees’ needs—offering an attractive, ergonomic, efficient space that is tailored to each person’s job function and personal work style.
If you are interested in updating your workspace, but you don’t know where to begin, here are a few of the top new trends we are seeing in the office design industry.
Standing to work
With more research coming out about the health issues associated with prolonged sitting—from neck and back problems to higher rates of obesity—the sit-to-stand desk is a top trend in the workplace. These adjustable-height work surfaces offer the flexibility to perform work in either a sitting or standing position, improving ergonomics.