It’s tax time, and you’re probably reviewing last year’s performance and thinking how to improve financials in an uncertain climate. Will there be a recession or a “soft landing?” Will consumer spending increase, or will people tighten their belts? Will food prices continue to increase or level?... Read More
Making the decision to scale to a new technology can be terrifying for companies. Their leaders recognize the longer-term advantages the new technology offers, but transitions are rarely as smooth or problem-free as they hope -- and each hard-earned bruise lessens their appetite for what’s available next.... Read More
One of the biggest and most frequent mistakes I have observed is when companies are quick to hire and slow to fire.... Read More
It is estimated that roughly 15% of households in the city of Indianapolis do not have a broadband internet subscription. The obstacle isn’t internet access—a common misconception. ... Read More
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are an excellent vehicle for saving. Contributions are tax-deductible, investment income and appreciation in the account are tax-free, and distributions for qualifying expenses are excluded from taxation (aka, “triple tax benefit”). ... Read More
As Hoosier companies adapt their growth aspirations to the current workforce, it’s paramount they maintain their values and company culture. Larger companies can learn from family-owned cultures, especially when it comes to the treatment of customers and employees.... Read More
“People in Indiana may want Netflix, but do they need it?” That question was offered during a 2018 discussion on the expansion of broadband across Indiana. While I wholeheartedly disagreed with the statement at the time, it wasn't surprising. But can you imagine making that comment today?... Read More
If you’re about to shoot a video and want the comments from company officials, customers, and other stakeholders to sound completely natural, make sure you script them before they say a word.... Read More
In the State of the Union on Feb. 7, President Biden stated that the country is moving into the next phase of the pandemic as the national and public health emergencies expire on May 11. We are emerging on the other side of COVID-19’s initial grip.... Read More
Last weekend, the FDIC put the failing Silicon Valley Bank (and, lesser known, Signature Bank) into receivership. This marked the largest commercial bank failure since the 2008 Great Recession and the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history.... Read More
The Great Resignation, described in the Harvard Business Review as “an unprecedented mass exit from the workforce,” saw 47 million Americans leave their jobs in search of greener pastures. We heard about the ensuing imbalance and how labor shortages rattled almost every sector of our economy.... Read More
Artificial intelligence is just that, "artificial." And this two-word term is increasingly leaning towards oxymoron. Now there's "generative artificial intelligence," or gAI, which is booming amid the tech investment gloom and is simultaneously scaring the hell out of people. ... Read More
Fixing health care costs in Indiana should be top of mind for all Hoosiers. The Wall Street Journal spotlighted this critical issue, citing a Rand Corporation study that ranked Indiana as the fifth highest in hospital costs in the U.S. in contrast with Hoosier physician reimbursement as the fourth lowest. ... Read More
Deciding how and when to exit one’s company is a challenge that faces all owners. The stakes are generally high, as most owners have a substantial portion of their family wealth invested in their business. This necessitates proper preparation and advanced planning to ensure that they can eventual transition out of their business, on their own terms and timeframe. ... Read More
Death and taxes are two of life's unavoidable certainties! Though often viewed through separate lenses, in the financial world, the two are often intertwined. When an individual passes away, their estate could be faced with the prospects of estate taxes, which can be as high as 40%! ... Read More
It appears to truly be a great idea with a company culture fit. The market looks ready. It’s been bought internally to unanimous acclaim. But after an initial positive reception and an enthusiastic start to scaling up, the idea sputters and suffers a fatal voltage drop. How can this be avoided?... Read More
Business owners and leaders typically put in more than their fair share of hours to guide their companies to success. They’re also focused on making the most of the rewards they receive for that hard work. This time of year, many take time to study and adjust their personal investment portfolios.... Read More
Who do you think of as a leader? Often in our society, business executives, government officials, and coaches are called leaders. And they can be. In Central Indiana, there are great examples of leaders in all of those spaces. But visibility, status, and title alone are not what makes someone a leader. ... Read More
It’s not unusual for business owners to have healthy egos. It takes a great deal of confidence to launch and guide a business through the ups and downs. Unfortunately, egos can inflate into so much self-confidence it impedes success.... Read More
Recently, I heard from two friends about how an online fraud scheme duped them. One involved a grandmother thinking that she was helping a grandchild in trouble. The second involved providing account information over the phone to someone that falsely claimed to be working for PayPal.... Read More
