The triumphs and trials of Black History Month

Black History Month's annual African American history and culture celebration take place each February. This month is a source of inspiration as it celebrates our unique history and accomplishments from the past. The importance of Black History Month in today's time is significant, as it is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the past and bring awareness to the present circumstances of Blacks in the U.S.... Read More

Grow your business: With the right sales people

Best selling author Harvey Mackay asked a successful salesperson friend of his how many calls he made on a prospective customer before he gave up. His friend told him, “It depends on which of us dies first.” While selling is truly an art, there are some guidelines that can help you and your company improve the top line.... Read More

Care coordination and cost-containment measures under attack for employers

During an interim study committee last fall, legislators convened to hear stakeholder testimony regarding prior authorization in Indiana. Requiring prior authorization from a patient’s health payer before receiving some medical treatments or procedures ensures that patients receive the care they need and protects against duplicative care and unnecessary procedures. It is not without controversy. ... Read More

Here’s your early 2023 checklist

It may be the start of a new year, but we’re not going to discuss resolutions. Too many bad connotations for great intentions and disappointing results. Or is that just me? Instead, let’s talk about a few financial items to think about as the year commences. Is that similar to resolutions? Yes, but it’s all about branding.... Read More

Trust your gut, but verify

A famous man quoted the Russian proverb, “Doveryai no Proveryai.” Translated it means trust but verify. Experience has taught me that’s a sound piece of advice for business leaders, too.... Read More

The changing landscape for noncompete agreements

Noncompete agreements, which are agreements that prohibit an employee from working for a competitor or in the same industry for a specific period of time after the employment relationship ends, have historically been limited to a small group of key employees.... Read More

Are you making these common tax mistakes?

As a Wealth Advisor, I've reviewed hundreds of client tax returns over the years. Unfortunately, even as tax prep software evolves, several common mistakes prevail and every year I catch a few. So how can you avoid these common (and costly) errors?... Read More

An Rx for rising healthcare costs

Inflation has hit all Hoosiers hard, and consumers are bracing themselves for rising costs across all industries. Unfortunately, the healthcare industry is no different. Nationwide, employers expect significantly higher healthcare costs and outsized premium increases in 2023.... Read More

The pay transparency journey

Recent pay transparency regulations across the United States highlight the value and impact of creating pay scales that define the hourly or annual salary range an employer reasonably expects to offer to pay for a position. Together, various ranges are typically organized to create a formal pay structure that includes grades and integrated ranges of pay that include minimums, midpoints and maximums. ... Read More

How twisted are your statistics?

Mark Twain’s take on prevarication remains as accurate today as when he penned it: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” We live in an age in which we’re overwhelmed by information, and a large share of what we consume is in the form of statistics. ... Read More

529 plan: Owner & beneficiary strategies

Recently we have seen notable changes involving 529 Plans. Those changes relate to naming or changing the account owner and the beneficiary. But now, a 529 plan can help fund Roth IRAs! This means it is more important than ever to understand the impact of titling a 529 Plan. ... Read More

Three New Year’s tech resolutions for small businesses

Business trends continue to evolve quickly, especially since COVID-19. In-office and home office needs are now the same in terms of bandwidth, functionality and security. Cyberattacks are on the rise with small businesses becoming just as much a target as large corporations.... Read More

Business donations not low-hanging fruit

Not-for-profits will typically target businesses first when trying to raise funds for an event or project. That may be advantageous if seeking a major sponsorship. However, I tell groups business donations are not the donations on which they need to depend or be seeking on a long-term basis. ... Read More

Secure 2.0 Act: What does it mean for you?

In late December of 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. One part of the bill is the SECURE 2.0 Act, which expands on the original SECURE Act of 2019 by enhancing many features related to investors. ... Read More