Before embarking on your personal financial planning journey as a business owner, it is essential to gain a thorough understanding of your business itself. This article focuses on assessing the current state of your business, identifying key financial goals, and evaluating the risks and challenges specific to business owners. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of your business, you can lay the groundwork for effective personal financial planning.... Read More
Maternal health serves as a cornerstone of public health, reflecting not only the well-being of individual mothers and their babies, but the health and strength of Hoosier communities as a whole. According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute’s Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, Indiana has the third highest maternal mortality rate among all reporting states.... Read More
I attended Butler University’s commencement ceremony earlier this month. As the graduates walked to their seats with the orchestra playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” several questions floated through my mind. How were these new graduates making decisions about their future? What motivates them? What career paths were they pursuing? How had the pandemic impacted their view of the world? ... Read More
There’s more than the race to celebrate in central Indiana this month. May is also National Small Business Month, and small businesses drive Indiana’s economy. In 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reported that Indiana businesses with fewer than 500 employees accounted for 99.4% of all businesses in the state. With more than 530,000 small businesses employing over 1.2 million Hoosiers, supporting small businesses both as consumers and businesses is critical to our state’s economic health.... Read More
As state and local governments continue to modernize and integrate digital technology to help provide better services and connections with citizens, a strategy for adopting digital transformation, modernization and change management must also factor in creating an environment where the language you speak as a technology consultant means something to the public sector organizations you are serving. ... Read More
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises far more than just boosting efficiency - it unlocks growth opportunities for businesses brave enough to capitalize on their potential. While some leaders may be eyeing AI as a way to trim headcounts, forward-thinking leaders are taking a different path.... Read More
Naming beneficiaries is a simple, yet impactful, piece of your estate plan. Doing so will bypass whatever is written in your Last Will and Testament or Trust Document, as the asset will transfer directly to the named beneficiaries. ... Read More
The mental health crisis affecting youth in the United States has reached an unprecedented high. According to a 2021 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness that disrupted their usual activities—a staggering figure that has risen from 28% in 2011 and is expected to continue growing.... Read More
The company’s owners were stunned when their top salesperson left for a position at their rival. When they asked why this key employee was moving on, they learned it wasn’t about money or prestige. The future looked brighter there.... Read More
Whether you write only occasionally or craft words and sentences as part of your regular job, you’ve probably encountered something most people refer to as “writer’s block.” It’s a barrier to writing that’s usually just frustrating, but that if it becomes chronic can threaten your career.... Read More
This month marks ten years that I have been leading the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series. Like most anniversaries with nice round numbers, it has caused me to pause and reflect. There are so many incredible leaders doing critical work across Indiana, and I have been privileged to have a front row seat to witness the impact of many of them. If I had to sum up my observations from the past decade in a few words, it would be this: relationships matter.... Read More
While numerous types of risks are associated with an investment portfolio, most investors are focused on the risk of a large stock market decline and its impact. What can be done to hedge those risks?... Read More
With the first installment of property taxes due May 10, residential taxpayers are feeling the tremendous impact of the recent spike in housing values. Regardless of whether or not they have a mortgage or pay their taxes through a lender, property tax assessments have skyrocketed. ... Read More
As spring arrives, many embrace the warmer weather as an invitation to spend more time outdoors. For others, it’s an opportunity to do some deep cleaning around the house. If you’re among those who participate in spring cleaning, you might want to use this time to freshen up your finances, too.... Read More
Businesses have always been challenged to engage and retain their best employees. However, in the evolving job market, retention and culture building are more difficult than ever. Employee expectations are changing, gaps are broadening in the skills required to perform and deliver value to businesses, and more people are working remotely and are less connected to their work... Read More
In the United States, there are around 7.3 million students with disabilities, accounting for 15% of the K-12 public school population. Of these, 12% are children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—a figure that has risen from 1.5% in 2001 and is expected to continue growing.... Read More
The housing market remains a puzzle in 2024. While headlines focus on rising interest rates and a potential cooling-off period, there's a hidden force impacting the market: millions of homeowners are locked into incredibly low mortgage rates from the pre-2023 era. This creates a unique situation where many people hesitate to sell, impacting buyers and sellers.... Read More
In June 2022, the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, ending 50 years of federally protected access to abortions. One by one, states began to enforce abortion bans across the nation, severely limiting access to safe abortion care. Indiana Republicans were swift to act, stripping Hoosiers of their access to abortion that August.... Read More
Certainly, there are potholes to avoid on the road to higher-scoring grant applications. On the flip side, my experience as a reviewer has shown there are key components of a successful grant proposal narrative. A few proactive community foundations around the State see the benefits of helping organizations within their communities become stronger and more sustainable. In partnering with them on capacity-building workshops, I’ve shared the following “four captivators."... Read More
Taylor Swift is a recent example of achieving scalability. She made some very savvy, yet intentional, business decisions that took her to the top of the entertainment industry. Here is what she did and how she did it, in order to expand and grow her brand.... Read More
