Updated: 05.01.22 by Keven Prather
Here’s an uncomfortable truth you need to accept: Someday – hopefully in the very distant future – you are going to die. The good news: You can make that moment easier on your heirs by taking a few simple steps.
Updated: 03.01.22 by Keven Prather
Americans—especially the affluent—are some of the most charitable people in the world. * Chances are, you use some of your wealth to support favorite causes or organizations that are important to you.
Updated: 03.01.22 by Keven Prather
Many extremely wealthy people have a much better handle than others on a key concept of success: the long game.
View How Playing the Long Game Could Help Build Wealth and Success
Updated: 02.01.22 by Keven Prather
View The Super Rich’s Three Big Fears – and How They Work to Overcome Them
Updated: 12.09.21 by Mike Coyne
If you are planning on serving alcohol at your business or office party, here are some planning ideas that can minimize your liability risk.
Updated: 12.09.21 by Keven Prather
For many small to midmarket business owners, few things are more important than main-taining control of the company, minimizing risks, and rewarding the employees who make the company successful. Ownership transfers to the company’s most valuable employees who can do all of these things properly, but there is a caveat.
View Maintaining Control, Minimizing Risk & Rewarding Your Best Employees
Updated: 10.01.21 by Keven Prather
Creating an effective incentive plan that fits the needs of your team is the best way to ensure your management team stays in place and continues to increase business value after your departure.
Updated: 09.01.21 by Jo McGuire
Updated: 05.01.21 by Eric Knaak
Updated: 12.01.20 by Keven Prather
Asset protection strategies can build a wall around your wealth to stop others from unjustly taking what’s yours.
Updated: 11.01.20 by Keven Prather
The vast majority of business owners don’t have any type of disability insurance in place to protect themselves.
Updated: 10.01.20 by Helen Walter-Terrinoni
Updated: 09.01.20 by Tom Kaldunski
Updated: 08.01.20 by Keven Prather
Life settlements can help life insurance policyholders liberate cash that is currently ties up.
Updated: 07.01.20 by Keven Prather
Updated: 05.01.20 by Stephen Yurek
View Manufacturers, Suppliers Team up for Refrigerant Transition
Updated: 02.01.20 by
View Discover why not all residential air cleaners are safe here.
Updated: 09.01.19 by Hannah Sullivan
Want to protect yourself and your employees — physically and financially? Here’s what you need to know before buying a worker’s compensation policy.
View What You Need to Know about Worker's Compensation Insurance
Updated: 05.01.19 by Todd Washam
Updated: 05.01.19 by Fact.MR
View Industry Study: Transition to Low GWP Refrigerants Underway
Updated: 05.01.19 by Danfoss
View Learn more about the state of refrigerants in the HVACR world.
Updated: 11.01.18 by Jeffrey S. Ettenger
Understanding the law is one element of protecting an employer from potential liability, but preparing an action plan to handle workplace harassment is a very critical step in avoiding problems and exposure.
Updated: 11.01.17 by Howard Weiss
Regardless of the administration’s stance on the environment, if they’re serious about protecting U.S. jobs and U.S. workers, they must appeal this decision.
Updated: 11.01.16 by Michael Weller & Whit Swift
Updated: 08.01.16 by Daniel J. Thrailkill
Updated: 02.01.16 by Joseph Dreesen & Catherine Cano
Updated: 06.01.15 by Matthew Stangle
Updated: 04.01.15 by Jo McGuire
Updated: 03.01.15 by Pete Grasso
Updated: 02.01.15 by Daniel J. Thrailkill
Updated: 01.01.15 by Christopher Boman
Updated: 04.01.14 by Beniam Biftu
Updated: 03.01.14 by Beniam Biftu
Updated: 02.01.14 by Beniam Biftu
View Trademark Infringement – The Identity Theft of Businesses
Updated: 11.01.13 by Greg Smith
View 9 Steps for Reducing Your Exposure to Employee Injury Fraud
Updated: 10.01.13 by Christopher Corpus
Updated: 08.01.13 by Caron Beesley
If you own, operate or are starting a business, you need general liability insurance. But what does that mean? What protection does it afford? How do you determine your coverage needs? How does it work?
Updated: 05.01.13 by Mike Coyne
Your responsibility extends to third-party contributors such as customers and friends.
View Spotting Legal Land Mines in Your Social Media Campaign
Updated: 01.01.13 by Mike Coyne
View 4 Ways To Avoid Discrimination Claims Related to Hiring
- Premium Content -
Updated: 07.01.12 by Mike Coyne
This theory of liability applies when employees are acting within the scope of employment or for the benefit of employer.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 05.01.12 by Mike Coyne
10 point checklist will tell you if your plan needs an adjustment according to the IRS's latest 401(k) Fix-It Guide
- Premium Content -
Updated: 04.01.12 by Mike Coyne
Two developments in the immigration law area are causing employers a great deal of concern: the increase in so-called "I-9 Audits” and the Social Security Administration's resumption of the "No-Match" Letter Program.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 03.01.12 by Mike Coyne
IRS reclassification of workers as employees can be an expensive proposition, as the employer can be held liable for back payroll taxes, penalties, and interest.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 02.01.12 by Mike Coyne
Dealing with a disabled partner is never an easy matter. Human nature is such that many of us would find it difficult to ask a disabled partner to step aside due to his or her disability. Yet, this is often the only solution.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.12 by Mike Coyne
Until recently, it has been fairly well understood that an employer can require pre-employment drug testing and refuse to hire someone who tests positively for illegal drugs. However, changes in the law with respect to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes have made it difficult for employers to know how far they can go to maintain a drug-free workplace.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.12 by Matthew Stangle
This exposure is excluded in standard general liability policies, but may be insured separately under a policy that covers “electronic-data incidents” resulting in damage to, loss of, loss of use of, cor- ruption of, inability to access, or inability to properly manipulate, electronic data.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 12.01.11 by Mike Coyne
That gobbledygook at the end of contracts matters greatly when disputes arise.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.11 by Mike Coyne
Family-owned businesses present unique and difficult problems that are generally not found in other closely-held businesses.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.11 by Mike Coyne
If you currently have a retirement plan that allows you to make large contributions, you may want to think about maximizing your contributions this year, as the opportunity may not be available in the future. It's also a good time to discuss personal contributions and 401(k) fee-disclosure rules with your plan investment adviser or broker.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.11 by Charlie McCrudden
- Premium Content -
Updated: 09.01.11 by Matthew Stangle
Typically, general liability includes three areas: bodily injury and property damage, personal and advertising injury, and medical expenses. Determine the amount of liability coverage you need by evaluating your potential risk, the state in which you operate (both its legal minimum and its history of awarding high damage amounts), and your personnel quality.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.01.11 by Mike Coyne
An advisory board might be a better option for business owners.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 07.01.11 by Mike Coyne
If you get a check and do not know why he received it, check with your retirement plan advisers first. Chances are the check belongs to your retirement plan.
View Be Weary of Retirement-Plan Checks That Show Up Unexpectedly
- Premium Content -
Updated: 06.01.11 by Mike Coyne
Regardless of the number of employees you have, you have to inform them of you policies. The best way to communicate these is through an employee manual. It will also provide your business important protection.
View Employee Handbooks Can Provide Important Legal Protection
- Premium Content -
Updated: 05.01.11 by Mike Coyne
How to navigate the murky waters of intellectual property rights. In this article, legal expert Mike Coyne differentiates between copyright and trademark and how they apply to your business name, slogan, fleet design and marketing materials.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 02.01.11 by Mike Coyne
Improvements to the estate tax law in 2011 offer business owners and familyowned businesses some interesting planning opportunities during the next two years.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 12.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Although social media has many benefits, be aware of the employer liability regarding employee’s participation on a social media sites.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 11.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Trusts can provide benefits even for incorporated businesses.
View Use Trusts For Continuity Planning and Avoiding Probate
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Find the best way to plan for your business to succeed whether or not you are present for the daily operations.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 09.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Congress considering changes to address 'worker misclassification' regarding independent contractors.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Changes coming this fall but recipients won't be taxes on benefits. Readers raise questions about the healthcare reform and we answer.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 07.01.10 by Mike Coyne
The problems facing small businesses due to healthcare reform are two-fold.
View How Health Reform Threatens Small Business Health Plans
- Premium Content -
Updated: 04.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Business owners should consider pitfalls and special circumstances before reviewing estate plans.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 03.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Consider more than just the rental rate when evaluating commercial property and negotiating leases.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 02.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Litigation is always the result of a failure of people to deal with each other reasonably.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.10 by Mike Coyne
Too often, customers do not appreciate that such demands for protection against damages cannot be accommodated without exceptional costs that translate into significantly higher prices for services.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 12.01.09 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 11.01.09 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.02.09 by Mike Coyne
Agreements among shareholders concerning corporate control must be carefully drafted and usually must comply with very specific state laws. This is one time when a competent lawyer's help is absolutely necessary.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.01.09 by Mike Coyne
Every contractor should be watching what is happening with healthcare costs. If you already provide employee health insurance, you are well aware of how rising insurance premiums affect your business.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 06.01.09 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 05.01.09 by Stephen A. DiTullio
With an understanding of when and how to use confidentiality agreements, you can prevent information on your business operations from landing in the hands of your competitors.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 04.01.09 by Frank W. Abagnale
Prevent check fraud by understanding how laser checks can be altered and put technology in place to prevent disaster
- Premium Content -
Updated: 04.01.09 by Mike Coyne
Watch your accounts payable and establish internal controls to protect your business from falling victim.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.09 by Mike Coyne
Mechanic’s liens can assist you in collecting from a non-paying customer; however, statutes exist in all 50 states, and the rules vary dramatically.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 12.01.08 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.08 by Mike Coyne
Permitting employees to "borrow" equipment is a bad idea.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 09.01.08 by Mike Coyne
Detailed records are the best defense against potential false-claims allegations.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.01.08 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 06.01.08 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 05.01.08 by Mike Coyne
Helping companies attract and retain good workers.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 03.01.08 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 02.01.08 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.08 by Mike Coyne
There are a myriad smart ways to reward key employees. Issuing company stock isn't one of them.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 12.01.07 by David Myer
Understanding property/casualty insurance coverages can help you stem serious loss potential for your business.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 11.01.07 by Mike Coyne
The Internal Revenue Service has rules for determining whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 10.01.07 by Mike Coyne
To find the best people, you need to adopt good hiring practices. Pre-employment screening should be one aspect of these hiring practices. However, you need to be aware that there are important limitations on an employer’s right to pre-screen potential employees.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 09.01.07 by Mike Coyne
Corporate minutes can help ensure that owners shield themselves from being held legally responsible for corporate business failures. In addition, they can help quickly settle inevitable shareholder disputes, smooth business transactions and even help answer questions during an audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Premium Content -
Updated: 09.01.07 by Mike Coyne
- Premium Content -
Updated: 08.01.07 by Mike Coyne
A good operating agreement can be a useful tool for running your business as an LLC.
View Why your limited liability company needs an operating agreement.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 07.01.07 by Mike Coyne
If you need a non-competition agreement to protect your business, you will need to get legal help and follow these guidelines.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 06.01.07 by Mike Coyne
Written policies and clear instructions are two ways to protect your business from costly claims.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 05.01.07 by Mike Coyne
The safest way to avoid problems under the immigration laws is to understand your responsibilities as an employer.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 04.01.07 by Mike Coyne
A successful sale of any business requires planning, and some of that planning must start well before the business is even offered for sale. Here are some ideas on how to get your business, and yourself, ready for a sale.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 01.01.07 by Mike Coyne
Your trade secrets may consist of customer lists, training manuals, financial records, contracts with distributors, and the like, that would be very valuable to your competition. Keep them secret with some of these simple, inexpensive steps.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 07.01.06 by Mike Coyne
Find out why letters of intent may be binding and some practical advice when crafting them.
- Premium Content -
Updated: 06.01.06 by Mike Coyne
Strategies for leaving your company to family members.
