OPEN's finance expert Mike Periu brings you a new development in taxation. You Should Sell Investments to Avoid Higher Taxes. Many financial experts believe that taxes on investment income—both capital gains and dividends—will likely go up over the next several years regardless of who wins the presidential election. Given this likelihood, small-business owners might want to consider selling profitable investments now to lock in relatively low tax rates. If you have a profitable investment with … [Read more...]
Debt Collection Industry Placed on Federal Supervision
OPEN finance expert Mike Periu on a recent development in the debt collection industry. For the first time ever, companies in the business of collecting unpaid debts from consumers and students will be supervised by the Federal government through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Beginning on January 2, 2013 the CFPB will ensure that these companies are properly identifying themselves to consumers, act in a civil manner, accurately communicate debt owed and have a conflict … [Read more...]
Potentially Embarrassing Foreclosure Information online
OPEN's finance expert Mike Periu on Embarrassing Foreclosure Information that is now available for free Online For many struggling small-business owners, enduring a foreclosure has become all too common. As revenues drop, keeping up with home mortgage payments becomes difficult or impossible. As a home goes through foreclosure, numerous filings have to be made with the clerk's office in the city or county where its located. Up until now, this information was only available by visiting the … [Read more...]
Cities and States Cutting Taxes to Boost Growth
OPEN's finance expert Mike Periu on cities and States Cutting Taxes, offer incentives and other business perks. Cities and States Cutting Taxes to Boost Growth As major cities across the country feel the squeeze of rising costs and lower tax revenues, some have decided that the best way to improve their financial situation is to cut taxes and offer incentives to businesses in a bid to have them setup shop in their city. Los Angeles offers a tax holiday on the gross receipts tax which can a … [Read more...]
Tax Changes That Could Boost Retirement
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced several important tax changes to certain limits for tax year 2013. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced several important changes to certain limits for tax year 2013. These changes mean that you can invest more money without having to worry about paying taxes on gains until the money is withdrawn during retirement. The annual contribution limit on 401(k) plans increases by $500 to $17,500. The annual exclusion for gifts … [Read more...]
A Tax Break in the Affordable Care Act
OPEN's finance expert Mike Periu shows you a Obamacare tax break. The Affordable Care Act—also known as "Obamacare"—carries a provision that allows qualifying small businesses to take up to a $50,000 tax credit to offset the cost of health insurance premiums. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) approximately 4 million small businesses qualify for the credit but only 170,400 have requested it. Part of the problem is the complexity of calculating the credit properly, … [Read more...]
SBA Helps Finance $1.7 Billion in Small Business Exports
OPEN finance expert Mike Periu on an SBA export program. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provided over $920 million in financing over the last 12 months to small businesses that produce goods and sell them to foreign companies. Under the SBA's International Trade Loan Program, companies can receive financing support to expand manufacturing facilities or to buy equipment that will be used to make products for sale abroad. In order to tap into this financing small businesses can either … [Read more...]
Are We on the Brink of a Global Recession?
OPEN's finance expert Mike Periu on an unsettling new report on the economy Are We on the Brink of a Global Recession? With so much economic data being published every week, it can be difficult to see through the noise and identify trends that can help us determine what to expect in the near future. Chugging through the data, there are a number of troubling signs that point to high probability of a recession starting next year. In the U.S., the manufacturing sector has already stopped … [Read more...]
New Tool to Stop Cyberattacks
OPEN's finance expert, Mike Periu, on a new cybersecurity planning tool to Stop Cyberattacks. During the first six months of 2012, over one-third of all cyber-attacks were targeted at small businesses. This trend is expected to increase as more hackers realize that small companies are easier targets for theft compared with larger companies that are spending more on cybersecurity. To help deal with this threat, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched an updated version of the … [Read more...]
how to find out if your bank is in trouble
OPEN finance expert Mike Periu on how to find out if your bank is in trouble. Small-business owners need to know that that their bank is financially stable. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and state agencies monitor banks for signs of financial stress and issue "enforcement actions" in an attempt to put problem banks on the right track. If these efforts fail, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) takes over and transfers the banks deposits and loans to more stable … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- …
- 134
- Next Page »