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Long-Term Care Insurance: A New Executive Perk
No one can argue that healthcare costs have gotten out of control. While more of the burden has fallen on employees, senior-level executives have also felt the pinch. Companies have been focusing on ways to attract and retain skilled executives through compensation packages, and one way has been through a long-term care insurance benefit. Expect this benefit to become as commonplace in the next decade as medical or dental care. |
Simple Risk Management Saves the Small Business Dream
The desire to succeed, coupled with hard work and innovation are crucial ingredients for the small business owner. But watch out for reality in the form of risk. The inability to manage risks results in a 90 percent failure rate for all new businesses according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. While understanding market trends and changing customer tastes are important, so, too, is the focus on financial and legal risks. There are fundamental ways to manage risks to permit business owners to expend more of their energies on their core competencies. |
When is 3¢ Per Minute Not Really 3¢ Per Minute?: A Primer on Call Rounding
Part 1
A business signs a long-term agreement with a long distance carrier expecting to enjoy favorable rates. The agreement will reflect what the rate would be per minute; and so adding up the minutes used per month and multiplying the rate should arrive at the billed amount, right? Wrong. The one element not considered is rounding. Businesses could be charged 10 to 20 percent more as a result of rounding; sometimes the average cost per minute can be higher by as much as 100 percent. It pays to investigate what, if any, rounding methods are used before entering into an agreement. |
Medical Insurance Plans: Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Costs
Employers are shifting a larger share of health costs to their employees; and this has resulted in individuals purchasing high deductible or consumer-driven health plans with or without health savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts. Employees want a greater say in all aspects of their medical care. This could lead to reduced utilization of medical services and an overall reduction of costs in the near term. The upside to all this: increased consumer education on the medical care available and what treatment options are most suitable. |
What Every Company Should Know About E-Mail
Beyond the efficiency and effectiveness of e-mail systems for businesses and professional service firms is the additional component of corporate governance. Yes, Sarbanes-Oxley addresses e-mail communications in several sections that impact corporations and CPA firms. Protocols must be in place and clearly articulated to all levels of staff with respect to message archival, retention, supervision, mail-storage management, discovery and litigation support. The solutions that are implemented must consider the unique factors and regulatory frameworks associated with different lines of business and departments. |
Three Ways to Use Trade Shows to Boost Your Bottom Line
It seems that tradeshows run all year round. Tradeshows, if done correctly, can provide a positive image of a company. The three objectives of being at a tradeshow are to: 1) get noticed; 2) drive traffic; and 3) capture leads. Make sure that you spend your time wisely to achieve these goals. |
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