Business

An up-close view of a customer service flier, where the box for excellent customer service is checked off.

Taking Client Service to the Next Level

April 20, 2017

Just about every business intends to provide world-class client service. Though many claim their client service is exceptional, very few can back up that assertion. After all, once a company has established a baseline level of success in interacting with clients, it’s not easy to get to that next level of truly great service. But…

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An image of a professional office room with four individuals sat working on computers, and two other individuals stand talking to someone sat at their computer.

Minimize your risk of cyberattacks

April 13, 2017

Today’s businesses operate in an era of hyper-connectedness and, unfortunately, a burgeoning global cybercrime industry. You can’t afford to hope you’ll luck out and avoid a cyberattack. It’s essential to establish policies and procedures to minimize risk. One specific area on which to focus is your employees. Know the threats There are a variety of…

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An animation of five dark doors, with a man opening up the fourth door and standing in front of its light.

Choosing the right lender

April 6, 2017

It’s easy to think of lenders as doing your company a favor. But business financing relationships are just that: relationships. Yes, a lender has the working capital you need to grow. But a stable, successful business represents an enormously beneficial opportunity for the lender as well. So you should be just as picky with your…

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A business woman stands in an empty room in front of a large key hole, which reveals sunlight light and a city skyline.

Consider key person insurance as a succession plan safeguard

March 31, 2017

In business, and in life, among the most important ways to manage risk is through insurance. For certain types of companies — particularly start-ups and small businesses — one major threat is the sudden loss of an owner or hard-to-replace employee. To safeguard against this risk, insurers offer key person insurance. Under a key person…

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Does the IRS consider your business a hobby?

March 28, 2017

If you run a business “on the side” and derive most of your income from another source (whether from another business you own, employment or investments), you may face a peculiar risk: Under certain circumstances, this on-the-side business might not be a business at all in the eyes of the IRS. It may be a…

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Offer plan loans? Be sure to set a reasonable interest rate.

March 27, 2017

Like many businesses, yours may allow retirement plan participants to take out loans from their accounts. Such loans are governed by many IRS and Department of Labor (DOL) rules and regulations. So if your company offers plan loans, your plan document must comply with current laws — including setting a “reasonable” interest rate. Agency perspectives…

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