Latest News

ETFs Grow in Popularity Despite Risks

From virtually nowhere, exchange-traded products have grown to over $3 trillion in assets. A small portion of these products are exchange-traded notes (ETNs), but most are exchange-traded funds (ETFs): typically, pools of securities that trade like stocks. A large amount of ETF assets, in turn, are in funds that track major stock market indexes such as the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ 100, as well as... Read More

Disaster Plan or Exit Plan – Either Way You Should Prepare

Business owners should have an exit strategy: a plan for the time when they’re either unwilling or unable to keep running their company. Often, that planning can include a current disaster plan for relatively young business owners and a future long-term succession plan for a smooth path to retirement. Worst case scenarios No matter how young or how healthy you are, you’re not immune to tragedy.... Read More

Planning for Today’s Pensions

Some observers have commented that few private sector workers can look forward to pensions after retirement. The traditional pension, a lifelong stream of income to a retiree and perhaps a surviving spouse, is becoming a rarity for those who are not long-term government employees. Nevertheless, millions of people do have a form of pension these days, one that kicks in after age 70½. At that age, required... Read More

Does it Make Sense to Buy a Timeshare?

Does it make sense to buy a timeshare? Negative opinions are easy to find, and there’s little doubt that high-pressure sales pitches may lead to some bad decisions. Nevertheless, millions of Americans own timeshares. Surveys indicate that purchasers tend to be well educated, with comfortable incomes. Can so many capable and accomplished people all be wasting their money? The answer to these questions is... Read More

The Fine Points of Paying for Health Insurance After Divorce

Going through a divorce can be a stressful experience, and some items may be overlooked. Nevertheless, if you are in this situation, you should be sure to pay some attention to future health insurance. Medical bills and health insurance premiums can be extremely expensive; any lapse in coverage might lead to a financial crisis. The fine points of paying for health insurance after a divorce will vary by your... Read More

Playing the Lottery: It’s All Fun and Games…Until the Taxes

As 2016 began, people were lining up to buy tickets for the Powerball lottery, which eventually reached a total prize of $1.58 billion. Many states have lotteries, and countless participants win prizes, albeit usually much smaller than the Powerball jackpot. Are such winnings taxable? The answer, in a word, is yes. (As an exception to this rule, some states exempt their lottery winnings from state income... Read More

Should Entrepreneurs Structure Their Company as a C Corp?

The recently-signed Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 reinstates some expired tax benefits retroactively and makes them permanent. On the list is the 100% tax exclusion of the gain from sales of qualified small business stock (QSBS). Example 1: Nick Oliver creates a company in 2016 and sells all the stock in it in 2022 for a $3 million gain. If the stock meets the requirements to be QSBS, Nick... Read More

HLB International Appoints New Member In Ghana

HLB International, one of the leading global accountancy networks with presence in 130 countries, continues its growth with the recent signing of a new member firm in Ghana – Morrison & Associates. Established in 1998, the firm specialises in the provision of accounting, audit, taxation, management consulting and secretarial services to diverse clients locally and overseas. Morrison & Associates... Read More

New Tax Breaks Designed to Help Rural Hospitals in Georgia

Rural hospitals have faced financial challenges due in part to many patients being uninsured or indigent with a number of these hospitals going bankrupt. In an effort to encourage donations to Georgia rural hospitals, Governor Nathan Deal has signed a tax credit bill effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, providing a Georgia tax credit to taxpayers who contribute to a... Read More