Month: November 2015
-
Outlook vs. Gmail: one more take
Geekwire just published a recording of an internal debate within their staff about Outlook vs. Gmail. They had two staff members commenting on each side of the debate. I’ve also struggled with this issue all year. Sometimes due to being offline, like at my rural home, I can only use Outlook and other times when working with…
-
Tax planning is tough for high income clients
Many people do not realize that tax planning becomes more difficult as income increases. The easy strategies like those discussed in the article “Top 10 easy tax strategies” do not work as well. Tax planning sometimes requires adjusting to rapidly rising income; not such a terrible problem to face. But the tax calculation changes triggered…
-
The wrong way to do year-end tax planning
Implementation is the most important part! The Thanksgiving Day online edition of The Wall Street Journal carried an article about year-end tax planning strategies. It caught my attention because this is my favorite part of my own professional practice; a service I look forward to providing in the last quarter of each year. It is…
-
So you call yourself a scientist?
A personal reflection on confronting the ethics failures of scientists The manipulation of scientific research that is designed to support a political or financial goals is increasingly becoming a headline issue. Underlying the headlines is the realization that we have an embarrassing and harmful ethics crisis within the scientific community. I grew up in a scientifically focused…
-
Plan ahead to avoid 2016 health tax penalty
Do not be fooled by media reports that say the penalty for not having health insurance next year is $695. Far more people who owe the penalty will pay more than that, up to a maximum of $2,085. Those with more than $84,000 total household income will more likely pay the maximum. What this means is…
-
Health insurance for 2016 brings unwelcome change
The health insurance market offers few choices, higher rates and more paperwork for Pennsylvania’s individuals and small businesses in 2016. Prices for individual and small group health insurance plans are rising significantly for most Pennsylvanians next year. Highmark plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace will have the largest price increases, some as high as…
-
Wix vs. WordPress for small business web sites
I spent some time tonight reading about Wix web site building options for my small business clients. I use WordPress now and a consultant suggested that I consider switching to Wix for ease-of-use. There are several reviews available by Googling “Wix vs. WordPress“. I read them and basically they conclude that the options are equally…
-
Online security of seniors
Are older people at increased risk of becoming victims of online data mining and scams? This is a simple question that deserves a straight answer. I conclude that even if our hunch is “yes”, there is no available published data that can allow us to answer the question directly. I conclude that most coverage of…
-
Ten CyberSecurity Tips for Small Businesses from FTC
Broadband and information technology are powerful factors in small businesses reaching new markets and increasing productivity and efficiency. However, businesses need a cybersecurity strategy to protect their own business, their customers, and their data from growing cybersecurity threats. Here are ten key cybersecurity tips for businesses to protect themselves: 1. Train employees in security principles…
-
“We should try to keep them out”
In his 2002 book The Myth of Rescue author W.D. Rubinstein wrote: “In July 1938 (several months before Kristallnacht) Fortune Magazine, as part of its quarterly survey of American public opinion, asked ‘What is your attitude toward allowing German, Austrian and other political refugees to come to the U.S.?’ The results were as follows: We…