Author: Tony Novak
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My NJ county, named an obstructor
This post is prompted by the U.S. Department of Justice issuance of a new announcement that our Cumberland County, New Jersey is named as an obstructor of ICE efforts. I am proud to be among the obstructors. I have been unintentionally caught in the middle of this immigration paperwork issue for more than three decades,…
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Tariffs refunds?
My firm does not handle importers or deal with tariff issues but I am curious about how recent legal news will affect small businesses and consumers.
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Using Social Media with Purpose
Most of my friends, clients, and family avoid social media altogether. Just this weekend, a neighbor reaffirmed this sentiment, saying she intends to stay off social media entirely. That stands in sharp contrast to my early adoption nearly 20 years ago, when I actively promoted social media use within our local community associations. A lot…
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A Reflection on My History with Sustainability Investing
The 1960s and 1970s were a time of growing awareness about the climate crisis. Popular folk musicians dominated the record player in my house, and subscriptions to Organic Gardening, Popular Science, and Reader’s Digest helped shape my earliest impressions. On the inaugural Earth Day in 1970, Walter Cronkite hosted a program titled Earth Day: A…
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USDA abandons environmental research
My life has been deeply intertwined with agricultural research. From my childhood on an organic farm to participating in 4H clubs, attending Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, conducting cancer research at Smith Kline Beckman, studying microbiology in graduate school at Temple University, and now supporting research projects at BaySave in Money Island, NJ.…
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My Journey Working with the Immigrant Business Community
warning: direct discussion of U.S. politics and racism Three life events that led to my focus on serving the immigrant business community I did not intend to choose immigrant clients as a service niche. But as I notice more and more of my best clients fitting this description, I took time to think about events…
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Book review and highlights: “How Successful People Think” by John Maxwell
Originally published as ‘Thinking for A Change’ in 2003. I purchased the book in September 2024 at the book store at Cumberland Mall and focused on reading it February and March of 2025. The book is largely an effectively arranged collection of quotations and citations of other writers. I think the most value I can…
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Who wins and who loses under the new IRS?
The IRS is reducing its work force, adding new AI enforcement tools, while the Criminal Investigation division is shifting its resources, agents, and focus from the nearly $700 Billion small-business tax gap enforcement to combating border-related crimes. Without the threat of criminal prosecutions, the behavior of other taxpayers is likely to shift. While there is…