Author: Tony Novak
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How I “wowed” a small business accounting client today
I don’t think that small business accountants have many opportunities to “wow” a client. Marketers would probably say I am short-selling myself on this opportunity and that I could find more ways to impress if I really looked for these opportunities. I get it. But the reality is that daily life of a small business…
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Two important small business tax changes for 2017
The good news this year is that the majority small businesses are affected by only two tax changes for the year ahead. Both changes are effective January 1. The first change will increase stress and the risk of automatic tax penalties. The second offers big potential tax savings. It makes sense for small business owners…
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Leadership strategies to oppose the Trump regime
“I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.” —President Barack Obama, farewell address 1/10/2017 9 tactics for local boards Leaders of progressive businesses, community organizations and especially nonprofit environmental organizations whose future is at stake are scrambling to reorganize their government relations strategy since the…
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Electoral college surprise?
Early this evening the electors gathered enough voted to make Trump the next president as was expected. I predict this is the beginning of the end of the electoral college. An unprecedented legal maneuver is underway among 270 of our nation’s leaders and it seems too soon to predict the outcome. Harvard Law Professor Larry Lessig…
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Drive encryption (or file encryption) revisited
I just read a pretty good article written for attorneys recommending drive encryption on laptop PCs and mobile devices. The basis of the recommendation is the assumption that attorneys have sensitive private information on those devices that is at risk when they are working “on the go”. This prompted me to read a few more articles…
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Building a better small business health plan
This 7 1/2 minute, eight slide narrated Powerpoint video presentation introduces the background and steps required to allow a small business to break free from the grip of current health care market turmoil and actually improve employee health benefits immediately.
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Parts of NJ are not ready for online legal notices
Today I sent this message to our NJ legislators. I am writing to voice opposition to Senate Bill Number 2855 / Assembly Bill Number 4429, introduced December 12, 2016. This bill proposes to allow municipalities to save money by publishing public legal notices on web sites instead of more costly print methods. This in itself…
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Two changes to tax preparation fees for 2016
The only two significant changes to tax preparation services from 2015 to 2016 stem from changes the IRS implemented to hold tax preparers financially responsibility for tax fraud. IRS knows that a significant amount of fraud comes from two types of tax returns: People who file for refundable tax credits like Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit or American…
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Reality has a liberal bias
A friend shared this graphic that appears to have over 2 million views online. That’s encouraging considering all that we are learning of the fake news industry and international propaganda efforts through fake news. I do not know the original source. I commented that conservatives would likely say that those mainstream sources listed as “great…
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Trump’s evolving priorities
What do we know so far about the incoming Trump administration’s priorities and evolving 100 day plan? Specifically, how will it affect my small business clients? What issues should advisers focus on with clients? Over the past five weeks we’ve heard these position statements that I am using personally to base my own economic forecasts.…