Playing for the Team
Playing for the team doesn’t mean losing your individuality. It means choosing to use your strengths in service of something bigger than yourself. Winning together feels different than winning alone. Shared wins last longer. They build pride, loyalty, and purpose. And...
Pause, Look Back, Move Forward: The Power of Gratitude in Goal-Setting
Before you rush into planning your next quarter or next big initiative, pause. Look back. Take stock. Appreciate the progress you’ve already made. The gratitude you practice today becomes the foundation that supports tomorrow’s success. Want to make gratitude part of...
Spotting the Red Flags: What the DOL Commonly Finds in ESOP Audits
If you run a company with an ESOP, the idea of a Department of Labor (DOL) audit can feel a little intimidating. These reviews—handled by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)—are meant to make sure your ESOP follows ERISA rules and that fiduciaries are...
Two Pro-ESOP Bills Pass the Senate with a Unanimous Vote
In a rare moment of total agreement, the U.S. Senate just passed two major pro-ESOP bills—S. 2403, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act, and S. 1728, the WORK Act—both with unanimous support. For ESOP trustees and owners, this is big news....
The Tariff Factor: What Business Owners and Advisors Need to Know About Its Impact on Value
Tariffs can quietly reshape what your business is worth. They influence both the numbers that drive a valuation and the level of risk investors or buyers are willing to accept. Whether you’re preparing for a sale, an ESOP, litigation, or financial reporting,...
Court-Worthy Valuations: Protection from Costly Mistakes
An attorney or CPA should carefully review a business valuation, as it plays a critical role in various legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divorce proceedings, shareholder disputes, estate planning, and tax reporting. A thorough review ensures that the...
The Power of Questions
Ask more questions and save time, improve relationships, increase understanding. Asking questions is one of the most powerful tools we have. Whether in our personal lives or in the workplace, knowing how to ask effectively can lead to better understanding, improved...
More Competition or More Quality SBA Loans?
Fintech, or non-banks using advanced technology are entering the market for SBA 7(a) and other commercial loans. Often, the process is streamlined and at least begins more straight forward. But, will these loans and lenders provide quality credit over the long haul...
Pro-ESOP Legislation Moves Forward
Advancing Employee Ownership: A Look at Recent Senate Bills Bipartisan support for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) is growing in Washington, as evidenced by two key pieces of legislation that recently moved through the Senate. Both the "Promotion and Expansion...
Estate Planning Benefits from “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA 2025)
The recently passed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA 2025), which permanently increases the federal gift and estate tax exemption to $15 million per person for 2026 (and $30 million for married couples, indexed for inflation), is a game-changer for business owners'...