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'...
The Future of Business: Dynamic Risk and Hyper-Efficiency with AI
AI can be a powerful co-pilot in navigating risk and boosting efficiency by processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, and automating tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming or prone to human error. But humans must review and refine the results. ...
Riding the Economic Waves: How Economic Conditions Can Capsize Your Buy-Sell Agreement
For closely-held business owners, a buy-sell agreement is a cornerstone of succession planning and business continuity. It’s the "pre-nup" for business partners, outlining what happens if an owner departs, whether due to death, disability, retirement, or other...