NCEO Employee Ownership Conference
Join me at the 2025 Annual Conference, where industry leaders, employee-owned companies, and visionary thought leaders come together to explore the transformative power of employee-owned companies, innovation, and sustainable business practices. Don't miss this...
Plan, Lead, Flex, Repeat
Running a business during uncertain times can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Changes in the economy, politics, unexpected events, and new technologies can make planning and successful operations hard. However, businesses that stay flexible and adapt quickly...
The Business Owner’s Path to an Accurate Valuation in 5 Steps
You need a business valuation or a business appraisal. You might need the business valuation for Estate and Gift business taxes, applying for an SBA loan, ESOP stock value, or a host of other reasons. How can you make sure that you obtain the most accurate business...
Trump Administration Places DOL’s ESOP Proposals in Regulatory Moratorium
In January 2025, the Trump administration's executive order imposed a regulatory moratorium, freezing the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed guidance on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The DOL had intended to release new rules on January 22, 2025, which...
The Role of Life Insurance in Estate Taxes
The recent Supreme Court case, United States v. Connelly, has significant implications for businesses and their estate tax planning. The Court ruled that life insurance proceeds held by a company must be included in its valuation for estate tax purposes, even if those...
Holiday Party and/or Year-end Bonus: Use Empathy and Understanding to Create Positive Employee Experiences
While holiday office parties and year-end bonuses might seem like frivolous expenditures, they can have a significant impact on a company's bottom line. These celebrations can boost employee morale, improve productivity, strengthen company culture, and ultimately lead...
Planners vs. Open-Minded Business Owners
Business owners will likely relate more to either being a planner or being open-minded. Planners like to focus on detail and use an organized and structured approach. Open-minded people lean more toward being flexible and creative. The most successful business owners...
Delegate What You Don’t Like
One of the hardest things for many entrepreneurs to learn as their companies grow is delegation. Yes, you can learn to do it yourself, but doing everything yourself is a huge limitation. To grow a business, you must let go. Reward yourself and start by delegating work...
The Dangers of Neglecting Strategic Planning
Without a strategic plan, a company risks: Missed Opportunities: Not having a clear direction can lead to missing out on valuable market trends or growth opportunities. Inefficient Resource Allocation: Without a defined strategy, resources might be wasted on...
Business Valuation – Your Workforce as a Major Source of Intangible Value
Four years after the worst of the COVID shutdowns and COVID benefits, the labor market appears to be calming down. COVID demonstrated the importance and business value of having a skilled, loyal workforce. "A great system is when average people get outstanding results...