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...
Colorado Boosts Employee Ownership with New Tax Incentives
Colorado is making significant strides in promoting employee ownership with a new bill that introduces substantial tax benefits and expands existing programs. Starting in 2027 and running through 2037, the legislation offers two key income tax subtractions: Capital...
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...