Effective at the end of May, 2014, all versions of QuickBooks 2011 will lose its support from Intuit. What does this mean for you? If you have a technical problem, Intuit will no longer provide technical support to you. If you use any of the add-on services with your license, those will not be available to you. This includes payroll, payments & online banking. In order to avoid problems with your system and a disruption in paying your employees & vendors, an upgrade is necessary. I can offer a new version to you at a substantial discount as well as file conversion & training! Give me a call to discuss!

With the popularity in today's world of working remotely over the internet, chances are you're either managing employees working from home now or will shortly be approached by a potential employee wishing to do so. Traditional mindsets usually shy from this type of employee due to the perceived lack of control over the situation. It's important to remember that not every employee thrives under the traditional arrangement. Giving parents of young children, for example, the opportunity to work with a flexible schedule allows them greater satisfaction with their work. This in turn will provide the employer with increased output and employee loyalty. To manage remote workers though, and keep the worker connected to the company and their peers, there must be some guidelines set. Distinct goals, scheduled check-ins, and staff meeting attendance either by phone or via an online meeting. Frequent communication is key.

I received this link in an email from the American Institute of CPAs late last week. After having such a great Mother's Day weekend and remembering a few conversations I've had over the years, I wanted to share with you the importance of being prepared. The article focuses on the female in relationships but it could easily apply to the other party as well. In a marriage, or in a business, you need to always be prepared for the unexpected. It's impossible to know what's going to happen next month or tomorrow and education and preparedness is crucial. Business owners must prepare contingency plans so employees and managers, spouses, are not left scrambling in the event of a death, trying to figure out who is in charge and how the show was ran. Spouses, you should share financial information and keep records organized in a safe location. Life insurance policies, bank documents, deeds, titles, stock certificates...stored in a secure, fireproof location or scanned and stored on a password-protected computer. Invite along your spouse to ask questions at meetings with me, your investment advisor, or attorney. I know it's often difficult to remember all the details of these conversations and trying to relay the information at the end of the day can be confusing.

So this is my first attempt at creating a website. I hope you all find it not just a place to look up our phone number, but also a place to find information about changing tax laws and their impact on your returns, a place to schedule appointment, and a place to interact and participate. Let me know your thoughts, and please share any requests!