In the newest installment of our series on special needs and special education planning, we cover the important topic of mental health and its effects within the context of special education.
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Now that school is out and a holiday weekend is just around the corner, some may be looking to brush up on their summer reading. This set of recommendations comes from three of our advisors who found these books to be enjoyable, edifying, and well worth the read. Enjoy! “Uncharted – How to Navigate the Future” by Margaret Heffernan Recommended by Laura Barry, CFP® Uncharted: How to Navigate the Future is a great read for those who experience worry about their future, especially for those who constantly seek certainty. In her book, former CEO and TED speaker Margaret Heffernan gives…
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When it comes to modern investing, individuals have a multitude of options to choose from and a myriad of ways to implement their desired investments. As part of those options, the rise of impact investing has created some fundamental changes in how investors view their asset portfolios. Assessments of a corporation’s performance on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria have made it easier than ever for investors to align their personal values with their investment portfolios, and many have chosen to do so. Impact investing started as a means for organizations to avoid those areas that directly conflict with their…
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released more information regarding the second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as the application process opened Monday, January 11 under the $284 billion program authorized by the $900 billion stimulus relief bill signed on December 27, 2020. The loans are available to both first time and second time borrowers. In an effort to give priority to underserved businesses including veteran, minority, and women owned businesses, only loans from community financial institutions will be accepted initially (starting January 11 for first time borrowers and January 13 for second time borrowers). It has not…
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Have you ever seen the show The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes? My favorite segment in each episode occurs when the hosts interview the architects. The architect will describe the origin of his creative vision for the home, how the shapes and colors used in the home might be symbolic of the thing that inspired that vision, and how the materials were sourced and brought to the land on which the home was built. All of these factors coalesce to inform how the home will be lived in. Each of the architects will discuss the care he took in designing the…
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In a year like no other, being at home for the holidays may present you with extra free time for some reading. Our team was eager to share some recent favorites with you, both financial and otherwise, in hopes that you may enjoy them as much as we did. Happy reading! “The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness” by Morgan Housel Recommended by Zach Gering This easy yet impactful read reminds us that while the world of finance, investing, and business are often considered math- and logic-based, in real life it isn’t that simple. People’s biases,…
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The following post will attempt to provide an overview of bitcoin's current status. Please note that although we have made an effort to include relevant and up-to-date information, this is a rapidly evolving space and we don't purport that this summary is conclusive or all-encompassing, nor does it constitute financial advice. In it, we will seek to address the following questions at a high level (click to jump to that section): What is bitcoin, and how does blockchain technology work? What are the primary use cases for bitcoin? Why has there been so much recent media buzz around bitcoin? How…
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We’ve worked with entrepreneurs over the years who have poured their hearts and souls into their businesses. And when the time is right, many consider selling their company. Planning ahead can allow an entrepreneur to take steps to increase the value of their business. It can also help them to sell at the right time – when the price they can get for their business is optimal or before health issues or other problems might force them to sell. While many business owners understand that a transition plan is important, 43% have no plan in place and 80% do not…
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Who would you trust to take care of your children if something happened to you? Who would you trust to manage their finances? Who in your life would be capable of administering your estate if you pass away? For some fortunate people, the answers to these questions are clear. For many others, however, answering these questions is far from easy. When clients are crafting or revising their estate plans, there are a lot of questions to answer and a lot of decisions to make. As a starting point, we suggest that clients start the planning process by considering the people…
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New Legislation Could Help Business Owners with PPP Loan Forgiveness Process After being approved by the senate early last week, House Bill 7010 was signed into law by the President on June 5th, 2020. This bill triples the amount of time allotted for small businesses to spend PPP loan proceeds and affords additional flexibility. The two primary provisions are: Borrowers now have 24 weeks to spend funds received under the PPP loan program – up from the original 8 weeks. The requirement to spend at least 75% on payroll and payroll related costs has been lowered to 60%. The bill…
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