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Identifying Different Types of Medical Identity Theft: It Can Happen to You
Medical Identity Theft is a High Cost Crime Norah said she thought it was odd when she received a letter from her insurance company denying a $7,000 insulin pump. She wasn’t a diabetic. That letter should have been an alert[...]
How Blockchain Technology Will Change Finance Forever
The Financial Market is Reaping the Benefits of New Blockchain Technology Technological advancement is accelerating at an extraordinary rate. Yet, finance and capital markets, which operate within a restrictive regulatory environment, have been resistant to adapt to this phenomenon. The[...]
Best Practices in Family Office Structures: Mistakes Can Cost Millions
Lessons in Structuring Family Office Structures The number and sophistication of family offices has grown substantially over the past several decades. In fact, some estimates suggest that there are more than 3,000 family offices managing trillions in private wealth. This[...]
Five Reasons Why Hiring a Corporate Trustee is the Right Move
Hiring a Corporate Trustee to Lighten Your Load What kind of financial poise can hiring a corporate trustee provide? For the average individual, even one with significant means, this concept can be rather obtuse. When a family employs a qualified[...]
Always Balance Family and Business in a Family Owned Business
Family Owned Business: The Other Side of the Coin This article was guest authored by Barry S. Cain, experienced corporate director of both private and public companies targeting improved organizational growth and performance. Barry is a valued contributor to several[...]
Evaluating Future Hedge Fund Returns: Beyond the Numbers
Driving Future Hedge Fund Returns, Performance With so many articles about “hedge fund performance” popping up recently, investors are right to wonder what is driving this increase in returns and renewed investor interest. With thousands of funds spread across multiple[...]
Families in Business: Mapping Out the Future with Family Business GPS Systems
Many Paths, Much Resistance for Families in Business I’m old enough to remember maps. Yes, physical, paper maps that you bought at gas stations or got for free from the AAA office. Once unfolded, they never went back to the[...]
The “GD” GDPR: European Union Data Privacy and Protection Regime
The New Rules of Data Privacy and Protection You’ve probably heard the letters GDPR everywhere lately. “What do they mean and why do I have to care?” is probably your common response. This article seeks to provide you with an[...]
Don’t Go It Alone: The Best Advisor You Can Hire Is Worth Every Penny
The Best Advisor You Can Hire Would Hire Herself, Too The best advisor you can hire will be a clever and a creative problem solver who interacts with you with total integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct. The worst? Someone’s goal[...]
Ten Reasons Why the Blockchain Won’t Be Stopped (And Shouldn’t)
Blockchain technology is here to stay. Here are 10 reasons why the blockchain won’t be stopped: 1. The Blockchain Won’t Be Stopped: It’s a Technology Wave We’ve seen technology waves before. The PC wave distributed computer power to everyone. The[...]
The Risks, Rewards and Challenges of Investing in Real Estate
Get Started Investing in Real Estate If you want to invest your savings prudently, there are plenty of alternatives available. Investing in real estate, savings accounts, stocks and mutual funds, hedge funds, precious metals, oil and gas and cryptocurrencies all[...]
Increase Sales and Profits by Becoming Customer Centric
Customer Centric Means It’s Not All About You Customer centric: a fancy phrase for a very basic concept. It means focusing on what your customers want and need. Yet for such a basic concept, it amazes me how many companies[...]
What You Need to Know About ‘Trade Tariff Talk Tantrums’
What is Given Can be Taken Away Policies from government have driven the markets in the recent past. The domestic equity stock market (i.e., S&P 500) increased 7.3% after Congress passed tax reform. However, steel and aluminum tariff news pulled[...]
How Small Business Owners Can Save on College Costs
10 Strategies to Help You Save on College Costs For small business owners, understanding three little words—expected family contribution, or EFC—can save on college costs (we’re talking thousands of dollars). How you structure your business, where you hold assets and[...]
Addressing the Various Needs of Special Needs Parents
The Unique Financial and Personal Needs of Special Needs Parents I remember being in the crowded elementary school gym one time, when people literally just stepped over my daughter while she was having a seizure, as though she were a[...]
How to Anticipate Contract Issues Before You Sign (And Why You’ll Be Glad You Did)
Anticipate Contract Issues to Save Yourself a Headache When we negotiate a deal, the paperwork is intended to document the deal. If necessary, the paperwork is supposed to ensure that all parties keep their commitments. But I’ll admit it: I’m[...]
Studies Prove Having Both Brains and Money Are Connected
This is Your Brain on...Money. Any Questions? Economists have considered money from every angle for ages, but research in the field of neuroeconomics is relatively new. Neuroeconomics is the study of how humans make decisions using brain activity (neuroscience), economics,[...]
Measuring a Company’s Value: Cash Flow vs. EBITDA for Investment Performance
Editor's Note: This is an updated version of a similar article published in March of 2015. To view the original, click here. Using Cash Flow vs. EBITDA to Determine Value How do you monitor your investments’ performance? If the company is[...]
Attorney Immunity? The Allen Stanford Ponzi Case Sparks Debate
The Fraud at Night, It Shines So Bright… In 2012, Allen Stanford was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and sentenced to 110 years in prison. As the New York Times reported, Stanford, “is now a shadow of the swaggering[...]
Three Ways to Drastically Improve Portfolio Performance with Hedge Funds Based on Your Financial Goals
A Primer on Hedge Fund and Portfolio Performance Evaluating hedge fund performance is challenging because it involves many different investment strategies employed by thousands of funds across a global $3.2 trillion industry. While many investors will analyze a previous track[...]
It Works Until it Doesn’t: Why Assessing the Rules of Your Belief System and Values is Necessary
Your Belief System and Values are Fluid As much as we like to think that our belief system and values are defined by independent and reliable decision-making, we are only about half right. Everyone carries an embedded list of “shoulds”[...]
Using Cash Instead of Credit to Keep You Accountable for Your Spending (and Out of Debt)
Get Out of Debt by Using Cash Instead of Credit When Jenny and Kenny (the “Chargers”) came to speak to me the first time, there were raised voices and accusations. The Chargers recognized their spending had become out of control,[...]
The Many Challenges Ahead for Private Equity Investing
Editor’s Note: This is an updated version of a similar article published in January of 2013. To view the original, click here. Private Equity Investing Has Exploded Over Past 10 Years The mindset in private equity investing doesn’t seem to[...]
Fighter Jet Fast: Making Business Decisions to Accelerate Growth
Making Business Decisions Air Force-Style In business, there are undoubtedly days when you feel like you’re constantly moving at speeds faster than Mach 5. With all the chaos that can ensue with endless meetings, calls, emails and more, it can[...]
Investing in Comic Books Can Be a Blast in More Ways than One
Editor's Note: This is an update of a similar article, published in July of 2015. To view that article, click here. Investing in Comic Books is No Joke Fueled by the prevalence of top-grossing movies featuring comic book superheroes, interest in[...]
Legacy of 2012 JOBS Act: Deregulation of Angel Investing
Editor’s Note: This is an updated version of a similar article, published in January of 2013. To view that article, click here. The JOBS Act Makes Raising Capital Easier Than Ever Signed into law by President Obama on April 5, 2012,[...]
Create Success by Using Delegation to Develop Others
Grow Your Business by Using Delegation to Develop Others As a manager, you’re often told of the value of using delegation to develop others. Delegation can help you focus on the tasks where you’re most needed and can help scale[...]
Eat to Live: This Article Might Just Save Your Life
The Health Benefits are Endless When You Eat to Live Part of my role as a private equity investor is to devour information on food and agriculture. Why? To make sure I understand the trends and impacts within the industry.[...]
Why Blockchain for Small Business is the Future of Commerce
Blockchain for Small Business is a Must As a business owner, why should you care about blockchain for small business, cryptocurrency, token offerings and all these new terms and tech that have been buzzing about? For those of you that[...]
Building the Best Strategy to Drive Cash Allocation
Cash Allocation Challenges Businesses For most businesses, cash allocation is a challenge. Margin pressure, seasonality, credit risk, and bank covenants make it a constant chore. Cash is the oxygen of business. You can’t run low and survive. For successful businesses,[...]
Science Can Help You Find Appropriate Business Attire to Dress for Success
How to Find Appropriate Business Attire Suit? Dress? Slacks? Skirt? Neutrals? Colors? Don’t get me started on “business casual Friday”! Choosing the appropriate business attire is so time-consuming in our already busy lives. Not many of us are willing to[...]
The Saga of Oracle and Google in Layman’s Terms (Hopefully)
An ongoing dispute between Oracle and Google has landed in both Federal Court and Northern District of California court. What will happen next? The Federal Circuit recently resurrected one of the most closely watched cases in recent software history: Oracle v.[...]
Another Look at Tax Advantages of Employee Stock Ownership Plans Following Trump Tax Reform
Editor's Note: This is an updated version of a previous article. To view the original, click here. Employee Stock Ownership Plans Offer Many Economic Perks Employee stock ownership plans, commonly referred to as an ESOP, offer a range of benefits[...]
How Mutual Fund Investment Grew at the Expense of Investors
Editor's Note: This article is an updated version of an article originally published on May 14, 2014. Mutual Fund Investment Left Investors Behind The Wall Street machine is interested in creating products for profit and not creating profit for the[...]
Improve Your Relationship with Your Advisor (and Improve Your Bottom Line)
Success Depends as Much on You as it does Them So you want to improve your relationship with your advisor? Is the relationship tenuous or does it feel like there are trust issues- from your end and theirs? Read on![...]
Targeted Sales and Marketing Activities Should Drive Your Company’s Business Growth
Use Specific Sales and Marketing Activities for Specific Purposes Hi and welcome to my first article for Financial Poise! Let's jump right in. Supposedly, the days of “I know half of my marketing budget is wasted, but I just don’t[...]
Why International Startups are Attracting U.S. Venture Capitalists
International Venture Capital Races Ahead Take a look at The Fortune Unicorn List: Of the top 100 most valuable unicorns in 2016, 39 are currently based outside of the United States. Fundraising of U.S. VCs has dropped slowly as a[...]
Life Happens, but Purchasing Disability Insurance is Intentional
Happy, without Purchasing Disability Insurance Daria and Daniel Diligent had it all figured out. Both were hard-working professionals — Daria a dentist and Daniel a pilot. Happily married and living in a beautiful home, they were raising twin girls with[...]
An Urban Dictionary to Help You Speak with Financial Advisors
An Urban Dictionary Education in Terms Anyone with the Internet has probably heard of urbandictionary.com, the crowdsourced, online dictionary for slang words and phrases that contains plenty of “NSFW” content. (To spare you the trouble/consequence of going there, NSFW means[...]
Losing Power at Home- A Personal Struggle
The Loss of Losing Power at Home We recently experienced losing power at home, specifically our gas-powered heat, for a few days while away on vacation. In the aftermath, I got to thinking about how I could have been better[...]
Could Owning Operational Real Estate be Your Ideal Investment?
Exploring Owning Operational Real Estate Owning real estate for investment can take a little or a lot of work, depending on the type of asset you purchase. Passive investments in real estate offerings managed by professional sponsors require little-to-no work[...]
Can Seeking Help from the Lender Fix Money Troubles?
Recently, bad practices caused a client’s accounts receivable to get extended well past 90 days. In fact, the client had 20% of its receivables dated further back than 120 days. Company staff knew that much of that would prove to[...]
Can You Avoid Having Your Identity Stolen by Family?
Having Your Identity Stolen by Family Hurts Worse Raphael’s Story Raphael was distraught and confused to learn that his son, Raphael Jr., had unknowingly and quite fraudulently signed his dad’s name to his own student loans several years back. Dad[...]
Four Questions that Drive Business Growth and Transformation
You Can Drive Business Growth Forward- or Backward Many businesses on the precipice of growth or those preparing to enter a new chapter are searching for ways to drive business growth, but can find themselves struggling to move into that[...]
The Benefits of Vacation are Many- But You Have to Actually Take One
Don't Underestimate the Benefits of Vacation Are you “too busy” to take a vacation? What if I told you that some of the benefits of vacation include better health and an improved bottom line? Would you take one then? Reducing[...]
Sensitive Family Business May Bring Up Fur Balls
Choking on the Words During Sensitive Family Business Every cat owner knows the sounds. The deep retching and heaving. The cough that sounds like your cat just may turn himself inside out to eliminate a fur ball. Next may come[...]
What Should Employers Do to Prevent Wage Discrimination Claims?
Are Wage Discrimination Claims Avoidable? An employer can be sued by an employee for all sorts of things. Specifically, wage discrimination claims is an area that every employer should understand because they are so easy to avoid. One example would[...]
Keep Calm: Don’t (Over)React to Stock Market Volatility
Stock Market Volatility Circles Back Around Stock market volatility isn’t a new concept, especially for baby boomer women who have lived through some of the market’s most tumultuous times. However, with headlines proclaiming catastrophic losses and record point drops for[...]
Picking up the Tab Can Stress Your Budget- and Your Relationships
How much is dinner out costing you? As we were heading out from a restaurant dinner party last week, my friend, Ann, leaned over and griped to me about the group decision to split the check evenly. While grumbling about how[...]
Designing Board Evaluations for Private Companies to Succeed
Someone once told me that, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” We have all seen how constructive feedback improves performance and helps employees to avoid mistakes. The challenge is getting actionable feedback to people early enough for them to use[...]
Does Balancing Your Health and Finances = Wellness?
Wellness is a Daily Journey Your physical and financial well-being add up when you have good nutrition, proper rest and adequate exercise. In fact, study results conducted by researchers at Duke found that low credit scores could be used to[...]
How to Identify a Scam Email or Phone Call (& How to Have Fun With It)
How to Identify a Scam Email: Exhibit A My dad got an email a few days ago. It looked like this: From: John Maryline [mailto:john.maryline@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 1:21 PM Subject: Your ATM Cards Released.. Attention: This is[...]
The Most Expensive Refrigerator Does a Lot- to Your WALLET
The Needs vs. The WANTS I try very hard to be a minimalist. First, because I like to practice what I preach; and second, because leaving a colossal carbon footprint negates the simplicity I try to reflect in my lifestyle.[...]
PLUP Fiction: Not All Fraud is Sales Fraud
So far in this column, we have talked primarily about fraud committed at arms’ length by salespersons or investment advisors. These sorts of sales fraud are but two of the many flavors in the Cold Stone display of frozen, delicious[...]
Real Estate Investment Trusts 101: REITs Let Passive Investors in on the Action
What do Real Estate Investments Cost- in Sheer Effort? Savvy investors make real estate part of a diversified portfolio to grow and preserve their wealth. The challenge with many real estate investments, however, is that they can require considerable work[...]
Effective Private Company Board Strategies Drive Goals to Completion
Private Company Board Strategies Create Advantage Strategy has been defined as the art of finding an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace. It is implemented through defined objectives, strategies and tactics. Whether public or private, driving strategy is how boards[...]
Could Overconfidence Hold You Back As a Leader?
Assessing Confidence Being someone who provides leadership assessments and 360° evaluations, I’m often fascinated by the results I see. A recent Confidence Assessment survey I came across speaks to the overconfidence certain people seem to possess more than others. This[...]
Communications (In)decency Acts? Section 230 Governs the Online World
Who’s in Charge of What We’re Doing Online? Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is a little-known statutory provision that is far more powerful and important than most casual internet users realize. Section 230, as its commonly known, is[...]
Creating Healthy Soil: “Kiss the Ground” Reveals the Future of Food
Creating Healthy Soil Saves More than Plants When I first picked up Josh Tickell’s latest book, “Kiss the Ground,” last November, I thought it was going to be a book about regenerative agriculture. While it does cover this topic, the[...]
Maintaining Marital Satisfaction When Bringing Home Baby
Marital Satisfaction + Baby You and your partner have likely been preparing for the arrival of your baby for months, if not years. You’ve rearranged the house, shifted your schedules, arranged for help and support, and you finally feel ready-and[...]
Make Outreach Effective Fast: Learn How to Use Facebook Ads
Learn How to Use Facebook Ads to Keep Up with the Pace Chances are if you’re reading this, you may be one of the 50 million businesses maintaining a Facebook page. Businesses in all shapes and sizes have a Facebook[...]
Can You Get Wealthy Buying Farmland as an Investment?
America’s Rich Soil Has Growth Potential Between 2009-2014 America’s farmland values grew rapidly, according to the USDA. In 2009, the value of an acre of farmland was $2000, and by 2014, the value of increased upward of $3000 per acre.[...]
Driving Expenses Can Really Add Up, Do You Have a “Bumper-to-Bumper Reserve”?
You know that sickening feeling you get when you are happily driving along and a light on your dashboard pops up, indicating the need for some immediate repair? Or worse yet, when the lights that pop up are those of[...]
Life is Short: Defining the Risks and Rewards of Chasing Your Dreams
The Risks and Rewards of Chasing Your Dreams- Worth it? What is the risk of chasing your dream? There is a lot to unpack in this succinct question, so let’s take a moment to break it down: To answer the[...]
Hollywood Drama Heats up as Investing in Movies Cools Off: Should You Jump in?
“Risky Business” is: A) The title of a big Hollywood hit from the early 1980s that launched actor Tom Cruise to stardom and recorded a spectacular $63.5 million gross; B) A description of what investing in movies may be faced[...]
And Down Goes Another Lanham Act Clause… The Trademark Act v. Good Taste?
The Federal Circuit just ruled that the “scandalous” clause of the Lanham Act is unconstitutional in view of the Supreme Court decision in Matal v. Tam. The Lanham Act is also known as the Trademark Act. Recapping The Slants’ Fight[...]
Sacrificing for Service: Military Spouses Can Break Free from Unemployment and Depression
How Unemployment and Depression Affect Military Spouses Everyone knows that people get down in the dumps when they are out of work, but did you know the “out-of-work-blues” can become full-blown depression that often requires medication to resolve? Unemployment and[...]
2018 IRA Alerts Investors Will Want to Know
The tax prep season perennially stirs financial advisors to reach out to their retirement-minded clients to review asset allocation strategies. There are several 2018 IRA alerts and reminders that may make this tax season a little smoother for everyone. 2018[...]
It’s All in the Details: The Importance of Rule 9 in Fraud Cases
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) works for (and against) everyone If you have not had the good fortune to litigate a fraud claim in federal court, you might not be aware of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), which[...]
Effective Outside Directors Provide Leadership When It Is Needed Most
Whether a company is public or private, the mission of its board of directors is to provide leadership in four key issues: strategy, capital structure, succession planning, and risk management. While regulators will enforce matters at public companies, outside directors[...]
You Cannot Eat or Drink Gold
From natural disaster after natural disaster, to terrorist act after terrorist act, there are a lot of things going down in the world right now. The Survivalism Industry (did you know that was even a “thing?”) has even started to[...]
Real Estate Partnerships – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Complexity of Real Estate Partnerships Owning investment real estate can be a complicated undertaking. Add in real estate partnerships and the complexity only increases. However, real estate can be a valuable part of your investment portfolio. It provides asset[...]
How to Stay Afloat When You’re Swimming in Financial Debt
Vanessa and David were swimming in financial debt. They bought real estate at the height of the market and were in over their heads. They owed credit card debt to numerous banks, had significant student loan debt, monthly daycare costs[...]
Investing in Weight Loss Companies May Bring Big Gains
Invest in Your Health, and Wealth With the new year finally here, it is pretty much accepted as canon that weight loss resolutions must be made. That makes investing in weight loss companies a potentially lucrative resolution in and of[...]
Beauty Bias Can Blemish (or Boost) Your Career
Beauty Bias: The Ugly Truth Right or wrong, the reality is that when you put your best face forward, it positively impacts your bottom line. While being too pretty backfires and results in the “bimbo effect,” research shows that 84%[...]
Recording Your Assets Now Will Cover Your Ass(ets) for Later
You're at Risk if You're not Recording Your Assets From maintaining farmland to purchasing real estate investment properties to owning jewelry to possessing all kinds of precious metals in general, or even delving into collecting wines and fine art and[...]
Having Car Accident Information Beforehand May Help Your Headache After
Who's at Fault? The Money Will Speak for Itself It’s really scary to be involved in a car accident. Having all your necessary car accident information ready to go before such an event occurs will help guide you and may[...]
Retiring Abroad: Does Your Wanderlust Make Financial Sense?
Retiring Abroad May be Better When You're Older, Wiser- and Richer While in college, did you ever dream of spending a year abroad? You might have hoped to study Spanish in Mexico, or perhaps you wanted to master art and[...]
Using Your Assets for Good: Bequeathing Money to Philanthropic Causes
Consider Using Your Assets for Good if You Want to Feel Good About Giving Using your assets for good is part of the joy of having enough wealth to make a difference in the lives of others. For many people,[...]
Advice for Recent Widows: Six Steps You Can Take for Peace of Mind
If you were recently widowed, you are likely feeling a range of emotions and are overwhelmed by the prospect of managing things on your own. Advice for recent widows will range from person to person, but the tax, estate and[...]
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