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Theranos made headlines for the alleged failure of its signature blood test - and for civil and criminal suits from its stockholders.

Your business’ trademark is a valuable asset. Protecting that asset is a practice in which every business owner should invest—the security of your business, its intellectual property rights and its reputation are at stake.

Want to start crowdfinancing? Creating a well-known, reliable and consistent brand is what makes investors want to give you their hard-earned money.

By taking the minimum viable product (MVP) ethos and applying it an outcome-driven development process, your business can realize tangible and lasting improvements to its bottom line.

Raising a venture capital fund for your business relies on the right fundraising model. Learn how to plan, identify and execute your VC route to success.

Venture capital, though it can be risky, can generate outstanding returns. Follow our expert VC advice to discover how venture capital works and when to seek it.

As the baby boomer generation ages, women outlive their husbands more often than not. Too often, the couple’s financial advisors sit across from aggrieved widows who were not involved in money decisions. In this situation, what can boomer women (and their advisors) do to ease the pain and burden?

Fiduciaries must also offer a careful review of the probable tax impact of any investment strategy — without a tax-efficient focus, their work remains incomplete.

There's an old fable in business about The Chicken and The Pig. Long story short: the Chicken is involved; the Pig is committed. Real, committed leadership is about being the Pig, not the Chicken.

Business owners should educate themselves on non-bank capital alternatives, such as high interest rate debt. Most businesses face adversity at some point. Understanding what options are available can be the difference between success and failure.

Directors must protect their shareholders’ tangible and intangible assets, regardless of the form of the threat. Directors need to initiate protective actions and provide on-going oversight for cybersecurity.

For many boomer women, the subject of family finances is not an easy one to tackle. Men may feel it is their responsibility or duty to handle this (stereotypically masculine) topic without burdening their spouses.

If you don’t understand your equity numbers, you don’t understand your business.

In business (and in life), real leadership requires empathy and compassion. Too many corporate executives see every worker's problem as a quick solution-in-waiting.

My take: This may be right in the short-term, but it's dead wrong in the medium-term and beyond. Let me[...]

For high net worth families looking for a robust, multi-generational tax strategy, private placement insurance and variable annuity contracts are a viable solution.

Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s was very different from today. My favorite sandwich was the classic PB&J. Today, I would be out of luck — most schools in the U.S. don’t allow peanut butter due to the prevalence of life-threatening peanut allergies. I don’t remember any kids with a food allergy while growing up, let alone a life-threatening one. Fast forward to today, and of course we all know food allergies pervade in our schools and society.

By definition, the word “defer” means “to put off or postpone.” How exactly does this apply to the accounting for your business? Well, “The Deferreds” refer to the deferred assets and liabilities you may need to record under GAAP. There are several common categories of deferred liabilities: Deferred revenue, Deferred rent, Deferred compensation, and Deferred tax.

Should you leverage real estate investments? The answer depends on six factors, and our expert breaks down each one for you.

Like most things, the so-called Intellectual Property clause isn’t as clear as we’d like. Experts often refer to this clause as the patent and copyright clause, because “science and useful arts” refer only to patented and copyrighted creations.

At The Leading With Courage Academy, we meet a lot of people who reached the C-Suite who tell us that they don’t need to learn more about themselves or to further sharpen their leadership skills. They tend to rationalize like this: “I’m the (CEO, CFO, CMO or CXO) and know all of that stuff.”

Natural leadership is not the same thing as effective leadership. So, how do you develop effective leadership? You work at it.

Conflicts between business partners are nearly inevitable. Thankfully, there are a number of ways for parties to negotiate up-front. Precautionary agreements give you space to resolve issues more easily or, at least, provide a picture of what the result will be when resolution is not possible.

Michelle Gershfeld is a debt settlement and bankruptcy attorney who negotiates settlements between clients and their creditors. Michelle turns debt relief into an additional revenue stream for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice lawyers. Through analyzing the debt and then bargaining and negotiating with the creditors,

Learn how to negotiate a loan agreement for your business, and find out which type of loan can best help your company grow and succeed.

A litigation finance company sues for fraud relating to fraudulent litigation.

If you ever read (and I mean read, not just signed) a bank loan or revolving credit agreement, then you know the document can be a little overwhelming.

Venture capital, family offices and CPG companies are pouring money into plant-based food alternatives. Find out why investors need to take notice.

Forming a legal entity, if for no other reason to shield one’s personal assets from being at wholesale risk for the liabilities of one’s business, is critical. The question in nearly every case is not if an entity should be formed, but what type of entity should be formed.

Failure to make your rent or credit card payments can mar your credit, result in a judgment against you and even garnishment of your wages. Find out how to avoid life's common spending traps.

The smart real estate investor's checklist for Deal Sponsor diligence. When considering investing in a passive real estate deal, the qualities of the sponsor are arguably more important than the underlying real estate:

Intellectual property and cybersecurity affect our lives more than most people are aware. Learning the basics of both provides a unique perspective on just how much both topics influence the world around us and help color the decisions we make — from business decisions to financial decisions to the use of technology in our personal lives. This column hopes to teach readers the basics of intellectual property and cybersecurity through real world examples.

It is likely that Boomer women were largely uninvolved in their family’s finances throughout their lives. Males and females tend to have different priorities when it comes to managing their finances, and a woman advisor can be invaluable in helping to cater to these needs and make women feel more comfortable throughout the process.

In bankruptcy litigation, the venue can have a major influence on an outcome. Expert members of the Financial Poise Faculty—each a partner or managing director in the restructuring industry—discuss why venue fights occur and how practitioners should approach selecting venue or challenging venue in a bankruptcy case.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) recently changed revenue recognition standards, introducing many new aspects that accountants need to understand as they advise their clients in 2017.

Unfortunately, the elderly are frequent targets of fraud. Here’s how you can protect yourself and your family.

This article introduces the private placement life insurance industry and reveals planning opportunities for its products in a Trump presidency—especially in light of his proposed tax reforms.

Will President Donald Trump repeal the Estate Tax? The truth is, thanks to the estate tax exemption, most Americans already experience a de facto repeal.

When there is an issue to resolve, there is a different approach than deciding who is right and who is at fault. Think of it in terms of circular causality. In other words, how do your actions influence people? And, how does the action of others influence you?

Why should you give up diet soda, limit antibiotic use and start eating fermented foods? Over the last five years, there have been key research breakthroughs in the link between gut health and your brain, immunology and overall health.

The statute of limitations on your fraud claim may depend on when you knew (or learned) about the fraud. When did you know? If you are an (alleged) victim of fraud, you are going to be asked this question. If your lawyer is smart, she’ll ask this question very early on.

Stealing mail is a criminal federal offense. Not in a million years did Lila expect to not trust her own mail carrier—or that he would so cavalierly breach his fiduciary duties to her and to the members of her community.

Many balance sheets have a line called “Commitments and Contingencies” between the liability and equity sections. The strange part is there are no dollar amounts listed. So, what the heck are commitments and contingencies?

That said, it is critical to understand that your due diligence requirements depend on the type of asset you are investing in. Here is a short list of investment property categories to consider; each comes with a unique set of inquiries necessary to fully understand its risks and opportunities.

GREAT COMPANIES FAIL for lots of reasons that have nothing to do with their products or services. Coming up with a great idea is difficult; turning that idea into a business is even harder. We consulted members of the Financial Poise Faculty—each a professional advisor or successful entrepreneur—to discuss what it takes to start a business and get it off of the ground.

Most banks serve their customers well. But some are just trying to use you. Find out how Bank of America tried to squeeze more interest out of a client by ignoring him.

Jake’s relationship with his mother, Lily, was always a little rocky. Things were fine when they were apart—they would talk on the phone like old pals. But, when they were together, their time inevitably turned rotten. She criticized Jake from the moment he walked back into his childhood home. It was like being ten years old again.

Donald Trump's shocking ascent to the White House left the country with many questions. Top of mind for businesses and estates: What will the Trump tax plan look like?

Investing in a real estate syndication enables you to acquire a diversified portfolio of properties with the same amount of capital, and without having to undertake managerial or financial burdens.

How a strategic debt negotiation prevented a cautionary tale from becoming a tragedy. AT APPROXIMATELY 1:45 on the afternoon of April 23, 2014, Scotty Fuentes was detained by officers of the New York City Police Department in the Bronx. The police officers apparently believed that Scotty was acting as a look-out for a game of “three card monte.” Scotty denied any wrongdoing.

Take control of your personal and business relationships, and stop letting other people control your emotions.

As a food investor, I am often skeptical of the staying power of emerging trends. Is the trend a fad? Or, is it truly a groundswell that will change long-term eating patterns. According to Statista, the gluten-free foods market was $2.4 billion in 2015, up 41% from $1.7 billion in 2010. And it is projected to triple—up to $7.6 billion—by 2020.

On a bright August Sunday in 2015, Brian and Denise Neighbor, and their three children, were invited for swimming and a barbecue. It was held at the home of Matthew and Tyra Friend, who have three children of their own. The Friends recently added an in-ground pool, and most weekends the two families would spend one or both weekend days at the Friend home. But on this August Sunday, something went wrong. Everyone knew it when Matthew Friend bolted into his house, screaming for someone to call 911.

There are a lot of misconceptions around the "like-kind exchange" rules found in § 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our real estate investment expert, Tracy Treger, sets the record straight on 1031 exchanges.

Pebble raised more than $10 million on Kickstarter in 2012—a record at the time—far exceeding its $100,000 goal. Early on, Pebble seemed like a classic success story. The watch did what the company said it would: it worked well with both the iPhone and Android smartphones, it had a long battery life, and it had customizable watch faces. It was inexpensive, to boot. Intel, at one point, reportedly offered to buy Pebble for $70 million; Citizen offered $740 million.

In episode 93 of Financial Poise Radio, our Chris Cahill and Avi Levine, of Star Funding, Inc., discuss out-of-the-box ways[...]

Franchising is booming, as more and more people realize the multiple benefits it offers. Chances are you’ve already engaged with a franchise at some stage today, whether it was stopping in for your morning coffee or hitting the gym to burn it off. Franchising is now so developed that it tends to touch each and every one of us in our daily lives in many different forms. However, it may not be for you.

Accrued expenses, sometimes called accrued liabilities, are costs incurred by the business without an invoice. Transactions like these are not recorded right away.

Rachel and Deanna, mother and daughter, had a difference of opinion. You see, Deanna received mail this week from 1st Financial Bank. Inside, three separate documents invited her to apply for a student credit card. Deanna wanted the card. Rachel was hesitant, and rightfully so. Let me explain why...

It was 4:00 AM when the police convoy rolled up on Country Crossing, a new electronic bingo house in Alabama. No fewer than 135 state police cars cascaded into the rural compound. In the aftermath, a group of NFL players—including big names like Ray Lewis and Fred Taylor—lost tens of millions of dollars.

Discuss the sensitive subject of motherhood and working wives before you find yourself in an emotionally entrenched situation threatening your family’s stability. Ask tough questions now and answer them honestly together, for the sake of your family’s future.

A living will provides, in detail, specific medical treatments you want to be used to be kept alive under various circumstances. Your living will explains how to address your pain management and your decisions regarding organ donation.

Frauds! Fakes! Ponzis! In Episode 92, Chris Cahill and Adam Hirsch, of Robinson, Curley & Clayton speak of these fascinating things, along with RICO! Restitution! and Receivers! Adam draws upon his experience litigating business fraud cases to illustrate recoveries and defenses. See also Adam's column -- (Alleged) Frauds, Fakes and Ponzis -- on www.financialpoise.com.

These rules of thumb aren’t magic. In fact, they are really, really simple. The reason these little rules of thumb work so well is that they are not daunting. They are also really flexible. Your brain won’t subconsciously accept a new habit until it believes you are capable. So when you follow through on them, you’re training your money brain to develop good habits and feel great about them!

There's a lot of ways to be successful. A venture capitalist succeeds when their start-up investment nets a million dollars the first year. A successful writer may get a book on a best-seller list. A parent's definition of success is very different.

Harry doesn’t like fighting about money with his wife. But it keeps happening, he tells me, and something has got to change.

Back in May, Financial Poise featured an article, Social Media and the Future of Credit:? A?New Reason to Invest in[...]

The internal rate of return, or “IRR,” is the percentage that reflects what any individual investment is expected to yield from inception to sale. It takes into account anticipated cash flow and appreciation, as well as the time value of the capital invested.

Relationships are work. Most couples don’t find that out until they are in the thick of it. It’s the secret our parents didn’t tell us. It is also the one that we are tending more and more to tell our kids. Building a life, raising children, and managing careers with another person can overwhelm even the most committed relationship. Two people carry with them two sets of needs and two sets of expectations. As life moves forward, it tends to get more complicated and couples can get lost along the way.

When I think about making food for the holidays, I plan my menu based on tradition and, of course, the family favorites...but inevitably, I go over my budget. I slave over my food, cooking for days, and spend way too much money. All for a meal that could be gone less than 20 minutes after it's served.

Gambling is defined as playing “games of chance for money” and “taking risky action in the hope of a desired result.” At a time when so many of us are up to our eyeballs in debt, is it really wise to “invest” your money this way?

In Episode 91, Chris Cahill and Jeff Pomerantz, President of the American Bankruptcy Institute and member of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP, discuss retail and Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

If you can't pay your bills because of circumstances out of your control, it does not make you immoral. Money transactions are business - not moral - decisions.

Can you agree to be defrauded? This may sound like an odd question. But, in this space showed before, the law[...]

Editor's note: The hedge fund industry faces tough times. In September, Financial Poise reported that an increasing number of America's biggest[...]