Hurricanes Likely Affecting Sales

Kiplinger’s latest forecast on retail sales and consumer spending iStockphoto By David Payne, Staff EconomistSeptember 27, 2017 Overall sales tumbled in August as sales of autos, building materials, clothing and electronics declined. Hurricane Harvey can partially be blamed, just as Irma is likely hitting September sales. But expect a rebound in the final quarter of […]

5 Stocks to Sell Now

Symbol: TSLA Share price: $345.25 Market capitalization: $57.7 billion 52-week range: $178.19 – $389.61 Year-to-date return: 61.6% Estimated 2017 earnings: – $7.46 Estimated 2018 earnings: – $0.78 Price-earnings ratio: Not meaningful Tesla has had plenty to celebrate this year. In July, the company finally launched its first mass-market sedan, the Model 3, to rave reviews, […]

Traits of Scam Victims: Industriousness, Curiosity, Geniality

Industriousness Knowing you’re a diligent worker, scammers send out most malware-containing emails and mobile scams early in the business day, when you’re busiest or most distracted. The flow spikes right around lunchtime. Advice: Slow down. “Think before clicking on a link — especially during high activity times such as the upcoming holidays,” suggests Gary Davis […]

Court Affirms Judgment For Estate Representative Due To A Statute-Of-Limitations Tolling Statute

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

Thinking About a “Work from Anywhere” Arrangement? Ask These Questions First

Executive Summary Becoming location-independent and traveling the world is more possible than ever. With the internet and a laptop, scores of professions that were once desk-bound — consulting, writing, researching, designing, and more — are now free to conduct business from around the globe. But is the lifestyle right for you? Before making the decision, […]

Managing the Perks and Pitfalls of Proactive People

Executive Summary Companies need proactive employees. They are essential for suggesting, developing, and sustaining innovative new projects and for helping companies stay competitive. But organizations must make sure that proactive employees know the types of risks to take and those to avoid. On the one hand, top managers need to provide autonomy so that middle […]

Too Much Charisma Can Make Leaders Look Less Effective

Executive Summary Conventional wisdom suggests that the most charismatic leaders are also the best leaders. But research shows that, while at least a moderate level of charisma is important, too much may hinder a leader’s effectiveness. Three studies — involving 800 business leaders globally and around 7,500 of their superiors, peers, and subordinates — suggests that […]

How to Regain the Lost Art of Reflection

Executive Summary Executives spend too much time on information processing, reaction, and execution, and not enough on slow, deliberative, reflective thinking. But some CEOs have managed to resist these tendencies. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg read extensively, safeguard time for personal development projects, and constantly seek new stimulus and perspectives. Leaders such as […]

As European Banks Retreat from the World Stage, China Is Stepping Up

Executive Summary It has been 10 years since the global financial crisis, and the fall-out continues in the industry that was at its epicentre: banking. There has been a truly dramatic retrenchment from foreign markets, making banking a rare case of an industry becoming less, rather than more, global. But as European banks retreat, China […]

The True Cost of Gray Divorce

Typically, the longer you’ve been together, the more assets you’ve acquired, and the more expensive the process. I’ve seen couples spend $200,000 in legal fees. And you have less time to recover financially from divorce the closer you are to retirement. Source: Kiplinger The True Cost of Gray Divorce

Equifax and Why It’s So Hard to Sue a Company for Losing Your Personal Information

Executive Summary The Equifax breach is different from previous breaches. It isn’t the largest or the most embarrassing, but it involves personal data that people didn’t directly give to Equifax, which makes the nature of the breach unique. The company is facing a number of lawsuits, and Congress is demanding answers. But U.S. citizens may find […]

Projected Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions for 2018 – How Much Can You Transfer?

The Consumer Price Index was released by the Labor Department in August 2017. Not everyone anxiously awaits the release of these numbers but the experts have now made estimates of how they will impact estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes for 2018.  These are not official numbers – the Internal Revenue Service will publish the […]

IRS Issues Proposed Guidance on the Definition of Registered Form

On September 15, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued proposed regulations (REG-125374-16) amending the definition of obligations that are in registered form to take into account current market practices and changes made by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. In addition, the proposed regulations clarify the types of arrangements that qualify as “pass-through […]

The Grocery Industry Confronts a New Problem: Only 10% of Americans Love Cooking

Executive Summary The food and grocery industry feels threatened by Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, but it faces a bigger but quieter threat: the long-term decline of people’s interest in cooking. Instead of ignoring this behavioral shift, food companies should become more proactive by exiting categories that have no future, focusing on super-premium products, and using […]

Leaky gut: What is it, and what does it mean for you?

Before the medical community had better understanding of the mechanisms that cause disease, doctors believed certain ailments could originate from imbalances in the stomach. This was called hypochondriasis. (In Ancient Greek, hypochondrium refers to the upper part of the abdomen, the region between the breastbone and the navel.) This concept was rejected as science evolved […]

50 Ways to Save on Health Care

Some facilities charge hundreds of dollars more for x-rays and tests than competing providers. “I’ve seen people get charged $500 for an x-ray that should be about $30. It happens all the time,” says Jeffrey Rice, CEO of Healthcare Bluebook, which compares prices using a nationwide database of medical payments. Independent radiology centers often charge […]

Section 7C

Raising the red flag on low interest and interest free loans to trusts Over the years, trusts have consistently proved to be a reliable and attractive vehicle for many, offering flexibility and benefits with regard to estate planning, investments, the protection of assets and tax planning. However, the increased use in trusts has led to […]

Loans Offered by SBA for Hurricane Victims

There are a number of types of relief available from the agency: physical business loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged property; economic injury loans to help small businesses meet ordinary and necessary financial obligations; and home business loans to repair or replace disaster-damage real estate and personal property. Loans for physical businesses and economic injury […]

[Webinar] Issues and Recent Developments in Art Law – October 5th, 11:00am ET

Issues and Recent Developments in Art Law 10/05/2017 11:00 AM – 10/05/2017 12:00 PM Program HighlightsPlease join Christie’s and the Locke Lord LLP Art Law Group for an overview of the art market and key legal issues. Thursday, October 5, 201711:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Eastern)Program will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m.. Please register below […]

Men (back) at work

My father was ecstatic when he retired from the US Postal Service after 30 years. But it didn’t take long before he began to miss the packlike male bonding he took for granted: group lunches, team projects, water cooler banter. When they were gone, it left a big hole in his life. “Men acquire friends […]

Durable General Powers of Attorney

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

FBI Negotiation Tips for Navigating High-Pressure Situations – SPONSOR CONTENT FROM HBX

Your success at the negotiation table requires a blend of different techniques. Chris Voss, former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, spent his career navigating high-pressure situations. While most individuals will never be bargaining to save a human life like Voss did, each of us negotiates daily with colleagues, vendors, friends, and family members. […]

Audit of Predeceased Spouse Permitted for Purposes of DSUE Adjustment for Surviving Spouse’s Estate

A husband died in 2012, and his estate filed a gift tax return to report a deceased spousal unused exclusion (DSUE) and elected portability. The IRS sent a letter to husband’s estate accepting the estate tax return as filed. Portability allows a surviving spouse or the estate of that surviving spouse to use the unused […]

Why does hair turn gray?

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling If you look at photos of President Obama taken before he ran for president and since he left office, you’ll notice a distinct difference: where there used to be only dark brown hair, there is now far more gray than brown. It seems that the stress of running a country […]

Is There An Echo In Here? What You Need To Consider About Privacy Protection

An “Echo Dot” device, left, and an “Echo” device stand on display during the U.K. launch event for the Amazon.com Inc. Echo voice-controlled home assistant speaker in London, U.K., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. The Seattle-based company today announced that its Echo product line will be available in the U.K. and Germany starting in the […]

IRS Extends Tax Relief to Hurricane Irma Victims

The announcement applies to Floridians in Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union and […]

Governor Christie Signs Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act into Law

On September 13, 2017, Governor Chris Christie signed into law New Jersey Assembly Bill A-3433, otherwise known as the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (“UFADAA”).  The Act becomes effective ninety days after the Governor’s enactment and applies to those persons who are residents of the State of New Jersey or who resided in […]

Financial Impact of Florida Keys Shutting Down

The storm and subsequent closings are, of course, a massive blow to the area’s $2.7 billion tourism industry; the island chain is typically abuzz with visitors snorkeling, fishing and dolphin-spotting. Hotels are reimbursing visitors who’ve already paid for rooms, according to Ashley Serrate, a representative from the Keys’ Tourism Development Council. The businesses here have […]

Scam Alert: Anti-Aging Snake Oil, Lawsuits, Wrinkles – AARP Bulletin

But even if Harry’s Supreme Formula HGH and Youthful Vigor HGH actually contained human growth hormone, consider this bit of knowledge: When taken in pill form—and not injected—real HGH is degraded by enzymes in the intestines before it can reach the bloodstream, rendering it useless, says Marc R. Blackman, M.D., of the National Center for […]

Finally, Confirmation that Finality and Protections are Available to Trustees Under the Ohio Trust Code  

Reprinted from Probate Law Journal of Ohio, with permission of Thomson Reuters.  Copyright © 2017 Years after the initial enactment of the Ohio Trust Code and articles published in this journal1 the Tenth District Ohio Court of Appeals in Zook, et al. v. JP Morgan Chase Bank National Association, et al., 10th Dist. No. 15AP-751, 2017-Ohio-838, […]