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Recently President Obama proposed several changes to the employment law and in specific circumstances signed an executive order to have these rules apply to federal workers.  Over the past several months our clients have been reaching out asking for clarification and we thought it was important to share some of these questions and our responses.

Are you are bogged down by the busywork of tracking bills and payments? Have you found yourself being in a less-than-ideal relationship with your vendors and suppliers? Then there’s a chance your accounts payable are out-of-control.  In this issue of Accountability, Diane describes ways to evaluate your processes and clean up your accounts payable.

Dear Dan, I remember very clearly getting my first paycheck. I remember a deduction described as “Social Security.” I remember reading articles predicting that Social Security would be bankrupt by the time I was ready to draw on it. Well, today I am 60 years old, and I just wrote to Social Security to get a copy of my benefits. Now I write to you for advice on which option I should elect. I am confused as to when to take Social Security. I am married and my spouse works with me in the business I own. My daughter will be my successor. The business and its real estate have no debts. So, when should I begin to take Social Security? Signed, No Idea in the Hills of Kentucky  Dear No Idea, When to take Social Security is not a […]

Dear Dan, I’m a long-time reader, first-time writer.  I have an estate of about $4 million.   I am married. My will was written in 2005 by the best law firm in Chicago (Al Capone used it so it must be good). Upon my death, my will creates a family trust and credit shelter trust. I do 200 calls out of one location and own my real estate. I have second-to-die life insurance and life insurance in an irrevocable trust. I fund it each year, giving my kids a present interest in that trust. This plan allows for zero federal estate taxes. I am ill. Not sickly but not buying any green bananas either. Yesterday, I played golf with a young estate lawyer who told me that due to the change in the federal estate tax, all of the wills, insurance […]

Dan Isard interprets five key dynamics of the 2015 NFDA Consumer Awareness and Preferences Survey.  While funeral directors should review the entire survey he focuses on 5 key dynamics: Attendance, Shopping, Choosing a Funeral Home, Religion and Cremation.  According to Dan, these are important trends or awareness points of consumer interaction.