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I have been hearing “10 year Hurricane Sandy Survivor Stories” on the radio these last few days.  As one myself I have many memories of the how hard  it was to literally dig out from the sand deposited by the ocean while emptying  rooms of furniture, clothing, sheetrock, etc., destroyed by salt water. I know people love hearing the stories of how communities came together to work with neighbors, friends,…  Read more

All this rain brought me another 100+ fig week and I am so glad that I can trade my figs for my friend’s heirloom tomatoes… We are doing some work on my house (yes finally finishing our kitchen); the other day one of the carpenters explained that my figs and fig tree saved his hand:  he relayed that he was out in our backyard, smashed his finger with a tool,…  Read more

Even if you’re fully vaccinated and have your COVID-19 boosters up to date, there is a possibility you’ll still get a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Vox has a list of things you can do now to prepare: get a booster and a flu shot figure out how you can most easily get tested, including possibly purchasing an at-home test kit continue wearing your mask, and consider upgrading to a more…  Read more

This recent article in the Washington Post has highlighted (please sing as you read) where have all the employees gone…to the legal cannabis industry,  which has been absorbing furloughed, laid-off, and disenchanted retail and restaurant workers at a rapid pace throughout the pandemic. An estimated 321,000 people in the U.S. work in the industry, more than work as dentists, paramedics, or electrical engineers. Burnout, overwork, and challenges with unhappy customers in retail during…  Read more

Thanks to tight supply chains and logistics in the developed world, many people have grown accustomed to receiving whatever they ordered promptly and predictably. That era may be over, as shortages are likely to continue. Toyota will be slashing production of cars by 40% in the face of a continuing chip shortage. It may be another year – or two – before shortages in sectors from construction to medical testing to…  Read more

As a small business owner, you’re likely always looking for ways to achieve more. Maybe you created a 90 Day Action Plan at the beginning of the month or quarter and are feeling the pressure. Have you “taken action” yet?  You might have resolved to make more money, find more clients, or grow your business. It’s fantastic to have an idea of what you want to do, but… How will…  Read more

Think your taxes went up because of the new tax law, think again. It may be time to hire an expert! Caution! Don’t have breakfast at my house. Those who know us, know that even though the coffee is amazing, our refrigerator is usually bare. Of course if we know you will be visiting we will pick up bagels and cream cheese and you are in luck if we are…  Read more

“If it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix IT” doesn’t make sense in the Business World It might not be broken, but carefully thought out processes can help make your business run more smoothly and profitably. An analogy was playing in my head as I was updating my PowerPoint about the benefits of implementing practice management for a recent accounting conference: Several times during the week one of the staff used the…  Read more

Many small business owners assume that cyber attacks only happen to big companies, banks or governments. But the truth is, limited knowledge of digital security and lack of defenses make small businesses particularly vulnerable to attack as well. Research shows that 71% of all cyber attacks happen to businesses with less than 100 employees – and yet many CEOs have yet to invest in a formal defense plan. The July…  Read more

It’s been 2 months since Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria hit, changing lives forever.  The Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway extension Act of 2017 signed into law on September 29th offers specific disaster victims alternative methods of reporting eligible Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria disaster losses on their 2017 tax returns.  Remember these are temporary and limited to specifically identified areas and victims. Please visit our…  Read more

9 Financial Opportunities for Disaster Victims of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma & Hurricane Maria: Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, grant money, employer credits, charitable contributions and relaxed restrictions on accessing your retirement funds for assistance with building back your life. I am a Hurricane Sandy victim and survivor. My home and office are located on a beach block in Rockaway Queens, New York. Our street became a river and I…  Read more

I too am a disaster victim and survivor.  I woke up on the morning of October 29th, 2012 to clear skies and stepped out of my house, walked down my front stairs onto the 3 feet of sand that had washed up from the beach during the storm.  As I started walking towards the beach (at the end of my block) I thought to myself “I don’t remember Kathy’s house having a…  Read more