Many donors who give substantial sums regularly or on occasion often make the same mistake – not having a plan. Donor-advised funds offer a great way to give with a plan. Donor-advised funds are charitable giving vehicles administered by a public charity. They are created to...
Performing due diligence is the cornerstone of any business decision, including who to hire. When hiring an employee or an independent contractor, running a background check – which may include a criminal background check, work and educational history, among other components – can help ensure...
Many small business owners are unable to offer their employees retirement savings plans because they are overwhelmed with concerns regarding current regulatory issues and fiduciary responsibilities. This situation has become more critical in the past decade. The Federal Reserve issued a report last year showing...
Summer is in full swing here at Blackman & Sloop. Here are just a few of the fun things we’ve been up to! The firm was honored to be named in the Indy Weekly's annual "Best of the Triangle". Blackman & Sloop was voted "Best Accountant" Fun...
We’ve all been asked to donate to charity from family, friends and when we shop at stores during the holidays. Donating to our favorite cause can help cure a disease or help those less fortunate. However, not all charities are managed equally, leading to different...
Most small business owners know that staying competitive means working longer hours. If you own or have an equity stake in the business, longer work days may not be such a burden because you hope to reap the rewards of your extra effort. But how...
If the Pew Research Center's findings from its Mobile Technology Fact Sheet are any indication of mobile device usage, your business should consider developing a mobile app. With nine in 10 Americans using a cellphone and 64 percent of the U.S. population possessing a smartphone, there...
The Internet, email and instant messaging give us speed and efficiency, but sometimes the efficiencies come at a price. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a message that seems curt, inappropriate or just plain rude, you know that small nuances and forethought...
Now that we are past the traditional individual tax return filing deadline of April 15, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to amend your return. In order to help you understand the process of amending a return, let’s look at a...
If you’ve ever hoped for an excuse to dodge a business reception or a trade show cocktail party, you know that mastering small talk is a big ordeal for many people. It’s estimated that about one-third of the population are true introverts, another third out-and-out...
