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Avoid These 3 Mistakes When Choosing a Successor for Your Business

Posted by Susan Ford | Mar 28, 2024 | 0 Comments

Selecting the individual to lead your business after you step down is a huge decision. It's not merely about finding someone who mirrors your personality or whom you favor personally. Rather, the crux lies in identifying a successor who possesses the right qualifications plus the vision and capabilities to steer your company toward continued success. During this pivotal decision-making process, it's essential to sidestep these three common pitfalls that often hinder business owners when naming successors, as they can blur objectivity and impede the chosen candidate's ability to effectively assume control of the company.

Understanding the Intersection of Love and Law

Posted by Susan Ford | Mar 21, 2024 | 0 Comments

Love is wonderful—joyful moments, shared dreams for the future, and yes, some legal considerations too. For married couples, the law has default provisions in place for what happens to your assets if one of you dies, but those default plans may not align with your personal preferences or the life you’ve built with your partner.

3 Best Practices For Setting Up Your Life Insurance Policy

Posted by Susan Ford | Feb 20, 2024 | 0 Comments

A comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan is about creating a strategy that lets you enjoy your life to the fullest while protecting your loved ones' future when you can no longer be there. It might seem like life insurance is an easy way to help secure your loved ones’ future – and it is – but your policy must be set up in the right way to have the best possible impact on your family.

3 Reasons Why You Need an Employee Handbook

Posted by Susan Ford | Feb 20, 2024 | 0 Comments

If your business is on the path to hiring or already has a team in place, creating an employee handbook is a must. Not only does it ensure that your workforce is well-versed in your company policies, but it protects your business from conflicts and loss in the future.

Should Your Business Be Using Non-Disclosure Agreements?

Posted by Susan Ford | Jan 16, 2024 | 0 Comments

At the core of many successful businesses lies a treasure trove of trade secrets—unique processes, formulas, or strategies that give a company a competitive edge. Whether it's the secret sauce behind your best-selling product or the innovative approach that sets your services apart, trade secrets are invaluable. And, short of trade secrets, even just confidential business information can be gold. But even if you know how valuable your business’s confidential information is, are you taking the appropriate steps to safeguard it? Beyond using physical and digital security tools in your business, there is another tool that can provide a shield for your proprietary data: a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Today, we explore why your business should consider incorporating NDAs into its operations and how this legal tool can be a crucial asset in protecting your company’s valuable secrets.

3 Ways to Comfort and Support A Loved One in Mourning

Posted by Susan Ford | Jan 16, 2024 | 0 Comments

Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging experience, and the journey through grief can be both complex and overwhelming. Unfortunately, we all experience grief at one time or another, and knowing how to manage your own grief and how to be there for others who are grieving is an important skill that can improve your life and relationships. Our firm understands that our role extends beyond legal matters. In times of loss, it's crucial to provide comfort and support to those grieving, and when they’re ready, guidance for the steps ahead. In this blog, we explore practical and heartfelt ways to hold space for your loved ones who are mourning.

The 3 People Every Entrepreneur Needs On Their Team

Posted by Susan Ford | Jan 16, 2024 | 0 Comments

Owning a business can be a thrilling adventure and an outlet for your most creative ideas. But behind the scenes of creativity and ambition, there's a practical reality that every business owner faces. To succeed, you need more than ideas and drive—it's about having the right team in place. We’ll explore three critical roles that are essential to your business's success and how the support from these individuals can make all the difference between a business that fails and a business that achieves sustainable growth and progress.

Roll Unused 529 College Savings Into a Roth IRA

Posted by Susan Ford | Jan 16, 2024 | 0 Comments

In December 2022, Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act, bringing significant changes to the world of retirement savings and student loans. Two key parts of the Secure 2.0 Act are in effect, and they could substantially impact your family's financial future. We’ll explain how the new law affects your unused 529 college savings account and what that means for your future savings.

4 Tools To Protect Your Business and Your Family

Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 12, 2023 | 0 Comments

Without a proper estate plan, the business you worked so hard to build could be in serious jeopardy when something happens to you. Not only that, but since your business is likely your most valuable asset, proactive planning is crucial not only for your company’s continued survival, but for your family’s future well-being as well.

3 Things You Need To Know About Retirement Distributions

Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 12, 2023 | 0 Comments

If you’re part of a blended family (meaning you are married with children from a prior marriage in the mix), you’re no stranger to the extra considerations and planning it takes to keep your family’s life running smoothly. You’ve also probably given some thought to what you want to happen to your assets and your family if something happens to you.

4 Steps to Trademark Your Business Name and Protect Your Brand

Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 12, 2023 | 0 Comments

Your company's name is more than just a label; it's a valuable asset that not only represents your brand but represents the legacy of your work in the world as well. It tells your clients, customers, and community who you are and what your business stands for. Protecting your business name through trademark registration can be a crucial step in securing your brand identity and preventing others from using a name you’ve invested in without your permission. In this blog, we'll walk you through the essential steps to trademark your business name – ensuring it remains uniquely

Transition to Adulthood: The Legal Impact of Your Child Turning 18

Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 12, 2023 | 0 Comments

Soon after the challenges of puberty and the excitement of high school, an even larger milestone looms: the 18th birthday. It marks your child’s transition from childhood to adulthood, and with it, new responsibilities and rights. From a legal standpoint, this milestone also brings significant changes that every parent should be aware of.

How to Find Work-Life Balance As A Business Owner

Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 12, 2023 | 0 Comments

Having a mind for business isn’t a bad thing – after all, a lot of great ideas come to us when we least expect it. But if you find yourself frustrated, resentful, anxious, or feeling obligated to respond to emails and messages at all hours of the day and night, it’s time to reassess and redefine your business boundaries.

Naming Godparents Does Not Create Legal Guardians

Posted by Susan Ford | Nov 18, 2023 | 0 Comments

As a parent, your top priority is the well-being and future of your children. You plan for their education, health, and happiness, and often this planning includes the tradition of choosing godparents to guide and mentor your children if something happens to you. While selecting godparents is a meaningful tradition in many cultures, it's important to understand that naming a godparent is not the same thing as naming a legal guardian for your children.

8 Things To Do Now to Lower Your 2023 Taxes

Posted by Susan Ford | Nov 18, 2023 | 0 Comments

It might seem a bit early to think about your 2023 taxes, but as the year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to take a closer look at your financial situation and make some strategic moves that can help you minimize your tax liability come April.

Mastering Time Management: 4 Effective Strategies for Busy Entrepreneurs - Part 2

Posted by Susan Ford | Nov 18, 2023 | 0 Comments

If you’re like many business owners, you probably feel like there isn’t enough time in the day for everything you need to do, let alone everything else you’d like to do. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Last week I explored how to use time blocking and task management tools to better manage your time and get more out of your work day. This week, I’m sharing two more methods every business owner should use to get more done, stay more organized, and have more time to take care of yourself and the people who depend on you.

6 Estate Planning Must-Do's After You Say “I Do” - Part 2

Posted by Susan Ford | Oct 21, 2023 | 0 Comments

Getting married and starting a new chapter in your life is an exciting time. It’s also a time that requires a lot of housekeeping such as updating your address if your marriage includes a move, changing your tax filing status with your employer, and adding your new spouse to your bank and credit card accounts. But did you know that creating (or updating) your estate plan should also be on your post-wedding to-do list?

Mastering Time Management: 4 Effective Strategies for Busy Entrepreneurs - Part 1

Posted by Susan Ford | Oct 21, 2023 | 0 Comments

Time is your most valuable resource, and how you manage it can significantly impact the success of your business and your personal well-being. But finding effective ways to organize your schedule and manage your team can feel like a time-consuming task in itself. If you feel overwhelmed by your calendar or like there is no room in your day to take care of your personal needs, it’s time to revisit your time management methods. To help you reclaim control over your schedule, boost productivity, and reduce stress, consider these life-changing time management strategies.

6 Estate Planning Must-Do's After You Say “I Do” - Part 1

Posted by Susan Ford | Oct 21, 2023 | 0 Comments

A lot changes once your marriage is official, but how you and your spouse want your finances to be managed or how you would want medical decisions to be made for each other are not automatically documented when you say “I do.” If you become incapacitated for any reason before your estate plan is complete, your spouse would not have the legal authority to make medical decisions for you even though you’re married. Your loved one would also have no access to your bank accounts, and in the event of your death, could even be put into a position of losing the home and possessions that you owned together. Instead, your choices for yourself, each other, and your life together need to be properly documented to ensure your wishes are respected and honored no matter what the future holds.

Understanding Business Interruption Insurance

Posted by Susan Ford | Oct 21, 2023 | 0 Comments

As a business owner, you may be familiar with the need for liability insurance to protect yourself and your business from lawsuits caused by injuries or accidents. But how do you protect your business’s income from outside forces that affect your productivity, supply, and revenue? Picture this: You've built your dream business from the ground up. It's thriving, and you're enjoying the fruits of your labor. But then, disaster strikes. Whether it's a natural calamity like a hurricane, a fire, or a global pandemic that forces you to shut your doors temporarily, your income takes a nosedive. That's where Business Interruption Insurance comes in.

Got Minor Kids? 3 Instances When Your Estate Plan Must Include A Kids Protection Plan®

Posted by Susan Ford | Oct 21, 2023 | 0 Comments

As a parent, you have probably thought about the importance of naming permanent legal guardians for your child in case something happens to you, and maybe you have already done it. If you haven’t yet, take this as the sign that now’s the time to do it, in case the unthinkable happens to you.  But in some cases, naming permanent legal guardians for your child may not be enough to guarantee your kids will always be cared for in the way you want by the people you want. And, there may even be a risk of your kids being taken into the care of strangers or someone you would never want. Read on to find out if that’s the case for your family, and if it is, contact us to get your Kids Protection Plan® in place. 

Got Intellectual Property? Include It In Your Estate Plan

Posted by Susan Ford | Sep 09, 2023 | 0 Comments

You don't have to be a famous producer or household name to own intellectual property. If you create music, own a business, write stories, or build gadgets in your garage, you almost certainly have intellectual property. However, because intellectual property is intangible, it's often overlooked. And if you do have intellectual property, it may hold significant sentimental and even monetary value for you and the people who love you. Without properly planning for these works in your estate plan, your family could lose these valuable assets forever...

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