ARTICLES

Collusion – a secret agreement between two or more individuals for a deceitful or fraudulent purpose – is one of the most difficult types of fraud to expose. Auditors routinely excuse themselves from the responsibility of detecting fraud, collusion...

A yearly audit from your CPA cannot – and should not – be replaced by internal auditing. But during the year, keep a trained eye on your company’s expense accounts. That’s an important step that can avert problems and bring savings to your company....

The job of recruiting new managers does not end with the new hire – or the promotion from within. It begins there. It is now up to you to groom your new manager for success. Grooming managers is a hands-on, proactive process. Kicking back will not...

Customer focus groups can provide clues for increasing sales and revenue, but only if you ask the right questions. Here are some tips for coming up with a first-rate list of questions for your groups. Decide on the objectives for your focus groups....

We've all heard the news. The Baby Boomers have begun turning 65, the traditional retirement age. Over the next 19 years, all the Baby Boomers will hit that milestone. While not everyone wants to retire at that magic age, it is a reminder that time...

The nonbusiness energy property tax credit was extended for one year by Congress in the December tax bill. It allows homeowners a credit for the cost of making certain energy-efficient home improvements. But before you make a qualifying purchase...

These challenging economic times have meant a bit of belt tightening for most of us. If you’re in this mode, here are a few major expense items you might want to consider. 1. Insurance Most people believe they have to carry insurance and, in most...

For the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2010, the IRS examined about 18.4 percent of returns filed by the highest income demographic – people with income in excess of $10 million. That represents a significant increase from the prior year, when the...

The economy is starting to look up again. This means your company is likely to be doing more hiring and promoting. If you're interested in moving ahead in your career (and who isn't?), this is the time to make some personal career resolutions that...

Nearly 9 out of 10 executives say it's common for business professionals to check their e-mail during meetings, although about a third of them totally disapprove of the practice and say e-mail devices should be turned off and not brought to a...

Sometimes called "Generation Y" or the "Echo Boomers," these individuals were born between 1979 and 2000. The earlier Millennials are the newest members of our workforce and are often the children of the Baby Boomers. They represent a large number...

Running a business is complicated. It takes many skills.  Most business owners don't possess all the abilities required. While employees can sometimes fill the gaps in the owner's skill set, at other times, hiring a consultant may make sense....