Trusts and the Trustee Role: What You Need to Know Before You Say Yes

A trust is a very effective and versatile tool in estate planning, but the arrangements made via a trust only work as well as the person running it. Whether you're setting up a trust and need to name a trustee,...

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Hidden Gaps: What Busy Plan Sponsors Tend to Miss

Most fiduciary problems at small and mid-size businesses don't start with bad intentions. Business owners sponsor retirement plans for good reasons: to help employees build their futures, to compete for talent, and to save for their own retirement too. Trouble...

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Retirement Plans: Ease, Please

While there is no doubt that sponsoring a retirement plan, like a 401k, for employees is a wonderful thing to do, the burden for small business owners can feel heavy. Meanwhile, getting engaged in the plan can feel overwhelming to...

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On the Path To Growth? Prevent Margin Erosion

Picture closing out what seems on the surface like a successful year. Crews were busy from March through November, the bid calendar never slowed down, and revenue hit a company record. Then the year-end numbers come in, and the profit...

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Next Summer’s School Builds: Get Strategic In the Fall

When most people think about school construction, they picture summer: empty hallways, busy crews, and a race to finish before the first bell. For contractors who want next summer's work, though, November (think Election Day) is key: on ballots across...

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Personal Representative: Diligent Heir Search?

If a probate court designates you as the personal representative charged with closing out the affairs of someone who died “intestate” (without a will),  you are not merely doing a favor for relations or friends. You are legally considered a...

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TRO: Relief During A Civil Lawsuit

A TRO, a temporary restraining order, acts like a “pause button” during a civil lawsuit. Alternatively referred to as a temporary injunction, a TRO halts actions that might cause irreparable damage to one party in a lawsuit until the court...

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401k: Operational Inertia? 

While many business owners focus heavily on the initial setup involved in sponsoring a 401k for employees—selecting a recordkeeper, choosing a fund menu, and enrolling staff—the ongoing administration of the plan often falls by the wayside as day-to-day business demands...

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Airport Improvement: Lots More Money Allocated

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new grants to 280 airports across the country, aimed at improving critical infrastructure and safety. Where’s the action and how can you get in on it? Read on for updates on airport construction...

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Why The Change? Who Knows?

Change orders are part of life in the construction industry. Unfortunately, sloppy records pertaining to why a change was made, who signed off on it, and what the “before and after” drawings looked like often contribute to major disputes and...

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