by Stan Stahl, Ph.D. / originally written for and published on SecureTheVillage.org Hundreds of thousands of Microsoft Exchange Server systems have been hacked by what appears to be an unusually aggressive Chinese cyber espionage unit. Compromised systems have a powerful backdoor Trojan Horse installed allowing the attackers to take complete control of the Exchange server […]
Congress has passed the latest legislation aimed at providing economic and other relief from the COVID-19 pandemic that has haunted the country for the last year. President Biden is expected to sign the 628-page American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which includes $1.9 trillion in funding for individuals, businesses, and state and local governments. The ARPA […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, which is of interest to employers. It clarifies the duration of certain COVID-19-related deadline extensions that apply to health care benefits plans. Extensions to continue The DOL and IRS issued guidance last year specifying that the COVID-19 outbreak period — defined as beginning […]
For many people, an important goal of estate planning is to leave a legacy for their children, grandchildren and future generations. And what better way to do that than to help provide for their educational needs? A 529 plan can be a highly effective tool for funding tuition and other educational expenses on a tax-advantaged […]
When the Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) last year, the program’s stated objective was “to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.” However, according to federal officials, the recently issued second round of funding has distributed only a small percentage of the $15 billion […]
If you’re approaching retirement, you probably want to ensure the money you’ve saved in retirement plans lasts as long as possible. If so, be aware that a law was recently enacted that makes significant changes to retirement accounts. The SECURE Act, which was signed into law in late 2019, made a number of changes of […]
If your business sponsors a 401(k) plan, you might someday consider adding designated Roth contributions. Here are some factors to explore when deciding whether such a feature would make sense for your company and its employees. Key differences Roth contributions differ from other elective deferrals in two key tax respects. First, they’re irrevocably designated to […]
For employers that still maintain a pension plan, losing contact with former employees who are vested can be problematic. The issue typically becomes most acute when it’s time for those participants to begin receiving their required minimum distributions (RMDs). Everyone’s problem From a plan sponsor perspective, incurring administrative charges for servicing “lost” participant accounts, whether […]
Did you know that you can put restrictions on charitable donations you make through your estate? If you want the peace of mind that your donations are used to fulfill your intended charitable purposes, you’ll need to take the steps to add restrictions. Reasons to add restrictions Even if a charity is financially sound when […]
The use of audit analytics can help during the planning and review stages of the audit. But analytics can have an even bigger impact when these procedures are used to supplement substantive testing during fieldwork. Definition of “analytics” Auditors use analytical procedures to evaluate financial information by assessing relationships among financial and nonfinancial data. Examples […]
“How can C-suiters and IT teams sleep better at night when there are so many mounting threats to our digital security? Los Angeles Times Brand Publishing turned to four uniquely knowledgeable cybersecurity experts for their thoughts and insights about threats businesses face in today’s digital world, and what executives can do to safeguard the privacy […]
If you’re getting ready to file your 2020 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there might still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the April 15, 2021 filing date and benefit from the tax […]