Examining executive pay – corporate tendencies now and for the future
Executive compensation is something stockholders really don’t care about when a company is profitable and stock values are going up and paying dividends. And right now, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is seesawing around a record high 16,000 mark. But there are times when people do wonder what’s going on. Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek compared executive compensation to the average workers’ pay. The highest ratio was […]
Tom Walker: An asset for entrepreneurs — Building mutually beneficial business relationships
In 20 years of dealing with entrepreneurs and investors nearly every day, I have learned with certainty that in entrepreneurship, as in life, there are no absolutes. On the other hand, I am convinced that one thing comes close to being universally true: Entrepreneurs who learn how to build mutually beneficial business relationships have a […]
Examining executive pay — corporate tendencies now and for the future
Executive compensation is something stockholders really don’t care about when a company is profitable and stock values are going up and paying dividends. And right now, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is seesawing around a record high 16,000 mark. But there are times when people do wonder what’s going on. Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek compared executive compensation to the average workers’ pay. The highest ratio was […]
How companies can better protect themselves from employee theft
In a typical organization, 5 percent of revenue is lost to fraud, according to a 2012 global fraud study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. According to the study, fraud cases result in a median loss of approximately $140,000, with most lasting about 18 months before they’re detected. What surprises many companies is that it’s not the new hires who are commit […]
How to manage risks associated with accounting in the cloud
The increased use of web-based cloud accounting applications has provided users many advantages related to efficiencies and cost savings but conversely it adds certain risk factors, says Roman Leshak, a director in Audit & Accounting at Kreischer Miller. Smart Business spoke with Leshak about ways to reduce risks associated with accounting in the cloud. How […]
How to fill the gaps in your general liability insurance
Historically, private business owners overestimate what their comprehensive general liability (CGL) policy covers, and therefore don’t buy the additional insurance they need. According to the Chubb 2013 Private Company Risk Survey, 44 percent of private companies have experienced at least one claim in directors and officers (D&O), employment practices, fiduciary liability, employee fraud, workplace violence […]
How to create a culture that promotes healthier, happier employees
Wellness in the workplace isn’t just implementing a program, it’s about establishing a culture of wellness that promotes healthier lifestyles, says Liz Howe, director of business development at Benefitdecisions, Inc. “It’s not something you try and then decide whether you maintain it. A good program requires a well thought out strategy and budget,” Howe says. Smart Business spoke with Howe about simple steps businesses can […]
Randall Kenneth Jones: Challenging the philosophy of color can show how black and white is creative, too
A black-and-white thinker is said to see only yes or no, right or wrong, good or evil — and nothing in between. Some suggest black-and-white thinkers view the world without emotion and practice only logical thought. Naysayers sing the praises of the various shades of gray — and the nuances that lie in between. Children […]
Healthy rewards: How Neil Grimmer brought innovation to children’s food with Plum Organics
Business became more personal for Neil Grimmer when his first daughter was born. After seven years working as a design leader at IDEO and coming up with health and wellness innovations for food products, he saw a need to take the same approach to make better baby food. “I starting taking that innovation methodology and […]
How to find alternative sources to finance your real estate venture
There are myriad programs available to commercial and industrial real estate users that provide low cost capital and incentives for new investment. In addition to conventional financing, there are nontraditional sources of financing, tax deferral and tax mitigation strategies that can stretch your equity dollar. Smart Business spoke with Bob Brehmer, CCIM, SIOR, principal at […]