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| General Business/Management Strategies |
A recent study found that 71 percent of all businesses have been victims of payment fraud. Here are some processes to help prevent it.
| Wealth Advice/Estate Planning |
When people refer to the "golden years," they usually are thinking of a time to enjoy leisure activities, reduced worries and a stable, reliable source of income. A growing number of options for retirement living are now available, from active adult communities to assisted living communities.
| Family Business/Succession |
What do you do when there are more family members wanting work than there are positions available? The key is to establish rules of entry early in the company's history, rather than desperately ad-libbing them in a crisis.
Don't look now, but pay-for-performance programs are here to stay and will play a key role in healthcare reform initiatives on the table. Predictions are that medical practices will soon earn 30 percent of their revenue from these programs.
Your staff are probably feeling extra stress given these tough times. Here are seven tips you can use to help them through.
Improving Business Operations - Establish an advisory board of key clients.
Your Investments - Diversify according to these categories: asset group, risk, style, philosophy and global view.
| Latest Business Headlines |
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New York Times
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Wall Street Journal
CNNMoney
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Announcements
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QuickBooks Training Class
There is still room available in the QuickBooks Training Class offered by McGowen Hurst Clark & Smith, P.C. on Thursday, January 14, 2010, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Small Business Technology Services, 1906 Ingersoll Avenue, Suite 12, Des Moines. This class is geared for beginner to intermediate users. It is a hands-on class with each participant having access to a computer. The cost is $100, with all materials provided and dinner is included. Please call today 515-276-9889 to register. The instructor will be QuickBooks Proadvisor, Tara Raymond.
MHC&S Day of Caring
A group of 35 MHC&S team members gathered earlier this month to assist in the Annual Urbandale Caring Corp Neighborhood Clean-up. Team members came equipped with rakes and hedge trimmers to spruce up yards of those who were unable to do the work themselves. In about three hours, MHC&S team members visited three homes and filled 159 lawn bags with leaves and yard debris.
Holiday Project -- Adopting Families in Need
This year, the team members of MHC&S have adopted several families in need to make their holidays a bit merrier. We will be collecting food items to make a complete Christmas dinner and purchase gifts for each of the family members. If you would like to make a contribution, please bring your food items or cash donations to the Winterset or WDM MHC&S offices by December 18. Thank you.
Welcome New Employees
MHC&S would like to welcome the following new team members to our firm: Jennie Smith, who will be working in our Audit Department in WDM and Justin Williams who will be working from our Winterset office. Welcome!
MHC&S Launches Social Media Initiative
Connect to our page on Facebook to stay on top of the latest news coming from our firm. Go to our website and click on the Facebook icon.
Housing Credit Extended
Legislation was recently passed to extend the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers. Extensions are set to expire on April 30, 2010.
Tax Deadline In order to receive a deduction on your 2009 individual tax return, pay your fourth quarter estimated tax payment by December 31, 2009, otherwise, it is due January 15, 2010.
Year-end Tax Planning
It is never too late or too early to do tax planning, which could help you minimize your tax liability. Give us a call today to schedule a year-end tax planning meeting (515-288-3279 - West Des Moines office / 515-462-1882 - Winterset office). Thank you.
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McGowen Hurst Clark & Smith, P.C.
1601 West Lakes Parkway Suite 300
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: (515) 288-3279
106 E. Jefferson, P.O. Box 312
Winterset, IA 50273-0312
Phone: (515) 462-1882
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Our firm is a member of CPAmerica International
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