
What to Know About Grants and Tax Reform
Illinois saw three interest rate hikes this year and the United States saw the largest tax reform in more than 30 years. It’s important to stay on top of trends and understand your options for financing. Hear from three experts… Read more→


Tips to Prepare for the New DOL Exemption Ruling
First, a little bit of background: The Fair Labor Standards Act sets the minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and youth employment standards for American workers. These standards are enforced by the Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division. While most cases… Read more→


Advisory Boards with an Impact: How to Create and Run an Advisory Board that Drives Company Growth
by Cray, Kaiser Ltd. Growing companies often choose to create a board of directors or an advisory board to bring in outside influence and perspective. While the two kinds of boards have similar responsibilities, differences in how the boards are… Read more→

The New Math of Estate Planning
Estate tax planning looks much different than it did in the past. In prior years, estate planning often focused on minimizing taxpayer’s estates as exemptions were low and federal estate tax rates were as high as 77%. Today, the top… Read more→

To Capitalize or Expense…That is the Question
Businesses buy supplies, materials and equipment constantly. Repairs and maintenance on existing assets also recur frequently. How does your accounting department handle these outlays? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finalized regulations in September 2013 regarding whether expenditures were considered immediate… Read more→

Cray Kaiser Testimonial by Ken Pavett
It was the summer of 2010. Flexografix was still recovering after the losses we experienced during the 4th quarter of 2008, which extended to the company’s poor financial performance in 2009 and into 2010. When I first joined the CFBC, Judy… Read more→

Taxpayer Identity Theft: Avoid Becoming a Victim
Each year, millions of consumers have their identities stolen. Simple everyday transactions, such as applying for a credit card, writing a check, or using a credit card online or in a store provide opportunities for identity theft. While we often… Read more→

1099s: A little form with a painful bite
When Congress tried unsuccessfully to expand the Form 1099 filing requirements a couple of years ago, at least one thing was accomplished. It raised awareness of an important IRS business reporting rule. And at $100 per infraction, the penalty for… Read more→

2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act
The recently enacted 2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act is a sweeping tax package that includes, among many other items, permanent extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for most taxpayers, revised tax rates on ordinary and capital gain income for high-income… Read more→