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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tina Loza To Be Presented Coveted ANITA Award
NAWBO-IE is pleased to announce that Tina Loza has been chosen by chapter members as NAWBO-IE’s 2011 ANITA Award Winner! ANITA stands for: Amazing NAWBO Individual That Achieves.
The "ANITA AWARD" is the greatest honor a NAWBO-IE member can receive. The initials stand for "ACKNOWLEDGING NAWBO INDIVIDUALS THAT ACHIEVE" and was named after an outstanding past president who was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for this chapter.
Tina has definitely achieved many amazing things this year, while earning the respect of the organization's board as well as the members! She will be honored at AWE along with all of the other incredible awardees.
Congratulations to Tina on this well-deserved award!
NAWBO-IE's Annual Amazing Women of the Inland Empire Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2010, 6pm, at the Eagle Glen Golf Club Corona, California. Click here to register.
The "ANITA AWARD" is the greatest honor a NAWBO-IE member can receive. The initials stand for "ACKNOWLEDGING NAWBO INDIVIDUALS THAT ACHIEVE" and was named after an outstanding past president who was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for this chapter.
Congratulations to Tina on this well-deserved award!
NAWBO-IE's Annual Amazing Women of the Inland Empire Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2010, 6pm, at the Eagle Glen Golf Club Corona, California. Click here to register.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Maximize Returns: Consider Tax-Efficient Investments
In investing, it’s not what you make that counts, it’s what you keep. We’ve all heard that a million times. But with today’s lower investment return rates, it becomes more important than ever. You don’t want to drag down your investment returns with taxes that you could avoid. Tax-efficient investments are those that attempt to minimize tax liability while at the same time maximizing returns. They include the following:
Tax-deferred accounts. IRAs, 401(k)s, and other types of retirement plans. These funds aren’t required to pay annual taxes on earnings.
Individual stocks. These would include both growth stocks held long-term and dividend-paying stocks. Because of the preferred tax treatment given to long-term gains and dividends, the maximum tax rate on these investments is 15% (0% on taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets).
Municipal bonds. If you purchase bonds, either individually or in a mutual fund, that are obligations of your resident state, you’ll pay no taxes on the interest generated by those bonds, possibly making your after-tax return greater than with a similar taxable bond.
Tax-efficient mutual funds. These are funds actively managed by professionals who pay attention to the tax ramifications of their trading. Generally, turnover is low, and long-term capital gains are favored over short-term gains.
Index funds. These funds mimic a market benchmark. Since they don’t do much trading, most gains are long-term, and fund expenses are lower than normal.
Exchange-traded funds. ETFs are bundles of securities that track various indexes such as the S&P 500. ETFs trade like stocks, but act like mutual funds. Since they are passively managed, they tend to have low fund expenses.
You’ll also want to remember to rebalance your portfolio at least annually to clear out your losers (and offset them against gains), making your portfolio as tax-efficient as possible.
Tax-deferred accounts. IRAs, 401(k)s, and other types of retirement plans. These funds aren’t required to pay annual taxes on earnings.
Individual stocks. These would include both growth stocks held long-term and dividend-paying stocks. Because of the preferred tax treatment given to long-term gains and dividends, the maximum tax rate on these investments is 15% (0% on taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets).
Municipal bonds. If you purchase bonds, either individually or in a mutual fund, that are obligations of your resident state, you’ll pay no taxes on the interest generated by those bonds, possibly making your after-tax return greater than with a similar taxable bond.
Tax-efficient mutual funds. These are funds actively managed by professionals who pay attention to the tax ramifications of their trading. Generally, turnover is low, and long-term capital gains are favored over short-term gains.
Index funds. These funds mimic a market benchmark. Since they don’t do much trading, most gains are long-term, and fund expenses are lower than normal.
Exchange-traded funds. ETFs are bundles of securities that track various indexes such as the S&P 500. ETFs trade like stocks, but act like mutual funds. Since they are passively managed, they tend to have low fund expenses.
You’ll also want to remember to rebalance your portfolio at least annually to clear out your losers (and offset them against gains), making your portfolio as tax-efficient as possible.
Phoebe Vausher-Frankeberger is a partner at Frankeberger Vausher + Co., CPAs, a full service public accounting firm. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a MS degree in Taxation. For more information, visit www.FVCPAs.com
3 Inexpensive Ways to Grow Your Business
Everyone is watching their budget these days, thinking about how we can grow our business in the most inexpensive ways. The answer is to receive more referrals. The fastest, easiest, and most inexpensive way for you to earn a lot more money, work less, and enjoy your life is to get more referrals. So, why aren’t you getting more consistent referrals from your clients and colleagues? You probably already provide excellent customer service, offer a great product or service, and have a good reputation. The key is to leverage all of the aforementioned and employ the following three inexpensive ways to grow your business:
1) Ask for referrals. If you aren’t, it is time to get your “Ask in Gear.” When is the best time to ask for a referral? It’s when your customer says, “Thank you.” Ask that satisfied client, “Who do you know that would benefit from my product or service?” Now wait and allow some time for him/her to think about whom that will be. Ask for an introduction with a phone call… and ask them to call right then. If it’s a neighbor, ask to walk over there for the introduction in person. Asking may seem a bit awkward at first, but you’ll get over it when the referrals start rolling in.
2) Offer clients a referral incentive. If it has been a while since you have connected with your previous clients, it is time to remind them and re-energize them to refer you with your referral incentive plan. If you don’t have a plan, then it is time to create one. Offer additional products/services at a discount or for free, or some other incentive that will motivate them to remember and refer you.
3) Establish a referral partnership. Having a referral partner is an excellent method for getting referrals. A referral partner knows your business well and can be relied upon to send you a steady stream of high-quality referrals. As a partner, you reciprocate and send your partner quality leads as well.
Getting referrals is a lot like working out; you need to make a plan, be committed, and then go do it over and over again. When you experience the desired results, you’ll know it has been worth it. Remember, referrals are the least expensive and most effective way to grow your business.
Laura Bruno is a trainer, speaker, referral expert, and a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst. She is the owner of the Referral Institute SoCal. She can be reached at 951-699-2558 or visit http://www.referralinstitutesocal.com/
1) Ask for referrals. If you aren’t, it is time to get your “Ask in Gear.” When is the best time to ask for a referral? It’s when your customer says, “Thank you.” Ask that satisfied client, “Who do you know that would benefit from my product or service?” Now wait and allow some time for him/her to think about whom that will be. Ask for an introduction with a phone call… and ask them to call right then. If it’s a neighbor, ask to walk over there for the introduction in person. Asking may seem a bit awkward at first, but you’ll get over it when the referrals start rolling in.
2) Offer clients a referral incentive. If it has been a while since you have connected with your previous clients, it is time to remind them and re-energize them to refer you with your referral incentive plan. If you don’t have a plan, then it is time to create one. Offer additional products/services at a discount or for free, or some other incentive that will motivate them to remember and refer you.
3) Establish a referral partnership. Having a referral partner is an excellent method for getting referrals. A referral partner knows your business well and can be relied upon to send you a steady stream of high-quality referrals. As a partner, you reciprocate and send your partner quality leads as well.
Getting referrals is a lot like working out; you need to make a plan, be committed, and then go do it over and over again. When you experience the desired results, you’ll know it has been worth it. Remember, referrals are the least expensive and most effective way to grow your business.
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