Determining the Net Worth of Your Gwinnett/Atlanta Business 

Knowing How to Evaluate the Market and Your Business Risks Will Do Much to Ensure You Receive Maximum Value When you Sale Your Business.

Determining the future net worth of your business, a determined and insightful understanding of your Profit & Loss statement (P&L) is essential and critical. Though a balance sheet is a recap of what has happened to a business’s assets and liabilities to date, a P & L, if properly presented/managed/understood is a look into the company’s short as well as its long term viability. A businesses P & L essentially measures how well the business is utilizing company assets, personnel procedures and facilities in its effectiveness of serving customers while keeping a keen eye on profit maximization. By properly gathering and studying one’s operations and its corresponding P & L, one can learn much about a business which is useful for measuring rates of return, detecting both positive and negative trends, taking corrective action, and business valuation.

With  all ratios, care and attention should be given to evaluate them in light of company size, maturity, business climate and industry. Though there are many general rules of thumbs for a variety of different industries, there is no substitution for wise and judicious counsel of a wise and trusted business adviser/CPA. They will help evaluate these and many other nuances which make your particular circumstances, operating overhead and unique niche.

By evaluating a client’s prior financial statement a CPA can gain much guidance and information about a particular taxpayer. However there is no substitute for a CPA being keenly aware of all information that they receive from a client. QuickBooks is an excellent startup Accounting Package for many clients and may serve the business well into the future. The below is a sample letter that we might send to a client to ensure that all of the financial information is received to ensure that a timely and correct return is prepared thereby ensuring that only the lowest legal possible tax is paid and that financial results are both timely and accurately compiled. 

I researched this last night and came to the conclusion that the checks that need to be voided in QuickBooks are for June to August. In voiding the checks to make our operating account come to a zero balance this is going to effect the June to August financials. Even if I change the date on the check to void them in August it will still effect the other months. 

The below is my response: 

If you make a journal entry to exactly offset the voiding in the prior months for those months it will offset and net to zero the net effect of the voiding. 

Then you can do in August a journal entry for the total of the voiding, so that the net effect of the changes in QuickBooks effect only the current period. 

To complete your 2010 Corporate Return for please forward: 

Copies of the W-2’s and W-3 for 2010. 

To know how much Meals & Entertainment is in the Travel & Entertainment account. 

The reports you forwarded for the Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss for  2010 while being sure to use the checklist to pull your information together at http://www.hiscpa.com/newclient.html  

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God, that it is Doomed to Failure Lest God be in it!”

 John Dillard, CPA of His CPA, PC (An Atlanta CPA firm) 1940 Woods River Lane, Duluth, GA 30097  Phone 770-814-9304   http://www.hiscpa.com/    (All Rights Reserved) To retain John Dillard CPA (An Atlanta Christian Speaker/Author) for your business group or church congregation, you can contact him today at 770.814.9304. To discover John Dillard’s Published Books and their vision visit  http://www.john-dillard.com/

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning,  Back Taxes, Business Acquisitions/Sales, Forensic Accounting, Business Valuations and Bookkeeping.  

Gwinnett/North Fulton Atlanta CPA on Helping Atlanta Business Owners on Business Startup Issues. Incorporating and Entity Selection 

As a Believer and a CPA, we are all called  to do as Jesus did and look to serve others. As we lean not on our own understanding but that of God’s we should seek out ways and opportunities to be the very hands and feet of Jesus Christ in a lost and fallen world. Below is sample letter we might receive and our response: 

I am a Christian going through many transitions in life.  I need an accountant to help me learn to take care of my personal finances once that takes place. 

Also, I am daring to believe, as you say, that God can do something mighty in helping me to do something I have never attempted before, that is start my own business.  This is doubly difficult for me as I have been a 20 year stay-at-home mom.  I want to parlay my skills in computer programming and organization into a business that is Christ honoring and serving the average man on the street as well as to some who have little to nothing.  I have a degree in Computer Science from Georgia State University.

I think I need the services of someone like yourself, but don’t know what your fees are.  I need direction all around to get my business up and running.  Do you have a time when I could come in and talk to you? Thank you, P.S. I found you on the Internet under Christian Accountants, and also read the article about your challenge to Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it! 

Below is my response:

Evaluating what type of entity your business should be, we strive to balance the legal protection issues vs. the tax savings. Over the years, we have developed the mindset that there is no perfect election but there are ones that are better than others.

The information below and the assumptions we make are based upon the fact that my clients tell me that they want to pay as few tax dollars as legally possible. Below are some very specific rules, as well as some generalities. If you are considering incorporating in Georgia, we suggest that you sit down with a tax professional to see how these guidelines relate to you. These articles will do much to encourage and support you in making wise and prudent decisions for your new Georgia Business.

Tax Effects of Incorporating Your New Georgia Business
We can help you navigate through the myriad of tax law letting you make the best strategic and tax decisions in incorporating your business. See http://www.hiscpa.com/article6.html

New Corporation Forms and Registrations Checklist for your New GA Businesst
Whether you are just incorporating or have been in business for years. This summary will enable you to quickly locate the forms and guidance you need to ensure your business maintains tax compliance. See http://www.hiscpa.com/incorporating-articles.html

Tracking Marketing Stats for New Atlanta Business Owners
When you are first starting your new business it is a critical time to stay positive emotionally. One of the best ways to validate the success of your efforts is to track your marketing efforts measuring your results and efforts against your business plan model. Learn invaluable information as to how you can increase your likelihood for immediate feedback on your efforts thereby increasing your likelihood of success. Visit http://www.hiscpa.com/marketing-efforts.html

Matthew 7:24  ”Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

John Dillard, CPA of His CPA, PC (An Atlanta Christian CPA firm) 1940 Woods River Lane, Duluth, GA 30097  Phone 770-814-9304   http://www.hiscpa.com/    http://www.john-dillard.com/ To retain John Dillard CPA (An Atlanta Christian Speaker/Author) for your business group or church congregation, you can contact him today at 770.814.9304 

His CPA PC…A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm: Never Underestimate the Long-Term Benefits 

Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!

Duluth CPA on Christian Financial Business and Money Management

Taking your faith to the streets means that you lay it all on the line and not just your Sunday church attendance. Being like Jesus requires Faith in Action, Belief in Motion and Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ. I have found that when I put my whole heart, mind and body into action that indeed my life is easier rather than harder. Recently I had the opportunity to meet an Atlanta Christian Money/Financial Planner, who wrote of his concerns. I share this to challenge you to lay it all on the line for Christ! 

Thanks for all the information about your business. I enjoyed reading it. I believe you are a person of vision who would like to lead like Jesus in making significant changes in this world and for our future Kingdom. I have believed and worked for many years in ministry and in support of the education that advocates my belief in a strong financial educational background that impacts us today and for our future. However, many people I have known regrettably can be deceiving both in their desires and in their beliefs, especially some in the professional financial arena. And so I am cautious as I’m sure you have met some of them as well.

Bookkeeping for Your Atlanta Small Business
Learn the ABC’s of accounting for the business and financial operations of your business. Visit http://www.hiscpa.com/keeping-books.html

Preparing and Reviewing Financial Statements for Atlanta Business Owners
Financial results of your business are like a doctors chart of their patient, this will help enable you to understand financials and their use. See http://www.hiscpa.com/financial-statements.htm l
 
Monitoring & Preparing Your Financial For Your Atlanta Business
Month-end control procedures are critical, as any variance to these will negatively impact the reliability of your internal financial. These are just a few of the tips we give clients each and every day. http://www.hiscpa.com/monthend.html

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html There you will also discover a wide host of resources for American Entrepreneurs.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/  and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/  or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it! 

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

The Power of your Financial Personality

We all know how important an engine is for a winning race car. A successful racing team understands what’s under the hood of their car and how to make it perform to the highest level.  In the same way, it is important we understand our own ‘financial’ engine and how it performs.  We call this engine our financial personality. Discovering our financial personality and understanding how it affects our decisions is critical to financial success.  

Many organizations will tell you that you need to behave in a certain way if you are going to be successful financially.  Attempting to change who you are is not only frustrating, but is not in line with God’s will for your life.  Learning to work within your personality is the key to financial success. 

Romans 12:4-8 tells us that we were each created with different gifts and talents that make us unique. You should not try to change who God made you, or attempt to change others.  Rather, you should use the talents God gave you to become the person He designed.   

In counseling singles and couples over the years, we have seen four universal traits that drive financial decisions and behaviors. The first two contrasting traits drive how we think about money.  Most people are either spontaneous or analytical.  Spontaneous people are more emotionally driven in their thought process.  Analytical people like to think and ponder before making a decision.   

The second two contrasting traits tell how we behave towards money.  Cooperative people like to make sure all sides are heard before making a decision.  Assertive people have no problem telling individuals what they want regardless of conflicting opinions.  By combining these traits, we have found people generally fall into one of four financial personalities.   

Read through the four personality types below and see which one you identify with the most.  Remember, there is no right or wrong personality and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Statesmen are a combination of cooperative and analytical traits. They are generally tactful with people and tend to be comfortable with their finances. They like to set goals but may be too passive when it comes to executing those goals. They easily adapt to other points of view.  Statesmen are conservative savers and investors.  They plan for tomorrow but not at the sacrifice of today.   

Cruise Directors are both spontaneous and cooperative. They generally have a charitable heart toward others and are givers. They also tend to be somewhat impulsive and get pleasure out of spending money. They generally have no desire to get wrapped up in financial planning and are not driven by specific financial goals. Cruise Directors think about today and don’t worry much about tomorrow.  

Litigators are assertive and analytical. They are calculated risk-takers and disciplined savers. They tend to set goals and plan for their financial future. Given their assertive style, they tend to take charge of their money.  Family members may see them as overbearing or rigid.  Litigators plan for tomorrow, sometimes at the sacrifice of today. 

Race Car Drivers combine assertiveness and spontaneity. This allows them to multi-task with the ability to make ends meet. They tend to have an entrepreneurial spirit but can be emotionally drained by the challenge of juggling their personal finances.  Race car drivers are generally risk takers.  While very financially active, race car drivers tend to struggle with consistent financial progress.  They tend to think about tomorrow but may not be able to get past the issues of today. 

When you understand your financial personality and that of your spouse, if married, communicating about finances is easier and more effective.  Better communication leads to a more solid financial plan that works long term and you will begin to make financial decisions that work for you! To learn more you can contact Mike Haswell at 770.995.7593 or visiting www.storingtreasures.com

Do you want my gross or my net?  

I have had the opportunity to sit down with many individuals and couples regarding their finances. Invariably, we will get the question, “Do you want me to put down my gross salary or my net take-home pay on the spending plan?” Our response is, “If you want to us to help you with all of your finances, we need to start with your gross salary.” 

You see, we tend to forget that many of our financial decisions have already been made when that check is deposited into our account. We also tend to forget that we can make a difference in our overall financial lives if we would review these taxes and deductions on a regular basis. So much is taken from our checks that we might be paying for areas that are just not needed or can be obtained elsewhere for less money. Here are some examples of items you will want to review the next time you review your pay stub.  

*** Taxes- One of the most famous quotes of our time is, “There is nothing certain in life but death and taxes.”  The problem with taxes is that we think of it as a once a year exercise. The fact of the matter is we have control over the amount of taxes deducted on a monthly basis.  We have become so used to paying this out of our paychecks that we think nothing of the $100s of dollars that flow into the government’s hands from our paychecks each month. Americans received an average tax refund of $2,427 in 2007 and many are struggling to make ends meet each month. In our years of counseling, we have seen many examples of tax refunds that are seen as a windfall when they could best be used for systematic savings or to pay down debt on a monthly basis. One of the first questions we ask counselees is how much of a tax refund they receive.  If they are struggling to make ends meet and are getting back $750 or more in a refund, our recommendation is to go to their Human resource office and increase the number of exemptions on their W-4. www.Quicken.com also has some calculators to help you in determining how many exemptions to set given your situation. Get those dollars back in your paycheck now and stop giving the government an interest free loan on YOUR money. 

 *** Tax-advantaged accounts and savings plan- Another important consideration is how those deductions that are designed to help you (flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, 401-Ks) also have excellent tax advantages. Each time you put money into one of the accounts listed above, you reduce the amount of your income that is taxed. Here is an example: John makes $60,000/ year and contributes 10% of his income to a 401-K ($6,000); $1,500 of his income to a flexible spending account; and $1,000 of his income to a dependent care account.  That is a $8,500 reduction and a taxable income that is now $51,500 instead of $60,000. For John who is in a 28% tax bracket, that amounts to $2,380 in tax savings. Talk to your human resource department about these deductions and the overall benefits for your family. 

*** Life/disability insurance- Typically, companies have very good plans for group life and disability coverage for employees.  The concern comes in when we try to assess total life and disability coverage for a family. Typically, most people really don’t understand their disability and life coverage and what they will cover and for whom. Take a minute now to pull out your paycheck, company handbook and all other life and disability policies you have. Make sure you have adequate coverage (and that you understand what those little initials on your check stand for) and that you are not either over-insured or have gaps in important coverage. 

By taking time to review your paycheck, you will better understand your financial situation and how you can have an immediate impact on your financial future.  

For more information on how to analyze your expenses and Christian financial principles, you can purchase our workbook, Storing Treasures on our newly renovated web site:  www.storingtreasures.com or you can call Mike Haswell at 770 995 7953

Atlanta CPA on Retirement Planning: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

When Getting ready for retirement business owners are frequently tempted to sign up for what sounds best. The below is a sample list of questions that might be used to help entrepreneurs determine what retirement plan will be best for their business and employees.

Below are a few questions that will allow me to make some suggestions.  

I will simplify the process and minimize the amount of time you have to spend on this, I just need a little information. 

I don’t want to throw all types of plans and options at you if we know they are not for you.  

So I can help you narrow down your options…. 

Do you have employees? 

Is it your wish make contributions only for you?   

Or do you wish to make contributions for employees too so that you may increase the amount you can contribute?  

Or Do you wish to keep your retirement plan simple and just max your contributions  among the very simple options for you only?   

These more simple options will not allow you tocontribute as much.

Can you give me an Idea of your  level of income?   

Do you have a limit on the amount you would wish to contribute or do you wish to contribute the most possible no matter what?   

I don’t want you to have some highly complicated plan with high fees if you don’t need it.  

If you wish, I can meet you at a convenient location near you for coffee or lunch to go over the best options for you.

 To learn more visit:

 http://www.hiscpa.com/investing-101.html Georgia CPA Teachings Investing Techniques
http://www.hiscpa.com/retirement-planning.html Gwinnett CPA Helps Business Owners Plan for Retirement
http://www.hiscpa.com/stock-options.html Your Georgia Stock Options
http://www.hiscpa.com/business-valuations.html Valuing Your Georgia Business
http://www.hiscpa.com/accounting-checklist.html Georgia Business Acquisitions Business Checklist
http://www.hiscpa.com/quality.html Helping Georgia Business Owners Succeed for 30 Years
http://www.hiscpa.com/parttime-cfo.html Hiring a Part-time/Virtual CFO for Your Atlanta Business
http://www.hiscpa.com/business-ethics.html Georgia CPA Teaches Business Ethics
http://www.hiscpa.com/achieving-excellence.html Atlanta CPA Encourages Business Excellence
http://www.hiscpa.com/intellectual-property.html Protecting Georgia Business Owners Intellectual Property Rights
http://www.hiscpa.com/risk-management.html Gwinnett/Duluth CPA Advises on Risk Management
http://www.hiscpa.com/non-compete.html Understanding Your Georgia Non-Compete Agreement
http://www.hiscpa.com/promissory-notes.html Gwinnett CPA Helps Georgia Business Owners with Drafting of Promissory Notes
http://www.hiscpa.com/business-checklist.html Business Checklist for Atlanta Business Owners
http://www.hiscpa.com/adding-partner.html Expanding Your Georgia Business by Adding a Partner
http://www.hiscpa.com/article4.html Georgia CPA Teaches Businesses Techniques for Survival
http://www.hiscpa.com/internal-controls.html Christian CPA Helps Business Owners Develop Good Internal Control
http://www.hiscpa.com/forensic-accounting.html Your Georgia Business and Forensic Accounting
http://www.hiscpa.com/budgeting.html Georgia CPA Helps Reduce Unnecessary Spending: Budgeting 101
http://www.hiscpa.com/article1.html Atlanta CPA Illustrates Difference Between Planning & Historical Accounting
http://www.hiscpa.com/article3.html Gwinnett/Duluth CPA Teaches Personnel Keys to Managing Business Growth
http://www.hiscpa.com/article6.html Georgia CPA Teaches the Tax Effects of Entity Choice
http://www.hiscpa.com/marketing-efforts.html Tracking Marketing Statistics for Your Georgia Business  

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

Helping Americans Do a Better Job of Saving for Retirement 

Over the past 20 years, the 401(k) plan has gradually replaced the traditional pension plan as a primary source of retirement income for many American workers. This trend has shifted the responsibility for accumulating a source of retirement income from the employer to the employee. 

Unfortunately, not all American workers with access to a 401(k) plan participate in it—and when they do, many are overwhelmed by the decisions they are forced to make. Between low participation rates and uninformed investment choices, many Americans are expected to reach retirement age with a nest egg that may fall woefully short of what they will need to maintain their preretirement standard of living.

Addressing the Shortfall

Enter the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). Some of the PPA’s most significant provisions were crafted in response to the perception that American workers were not preparing adequately for their retirement years—and that American employers needed better tools to help employees do so. The PPA clarified and standardized automatic enrollment to give plan sponsors protection from potential violations of state laws when choosing to automatically enroll employees in their 401(k) plan. The PPA also addressed the issue of how to invest the assets of automatically enrolled employees by creating a “safe harbor” for the selection of a qualified default investment alternative (QDIA) by employers. With this measure, employers generally bear no additional responsibility for investment selection if they choose a default option that meets the safe-harbor criteria, and if certain notices and other information are given to participants. Together, automatic enrollment and QDIAs are becoming powerful solutions for the challenge of employee inaction. 

Turning Inertia to Advantage

With automatic enrollment, employees are enrolled in the plan as soon as they become eligible. When an existing plan adds an automatic enrollment feature, the employer can choose to include only new hires as they become eligible, or it can also include previously eligible employees who have not yet joined the plan. Upon enrollment, the employee has 90 days to opt out of the plan and have any money that may have already been deferred returned. If the employee does not elect to opt out, a percentage of his or her salary—typically starting at a minimum of 3%—will be contributed to the plan from each paycheck. Effectively, automatic enrollment takes advantage of the same inertia that prevents many employees from participating in a plan. 

An Opportunity to Grow

Once an employee has been automatically enrolled, the next question is how to invest the employee’s contributions. While employers have had to resort to default investments in the past, in many cases those investments were aimed at preserving capital, not growing it. But with the PPA’s safe-harbor provision for QDIAs, plan sponsors can now select default investments that will give participants an opportunity to grow their assets at a rate necessary to fund their retirement without creating more liability for the plan sponsor. 

The PPA’s most significant provisions are beginning to weave their way through the fabric of our retirement landscape, as more plans automatically enroll more employees into diversified investments, which in turn provide greater opportunity for capital appreciation. While there has been much progress, there is still a long way to go. Given the tremendous shortfall in retirement savings and the loss of guaranteed retirement income from pension plans for millions of people, only time will tell if the PPA’s provisions are enough to help American workers adequately fund their retirement.  

Retirement Savings Need Work

According to the 2007 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc., only 20% of respondents age 55 or older have saved more than $100,000 for retirement. Here are some other sobering findings from this study: 

• Nearly one-third of respondents over age 55 said they have less than $25,000 in retirement savings
• 43% of all respondents said they have not done a retirement-needs calculation
• Approximately four in 10 respondents were forced to retire before they intended to retire
• 75% of respondents underestimated their estimated lifespan 

Different Types of QDIAs

Qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs) are investment strategies or services that can take a number of different forms. Here are three of the most popular: 

1)     A combination of investments that takes into account the individual’s age or retirement date (example: a life-cycle or targeted-retirement-date portfolio)

2)     A mix of investments that takes into account the characteristics of the group of employees as a whole, rather than each individual (example: a balanced portfolio)

3)     An allocation of contributions among existing plan options to provide an asset mix that takes into account the individual’s age or retirement date (example: a professionally managed account) 

To learn more contact Mr. Jeff Shoup, Vice President – Wealth Management and a Financial Planning Specialist at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. You can contact Mr. Shoup at 404-842-2236 and visit their web site at http://fa.smithbarney.com/the_shoup_group

 Ethical Will—Not the Only Way  

If you feel strongly enough to commit your values to writing, why not discuss them with your family now? 

An ethical will is essentially a letter from you to your family that articulates your values and beliefs, relates the life lessons you hope to pass on and spells out your aspirations for your family. In theory, writing an ethical will sounds beneficial and fulfilling—and the fact that more clients are asking about it reflects the growing realization that one’s legacy consists of much more than the tangible things we leave to our heirs. But in practice, ethical wills may represent a missed opportunity. 

Assessing Effectiveness

On one hand, writing an ethical will can be an extremely valuable exercise if your main purpose is self exploration—in other words, if the exercise is primarily directed inward. Indeed, many proponents of ethical wills emphasize the opportunity they afford to learn about ourselves, reflect on our lives and re-evaluate what is important to us. 

If your purpose, however, is to perpetuate your values or beliefs—largely an outward-looking enterprise—then an ethical will might disappoint. When the document is read just before or after a death, the views expressed can seem like a parental decree. Some family members may even be tempted to wonder why, if it was so important for the author to say these things, he or she didn ’ t share them while still alive. 

Top-Down Tone

To take it one step further, an ethical will’s effectiveness can be dubious even when it’s circulated during a writer’s life—unless it is part of another process that invites communal discussion and contributions. Ethical wills, by their very nature, speak with a single voice, so it’s hard to avoid the impression that the author is trying to impose his or her values, instilling them from the top down rather than helping them take root from the bottom up. 

Let’s look at a real-life example of a wealthy family that discovered this while creating a mission statement for their business. The mission statement was created in the executive suite and pushed down into the employee ranks. In short, it never took—and the family quickly learned that their employees needed to feel a sense of ownership, or the mission statement would never resonate. 

When the senior family members decided it would be worthwhile to create a family mission statement, they made the process as inclusive as possible. Every family member participated fully, weighing in on questions like what they valued deeply and what they hoped to accomplish as a family. This process sparked a rich and deeply rewarding series of intergenerational conversations. 

An Alternative Solution

This family’s experience not only is instructive; it illustrates that a family mission statement can be a much more effective alternative to an ethical will. At times communal conversations about family values and goals are daunting at the outset, making a simple letter seem like an easier option. But it is these very conversations that can enhance a legacy more than any letter from the grave ever will. 

To learn more you can contact Mr. Jeff Shoup Vice President – Wealth Management, Financial Planning Specialist, Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney by calling 404-842-2236 or visiting http://fa.smithbarney.com/the_shoup_group  

 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. To the extent that this material or any attachment concerns tax matters, it is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.   Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. 

© 2009 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC.  Member SIPC.

Getting “Fire Insurance” for Your Money 

Award Winning CPA Serving Grayson, Lawrenceville, Snellville & Beyond 

I am constantly encouraging homeowners to get “Fire Insurance” for their money. It’s free and all it takes is a little initiative, a little time, a home and a bank. Banks and savings and loans have long helped homeowners finance life’s little surprises by offering a home equity line on their home. This amount is a function of both the equity in your home as well as your credit score. Even though the market for loans is tight and home values are depressed setting up a line with the bank is usually free and will help ensure you have money “when you need it.”

Homeowners routinely spend hundreds of dollars, as well they should, and yet most of us, fortunately, will never have a fire at our home. However, all of us in our lifetime will have several financial challenges in our lifetime for which having a “lifeline” or an equity line will do much to help ensure we can overcome financial setbacks will mitigated damages. Always living within your means and being debt adverse are your best defense to financial challenges but having a drop back position in an equity line will help ensure financial difficulties are not as devastating. 

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock

WWJD…What Would Jesus Do if He Was a CPA 

Award Winning CPA Serving Grayson, Lawrenceville, Snellville & Beyond 

We strive to live our lives by a higher standard; not just to live by the world’s but to live by God’s standards. Though I am challenged to be the very best CPA I can be by helping clients keep their tax bills as low as legally possible. However I believe as a CPA and a Believer I am called to a much higher standard in helping clients develop tools and resources to plan for much more than their taxes. A CPA is the best one to begin this process and after a CPA has met with a client and determined much of their financial picture and tax issues, it is time to take the relationship to the next level and to help clients determine a multitude of issues including: 

-Buying Life Insurance. Being sure to have enough life insurance to take care of your family, debts and needed living expenses is essential to ensuring that your entire family and your legacy will not be changed by your passing. 

-Buying Disability Insurance. Though life insurance is for your survivors, disability insurance is for you, in the event of a life threatening illness or injury that leaves you unable to both take care of yourself and to fend for our family. 

-Setting up a Will. If you pass away without a will, then the state will decide what happens to your children and to your assets. A well drafted will enables others to ensure that your last wishes are followed out and adhered to.

 -Setting up a Trust. Frequently taxpayers can use trusts to ensure that their assets and desires are carried out both during and after their lives. Trusts can be set up for a myriad of issues ranging from helping to save estate taxes to leaving your assets to your church or favorite charity. 

-Consideration of Guardianship. I want to know who my children will live with if I pass and even more so if my wife and pass at the same time. My children are gifts from God and I want to ensure that they are loved, protected and encouraged even if I am not around. 

-Estate Planning. For taxpayers who exceed the federal mandated thresh-hold for the payment of estate taxes, proper planning can do much to both limit the tax bill that will otherwise ultimately become due. Also proper planning can be used to ensure that assets such as a business can be passed to heirs without having to sell it to pay the required estate taxes.

 -Setting up a Business Credit Line. Frequently a business credit line will be the difference between a business that succeeds and fails and one that is marginally vs. very profitable. A line of credit can do much to help you get through tough business cycles as well as to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace and growth opportunities. 

-Procuring an Personal Equity Line on Your Home. An equity line on your home is essentially financial insurance. As your build equity in your home and your credit score, many/most banks will put in an equity line on your home allowing you instant access to emergency funds if ever needed. 

-Investing. Our natural tendency is to buy high and sell low. A well informed and trained adviser can help educate you in the many skills that are available to help ensure that you make prudent investment decisions as well as to plan for retirement.

 -Planning for College/Education Expenses. Planning for college is perhaps one of the most important financial decision you will ever make in your life and the life of your child. Being prepared for college and their expenses will help ensure your financial future and give your children the best chance for initial career success.

-Setting up a Retirement Account for Your Business/Personally. Getting ready for the  “Golden Years” should be a priority for us all. Americans have a tendency to live to the hilt and to ignore the future and nothing could be worse for yourself or those you love.

Though my short term goal for my clients is to save tax dollars, my larger goal is that they have a better life by wise investing and prudent choices. In order for me to accomplish this I have to always remember WWJD…If He Was A CPA. 

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette