Economists Expect a Jump in Q3 GDP + Financial Market Update + 9.29.20
WANT TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL MARKET UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX?FINANCIAL MARKET UPDATE 9.29.2020 AUTHOR: JOSH JENKINS, CFASTORY OF THE WEEK ECONOMISTS EXPECT A JUMP IN Q3 GDP After experiencing the largest decline of activity since the Great Depression, the economy...
Financial Statements 101
Whether you are looking to purchase a business, sell a business, or ensure your current business maintains its financial health, financial statements are key to making the right…
Lutz Announces Partnership with Bryan Health Connect
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, is excited to announce their preferred business partnership with Bryan Health Connect. Through this alliance, Lutz’s specialized accounting and healthcare consulting…
Market Return in Election Years + Financial Market Update + 9.22.20
With the first Presidential debate one week away, the focus on the election is likely to intensify. Many investors are concerned about the potential impact on their portfolio, and the financial media knows exactly how…
September Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s newsletter contains insights on phased retirement programs, financial wellness, tips for increasing your retirement dollars, and more…
5 Tips for College Students Looking for Internships
Internships are meaningful opportunities to gain experience and job prospects before you’ve even obtained your diploma. With the potential for payment, professional development…
Top 5 Benefits of Cloud Hosting
One of the most popular topics of this tech-centric era is “cloud hosting.” The cloud has opened a whole new world of opportunities for companies…
Nebraska Taxation of Military Retirement Pay
Beginning with tax year 2022, Nebraska will allow an exclusion of 50% of military retirement pay from Nebraska taxable income. This change is the result of LB 153, enacted by the 2020 Nebraska Legislature…
Correction in Growth Stocks + Financial Market Update + 9.15.20
After a blistering summer rally, the high-flying growth stocks of the Nasdaq 100 hit a wall in early September. In just three trading days, the index saw its value drop by more than 10%, exceeding a threshold…
Why High Net-Worth Families Should Review Their Estate Plans Pre-Election
Election day is fast approaching, and with it comes the potential for sweeping changes in our political landscape. While nobody can predict the outcome, those with a high net-worth (in this case, I’m referring to a net worth…
Nebraska Microenterprise Tax Credit
Do you own a Nebraska based small business? By small business, we mean five or fewer full-time equivalent employees. If so, you may be eligible for Nebraska’s Microenterprise Tax Credit…
5 Ways Automated Accounting Software Can Save Your Business Money
If you’re like many small businesses, you’ve probably gotten creative in response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. You may be finding ways to reduce your expenses…
7 Vital Tips for Introducing Data Analytics to Your Business
Integrating data analytics into your business can help your revenue grow, the organization mitigate risk or gain insight into your business operations. There’s a wealth of information available at your fingertips…
Quarter Two Middle Market M&A Report 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, Q2 2020 has registered a massive drop in M&A activity. The total value of lower middle market deals (transaction value less than $1 billion) announced in Q2 was…
Lutz Named a 2020 “Top 100 Firm” and “Best of the Best” by INSIDE Public Accounting
INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) recently announced their annual financial performance analysis and ranking of the nation’s largest public accounting firms. This year, Lutz made its third appearance on the IPA Top 100 list…
The Election and Your Portfolio + Financial Market Update + 9.1.20
With the election just months away, many investors are contemplating how the outcome might impact their investments. For many people, politics can elicit strong emotions. Passion, properly channeled, can lead to major…
Does Your Restaurant Use a Food Delivery Service?
If you use a food delivery service such as Grubhub, Postmates, Uber Eats, etc., you may owe tax on those sales. Some delivery services collect all sales tax & city occupation tax (if applicable)…
Ignore the Dow + Financial Market Update + 8.25.20
Late yesterday it was announced that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) will be undergoing a major facelift. The update was prompted by Apple’s decision to undergo a 4-for-1 stock split, a move that would have materially…
ImagiNE Nebraska Act (LB1107)
On August 17, 2020, Governor Pete Ricketts, signed into law Legislative Bill 1107, which includes a new business tax incentive program called the ImagiNE Nebraska Act. The ImagiNE Nebraska Act…
Lutz adds Three Central Nebraska Staff Accountants
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, welcomes Abby Kile, Dan Strecker and Garrett VanSkiver to its Central Nebraska team as Staff Accountants. Each will be responsible for providing…
Bond Renaissance Over? Expect Muted Returns the Next Decade + Financial Market Update + 8.18.20
Despite all the craziness in the equity markets in 2020, bonds have largely done their job of reducing overall portfolio volatility. Most sectors of the bond market have actually done very well and have aided in portfolio…
August Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s retirement plan newsletter contains insights on collective investment trusts, allowable plan expenses, retirement plan check-ups, and more…
How to Decrease Your Chances of Being Laid Off
When facing potential layoffs (which many Americans are right now), it can feel like you are powerless over your future. While there is nothing you can do to ensure your job entirely, there are several…
11 Ways to Increase Employee Job Satisfaction
Hard-working, ambitious employees are perhaps your business’s greatest asset. Naturally, you want to retain them as long as possible. Job satisfaction is multilayered and subjective, and unfortunately…
WIP Schedule 101
All businesses need accurate financial data to help understand how it is performing and, more importantly, to assist in planning for the future. The construction industry is no different, and one of the most important inputs to financial…
Construction Month-End Close Checklist
Many say humans are “creatures of habit” and prefer routines, especially accountants. Those habits and routines may exist in our personal lives, professional lives, or both. As a business owner, establishing sound habits and routines…
2020 + The Year of the Roth IRA Conversion
In 2016, I discussed whether Roth IRA conversions make sense for you as an investor (read here). A Roth IRA conversion is the process of moving funds from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA…
Breaking Down the GDP Report + Financial Market Update + 8.4.20
Economic data dominated headlines last week following the report of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter. The figure, which showed economic activity declined by an annualized 32.9%…
Lutz adds Bethany Hofstetter to Hastings Office
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, welcomes Bethany Hofstetter to its Hastings office. Bethany joins Lutz’s firm administrative department as a Receptionist…
Lutz adds McKenzie Bruce as Staff Accountant
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, welcomes McKenzie Bruce to its Omaha office. McKenzie joins Lutz’s tax and client accounting services departments as a Staff Accountant…
Gold Has Outshined in 2020 + Financial Market Update + 7.28.20
The price of gold has been on a tear recently, with a year-to-date return of 27.1%. The precious metal is even outpacing the frothy NASDAQ 100 (22.2%) and is trailing only silver (37.3%), which trades like a higher-beta version of gold…
Lutz Announces Administrative Lead Promotions
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, recently announced the promotion of Jennifer Kahre and Audra Mason to Administrative Lead in Lutz’s Omaha office…
5 Ways to Help Recruiters Find Your Resume
Navigating the current job market can be challenging and uncertain. With unemployment on the rise in many areas of the country, it’s more important than ever to devise an effective job-hunting strategy to get you noticed in a…
Understanding Farm Income Averaging
In the farm industry, you quickly learn that farming incomes can fluctuate a great deal from year to year. Yields are affected by many elements outside of your control, such as drought, insect infestations…
Has Tesla Reached Bubble Territory? + Financial Market Update + 7.21.20
Few stocks have captured the public’s attention the way Tesla has over the past year. Its meteoric rise in value has made it one of the world’s largest publically traded companies by market-cap. At the same time, a heated debate…
The Pitfalls of Income Investing
As people advance toward retirement, their investment objectives inevitably shift. During their working years, the goal is to build wealth. By forgoing some consumption today, investors accumulate future spending power…
Is This Spam?
Can you tell the difference between a regular email and spam? With many of us operating multiple email accounts, those for personal use and work, most of us can agree that it’s difficult to manage our inbox properly…
Salary vs. Distribution: Effect on Valuations
One of the indisputable benefits of owning a private company is the ability to determine your own compensation. Whether this compensation comes in the form of salary, bonus, owners’ perquisites or distributions…
Lutz Announces 2020 Senior Promotions
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, recently announced the promotion of 12 professionals to Senior level positions. Congratulations to…
July Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s Retirement Plan Newsletter contains insights on fee imbalances, communicating with employees, proper documentation of retirement plan committee meetings, and more…
Some Stocks Look Expensive Based on Popular Metric + Financial Market Update + 7.14.2020
The blistering market recovery that began in late March has cooled recently. The S&P 500 has gone nowhere in the last seven weeks, mostly trading in a narrow range between 3,000 and 3,200. Among the headwinds…
Lutz Announces 2020 Manager Promotions
LUTZ BUSINESS INSIGHTS Lutz announces 2020 manager promotions Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, recently announced the promotion of 16 professionals to Manager positions. Jim DeBoer has been promoted to Service Manager in Lutz’s Tech division. He is...
The High Growth Stocks of “FANMAG” + Financial Market Update + 7.7.2020
In August 2018, Apple Inc made history when it became the first company to be valued at $1 trillion. Fast forward to yesterday’s close (7/6/2020), and the company is now worth more than $1.6 trillion. In just two years, it added $600 billion…
Quarter in Review + Financial Market Update + 6.30.2020
As we get ready to roll into July, it’s hard to believe we are already at the midpoint of 2020. It has been a tale of two quarters so far this year, as one of history’s most vicious selloffs stopped on a dime and transitioned into a record-setting…
5 Tips for Creating Effective Estimates
If your business provides estimates to customers, you can improve your chances of a sale if you follow these five suggestions…
Starting a Business in 2020? Your Accounting Options
Before your new business even makes its first sale, you need to know how you’re going to meet your accounting needs. You should select a system that will suit you in the early days of your venture and will also allow you to handle growth…
Lutz Launches Risk Assessment Service Line
Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, recently announced a new service offering, Risk Assessment. Offerings include compliance and operational risk reviews, as well as physical security, cybersecurity, and fraud risk assessments…
What to Expect When You Engage in a Project With Lutz Tech
In the continually evolving world of IT, no two projects are ever alike. Unexpected twists and turns abound, and technology can be a finicky beast – even on the…
SBA Updates to the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Guidance
On June 22nd, 2020, the SBA provided updated guidance to the Loan Forgiveness Interim Final Rule. This new PPP guidance contains the following key updates…
Investment Fund Expenses Declined Last Year + Financial Market Update + 6.23.2020
Each year an analysis on expenses charged by the fund industry is published by the investment research firm, Morningstar. The most recent version of this report…
Benefits of Medicare Interim Cost Report Template for Critical Access Hospitals
The Medicare cost report has a material financial impact on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Significant changes in hospital utilization, expense swings or changes in…
CPT Code Modifiers: Clarification of Commonly Used and COVID Updates
There are many circumstances when coding more than one Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code on the same encounter that clarification is needed regarding…
Making Sense of Recent Market Moves + Financial Market Update + 6.16.2020
The market hit a small milestone last Monday (6/8) when the S&P 500 moved back into positive territory for 2020. Time spent in the green was short-lived, however…
June Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s newsletter contains insights on refreshing your plan, Form 5500 red flags, paying plan expenses, and more…
Average Isn’t Normal for Stocks + Financial Market Update + 6.9.2020
The rally that began in late March remains in full force, with pockets of the stock market returning to positive territory for the year. Over the past few months…
Paycheck Protection Program + FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2020 – H.R.7010
This bill was passed in the House on Thursday, May 28, 2020, and the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Once the President signs the bill, it will become law…
Quarter One Middle Market M&A Report 2020
After a record level of M&A activity in the last decade, the deal pipeline is slowing down as transaction participants are trying to assess the disruptions caused…
4 Tips for a Successful Transition Back to the Office
As the economy slowly reopens, remote workers are beginning to return to the office. However, before your staff return to the workplace, it’s imperative that…
Getting Out is the Easy Part + Financial Market Update + 6.2.2020
Famous studies conducted by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in the late 1970s described how individuals assess potential gains relative to losses…
7 Steps to Sell Yourself to a Potential Employer
The interview is a critical part of almost any hiring process. It is often the first opportunity that your prospective employer has to get to know you on a personal level…
5 Technology Tips for Working Remote
The impact of COVID-19 has been felt all over the world. To keep businesses running, most companies have implemented the capabilities for users to work remotely…
Am I Ready to Sell My Business?
When is the right time to exit your business? There is never a clear answer to this question. However, whether you are considering a business sale or not, it’s…
Overview of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
On May 19th, 2020, the USDA announced the details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The program will provide $16 billion of direct payments…
A 100-Year Bet Gone Bad
Back in 1997, the markets were roaring. The Dow Jones industrial average was completing its third straight year of 20-percent-plus returns, essentially…
Value is Historically Cheap + Financial Market Update + 5.19.2020
The stock market has staged a strong rally in recent weeks, gaining over 32% since bottoming on March 23rd. At this point, the S&P 500 is within 12% of its previous high…
May Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s newsletter contains insights on student loan assistance programs, ERISA 404(c) compliance, how to prepare for an audit, and more…
Stocks Look Beyond Bad Economic Data + Financial Market Update + 5.12.2020
The impact from the economic shutdown has started to show up in the data, and the results thus far have not been good. GDP in the 1st quarter, for example…
Are You Ready for a Career Change?
If you’re not satisfied with your job, it may lead to unhappiness in other areas of your life. Changing careers is a huge step, and it can seem daunting, but it doesn’t…
Five Highlights from the Berkshire Meeting + Financial Market Update + 5.5.2020
Berkshire Hathaway held its annual shareholder meeting in Omaha this past Saturday. The event, frequently referred to as the “Woodstock for capitalists,” typically attracts…
The Humanity of Accounting
Accounting has been around and in use since the beginning of human existence. Early forms were primitive, but by the time of the…
How is COVID-19 Impacting the M&A Industry?
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, companies and dealmakers are experiencing increased uncertainty posed by the pandemic. While the world of…
Investor Sentiment Just Hit the Lowest Level of the Year + Financial Market Update + 4.28.2020
Every Thursday, the American Institute of Individual Investors (AAII) publishes a widely followed sentiment survey. The publication shows…
General Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Calculation
This guidance was developed to assist Borrowers with understanding and preparing the calculation of eligible loan forgiveness for their PPP Loan…
Lutz M&A Advises Wings on its Acquisition by Eagle’s Landing
Lutz M&A recently announced that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Wings America Limited Partnership, owner-operator of…
Oil Goes Negative + Financial Market Update + 4.21.2020
The pain in the energy market has been garnering headlines all year, but yesterday it did so in truly unprecedented fashion…
Resilience Skills: What You Need When the Going Gets Tough
You have undoubtedly heard the famous expression, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Strong individuals face adversity…
Portfolio Management for Retirees During a Financial Crisis
The impact of COVID-19 on the financial markets has been nothing short of dramatic. From its all-time high on February 19th, the S&P 500…
The Unsung Hero of Your Portfolio + Financial Market Update + 4.14.2020
Significant attention was paid to the stock market during the first quarter of 2020, and for obvious reason. By most measures, the speed…
April Retirement Plan Newsletter 2020
This month’s newsletter contains insights on the new tax credit for plan participants, employee education, key decisions for a successful retirement, and more…
Did You Receive Approval for Your Paycheck Protection Program Loan? What Now?
Once you receive the good news that your loan was approved, you may begin to question, “what are the next steps?” Below are suggestions…
Have We Seen the Bottom? + Financial Market Update + 4.7.2020
After nearly six weeks of relentless declines, the stock market appears to have found a bit of relief. The S&P 500 hit its lowest level on…
CARES Act Overview
Congress has officially passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, otherwise known as the CARES Act…
CARES Act Overview for Individuals
You can think of the recovery rebate as an advance payment of a 2020 tax credit you would typically receive. U.S. residents will receive…
Tax-Related Provisions for Businesses
The CARES Act introduced several retroactive business tax changes. A highlight of the modifications include the following…
Payroll Considerations of COVID-19 Legislation
In the past couple weeks, two pieces of legislation have impacted payroll by introducing potential tax credits and extending employee…
COVID-19 Emergency Injury Disaster Advance and Loans (EIDL)
An emergency grant can provide an advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within three…
Personal Finances: Focusing on What You Can Control + Financial Market Update + 3.31.2020
Like many of us, you may feel a bit disoriented, fearful, and anxious. Not only has your life been dramatically altered in the past few weeks…
Personal Finances: Focusing on What You Can Control
Like many of us, you may feel a bit disoriented, fearful, and anxious. Not only has your life been dramatically altered in the past few weeks…
Updates to July 15 Tax Filing Deadline
Governor Ricketts has followed the lead of the IRS and extended the Nebraska income tax filing and payment deadline to July 15, 2020…
Controlling What You Can + Financial Market Update + 3.24.2020
A critical concept investors must understand is that markets are forward looking. This means prices reflect the aggregate of all future…
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS!
We tap into the vast knowledge and experience within our organization to provide you with monthly content on topics and ideas that drive and challenge your company every day.
