The Wrap

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change our world, companies are forced to change the ways that they do business. For many companies, one of the greatest concerns of today is obtaining the working capital needed to help their business survive this season.  In this special edition of The Wrap, our hosts welcome Hanny Akl CPA, CFE, CEPA, CVGA, a Member of Warren Averett and the Firm’s Transacti...

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had wide-reaching impacts in almost every facet of operations for businesses. Many companies are facing challenges today that weren’t even in their wildest dreams a few months ago. Business leaders are facing difficult decisions about the futures of their finances, operations and employees. Recent legislation from the federal government has been designed to help bu...

In this episode of The Wrap, Paul and Kim summon an unscheduled podcast recording to discuss the challenges that companies are facing as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic across the globe and what they should do to adequately respond.  This podcast episode covers considerations for: How business should be forecasting their financial futures Evaluating your supply chain Business continuity...

In this episode of The Wrap, Paul calls for an unscheduled podcast episode to bring in John Cox, CFA, CAIA, the Chief Investment Officer at Warren Averett Asset Management, to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and what it means for investors.  The discussion in this podcase episode includes: Economic ramifications of COVID-19 that investors should be aware of  How COVID-19 compares to other health con...

Employee benefit plans can be complicated. If you read the sentence above and you’re still with us, we’re guessing that you’re probably one of the business leaders who understands their importance, even despite the complexities. (Well done!) It’s true that offering retirement plans to your business’s employees comes with costs, responsibilities, and the task of adding new words and acronyms to you...

Considering the proper aspects of state and local tax implications is an important piece of the due diligence strategy for anyone looking to sell or acquire a business.  But, state and local tax matters can get complex quickly based on a company’s footprint, where it is operating and the details of the transaction. What should you know in order to minimize your tax burden and be sure your company...

All that glitters isn’t goals. Or, maybe we should say, not all goals glitter.  Businesses put a lot of effort into setting goals, defining metrics and pinpointing objectives—but are they doing it well? To be effective in reaching a goal, a business must first be effective in setting one, and, while specific goals may be different for a start-up than they are for an international corporation, the...

Statistics show that companies that focus on diversity are more likely to succeed than those that don’t. That’s because having employees with different outlooks, experiences, skills and knowledge allows companies to approach a service, product or project in different ways, which fosters effective innovation. But if your company hasn’t been focusing on diversity, where do you start? What does incor...

A Board of Directors has significant influence over a nonprofit’s finances, strategy and governance. So, it only makes sense that nonprofits looking to be as effective as possible in advancing their mission need a solid Board of Directors.  If you’re looking to build the best board possible for your nonprofit organization (which—of course—you always are), how can you tell if your board members, or...

Some of the most valuable insight about your organization comes from outside of it. Businesses seeking to be as efficient and effective as possible need a strong team of advisors in order to identify both opportunities and blind spots. But when it comes to actually assembling that council of advisors for your company, it can be difficult to know where to begin.  Paul and Kim invite you to their di...

No two organizations are completely alike. Businesses have different offerings, different values and different goals, but they all have at least one thing in common. They all need people to make it run successfully. With the unemployment rate at a low, your business may be realizing that, not only are your best candidates for your open roles already in other jobs, but your competitors are increasi...

They say that if you want something done right, you should do it yourself. But, when it comes to your business’s accounting and bookkeeping functions, we think it’s a different story. For many businesses, it’s more efficient to outsource financial functions to a fractional bookkeeper, accountant or CFO. But how can you know if it’s a good fit for your business? How should you evaluate and pick an...

Have you ever had the sneaking feeling that your business is paying too much in taxes? If so, you aren’t alone. Businesses all across the country over-pay their taxes on their returns each year. The most effective way to identify saving or deferral opportunities for your company (and to keep from spending more on your taxes than you need to) is to create a strategic tax plan before you file your t...

There’s no place like zones—Opportunity Zones, that is.   Since 2017, opportunity has been knocking specifically in the form of Opportunity Zones —a piece of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that provides new tax benefits for investors. The Opportunity Zone program was designed to foster economic development in lower-income areas by incentivizing investments within these zones.   What are Opportunity Zon...

Many business owners spend so much time investing in the growth of their business that they often don’t take time to consider how they might sell it—much less consider what their lives might look like post-transaction. After a business owner sells his or her own company, priorities, finances, investments and giving all appear in a new light. Being emotionally, financially and strategically ready a...

In today’s economy, more and more companies are being approached by potential buyers, and with the Baby Boomer generation nearing retirement, fuel is being added to the transaction fire. Buyers are increasingly approaching companies that aren’t even looking to sell in hopes of planting the seef for a transaction. So when that potential suitor comes knocking, how can you know which interactions are...

To have an understanding of what something is worth, you need to have an understanding of how much someone would pay to buy it. Businesses aren’t any different. To know how much your business is worth, consider how much you could sell it for. But, that begs the question: Is your business worth what you think it is? Whether you’re planning to actually sell your business or not, knowing the answer t...

In recent months, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has made waves in business discussions nationwide. Business leaders watched news reports, read headlines and heard rumors about how the new tax reform law would create a new landscape for how they understand their companies’ taxes. But, what does tax reform actually mean for a business? Does filing an extension make you more likely to be audited? Should...

When it comes to natural disasters, the unfortunate truth is that many businesses don’t consider what they need to do in order to be prepared until they’re faced with an impending dangerous situation. Or even worse—many businesses don’t consider disaster preparedness until they are facing disaster recovery. The best way to position your business to ride out a natural disaster is to prepare ahead o...

Cyberattacks pose one of the greatest risks to the profitability and longevity of businesses in today’s economy, and, at the end of the day, businesses have a responsibility to protect themselves against the threats that cybercrime poses. Why does cybersecurity matter, what makes your company most vulnerable and what should businesses do to be prepared? In this episode of The Wrap, Amy Williams an...

The good news is that many companies that put forth an effort to improve their own products and processes are eligible to receive the R&D Tax Credit, which can boost their bottom lines. The bad news is that some companies never even know it.   Floyd Holliman, CPA, Member in the Firm’s Tax Division and leader of the Firm’s Specialty Tax Services Group, joins Kim and Paul to discuss the R&D...

Government contractors have seen immense growth in recent years, but they also face unique challenges—from compliance and regulatory requirements to finding the right people for the right jobs. How can businesses operating in the government contracting industry position themselves to take full advantage of today’s opportunities? Listen in as Hobie Frady, CPA and leader of the Firm’s Government Con...

Hiring motivated, qualified employees is an integral part of any business’s success. Finding the right employees with the proper skills and experience can place your company on a trajectory to maximize effectiveness and reach your highest goals. But with today’s low unemployment rate, finding and appealing to the right candidates is tougher than ever.  Kim and Paul host David Salters, CSP, TSC, a...

Blockchain is an increasingly hot-button topic, and business owners are attempting to predict how this revolutionary technology will impact their companies. We know that blockchain is expected to transform the ways that businesses conduct their financial operations and accounting systems, but what should business leaders know now in order to set their companies up for future blockchain success?  I...