By Terri North, Legal Strategies PC

According to AARP, one in five older Americans is the victim of financial exploitation each year, resulting in losses of $3 billion annually. Older members of the population are targeted due to their $18 trillion in assets and the likelihood that they suffer from problems with memory and judgment, making them more vulnerable.

​In 2018, the president signed the Senior Safe Act to help combat elder financial abuse. The law allows financial institutions a "safe harbor" to report suspected fraud without the fear of being sued, as long as they have trained their employees in how to detect suspicious activity.

Banks are often the first to recognize fraud or financial exploitation. An unexplained withdrawal, wire transfer, transfer to a new account, or check issued to a new recipient can all be telltale signs of fraud. While banks use automatic tools and software to flag transactions, only 38 percent of baby boomers bank online. So, a teller's personal relationship with a client can be the first line of defense against exploitation.

If you are new to estate planning and not sure where to start, contact us today for a free consultation.
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By Rick Catron, Account Development Executive, Auxiom

If you’re an older (I preferred experienced) technician like myself, you’ll remember the days of John Wayne saying, “Circle up the wagons boys, it’s going to be a long night.” Well, the same can be said today regarding how we defend ourselves from attacks while navigating the perils of the Cyber frontier. In the old westerns, circling the wagons was a way of setting a defense barrier when a wagon train stopped for the evening. The circle was to prevent many intruders from rushing the camp overnight. It had its faults but served a purpose and saved lives. In the world of technology, firewalls, antivirus, security parameters, etc. take the place of wagons in this analogy. The difference nowadays is the varying layers of defense/circles that can be put in place against the dangers of the new frontier. The only real question is how many circles do you need to keep your wagon train protected? In today’s world, a minimum of at least four should be in place:

Circle 1:  Antivirus
This is your base and first circle of protection. Today’s antivirus keeps computers and data safe from Malware, viruses and cyber-attacks.

Circle 2:  Spam Protection
Secure your email. Most attacks originate in your email. A service designed to reduce spam and your exposure to attacks on you via email is a critical addition to your train’s security.

Circle 3:  Backups
Backup. Backup and – oh yeah – backup. Normally the only way to recover from a cyber-attack such as ransomware is to restore from a backup. If you only have one method for backup, you may need a rethink. How sure can you be that your ONE backup solution is reliable? Your backups should be maintained locally, monthly and, most importantly, offsite.

Circle 4:  Firewalls
Yes, we all have heard the term firewall and believe that we have one in place somewhere. However, the real question is – is your firewall proactively protecting you? If you haven’t looked at your firewall solution lately, the options for proactive protection are improving daily. If the bad guys on the cyber frontier are looking for new holes in your wagon circle, shouldn’t you be proactively patching those holes?

There ARE several other circles of security to be considered, but these are what I believe are the four core items that should be addressed immediately when looking at your business’s security. If you already have these four items in place, when was the last time you verified them? The old saying of “trust but verify” should be implemented when dealing with your network’s security. For more information, contact Rick Catron at 586.486.3915 or visit Auxiom’s website.

By UHY LLP

The IRS is requiring certain verification of identities during phone calls in an attempt to prevent tax fraud. Taxpayers and tax professionals must have the required verification in order for the IRS to answer questions regarding certain tax items. By law, the IRS telephone assistors will only speak with the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s legally designated representative. In order to prevent multiple phone calls, taxpayers and tax preparers should have the following information ready:
 
Confirming taxpayers’ identities during calls. Whether you are the taxpayer calling about your return or a representative for the client, the IRS may need to ask for the following information. 

• Social security numbers (SSN) and birth dates for individuals on tax return
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter if the taxpayer has one in lieu of a SSN
• Filing status as shown on the return such as single, head of household, married filing jointly or married filing separate
• The prior-year tax return which was filed. Telephone assistors may need to verify taxpayer identity with information from the prior year return such as adjusted gross income and tax liability as shown on the return.  
• A copy of the tax return in question
• Any IRS letters or notices received by the taxpayer related to the return in question

 
If you are a third-party authorized to contact the IRS, they may ask for some additional information during the calls. This could include:

• Verbal or written authorization from the taxpayer on the phone allowing the third-party to discuss the account
• Preparer’s Tax Identification Number (PTIN) or PIN or CAF number of a third-party designee
• A current, completed and signed Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization for, or a completed and signed Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative
• In many cases the agent will ask the representative for other information as well including their date of birth and their social security number to verify they are speaking with the proper representative

 
If the call to the IRS is in regards to a deceased taxpayer, be prepared to fax the following information to the agent:

• The decreased taxpayer’s death certificate, and
• Either copies of Letters Testamentary approved by the court, an IRS Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship (for estate executors), or Trust Authorization agreement giving the trustee the power to act on the behalf of the trust.

 
Alternatives for answers
If your question or issue relates to your prior refund or how to complete a form, there are easier ways to obtain this information than waiting on the phone to talk with an agent. You can check out the IRS website at www.irs.gov for instructions to forms, frequently asked questions, and how to follow up on your refund.

By Marc D. Kaszubski, Principal and Director, O’Reilly Rancilio PC

Recreational Marihuana
On November 6, 2018, Michigan voters passed Proposal 1, known as the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (“the Act”), decriminalizing the possession and use of marihuana by adults aged 21 years or older.
 
While much of the Act addresses the use, cultivation and amounts of marihuana that can be legally possessed, the Act also expressly addresses the rights of employers to ban the use of marihuana in the workplace.
 
Specifically, Section 4.3. of the Act states that employers are not required to permit or accommodate an employee’s marihuana use under the Act and, therefore, employers remain free to discipline any employee violating an established workplace drug policy and/or for working while under the influence of marihuana.
 
Employers should also note that the Act does not prevent an employer from refusing to hire a prospective employee due to their desire to use recreational marihuana.
 
Medical Marihuana
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (the "MMMA") became Michigan law on December 4, 2008. The MMMA permits an individual with a qualifying debilitating medical condition to register as a medical marihuana patient with the Michigan Department of Community Health and avoid criminal penalties under state law for certain medical uses of marihuana.
 
Employers should note that the MMMA does not provide an employee with the right to use or be under the influence of medical marihuana in the workplace.
 
Therefore, like recreational marihuana, employers remain free to discipline or terminate any employee violating an established workplace place drug policy or for working while under the influence of marihuana.
 
Workplace Policies
Workplace policies should always try to strike a balance between employee and employer’s rights.
Employers should adopt a straightforward drug and alcohol policy that can be incorporated into an employee handbook, policy manual, or be issued separately as a policy bulletin. This will ensure employees are knowledgeable of the rules and job implications associated with the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
 
These policies help:

• Establish and maintain a safe and healthy work environment.
• Reduce the number of accidental injuries to persons or property.
• Reduce absenteeism and tardiness and increase productivity.
• Maintain a professional atmosphere for employees and visitors.

 
Annual updates to policies will provide employees with clear understanding of what is expected of them, and avoid unwanted conflicts.

By Doug Kelly, 5by5 Design LLC

Website creation is a complex task. Building a website is a task not to be taken lightly. It is a reasonably complex task that combines taking a collection of information and images, designing it with readability and all the while also applying basic design techniques. Here are just a few frequently overlooked website creation mistakes.

1. Opening new windows. Once upon a time, using multiple new frames to display content as a user clicked through a site was cool–a new thing in web design. With tabbed browsing common in browsers like Firefox, users who wish to open links in new tabs can do so if they wish.

2. Failing to put a contact information in several locations. The best practice is to put up a “Contact Us” link that leads to complete info–mailing address, phone and email address. But, you should also have that info on each and every page of your website.

3. Broken links. Bad links–hyperlinks that do nothing when clicked or lead to “404” error pages–are the bane of any web surfer. Test your site–and do it weekly–to ensure that all links work.

4. Slow server times. Slow load times are inexcusable with professional sites — it’s an invitation to the visitor to click away. What’s slow? On average, visitors will wait only four seconds for a site to load before clicking away.

5. Outdated information. Make sure to keep your site fresh and updated daily for best results. You can’t afford the loss of credibility that can come from having dated content.

6. Poor navigation. It’s very frustrating to be forced to go back two or three pages to get to other areas of a site. It’s also a waste of time. There should be a navigation bar on every page that guides visitors to other areas of the site.

7. Too many font styles and colors. Pages ought to present a unified, consistent look. Use two or three fonts and colors per page, maximum. The idea is to reassure viewers of your solidity and stability, not to convince them you’re wildly artistic.

8. Orphan pages. Every page in your site needs a readily seen link back to the home page. Why? Sometimes users who may visit and may want more information. But if the page they get is a dead end, forget it. Always put a link to “Home” on every page, and make your site logo (usually found near the top of the screen) link back to your home page.

9. Failing to link with your social network sites. Most businesses have their own Facebook pages, or Pinterest or Twitter accounts. The point is that social media is an important resource and businesses are benefiting from having a presence in it. Forgetting to link to your social media platforms is a big no-no. People should be able to go from one to the other effortlessly.

​


by UHY LLP

The centralized partnership audit regime rules are now in effect and change the way partnerships are audited by the IRS. These new rules require the actual partnership to pay any deficiencies resulting from any audit adjustments. This means that the IRS will apply the top tax rates to any audit adjustments to calculate deficiencies, without regard to any partner level attribute that may have otherwise reduced the tax due from an audit adjustment.

However, certain partnerships can elect out of these rules and force the deficiencies to be calculated at the partner level, which can take advantage of a partner's lower tax rates, and any tax attributes that may help to offset the potential audit adjustments. This election must be made each year on a timely filed tax return for the partnership and is only available for partnerships that meet the following criteria:

• Must have less than 100 partners
• Can only have the following eligible partners in the partnership; an individual, a C corporation, any foreign entity that would be treated as a C corporation were it domestic, an S corporation, or an estate of a deceased partner
  • Ineligible partners include the following: partnerships, trusts, disregarded entities, nominees or other similar persons that hold an interest on behalf of another person, foreign entities that are not eligible, and estates that are not estates of a deceased partner.

This election can only be made by the partnership representative and must disclose each name and EIN of the partners. The partnership must notify each partner of the election in any year made. 

 
by Jenna Daniel
​
I am sad to say that this is my last week as an employee of the Chamber. While my time here was shorter than expected, it has certainly been an experience that I will cherish forever.
 
Getting to know all of the members and their businesses was one of my favorite aspects of working for the Chamber. The relationships I have built with so many of you will carry on long past my departure, and I am grateful that the Chamber brought me to so many awesome people.
 
To my lovely co-workers and boss: I will miss you ladies so much. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve spent countless hours outside of work together and we have built such a strong bond. I feel so blessed to have such a good relationship with all of you. You taught me so much about work ethic and what it means to be a team in a business setting. Your influence and mentorship have added an indefinite amount of value to my knowledge and skills, and I am so grateful. I will cherish your friendship and the amazing time we’ve had together forever. I love you all.
 
To my YoPros buddies: it’s been a ride, haha. From fowling to cocktail crafting to bocce to de-stressing, I would venture to say that we’ve just about done it all. Even though we struggled from time to time, we always got it together and kept on keeping on, and things always worked themselves out. I’m thankful to have been a part of this group, and I’m even more thankful for the friendships it brought me. You know who you are.
 
To our awesome members: it’s been an honor to serve you and your businesses. I have learned so much about small businesses, and each of you has played a vital role in that. I am thankful that I have so many new contacts and resources for any needs I might have in the future.
 
I’m thankful that I can look back at my time at the Chamber and have so many happy and fun memories. The many events, ribbon cuttings, Sterlingfest and everything in between were always a great time. I’m glad I got the opportunity to be a part of this community, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  
 
While this is an extremely bittersweet goodbye, I’m thankful that it’s not forever. I’ll still be around and I hope to still make it to Chamber functions, and I’ve already got my name on the list as a Sterlingfest volunteer. You know you weren’t going to be able to get rid of me that easily!
 
All joking aside: from the bottom of my heart, I am truly grateful for everything the Chamber has taught me, for getting to meet and have a relationship with all of you and for being accepted into the Chamber family. I know that I will always have a feeling of home here.
 
Not goodbye, but see you later…
 
          - Jenna

Presented by Integrity Wealth Consultants.

CAN YOU PSYCH YOURSELF UP TO SAVE MORE?
You have probably spent decades saving for retirement, and you might have a decade or more of saving to go before you actually retire. At times, your resolve may be tested. The stock market may falter; household money pressures may mount; new near-term priorities may arise. What can you do to stay on point and stick with this financial commitment you have made to your future self?

First, keep picturing the future you want. Envision the dreams and goals you want to accomplish. If you want to retire to a certain place, spend a day or a weekend there. If you imagine yourself enjoying a particular hobby or pursuit, try out that pastime today. This could reinforce the importance of retirement saving at a time when distractions threaten. Second, if you are tempted to spend more and save less after a raise or promotion, think about the opportunity cost of that choice. A $100 or $500 expenditure on some consumer good poised to depreciate is not an investment in your future, but $100 or $500 invested in equities or fixed-income vehicles could result in further progress toward your savings objective. Third, automate your saving and investing, if that is not already the case, so you never have to think about it. You can do this with an IRA, not just a workplace retirement plan. Some workplace plans offer you the option of gradually increasing your contribution rate. So, instead of merely saving for something hazy called "retirement," save for the dreams that inspire you. 

Health Tip
Scrub your hands when you wash them
Some people wash their hands more thoroughly than others, and thorough is good. Start by wetting your hands, then apply enough soap to get a good lather going. Then, vigorously scrub your hands, your fingernails, and between your fingers for 15-20 seconds. This scrubbing is what removes the bulk of the germs and viruses, not to mention oil and dirt.

NEW INGREDIENTS ENHANCE CULINARY TOURS
If some of your fondest travel memories center on the cuisine you have savored abroad, you may be intrigued to know how culinary vacations are taking on a whole new flavor. The new trend is toward a deep food experience: exploring the origin and culture giving birth to the food, not merely the food alone.
These trips strive to provide a memorable balance of activities, culture, and cuisine. You might ride a conventional or electric bike from one prime foodie destination to the next in Italy or Spain, fish for salmon and gather edible herbs in Alaska or the Yukon, or go clamming and cook on wild rhubarb-covered rocks in Patagonia. Obviously, trips of this sort are not cheap (think $5,000-$10,000 for two weeks, not including airfare), but they can provide a profoundly immersive experience and lifelong memories. In some areas, you can even add this kind of encounter to a vacation yourself: travel services like NOSHtrekker in Singapore help travelers dine at the homes of locals who share their interest in art, history, and other disciplines. 

DID YOU KNOW?  
Famous fast words
Some celebrated novels and novellas have been written with astonishing speed. Irish author John Boyne wrote the first draft of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in 60 hours. Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote The Gambler in 26 days. Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in three weeks. 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Participants in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) have an average balance of $170,326 by the estimate of the National Center for Employee Ownership, which is more than twice the mean savings that workers have amassed in other kinds of employer-sponsored retirement plans. There are about 6,700 ESOPs nationwide.


This blog was originally posted by Integrity Wealth Consultants.

​by Terri North, Legal Strategies, PC.

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, was initially produced by gangs on the West Coast. But since that time, meth production has moved to small, residential home labs, especially in rural areas.
 
Meth residue poses significant health risks for the buyers of those homes, especially for the younger members of the family, but there is no obligation for a seller to disclose whether a home was used for meth production.
 
Michigan requires that sellers of residential property complete a Seller's Disclosure Statement for potential buyers. The Disclosure asks about environmental problems, such as asbestos, radon gas and lead-based paint, that could be a risk for future owners. However, the form was created before meth labs were a problem, so there is no question regarding the production of meth in the home. Currently, a seller does not have any legal duty to mention that information.
 
Until the Legislature acts to update the Seller's Disclosure Statement, the burden will be on the buyer of a home to protect himself. There are both home tests available for detecting meth residue and companies that can test for and remediate the contamination if any meth residue is detected.
 

* This blog was originally posted by Legal Strategies, PC.

by UHY LLP

​With the increasing number of cyber attacks and data breaches affecting companies, there are more demands on organizations to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive data and systems.
 
The solvency of your organization can be jeopardized with a single click by one employee. Ransomware, phishing and online banking fraud are on the rise and targeting the middle market and sole proprietors at an ever-increasing rate. Cybersecurity events are not a matter of if, but when. You can no longer prevent an attack. You can, however, manage the impact and magnitude.
 
WHAT WE'VE SEEN

UHY has seen first-hand the damaging effects of cyberattacks. We have numerous clients who have been the victim of a ransomware attack which disabled their business. We have clients who have been hit with wire-transfer fraud resulting from Business Email Compromise (BEC). Other clients have had individuals within their payables group individually targeted through a phishing campaign and had malware installed on the banking laptop, resulting in fraudulent ACH transactions in excess of $250,000.

MORE THAN ONE 'NO'? ALARMING, BUT WE CAN HELP!

We share our clients' vision to minimize risks, enhance security, avoid pitfalls, implement best practices and ensure stability. One of UHY Advisors' cybersecurity experts can schedule 30 minutes to further define the scope of services needed.

NEXT LEVEL OF SERVICE

UHY's commitment to client service is personable, value-centric and cost-effective. We call it The Next Level of Service. Our goal is to exceed our clients' expectations. Our professionals are committed to helping you develop an approach to cybersecurity that protects your organization. We have designed our service offerings to be cost-effective and impactful. Please contact your local UHY professional to learn more about cybersecurity and mitigating the risk to your organization.

THE NEXT STEP
 
For a strong and compelling cybersecurity program aligned to your client's business, please contact the UHY Advisors' Technology, Risk & Compliance team at cyber@uhy-us.com.