Articles
Doing Business in China – Common War Stories
Doing Business in China – Common War Stories As time passes, I hear from reliable sources the same type of stories, over and over, about doing business in China. So, I thought I’d pass along some recent reviews: Assume a taxpayer sets up a Wholly-Owned Foreign Enterprise (W.O.F.E.) and manufactures products (directly or via a…
Read MoreEven the Ultra Wealthy Need Smart Financial Planning
Even the Ultra Wealthy Need Smart Financial Planning By Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA (tax) Managing Partner Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. LLP How many times have you heard about an ultra-wealthy individual who has somehow managed to blow all of his or her fortune and end up with practically nothing? There are countless stories of…
Read MoreSpirituality In Business Leadership
Spirituality In Business Leadership By Alan Olsen For many people, even mentioning religion, or a religious topic in the workplace can be taboo. Often, people are very sensitive about religious topics so most people choose to be quiet about the subject, no matter what the business situation might be. Even some of the most devout…
Read MoreUpdate on Homebuyer’s Credits
Update on Homebuyer’s Credits Dear Client & Friends: On November 6, the President signed into law H.R. 3548, the ”Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009.” The new law extends and generally liberalizes the tax credit for first-time homebuyers, making it a much more flexible tax-saving tool. It also includes some crackdowns designed to prevent…
Read MoreRevocable Living Trust: Family Financial Security
Revocable Living Trust: Family Financial Security The times in which we live have brought new uncertainty and increased anxiety to our front doors. With the threat of terrorism and the reality of war, our safety and that of our loved ones are at the forefront of our concerns. For many a continually disappointing investment environment…
Read MoreMunicipal Bonds: A Source of Tax-Free Income
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There’s one readily available and legal source of untaxed income that we know of: municipal bonds. These securities are issued by state and local governments, school districts, hospitals and other public agencies to support community projects and services. To permit these worthy endeavors to raise money economically, Uncle Sam exempts the interest that they pay…
Read MoreEmployers Offer Incentives for Weight Loss
Employers Offer Incentives for Weight Loss Looking to get some extra cash from the boss? Forget logging long hours, brokering that big deal or sucking up at the company holiday party. Employer weight loss programs Employers have begun dangling big incentives, such as cash bonuses and paid days off, to encourage workers to lose weight.…
Read More“Values-based” Estate Planning
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] There are many facets of estate planning. Certainly, it’s important to craft a will that delineates how the fruits of years of hard work will be distributed to your loved ones—fairly and harmoniously. And, of course, crafting strategies that will maximize what you pass on at the minimum tax cost is an important goal.…
Read MorePassion Investments: Why High-Net-Worth Individuals are Turning to Luxury Collecting
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]by Alan L. Olsen, CPA, MBA (Tax) Mananging Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co. Posted: 3/1/11 In times of economic uncertainty, bad news is good news for collectors and sellers. This uncertainty drives capital out of the stock market but at the same time, causes investments like art, wine and fine jewelry (among others) to…
Read MoreThe Human Factor in Mergers and Acquisitions
The Human Factor in Mergers and Acquisitions By Alan Olsen There are a lot of factors of success and failure in mergers and acquisitions that go into a merger or an acquisition. These business deals come in all shapes and sizes and can be massive or rather small. However, they all involve at least two…
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