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How Business Owners Can Maximize the Impact of Charitable Giving
Giving from the heart can meaningfully impact your small business’s bottom lineGifting strategies may reduce your taxes owed, increase brand value, and help your communityThere are key risks to consider, and a long-term charitable giving strategy helps build a legacyAs we approach year-end, it’s naturally a time to reflect on the year that was. If you’ve been blessed with significant revenue gains and profit increases, you may look to spread some extra holiday cheer.
Tax Brackets, Bigger Refunds, and What It Means for 2026
This week’s insight looks ahead to the upcoming tax-filing season.The IRS released its 2026 income tax brackets last week. There’s a 4% increase in the lowest two rungs, while upper brackets are nudged higher by just 2.3%. As is normally the case, the adjustments rarely impact long-term planning strategy, but they’re a reminder that inflation is an ever-present issue. What’s more, the federal government may be trying to help out lower-income households with a larger increase to the 10% and 12% marginal tax brackets.
Shutdown? The Market Didn’t Get the Memo. Stocks Hit New Records.
The S&P 500 rallied 3.5% in September and built upon those gains as the federal government closed its doors to begin Q4.An AI supercycle and corporate dealmaking underpin 3%-plus GDP growth, along with consumer strength.The jobs market is weak, though, and more Fed rate cuts are likely on the way.Shutdown? Party on. The S&P 500 tallied its 31st record-high close of the year on Day 3 of the federal government shutdown. Wall Street traders and Main Street investors alike looked past all the D.C.
The Cost of Intelligence: Who Pays for the AI Boom?
This week’s insight tosses around a political football.Yes, the midterm elections are about 13 months away, and both sides are gearing up for a fierce battle. The usual issues will be at hand, including the economy, national security, immigration, and social issues. Of course, all of it will play out in today’s 24/7 cable-news world and social media–ridden culture.
Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs: Protecting Your Business Assets and Customer Information
Investing in data security is a non-negotiable for entrepreneurs handling digital assetsCyber criminals constantly devise new hacks that target small business ownersThere are key steps to take, both internally and externally, that can effectively mitigate emerging risks without crimping your company’s budgetRecession or not, large multinational corporations are unlikely to gut cyber security budgets.
Jobs Revision Shakes the Data, But Not the Market
This week’s insight offers a fresh look at the jobs market. It’s not so rosy anymore.Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual benchmark employment revision. Maybe you heard. The true-up resulted in a steep 911,000-job negative change to cumulative gains over the April 2024 to March 2025 period. Wall Street economists had expected a downward revision of 400,000 to 500,000 jobs. How did stocks respond? Just fine.
Mortgage Rates Sink to 11-Month Low: Is a 5% Handle Coming Soon?
This week’s insight offers good news for prospective home buyers.The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage plunged 0.16% to 6.29% in the wake of last Friday’s weak August jobs report. That continued a trend of falling interest rates leading up to the mid-month Federal Reserve meeting. Prospective homebuyers may now lock in a mortgage at the cheapest rate in 11 months. For perspective, it was just this past May when 7% was the norm. But could it go even lower? And are there other options? Let’s flesh that out.
Trump’s Power Play Rocks the Fed, But Stocks Shrugged in August: Here’s Why
The S&P 500 logged another monthly gain despite mixed performances among the Mag 7 stocksSmall caps led, as hope turned into expectation for a Fed rate cutIn the face of unsettling political shake-ups, stocks and bonds remain up on the year ahead of the sometimes-sketchy month of SeptemberStocks rose for a fourth straight month in August. The S&P 500 climbed 1.9% in what’s sometimes a weak period. The gain came amid much drama at the macroeconomic and policy levels.
From Bitcoin to Ether: Measuring Crypto’s Weight in the Investment World
This week’s insight assesses the crypto playing field.Clear Harbor has long been a believer in bitcoin, ether, and the like. Cryptocurrency may seem novel, even weird, to most investors, but it’s increasingly viewed as foundational to the digital economy of the future. Both token holders and those without an allocation likely wonder what the right allocation should be. Let’s flesh that out.
Exit Strategies Beyond Selling: Exploring Alternatives for Small Business Owners
Entrepreneurs must always look ahead, even all the way to the exitSelling offers the upside of a financial windfall and a clean break, but there are other strategies to ponderMergers, internal buyouts, and family successions have their own pluses and minusesWhat do you envision when the thought of exiting your business pops into your head?
Rising Costs, Rising Entrepreneurs: The Surprising Boom in Small-Business Formation
Rising Costs, Rising Entrepreneurs: The Surprising Boom in Small-Business FormationThis week’s insight profiles a surprising trend in small-business formation.Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global, a Wall Street research firm, put out a pair of revealing charts earlier this month. One discouraging, one encouraging. Bad news first.
Stocks Stumble to Begin August, Recession Fears Stoke Investor Concerns
The S&P 500 fell hard after a disappointing July jobs report and a slew of disturbing macro headlinesBut earnings matter most, and the Q2 reporting season has been very strong, confirming that businesses are making do amid uncertaintyStocks are up nicely in 2025, and this remains among the most underappreciated rallies in recent memoryA month ago, we detailed how resilient stocks were. Battle-tested markets now face a new challenge: another recession scare.
Hidden Gem: The $2,000 Charitable Deduction You Didn’t Know About
This week’s insight digs up a small nugget in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).As we continue nerding out on taxes, one OBBBA provision caught our eye, and it might put a few hundred bucks back in your pocket. We’re going to bury the lead a bit by providing some background. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) simplified the tax code by eliminating the so-called “personal exemption” and increasing the standard deduction. That change didn’t impact taxpayers, but it stung charities.
The Importance of Advisory Boards: Guidance and Support for Small Business Growth
Advisory boards can provide expert insights and mentorship to help entrepreneurs make informed decisions, avoid pitfalls, and accelerate growthA focused team of experienced professionals is like a group of elders whose wisdom fills knowledge gaps to strengthen your businessAn advisory board may open doors to new opportunities and assist in the exit processThe last thing busy small business owners want to do is rope others into the decision-making process.
Inside the One Big, Beautiful Bill: What OBBBA Means for You and Your Business
This week’s insight digs into the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law on the 4th of July.After much debate on Capitol Hill and uncertainty over whether Congress would meet President Trump’s Independence Day goal, the tax cuts that began after the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) were made permanent earlier this month. In May, we detailed the tax and spending bill’s significant impacts on small business owners, and many of those call-outs made it to the final version of the legislation. Let’s dig into the key parts of the fiscal package.
Battle-Tested Stocks Lift to Record Levels to Begin Q3
The S&P 500 reached fresh all-time highs ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekendIn the face of unknowns around tariffs and interest rate uncertainty, investors appear to be pricing in a positive economic outcomeA “buy the dip” mentality has propelled markets since mid-April, but there are volatility catalysts on tap in JulyThere were fireworks on Wall Street to begin the second half.
BNPL Is Everywhere—But at What Cost?
This week’s insight looks at the so-called buy now, pay later (BNPL) trend.Did you know that the back-to-school stretch is the second-biggest shopping season of the year? That’s the word from the National Retail Federation. As you scoff at the very mention of back-to-school with Fourth of July fireworks yet to light up the sky, an emerging consumer trend is being leaned on more heavily by retailers big and small.
Business Debt Management: Growth Strategies for Small Business Owners
Entrepreneurs should consider debt as a tool to craft long-term business growthCareful planning and constant discipline are required when borrowingWe lay out the key leverage tactics and resources small business owners should use to boost their long-term earnings powerDebt can be taboo in the personal finance world. Borrowing too much and being reckless with credit cards indeed makes long-term planning a moot point. For small business owners, however, debt is a weapon to be wielded early and often.
Trump Accounts and the Power of Starting Early
This week’s insight is a bundle of joy—it’s all about baby bonds.Amid ongoing tweaks to President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which we’ve dissected on our blog, new legislation may be on the way that benefits Americans not yet born. So-called “Trump Accounts” would plop $1,000 per child born from 2025 to 2028 into a dedicated, tax-deferred account meant to give all children a leg up on their saving journeys.
Why Americans Still Love Real Estate—and What They’re Missing
This week’s insight dives into a new Gallup poll on what investors want.