​by Kimbery Miles, Marketing Coordinator, Halt, Buzas & Powell, Ltd. 
It’s been said that “for everything we don’t like to do, there’s someone out there who’s really good, wants to do it, and will enjoy it.” In a time where budgets are getting increasingly tight, businesses and organizations must look for a variety of ways to cut costs. Sometimes this results in keeping fewer staff on board and having them “share” the duties needed to keep the business running; however, this may not be the best choice as those staff often are not properly trained or even willing to do the necessary work. This is where outsourcing makes its grand entrance.
When you hear the term “outsourcing”, many think of outsourcing operations such as customer service, human resources, marketing, or IT support. Many may also confuse it with “offshoring”, in which the outsourced services are provided from other countries. So, what exactly is outsourced accounting? Outsourced accounting is a business strategy in which all or a portion of the accounting functions necessary to keep the business operational is provided by an external group of accountants or an accounting firm.
Many businesses both small and large find outsourcing accounting valuable and beneficial because it allows them to free up their internal resources to focus on meeting their missions or sales goals, increases the level of customer service, frees up the amount of cash spent on salaries and benefits, and prevents them from having to worry about employee absenteeism or turnover. Not to mention, they can rest assured that the person performing the accounting function has already been properly trained and is qualified to do the job.
When considering whether outsourcing your accounting function is right for your business or organization, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do your in-house staff often have to split their time between accounting duties and other essential duties?
• Are you spending too much money on in-house accounting staff, but not getting the quality and efficiency that you desire?
• Do you often have to refer to an outside resource for accounting guidance and information?
• Do you feel as though you do not have the right tools or resources to meet your accounting needs?
• Are you spending too much to secure and support your accounting and revenue information systems?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, outsourced accounting may be something worth looking into. It could save you lots of time, money, and frustration down the line.
So, when it comes to accounting, don’t let the numbers frustrate you when there’s someone who is willing to take a load off and balance your books for you (and will be more than happy doing it)! Whether you have an accounting position that needs to be filled or if you simply have questions that need to be answered, it may be worth reaching out to a trusted accountant to determine if outsourcing is best for you.

by Scott J Greenberg, CFP®, RICP, ChFC, Scott J. Greenberg Private Wealth Management
A lot has changed since the last generation retired. Unfortunately, most of these changes have made it more difficult for hardworking individuals to retire the way they’d like. Many believe interest rates will begin to rise for the first time in many years. Pension plans, once an expected entitlement at the end of a long career, have mostly become a thing of the past. Americans are living longer as medical science continually provides innovative solutions to once fatal diagnoses-but it’s not free. Allow me to touch briefly on some of the challenges these topics present to retirees and pre-retirees.
When talking heads or colleagues at the water cooler refer to “interest rates” in general, many may not mention or may not know what exactly they are referring to. The most frequently used metric to measure interest rates in the U.S. is the 10-Year Treasury note. Put simply, this is the interest you earn for allowing the U.S. government to hold your money for 10 years. In April of 1953, the 10-Year Treasury note yielded 2.83%. After a not-so-steady climb over about 28 years, the 10-Year Treasury peaked in September of 1981 at 15.32%. And, after a not-so-steady fall that followed, we’ve seen rates hover between 1.88% (January 2015) and 2.36% (June 2015) this year (https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/data/GS10.txt). So why do we care?
Interest rates have a significant effect on the options available to investors and retirees. The most frequently talked-about effect may be the relationship between interest rates and bond prices. Put simply, most bond prices have in inverse relationship with interest rates. That is, as rates go up, prices fall, i.e. your bond holdings lose value. Traditionally most people tended to have more of their money in stocks when they were younger and more of their money in bonds as they got older. So, if the plan was to be mostly in bonds in retirement, and we know that some bond prices may fall as interest rates rise, this will be an important consideration as you examine your particular financial needs, goals, and time horizon. 
The other challenge associated with bonds and interest rates in retirement has to do with the folks who are using the bond coupon, or “payment”, for income to live on. This is a relatively simple challenge to identify; with interest rates so low you’d need a fortune to provide the income you’re looking for. In April 1953 if you had a bond that paid interest equal to the 10-Year Treasury, you could invest $500,000 and live on interest of $76,600 (15.2%) per year for the duration of that bond. Today, if you have a $500,000 bond that pays interest equal to the January 2015 10-Year Treasury (2.25%), you would receive income of $11,250 per year, of course, as we all know, past performance is never an indication on guarantee of future results. 
Not only do folks need income, but they need it to last longer than ever. Upper middle class couples age 65 today have a 43% chance of one or both surviving to age 95 (http://time.com/money/3481760/longevity-life-expectancy-longer-gap/). If you have a pension with inflation growth, you may only need to supplement it a little, or not at all, which is great! However, fewer and fewer retirees have or will have the pensions that our grandfathers enjoyed, which means that retirement is mostly self-funded. Certainly, stocks can potentially provide long term growth but they also come with an added degree of risk.
Some people have heard of the “4% rule” for taking distributions from a retirement portfolio.  This theory projects you would be able to take 4% from a balanced portfolio with the likelihood of not outliving your money. The problem is that this rule was created in the 1990s when interest rates were higher and people weren’t living as long (http://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/21/the-4-percent-rule-no-longer-applies-for-most-retirees.html). Even if the rule could work, and all investor portfolios were created equally, that may not provide sufficient protection from inflation risk.
It takes more than stocks and bonds to be successful in today’s environment. Luckily, there is an entire industry that fights against the risk of outliving the money you’ve worked your life to accumulate- with innovative strategies, platforms, and products that may not have been necessarily available to or needed by your grandfather. It all starts with identifying some of the risks so that you are in a position to suitably address them. The time value of money constantly reminds us that the sooner we start saving, the better.  And, by helping to take advantage of tax-favored ways to save and invest, folks can effectively address their financial and retirement goals over the long term. Those planning to retire in the next 10 years should consider meeting with a financial professional. Those in retirement should probably consider a “check-up” of their current retirement strategy with a financial professional to identify any gaps that can possibly be filled.
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This general information should not be construed as investment advice.  It is not possible to invest directly in an index. All economic and performance data is historical and is not indicative of future results.  Scott Greenberg offers securities through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC, offers investment advisory products and services through AXA Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the SEC, and offers annuity and insurance products through AXA Network, LLC.  AXA Advisors and its affiliates and associates do not provide tax or legal advice or services.  Individuals may transact business and/or respond to inquiries only in state(s) in which they are properly qualified. AGE-109653(12/15)(exp.12/17)

​by Byron Cantrall, Vice President of Comcast Business – Beltway Region
Cloud technologies have transformed the playing field for businesses. Ranging from servers to storage, cloud-based services offer on-demand, scalable and remotely-accessible solutions that can often eliminate the need for onsite technical expertise and equipment. Using their Internet connection, businesses of all sizes can harness the power – and reap the rewards – of applications traditionally available only to large enterprises with big IT budgets.
As organizations move to the cloud and embrace applications like high-definition video and web-based tools, their Internet connection becomes more and more important. That’s because there is suddenly much more data that needs to move – and move quickly – over the connection.

From small businesses to large enterprises, the need for speed is more the rule than the exception. Finding a communications partner that offers high-capacity connectivity with the necessary infrastructure to help support cloud, mobility and business continuity applications is an important process.

Scalability and reliability are important to consider when selecting a network service provider:

• As cloud applications, users and sites continue to grow, having the scalability to adjust your bandwidth quickly and in whatever increment makes the most sense for your business is key, so make sure you choose a provider that offers a variety of different options to accommodate your current and future bandwidth demands.
• With traffic moving back and forth every time a customer or employee remotely shares information, services, software and other resources over your network, it is critically important to ensure your network service provider offers an infrastructure with the uptime and reliability your business needs. 

Comcast continues to invest in the necessary infrastructure to deliver Business Internet, Ethernet, TV and advanced voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management backed by 24/7 technical support and local teams that deliver personalized attention every time. For more information on how Comcast Business can work for your company, go to www.business.comcast.com. 

​by Peter Harrison, Snagajob CEO
The concept of the Triple Bottom Line of “People, Profit and Planet” has been around for over 20 years and has slowly but steadily become a staple of many progressive businesses. Simply put, it’s about a company connecting to something outside its walls and holding itself accountable to something larger - something that connects it to the greater good.

At Snagajob, we have adopted The 3 ‘P’s, but with a slight twist. We’ve replaced “Planet” with “Purpose.” This isn't because we don’t care about our planet. As a tech company that’s helping to automate paper intensive process we actually feel pretty good about our role in creating a more verdant planet. It’s because our mission of putting people in the right fit positions so they can maximize their potential and live more fulfilling lives, is truly our higher purpose. As a local business leader, I’d like to share with you how we’ve incorporated the 3 P’s into our business, how they help drive our business forward, and how they can help you.

Profit

Profit happens when a company delivers greater value to its customers than it costs to produce. To grow and remain profitable, a company must be willing to adjust to market demands, no matter how large the shift. For us, this meant taking what was once a desktop-only platform and evolving it to a mobile, on-demand solution that connects workers to employers in just minutes. This did not come without risk. We had to walk away from a large chunk of “easy” revenue and change the way we’ve done business for years in order to position the company to deliver greater value in the future. These changes are paying off. In just two years, we’ve grown our bookings almost 100 percent, seen our monthly unique visitors grow to over 8 million and mobile grow from less than 20 percent to almost 70 percent of our traffic.
People
Since our business revolves around helping companies hire the best employees, it’s important we lead by example. Our corporate core values of “Collaboration, Accountability and Passion” create an environment where employees can maximize their own potential. The result? A high functioning environment that contributes to all aspects of the company. Here’s how we do it:
1) Commit to building culture. If you want to build a sustainable brand, your culture must be a priority. Make your main objective one of generating the well-being of the customers you serve and your employees.
2) Define your core values. Don’t leave employees guessing what your company’s values are...articulate them. As a leader, write down your personal values and then those you want your company to reflect. How closely do they align? Establish core values that you can embody. Chances are, if you can, your employees will too.
3) Make each person know how they contribute to the larger ideal. For many, working towards a meaningful purpose is more rewarding than simply working for a monetary reward. What is the larger vision and greater purpose you want to promote? Identify it and make sure your employees know it.
4) Create a culture of positive interdependence. Employees that get along are more likely to find common solutions to problems. Think about the environment needed to build meaningful relationships. The output of a fulfilled team will translate into better customer interactions, products and ideas.
5) Build the right team and invest. Use your defined values as filters to hire the best candidates who will not only embrace your culture but also grow it. Once your team is in place, invest in their professional development. Make success possible for everybody. 
Purpose
At Snagajob, we know we can have a large impact on our job seekers’ lives. It’s more than just getting them a job application- it’s helping them make a living and to live more fulfilling lives. We accomplish this by providing them with resources before and after they’ve been hired to help them navigate their careers. We have the opportunity to help lift them to new heights and encourage them to dream big.
One of the ways we reinforce this is by ending every company meeting (we call them townhalls) by reading a job seeker testimonial to remind us of the impact we have on millions of people every month.
Not only does sharing these stories help with motivation, it also drives retention and referrals. In fact, 77 percent of employees said that part of the reason they chose their current employer is because of the company’s sense of purpose. The fact that in 2015 we hired over 100 people in Virginia is a validation of this and a great source of pride.

We feel our approach to the Triple Bottom Line has created a sustainable business model and I feel confident that in the future all businesses will need to embrace the model in order to survive and thrive. If you’ve not already done so I hope this description has encouraged you to take a hard look at your mission and your values and examine them to see how they can positively reinforce each other, build a virtual cycle and help create a positive difference in the world.