If you’ve ever rented a vacation home, you’ve probably experienced the lack of price transparency. You see a reasonable nightly charge, only to discover that as you go through the process, they begin adding hidden service charges and cleaning fees. Last month, the state of California passed a law that requires more transparency in lodging and restaurant fees. The ...
When my wife, Kathy, and I work together on a project we’re a good team. Kathy’s a great catalyst to get a project going, while I make sure all the details and pertinent information is gathered. When we were receiving bids on a home project, Kathy secured multiple bids. But before the final selection I asked to see all ...
In the mid-1990s, I started a consulting practice. I started hearing about this new sensation called the internet. Everyone began talking about “websites.” Having America as my prospect list instead of just Kansas City seemed like a great idea. Eventually, I hired a company to build a website for my business. I lost my investment in that website when ...
As a young impatient professional, at times I strived to get rich quickly. This led to foolish decisions that set me back rather than forward. An activity that exceeded my expectations, however, was when a stockbroker talked me into investing $25 per month into a mutual fund. As a teenager, it was painful at times, especially during college. But, ...
Justin left teaching to pursue a career in financial services but soon discovered that financial services was not a good fit. Despite Justin’s brief time in financial services, God found ways to use Justin’s abilities. One day, Justin met a widow who had been praying for help with her finances. The account was too small for most financial advisors, ...
Just when inflation was subsiding, California announced their plan to increase the minimum wage from $16 per hour to $20 for most fast-food restaurant employees. When payroll taxes are added, this will increase restaurant labor costs over 27%. Because businesses exist by making a profit, employees will be laid-off and menu prices will increase. The people impacted the most will ...
When a Kansas City jury delivered a $1.8 billion verdict against the National Association of Realtors’ longstanding commission practices it started a chain reaction. Lawsuits against real estate brokerage firms are surfacing nationally, requiring the real estate industry to take a fresh look at its business model of how buyers and seller’s agents are compensated. In any business, dramatic changes ...
Deciding to close a business is a tough decision. One factor that needs evaluation is your financial return on your investment. When you own a business, you deserve to get paid for the time you work and a return on your investment in the business. Jim left his $100,000 a year job and invested $200,000 to start his business. ...
When Kathy and I returned to church, we would throw $5 in the offering plate mostly out of guilt. As our church engagement grew, we began giving about 2% of our income to the church. As I began studying the Bible on tithing, the Holy Spirit began convicting Kathy and I to increase our giving to 10%. Since that time ...
My view on charitable giving was originally limited to giving cash to my church. But when I began accepting donations to UBN, I learned that giving can take different forms. Over the years, we’ve had generous people donate stock, copy machines, IRAs, and even a $20,000 luxury car! Business owners can also donate stock in their businesses, real estate, or ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
