Nonprofit Blog

Many companies reach a point in their development where they have to make an important decision: Innovate themselves or acquire a competitor? Of course, it isn’t always an either/or decision. Nonetheless, business owners should consider the pluses and minuses of both approaches.

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow set out his “hierarchy of needs.” This theory suggested that human behavior is a response to a variety of needs ranging from physical survival to self-actualization.

When discussing the role of the plan sponsor as the fiduciary to a plan, it is important to note that the role of fiduciary extends to specific individuals within the plan sponsor organization. Identifying those individuals depends on job functions performed on behalf of the plan and is not based solely on a particular job title. Within the plan sponsor organization, plan fiduciaries will often consist of a named plan fiduciary, any committees charged with the governance/ administration of the plan (which can include the audit committee, plan committee and/or a plan investment committee, etc.) as well an anyone else involved in decision making for the plan.

Recruiting season is here and Smith & Howard is gearing up for on-campus recruiting visits. This fall we will be visiting the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Auburn University and Kennesaw State University searching for the best and brightest students who are looking to begin a career in public accounting.  

A resume is a concise summary of your skills, education, goals and experience.  Having a solid and effective resume can greatly improve your chances of landing your dream job with your top employer.  Here are some tips to help you create a stellar resume: 

The thought of going to an interview can be, well, intimidating. This intimidation factor can disappear with confidence which comes with preparation. Smith & Howard’s recruiting team is here to help you learn more about the interview process. Assurance Manager, Joel Alzola, provides a step by step process to help those who are approaching interviews. 

In recent months, the Department of Labor (DOL) has raised concerns about cybersecurity and employee benefit plans. Employee benefit plans may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and thus exposed to risks relating to privacy, security, and fraud. Plan administrators, or those charged with governance, have an ERISA fiduciary duty with respect to the management of the plan, which encompasses the duty to care for personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI).

When looking to manage benefits costs, employers have many ideas to consider. One in particular is whether and how to offer health care insurance to their employees’ spouses.

Many businesses start life small and simple. But with growth comes the need for a stronger company infrastructure and increased operational sophistication. As you pursue a more robust business, focus on these four pillars:

What keeps business owners up at night? Many would say sluggish productivity or escalating expenses. An employee coming to work every day usually doesn’t make the list. But a staff member who never takes a day off can cause problems by showing up sick, distracted or too stressed out to be effective. There’s a name for this problem: presenteeism.