Wednesday, August 28, 2013

A Clash Over Payroll Cards

Source

Online Payroll Service
Just as they are getting to be more popular with employers and banks alike, payroll cards are attracting both legal and legislative scrutiny.

The New York Attorney General's Office is investigating complaints about fees and some U.S. senators are calling for increased regulation.

But this business line is booming and looks poised for more growth, in part because loading the cards is cheaper for employers than issuing paper checks.

In 2012, companies nationwide put $34 million on 4.6 million payroll cards, according to Aite Group. This will grow roughly 25 percent in 2013, to $42.8 million on 5.8 million cards, Aite estimates.

Based on a separate Federal Reserve study that pegs monthly fee income per card at about $1.75, the banking industry could generate more than $120 million in payroll card fees this year.

Despite the recent negative attention, Aite analyst Madeline Aufseeser says the future is bright for the cards. Besides the cost savings, businesses find the cards appealing because they view them as benefitting employees, particularly those who are temporary and part time. Money is immediately available on the cards on payday, typically free of charge for at least one withdrawal. So there is no waiting in line to cash a check at the bank and, for those without a bank account, no need to use a check casher. Also, if the card is lost, the value on it can be replaced.

But if the cardholder doesn't withdraw his or her full pay in one transaction, fees generally apply for subsequent uses of the card, either to make a purchase or an automated teller machine withdrawal.

The attorney general is looking into whether retailers and restaurants are running afoul of state laws that give employees a choice in whether to take a payroll card and a right to access their pay without a fee. Some have complained that they were forced to accept payroll cards despite having bank accounts, according to press reports. Others have reported incurring a variety of fees tallying as much as $50 a month.

Critics complain that some banks give employers a cash incentive for each employee who signs up for a card, but Aufseeser says that's not a common practice.

Many large banks offer payroll card programs, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Comerica, PNC and BB&T. Only Wells was willing to discuss the particulars of its program. The bank says it does not offer employers incentives for signing up employees. Payroll cardholders get free teller transactions at all Visa-participating banks and one free withdrawal at Wells' own ATMs. This complies with the New York law requiring that employees have free access to their pay.

Other large banks are joining the payroll bandwagon. KeyBank is scheduled to launch its Key2Payroll program in the first quarter of 2014, according to Key spokeswoman Laura Mimura. She says Key is getting into payroll cards because of demand from business customers.

Hundreds of smaller banks also offer payroll cards, many through a third party like TransCard in Chattanooga, Tenn., under the American Bankers Association Community Bank Prepaid Program.

Though none of the banks contacted for this story would discuss revenue, a 2012 analysis of payroll card usage by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found that the median monthly revenue was $1.75 per card, versus $7.95 for general purpose reloadable prepaid cards. The analysis looked at 280 million transactions on 3 million cards issued by Meta Payment Systems, a unit of the $1.7 billion-asset MetaBank of Storm Lake, Iowa.

The study found that the average payroll card customer paid 55 cents per month in interchange fees, the most numerous of the fees collected. ATM withdrawal fees averaged $1.92 per month.

But most of the revenue that banks collect on payroll cards comes from the processing fees charged to employers, Aufseeser says.

Industry lawyers say bankers are not particularly concerned about the New York investigation. The crackdown is targeting employers, though the Attorney General's office has said it wants to review "any and all communications" with their payroll card provider or financial institution.

As a precaution, Terry Maher, general counsel for the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, suggests that banks get proactive about making employers who use payroll cards aware of each state's laws. In the end, the bank is the issuer of the card, whether as a direct provider or through a third party.

"I don't think banks want to have the job of being the compliance officer to businesses," Maher says. "But it's important that they help their clients understand the regulations out there and help them with the appropriate disclosures."

Monday, August 26, 2013

Bloated Yankees' Payroll Could Doom Team For Years To Come

Source

David Lariviere
David Lariviere, Contributor
I have been covering sports and business intensely for 30 years.

The resurgent New York Yankees have won 12 of their last 16 games to pull within 3 ½ games of Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot with 32 games to play. Just two weeks ago, it looked like the Yanks were done but the return of Alex Rodriguez, despite all the controversy, and Curtis Granderson from injuries and the power and clutch production of Alfonso Soriano have catapulted them back into the race.

It’s still a long shot that they’ll make the playoffs as they have the A’s, Indians and Orioles to pass. A 24-8 record (a .750 winning percentage) is probably required which would give them a 93-69 finish.

Yankee fans better enjoy this playoff push because next season could be the beginning of a decline reminiscent of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. The reasons are obvious — aging, injury-prone players who have big contracts. The leader of the pack is A-Rod, who will make $26 million next year unless he is suspended by MLB for PED use in the Biogenesis scandal.

Mark Teixiera, who essentially missed all of this season and the last two months of 2012 with injuries, is due $23 million in 2014 as is former ace C.C. Sabathia, who has declined significantly this season experiencing a drop in fastball velocity. Ichiro Suzuki ($6.5 million), Soriano ($5 million), Derek Jeter ($3 million) and Vernon Wells ($2.4 million) are the others with guaranteed money coming. That totals $89 million, exactly $100 million shy of the $189 million luxury tax figure the team said it was committed to staying under next season. Because they are repeat offenders, the club pays a tax of 50 percent of every dollar over $189 million.

David Robertson and Brett Gardner are expected to combine for about $10 million in arbitration and the team will have to pay an estimated $11 million in benefits totaling $115.4 million for nine players on a roster of 25.

Then comes the issue of signing their two best players – Robinson Cano and Hiroki Kuroda – who are both free agents. Cano, 30, is expected to command between $20-25 million a year for eight years. Because of his importance, it’s hard to imagine the Yanks letting him go although the Dodgers may make a play for him. His agent, rapper Jay-Z, also could be problematic in terms of negotiations. Kuroda, who has been the Yanks’ best starting pitcher, figures to earn between $10-15 million annually. So that brings the payroll to around $150 million for 11 players with 14 still to sign.

It seems almost impossible that the Yanks could find room for free agent outfielder Granderson, who figures to receive between $10-15 million annually. That would leave $39 million for 14 players, or an average of about $2.8 million per player. They catch a break of sorts in shedding the $15 million salary of closer Mariano Rivera, who is retiring, but his loss will surely be felt on the field. Starter Andy Pettitte will likely retire as well.

Could the Yanks be on the verge of World Series droughts comparable to the ones between 1964 and 1976 and 1981 and 1996? Time will tell but it would behoove them to make one last playoff push with A-Rod, Rivera, Pettitte and Granderson on board.




Thursday, August 15, 2013

Three Reasons Why Values Matter, And I'm Not Talking The Money Kind

Source

In fear of writing something redundant on my “PHD in CEO” blog, I searched Forbes.com for “company values.”  Nothing.

How about “culture and values”?  Nope.

How about “employee values”?  – “First Impressions Count: The Business Value for Dressing for Success.” 

Not really.

How about “corporate values”?  Eureka!  “Corporate Values” was a contender in the 2012 Jargon Madness bracket, which allows readers to determine a winner of the most “meaningless business jargon” of the year. “Corporate Values” topped “Make Hay” in the first round, but tragically lost to “Lots of Moving Parts” in the following round.  Though “Drinking the Kool-Aid” took the 2012 Jargon Madness Title, here is the tourney’s visceral description of “Corporate Values”:

“This expression is so suffused with phoniness it churns the stomach. Corporations don’t have values, the people who run them do.“

I know that Jargon Madness was whimsical (I hope), but in the spirit of making an argument on my blog, allow me to take issue with the tourney’s description of “corporate values.”  A company’s core values are not based on the “people who run them,” but are the very fabric of every person involved in the company – from executive team to brand new hire.  My beloved 1975 Philadelphia Flyers were the “Broad Street Bullies” not because Fred Shero was a tough-as-nails, spit-in-your eye Head Coach COH -0.11% (he was), but the entire team was filled with guys named “Moose,” “The Hammer,” “Machine Gun Kelly,” and a goaltender who loved to smell new shoe leather (Bernie Parent, look it up).  Company values are the antitheses of “phony ” and extremely powerful tools that are a necessity of any sized business.

Realizing that lists increase readership, here are my top three reasons why company values are critical to the long-term growth and value of your business:

1) Values are how you hire. It’s been said that when hiring, employers should trade 90 percent talent for just 10 percent character.  Hiring the person who best fits your team is vastly more important than the technical expertise that they may bring.  Your company values will determine if the person you are interviewing will be able to talk with your team, share with your team and not be a nuisance or an HR nightmare.  If “passion” and “accountability” are important to your company, ask each candidate how they are inspired by life and to describe a situation where they had to take ownership of a project from start to finish.

2) Values are how you change behavior.  At gap intelligence people are not late to work, instead they are not being “professional” – a strongly held gapCore Value.  By focusing on your values, rather than the isolated infraction at hand, it takes away any personal feelings that may be attributed to the corrective feedback. By replacing “Why are you late!?!?” with “Being late is unprofessional and professionalism is very important to us here.  What can you do tomorrow to fix this?” is vastly more effective in correcting behavior.

3. Values are the heart of your culture. By hiring based on values and holding each other accountable to the company’s standards, the values become the fabric of the organization’s culture – regardless of who is in charge. If you hire people who lie, cheat, and steal, in time your company culture will be the same.  If you want your company to be innovative, you’ll need a team of “smart,” “curious,” “problem solvers” on your staff. The best way to hire and keep smart, curious, problem solvers is to already have an office filled with like-minded people who share the same values.

“Corporate Values” are everything. “Drinking the Kool-Aid” is meaningless jargon.
gap intelligence’s gapCore Values:
  • Accountable: We own what we do.
  • Professional: A+ work. We carry ourselves with respect and maturity and work with knowledge and confidence every day.
  • Willing: Open to new ideas and challenges.
  • Passionate: Inspired by life.
  • Transparent: Be real. Be open. Be honest. We are building an environment of trust.
Gary’s Inspirational Hockey Quote of the Week (GIHQotW)
“And maybe I’m a little smarter now than I was before all the stupid things I’ve done.” – Herb Brooks

Gary Peterson
Gary Peterson, Contributor
I write about becoming a better CEO one goof at a time.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Man who created own credit card sues bank for not sticking to terms



 Andy Trotman

4:41PM BST 08 Aug 2013


When Dmitry Argarkov was sent a letter offering him a credit card, he found the rates not to his liking. 

But he didn't throw the contract away or shred it. Instead, the 42-year-old from Voronezh, Russia, scanned it into his computer, altered the terms and sent it back to Tinkoff Credit Systems.
A selection of credit cards in a fan.Mr Argarkov's version of the contract contained a 0pc interest rate, no fees and no credit limit. Every time the bank failed to comply with the rules, he would fine them 3m rubles (£58,716). If Tinkoff tried to cancel the contract, it would have to pay him 6m rubles.
Tinkoff apparently failed to read the amendments, signed the contract and sent Mr Argakov a credit card.
"The Bank confirmed its agreement to the client's terms and sent him a credit card and a copy of the approved application form," his lawyer Dmitry Mikhalevich told Kommersant. "The opened credit line was unlimited. He could afford to buy an island somewhere in Malaysia, and the bank would have to pay for it by law."
However, Tinkoff attempted to close the account due to overdue payments. It sued Mr Argakov for 45,000 rubles for fees and charges that were not in his altered version of the contract.

Earlier this week a Russian judge ruled in Mr Argakov's favour. Tinkoff had signed the contract and was legally bound to it. Mr Argakov was only ordered to pay an outstanding balance of 19,000 rubles (£371).

"They signed the documents without looking. They said what usually their borrowers say in court: 'We have not read it',” said Mr Mikhalevich.

But now Mr Argakov has taken matters one step further. He is suing Tinkoff for 24m rubles for not honouring the contract and breaking the agreement.

Tinkoff has launched its own legal action, accusing Mr Argakov of fraud.

Oleg Tinkov, founder of the bank, tweeted: "Our lawyers think he is going to get not 24m, but really 4 years in prison for fraud. Now it's a matter of principle for @tcsbanktwitter."

The court will review Mr Argakov's case next month.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Beware of Fees on Payroll Cards

Beware of Fees on Payroll Cards

<a href="http://www.payrollbuilder.com">online payroll service</a>
Do you get your paycheck through a payroll prepaid debit card? If so, you may be losing more money than you realize.

Payroll cards are designed to give workers faster access to their money than paper checks, but most employees don't know about the excessive fees associated with these cards. Before you opt out of paper checks or bank deposits, you need to learn more about your payroll card. It could be costing you a small fortune.

According to the research firm Aite Group, an estimated $34 billion was loaded onto 4.6 million active payroll cards last year.

The largest issuer of payroll debit cards is NetSpend, a company that charges up to 18 different fees on a number of its cards. These fees represent everything from loading fees to to charges for inactivity, meaning that you did not use your card as often as they want. NetSpend isn't the only company guilty of charging these fees. Most prepaid issuers have various fees in place so they can make as much money as possible. Meanwhile, your paycheck gets smaller and smaller.

Recent surveys indicate that some workers are spending close to $30 a month on payroll card fees, despite a drop in the fees to make cards more competitive. That means they could be wasting nearly $400 a year from using a payroll card.

Analyze the fees associated with your payroll card to see if it is really worth the convenience. If not, learn to wait patiently for a check in the mail.

About Natalie Rutledge

Natalie Rutledge majored in Communications at Mississippi State University. She was in sales for a number of businesses and spent nine years working as a communications advisor to various entities. Natalie can be contacted directly at natalie@lowcards.com

Source:http://www.lowcards.com/beware-fees-payroll-cards-14352

Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Cash-Strapped Chinese Turn to the Internet to Borrow Money

VOA News
Source: http://www.voanews.com/content/cash-strapped-chinese-turn-to-internet-to-borrow-money/1724110.html

Chinese yuan (file photo)

Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Monday, August 5, 2013

5 Ways To Attract Money


Karsten Strauss
Karsten Strauss, Forbes Staff
A journalist covering entrepreneurs, technology & business.

You’re a young company with an interesting product in development. You’ve watched a few startups rise to glory, watched others crash and burn. Undeterred, you’re sure you can make. All you need is a bit of cash to get on a growth track and inch closer to profitability and success.
But how do you go out and get that growth capital?

You could bootstrap it by cutting your expenditures down to almost zero, living on dehydrated noodles and doing laundry at mom’s place, but that will only go so far. There’s always crowdfunding, but to get any attention doing that you need a seriously unique or wacky idea like or a shake that replaces food or a film about Nazis living on the moon.

There’s always a bank loan, but even if you can get it that’s just money with interest attached and it would be great to get cash plus contacts and guidance. Venture capital is always an option.

“I see a healthy venture capital market for startups,” said Charles River Ventures’ George Zachary, who led his firm’s investment in Yammer (acquired by Microsoft MSFT -0.14% for $1.2 bln. last year). “I don’t see any shortage in venture investors wanting to fund startups.”

Maybe venture capital or angel funding is the way to go. But how do you make the bigwigs at a venture capital firm deign to cut you a check?

Here are some tips that may help you fund your enterprise:

1 – Disrupt Something
Getting in between an established competitor and its cash cow is tough, but lucrative when you can pull it off. Disruptive products and technology can help your company eat the lunch of the bigger players in your space and if you can convince an investor that your business model can accomplish that – even a little bit – that investor will see the rewards and be more willing to help you grow your idea.

“We’re looking for truly non-linear companies that disrupt large B-to-C and B-to-B markets,” says Jason D. Whitmire, a partner with Earlybird Venture Capital. “Usually these teams have to have a very strong (tech) DNA. That means technology at their heart. Ideally they’re all very techy people. Increasingly, I think, businesses that build engagement or networks leading to a high degree of defensibility are extremely attractive.”

2 – Have A Touch Of Experience
It’s not necessarily expected for startups to be filled with battle-hardened business veterans, but having a couple on your team that have seen a funding round or two at other young companies definitely doesn’t hurt.  Venture capital firms feel better if they know they’re not handing a wad of money to a roster of newbies. 

“Guys and gals in the 20s produce some phenomenal stuff but typically we’ve seen that out hold periods – the lengths that a venture capital company sits on an investment – are dramatically shortened with one or two people who have played the game before,” Whitmire said.

Zachary agrees: “These people know that this is not necessarily going to be easy all of the time and to expect the need to continuously stay focused on the reality of the business, on the day-to-day metrics and realizing that there’s usually a winner that takes all and wins most of the valuation in a market space and that being number two or three is really not a great place to be.”

3 – Be Efficient, If Not Profitable
Profitability is milestone you won’t forget and a major sign that your young company is on the right track. But it is not necessary to attract venture money or angel interest. In fact, most investors would not even expect you to be profitable if you operate in certain spaces.

You may be losing money but remember that how you deal with the money you are making can show how cost conscientious and efficient you are. Those spending tendencies and professionalism will send a message to those contemplating an investment in your startup. Growth is paramount and having a burn rate of below $200K per month for a company of 12 emplooyees or less is compelling. “That’s gonna be the sweet spot,” 

Whitmire said. “Once we’ve figured out how the engine works – figured out what the return is for every marketing and sales dollar spent – that’s where you can pump it up and go a half million burn a month. As long you’re truly growing.”

Read Page 2 Here
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!


Friday, August 2, 2013

$1 million payroll scheme reported at Wheaton Franciscan

Wheaton Franciscan logo
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare said Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013 that a payroll specialist allegedly operated a scheme believed to have cost the company more than $1 million.

GLENDALE — A Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare payroll specialist was arrested Thursday for allegedly operating a scheme believed to have cost the company more than $1 million over a nine-year span.

The arrest came the same day Wheaton Franciscan announced that its finance department had uncovered the “sophisticated process” used by the 49-year-old woman to allegedly manipulate the accounts of hundreds of fellow employees for personal financial gain.

While the operation primarily affected the hospital system, there may be a tax impact for those who had their pay inflated as part of the alleged theft, according to a press release from the health care provider.

Wheaton Franciscan alleges that the payroll specialist used a sophisticated process to add false hours, mostly paid time off hours, to the accounts of random associates. She would then reportedly make an immediate payout to her personal bank account for the value of the extra paid time off and delete the record so it would not be detected.

The 848 current and former employees whose accounts were reportedly manipulated will be informed through letters mailed out by the company on Wednesday night, according to Wheaton spokeswoman Anne Ballentine.

Several employees at the health care provider’s Racine campus at 1320 Wisconsin Ave. said Thursday that they were informed of the reported theft through an email sent out by the company, including Nancy Freitag, 63, of Kenosha, who works as the activity director at Lakeshore Manor, a skilled nursing facility at the hospital.

“My reaction is astonishment that this could happen,” Freitag said. “I’m quite shocked but I have complete trust in Wheaton as a place of employment for myself and that hasn’t been shaken.”

First instances of the theft began in 2004, according to Ballentine, with a total of $850,000 reportedly stolen directly from Wheaton Franciscan. And because the health care provider had in turn paid extra taxes on that money, the total impact of the scheme is currently estimated at $1.1 million.

Included in the company’s letters to employees is information on the steps they will need to take in order to be compensated for any negative tax implications, Ballentine said, adding that the health care provider is willing to cover the costs of tax experts, filing fees or any other tax implication resulting from the scheme.
“We do regret any inconvenience people will go through and we want to minimize that,” Ballentine said.

In the wake of the recently discovered scheme, the company has already corrected the internal control breakdown that the payroll specialist allegedly exploited and conducted a full review of internal payroll controls using internal and external auditors, according to the release.

Wheaton Franciscan has since fired the employee who reportedly admitted to the theft, according to the release.

The investigation into the alleged theft has now been turned over to the Glendale Police Department, according to a release from the department. Police arrested a 49-year-old in connection to the alleged theft but her identity was not released as of Thursday night.

Their investigation was still ongoing as of Thursday and when completed it will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for criminal charges, according to the release.

By the numbers

848 – Number of current and former employees affected

9 – Number of years the alleged theft went on

$850,000 – Total amount of money reported stolen directly from Wheaton Franciscan

$1.1 million – Total impact on Wheaton Franciscan including extra taxes paid
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

UFC on Fox 8 Fighter Salaries: Robbie Lawler Towers Over $850,000 Payroll


Robbie Lawler UFC on Fox 8 Post_9299

Source
The Washington State Department of Licensing on Tuesday released the UFC on Fox 8: Johnson vs. Moraga fighter salaries to MMAWeekly.com.

UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson defended his belt in the night’s main event, submitting John Moraga late in the fight.

UFC on Fox 8 took place Saturday, July 27, at the KeyArena in Seattle.

The total UFC on Fox 8 payroll of $850,000 was greater than the $700,081 in revenue that ticket sales generated.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

UFC on Fox 8 Fighter Salaries

Daron Cruickshank: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Yves Edwards: $21,000

Ed Herman: $74,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus)
def. Trevor Smith: $8,000

Germaine de Randamie: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus)
def. Julie Kedzie: $9,000

Justin Salas: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Aaron Riley: $14,000

Yaotzin Meza: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. John Albert: $10,000

Demetrious Johnson: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus)
def. John Moraga: $17,000

Rory MacDonald: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus)
def. Jake Ellenberger: $52,000

Robbie Lawler: $156,000 (includes $78,000 win bonus)
def. Bobby Voelker: $12,000

Liz Carmouche: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
def. Jessica Andrade: $8,000

Jorge Masvidal: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus)
def. Michael Chiesa: $15,000

Danny Castillo: $58,000 (includes $29,000 win bonus)
def. Tim Means: $12,000

Melvin Guillard: $84,000 (includes $42,000 win bonus)
def. Mac Danzig: $30,000
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Online Payroll Service Articles for 7-29-13

Got some good ones in here today, folks! Take a look and learn why you may be earning more money, but not feeling richer!
 
Angels Get Carry For Helping A Startup Raise Money With AngelList Syndicates
AngelList is testing out a new service that lets angel investors syndicate deals with each other, a feature that could allow startups to raise venture-sized rounds of money with relative ease. Called Syndicates, the private-beta product lets any ...

Seattle Mariners Video: Watch Money Rain Down on Safeco Field
During Sunday afternoon's game between the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins, money began to rain down from the heavens shortly before the bottom of the seventh inning. The act caused a flurry of joy throughout Safeco Field, as fans undoubtedly had ...

5 Reasons You're Earning More Money but You're Still Miserable
Whether you're a millionaire or a middle-class father of two, we all make the same mistakes when it comes to money -? we think the more we earn, the happier we'll be. If you really want to buy yourself a more fulfilling life, it's not how much money ...

How To Make Money On YouTube: Destrom Power's Story
How To Make Money On YouTube: Destrom Power's Story. comments, called-out. Comment Now. Follow Comments Following Comments Unfollow Comments. Comment Now. Follow Comments Following Comments Unfollow Comments. The following guest ...
Twitter Posts $55K of Promoted Tweets to Help Avoid Payroll Taxes
The tax, a 1.5 percent fee on total employee compensation levied against companies with payroll greater than $250,000, included salaries, bonuses, and exercised stock options ? and could have cost Twitter north of $20 million dollars over six years.

New law attempts to curb payroll fraud in construction projects
DALLAS ? Five construction workers labored for weeks at a federally funded, multi-housing project, expecting a paycheck at the end of each week. But as each Friday rolled around, the drywallers on the $31 million Buckeye Trail Commons project went ...

McDonalds Tells Workers to Toil 70 Hours a Week, Use Ripoff Payroll Cards as ...
Even though McDonalds was embarrassed by ThinkProgress into acknowledging that its employees who own homes might need to pay for heat, it's apparently not backing down on the use of payroll cards that are being examined by Federal and state ...

Editorial: Military payroll system is a mess; fix needs attention of Congress
The precise cost of the payroll mistakes is not clear, because of "the Defense Department's jury-rigged network of mostly incompatible computer systems for payroll and accounting, many of them decades old, long obsolete, and unable to communicate with ...
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!


Friday, July 26, 2013

Online Payroll Service Articles for 7-26-13

Check out these links and enjoy your weekend everyone!
 
4 questions to ask a money manager
What are the most effective questions to ask when looking for a competent money manager? -- Stephanie, San Jose, Calif. Asking a few important questions of a prospective money manager is a great first step, one that can mean the difference between ...

Senator Calls For Further Investigation Into Huma's Money
Huma Abedin, the wife of New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, AKA Carlos Danger, is facing an ongoing Senate investigation into the consulting fees she earned while also working as a State Department employee for then Secretary of State Hillary ...

Former Boston bar owner, 'money man': Bulger 'wasn't a guy to fool with'
Former Boston bar owner, 'money man': Bulger 'wasn't a guy to fool with'. By Matthew DeLuca, Staff Writer, NBC News. A former Boston bar owner who pleaded guilty in 2004 to working with James ?Whitey? Bulger said he kept the no-show gangster on the ...

Making Money On The New News, Strictly Legally.
The last post, Investing On The News: By The Time You Read It, It's Too Late , even though it attracted fewer views than a snake's ass in a drain pipe, passed on some pretty grim conventional academic wisdom ? that by the time news appeared in ...
Should You File an Offer in Compromise on Payroll Taxes
An offer in compromise is a program devised by the Internal Revenue Service to settle tax liabilities for less than what is owed. Usually it's an individual taxpayer that seeks relief under this program, but sometimes businesses who owe back payroll ...

Hayes officials call payroll discrepancies 'mistakes'
A payroll audit was ordered by the board, and resulted in the discovery of a duplicate annual 25 cent per hour wage increase given to Deputy Treasurer Anna Breese retroactive to 2002. She started working at the township in 1999 and was made Deputy ...

EXCLUSIVE: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver under fire for keeping Bill ...
ALBANY ? Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is coming under increasing fire for leaving top aide Bill Collins on the payroll despite his mishandling of another sexual harassment complaint. Among those joining the fray Thursday was Elizabeth Crothers, the ...
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Online Payroll Service News Links for 7-25-2013

Money mistakes and political news today, hope you enjoy it! If you want to be featured on this news blog or have advice about finances you want to share, send me a message to my google+ page or tweet me!
 
Obama Ambassadors Gave At Least $13.6 Million in Campaign Money
While Obama ran in 2008 on a pledge to limit the influence of money in politics, a review of ambassadorial appointments five years into his presidency shows that big donors have landed dozens of top overseas assignments. Since the president's November ...

More Evidence That Colleges Are Giving Money to Those Who Need It Least
The private student lender Sallie Mae has released its annual look at ?How America Pays for College,? which continues to show how the Great Recession shook up college funding. The share of college costs that parents are shouldering has shrunk in recent ...

How to stop making these 3 money mistakes
?How you feel is how you deal?with money, that is,? says New York psychotherapist Karol Ward, whose six-figure clients help other people make money but find it difficult to hold on to their own. Here are a few of the most common psychological problems ...

Newtown OKs Use of Grant Money for New School
Newtown residents have approved spending $750,000 in grant money from the state of Connecticut to begin work on replacing the school where 26 people were shot to death in December. The News Times of Danbury ( http://bit.ly/1aKvPRM ) reports an ...
Are Hourly Workers Being Short-Changed? The Truth About Payroll Cards
Employers use payroll cards to deposit paychecks for employees without checking accounts, and they work much like a traditional debit card. But because there's a rising number of people without traditional checking accounts employers have come up with ...

How to Attract Clients and Promote Your Payroll Business
Customers may be interested in trying your payroll services as an extension to existing services if they see a benefit to making a change from what they are currently doing. Prospects may consider your payroll services if they are experiencing pain ...

Beer sales take a knock from payroll tax hike
U.S. beer sales declined in the first half of 2013 fueled by the payroll tax hike and a jump in unemployment among young men, according to research published on Tuesday. The beer market posted 1 percent growth in 2012, in-line with pre-recession ...

Golden State Warriors: 2013 roster and payroll
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ROSTER AND PAYROLL. Golden State has all but set its rotation for next season. The Warriors have two open roster spots that probably won't be filled until October, if at all. Projected starters (with position, age, year and salary).
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Online Payroll Service News Links for 7-24-2013

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I'm back and will be here to give you helpful payroll news and money advice once again! Thank you for checking up on me.
Pope: Resist 'Idols' of Money, Power, Pleasure
Pope Francis urged Catholics to resist the "ephemeral idols" of money, power and pleasure in celebrating the first public Mass of his initial international foreign journey as pontiff during an emotional visit to one of the most important shrines in ...
 
Funny Money Or New Economy? Alternative Currency Raises Tax, Other ...
There's nothing in the U.S. Constitution that bans private institutions or individuals from issuing paper money: the only real prohibitions are those on coins and those on currencies issued by the individual states. There are some restrictions, of ...
 
Your Money Or Your Life
Many of us look for fulfillment in our work, but that can sometimes involve making difficult choices. The New York Times recently told the story of a Claremont McKenna College graduate, 24-year-old Brentt Baltimore, who turned down a six-figure job at ...
 
Pro-Baby, but Stingy With Money to Support Them
Families have lost housing support. And the 2014 budget passed by Republicans in the House cuts investments in children further ? sharply reducing money for the Departments of Education, Labor and Health and Human Services. Birth rates have dropped ...
 
Are Hourly Workers Being Short-Changed? The Truth About Payroll Cards
Employers use payroll cards to deposit paychecks for employees without checking accounts, and they work much like a traditional debit card. But because there's a rising number of people without traditional checking accounts employers have come up with ...
 
Beer sales take a knock from payroll tax hike
U.S. beer sales declined in the first half of 2013 fueled by the payroll tax hike and a jump in unemployment among young men, according to research published on Tuesday. The beer market posted 1 percent growth in 2012, in-line with pre-recession ...
 
Golden State Warriors: 2013 roster and payroll
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ROSTER AND PAYROLL. Golden State has all but set its rotation for next season. The Warriors have two open roster spots that probably won't be filled until October, if at all. Projected starters (with position, age, year and salary).
 
Deedy still on State Dept. payroll; could still be fired - Hawaii News Now ...
EXCLUSIVE: Deedy still on State Dept. payroll; could still be fired even if he's not guilty. Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 10:28 PM EST. Updated: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 5:16 AM EST. By Keoki Kerr - bio | email. Christopher Deedy (center). Elbridge ...
Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to provide great payroll service the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our payroll site for more information!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Ways to protect your home from burglars


If you think you're not at risk of being a victim of burglary, think again. If there's an opportunity to invade your home, no matter who you are or where you live, burglars will take the chance. 

"Burglaries are considered 'crimes of opportunity' because the criminal is looking for the easy way to get into your home - the unlocked door, open garage door or open window," says Charlene Miller, Crime Prevention Neighborhood Watch director at the Boise Police Department.

Fortunately, "There are practical security measures you can take to make it so difficult for burglars that they'll go somewhere else," Miller adds.

Want to learn what these measures are? Here are nine things you can do to make burglars think twice before trying to enter your home.

#1 - Secured Doors and Windows

In approximately one-third of home burglaries the burglar comes in through an unlocked door or window, according to the "Burglary of Single Family Houses"guide, published by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

"The first line of defense in your home's security is having solid core exterior doors with high quality grade 1 or 2 deadbolt locks," Miller states. "French doors can be secured with a quality deadbolt lock and a slide bolt penetrating the upper or lower doorframe."

Miller notes that sliding glass doors are especially vulnerable if they do not have proper locks, so check with the manufacturer for the right ones.

"A snug-fitting dowel (a piece of cylindrical wood - similar to a broom handle) in the lower track of the door will also prevent it from being opened." Miller also recommends installing eyebolts in the frames of sliding windows to allow for ventilation without leaving enough room for an intruder.

#2 - A Loud Dog

Dogs are not only "man's best friend." They can also be a burglar's worst enemy.

In fact, COPS reports that most burglars avoid houses with dogs. "Burglars don't want to be seen or caught; they also want to avoid pain," agrees Miller, who adds that dogs that bark - even small, noisy dogs - can be an effective deterrent.

And while you might feel safer with a large dog that could do bodily harm, like a German Shepherd, Miller says the most important aspect is having a dog that sounds an alarm with its bark.

#3 - A Home Security System

If you want something that not only makes noise when there's an intruder, but also calls for help, consider installing a home security system. Home security systems detect when someone enters your house uninvited, sets off an alarm, and also notifies authorities of an invasion.

"If you have valuables that need protection, rampant burglaries in your area, and are away from home for long stretches, a home security system could be a good option for you," says Miller.

She recommends doing some online research and checking with local alarm system companies to find the best system for your needs.

#4 - Motion Sensor Lights

Installing sensor lights (which turn on when they detect motion) is a great way to illuminate portions of your property only when needed - like when someone enters the area.

Sensor lights will come on as soon as someone enters under cover of darkness - as a burglar would.

"Outside lighting is one of the cheapest and most effective deterrents to crime," states Miller, who adds that "motion sensor lights give you the ease of having lights come on automatically."

#5 - Surveillance Cameras

A video surveillance system can be a bit costly, but it could help you sleep better at night.

"Installing a video security system can give you peace of mind and act as a deterrent to burglars, especially when you're on vacation," Millers states.

However, if you don't want to go the full route of installing a system, think about putting up a "dummy" camera or two to give the illusion of protection. And while Miller agrees installing a "dummy" camera could intimidate a burglar, she says the downside is it can't provide evidence if a burglary occurs.

#6 - Protection Warning Signs

Got a dog or a home security system? Share that information with signage on your fence, door, or window. Much like putting up security cameras, letting a burglar know you are well protected makes you less of a target.

"It's important to look at your home from a burglar's point of view," shares Miller. "Burglars who think they might be seen or caught will think twice before targeting your house."

Miller cautions that while having this kind of signage can be to your advantage, it could also make burglars wonder what you have that's worth protecting.

#7 - A Trimmed and Tidy Yard

Untrimmed trees and shrubs provide good hiding places for burglars and can obscure their entry into your home.

To get a better sense of what she means, Miller suggests the following: "Stand out on your front sidewalk and take an objective look at your house. Do you have trees or shrubs providing hiding places for someone?" If so, Miller recommends trimming tree branches up to six feet from the ground and shrubs down to below window sills.

A shaggy lawn - especially one that's usually trimmed - can also indicate to a burglar that you're likely on vacation, or simply away on business for a prolonged period of time. Consider hiring someone to mow your lawn if you're going to be out of town for more than a week.

#8 - The Appearance that Someone is Home

Burglars know your routine, and when there's a break in that routine - like when you're on vacation - it's a signal that your home is clear for a break-in.

With that in mind, Miller says that "the goal when you're gone is for your home to appear lived in."
To accomplish this, Miller suggests using motion-sensor lights and timers on your radio and TV to simulate occupancy and create the illusion that you're home.

Corvallis, Oregon home insurance professional, Bonnie Lundy, agrees: "Anything you can do to make your home look occupied while you're away is a good thing - and timed electronics are great for that."
She does caution, however, that burglars are aware people use timers, and recommends some variation in the pattern.

#9 - Helpful Neighbors

We just talked about making your home look lived in while you're away. And while simulating occupancy can get tricky, the good news is you can enlist help. The best recruits? Your neighbors.

Whenever you're away, Lundy highly recommends asking your neighbors to get your mail and newspapers, and check for any deliveries. Miller also recommends asking them to put garbage bags in your garbage can.
And that's not all. You should also "ask a trusted neighbor to park their vehicle in your driveway occasionally while you're out of town," suggests Miller.

Any sign of activity at your home is enough to deter most burglars - who count on an empty house.

The So-Called 'Internet Sales Tax' Explained

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/called-internet-sales-tax-explained/story?id=19042757#.UX_Czkr57ak

That 1990s Super Nintendo System you've been eying on eBay for $79.97 might soon include an extra fee for sales tax, thanks to a bill up for consideration in the Senate this week.

Senators are wrapping up discussions about the Marketplace Fairness Act, better known by its nickname, the Internet Sales Tax. A vote to advance the bill is expected Friday morning.

The proposed legislation would force many online retailers to begin collecting taxes on their wares in all states, not just where they have offices.

Any online store that makes more than $1 million annually in online sales would have to send taxes back to the states where their goods are delivered, based on the rates required in those jurisdictions.

In a time when states and towns are struggling to make ends meet, this bill would mean extra revenue to make up for federal dollars lost to sequester cuts. It's no wonder some lawmakers are looking to cash in on what has become a sizeable chunk of American commerce.

Revenue from purchases made on the Internet in the United States has grown steadily since 2003. That year, they made up about 1.6 percent of total retail sales in the U.S. By 2012 they had risen more than three-fold to 5.2 percent, bringing in $225.5 billion.

The bill can find support on the right despite many Republicans' pledges not to raise taxes, because it does not subject any new items to taxation. Online buyers legally should be paying these fees already, but they rarely do. There is even a section in the bill called "No New Taxes," that explains this.
Some big name retailers, like Amazon, have come out in favor of the bill.

But opponents say the act would impose a burdensome system on small businesses that don't have the administrative resources to keep such complex books. Retailers would have to determine how much to pay in taxes on an item based on the thousands of tax jurisdictions in the United States.

As an example of how that could get complicated, five states do not have state-wide sales tax, but two of those states – Montana and Alaska – allow localities to charge a sales tax. So a business owner in New Hampshire – which has no sales tax – sending a fishing pole to a customer in Juneau, Alaska, would have to collect a 5 percent sales tax, but would charge no sales tax to the buyer in Denali Borough.

Althea Erickson, director of public policy for Etsy, an online marketplace where crafters can sell their creative goods, wrote an op-ed this week urging lawmakers to raise the revenue rate that differentiates between small and big businesses in the act.

"If you're thinking, '$1 million, phew, that excludes me,' that's understandable," Erickson wrote of the threshold for businesses affected by the bill. "$1 million in sales, however, is well below other federal definitions of small business. And the top 500 largest internet retailers make up 93 percent of lost state revenues. A lower exception hurts small businesses more than it helps states."

Payroll Builder is an online payroll service, which makes it simple to use and easy to access. To employers who have workers out on work sites, with a single purchase you can have your employees clock in from their phones and you will be alerted to where exactly they where when they clocked in. We want to serve the Natural State, and are ready to serve you in Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville, Fayetteville, and everywhere else in Arkansas and the U.S. Visit our website for more information!

Please leave a comment if you want to share your opinion!