Construction

What is the true value of a business valuation?
Although a business valuation is important for contractors considering an ownership transition or business sale, it serves many other purposes. A valuation should be considered when seeking loans, establishing an employee stock option plan, creating a buy-sell agreement, contemplating a merger or acquisition or engaging in estate planning or gift taxation. (7/21/2008)

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act: Who benefits?
For months, the housing market has functioned like a person with a hangover. After a period of exhilaration, the market began stumbling around, knocking over things and people. When something as basic as housing falters, it’s no surprise that the general economy can start to sag, too. That’s why many in, or connected with, the real estate industry have been looking to Washington for legislative relief. (7/7/2008)

Workplace to war zone – and back again
We spend far more time and money preparing our military members to go to war than we do preparing them to return to civilian life. Yet the latter transition is often the more difficult one. Think what it would be like to leave your family, friends and job and go to a war zone. Not only would you say goodbye to familiar people and places, but you would leave a comfortable way of life, where you can trust that your neighbors and people on the street wish you no harm. You would go to a lawless country where many want to harm you. To survive in such an environment, you need to develop a set of “battlefield skills.” You learn to be on constant alert for danger, to seal off your emotions, to trust no one and to react to people and events instantaneously and ask questions later. Upon returning to civilian life, most people have a hard time shutting off those battlefield skills. Many have also experienced traumatic events that can trigger flashbacks, hyper-arousal, irritability and anger long afterward. (6/23/2008)