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Almost everything these days is done digitally, which means speed and convenience to everyone. But along with its many benefits comes heightened awareness when it comes to data security. With scammers, phishers, and cyber attackers lurking out there, just one wrong click and your business could be gone. Jen Coleman and Paul Villanueva talk with Michael Garofalo about their Pleasant-Valley-based business, Intelligent IT Designs. They discuss the benefits of using UPS technology and undergoing security awareness training. Paul also explains the future of passwords and some important tips in choosing a good hard drive. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

It is projected that we are about to enter an era of enforcement marked by more stringent enforcement of tax policy, which will raise the bar for small businesses seeking to claim the R&D tax credit. On today’s show, Michael Garofalo sits down with Brad Poris. Brad leads the northeast region of BDO's Business Incentives Group, with a specialization in the research and development tax credit. He discusses lessons learned from the Little Sandy Coal Company case from February 2021, in which the IRS narrowly required the taxpayer to prove a "process of experimentation," but fell shy of meeting the threshold. They also discuss the Chief Counsel Memorandum, released on October 15, 2021, and how it could impact businesses. The R&D credit can be a major tax-saving tool for the right business, but it takes a professional to understand the reporting requirements. With membership in the BDO Alliance, JGS, CPA is equipped to handle these kinds of tax situations and many more.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

Many people live paycheck to paycheck, but with disability insurance, you'll have no money issues during accidents. Michael Garofalo welcomes Carolin Mohrmann, a Benefits Advisor at Aflac, and Don Badgley, an Insurance Counselor at Northwestern Mutual and Small World Wealth Management. Join in the conversation to discuss how short- and long-term disability insurance plans augment one another. Mohrmann and Badgley acknowledge that these are tough conversations to have with anyone, so they share stories about clients, or their families, that are happy to have done so. For Contact Information:   Carolin: carolin_mohrmann@us.aflac.com and Don: don.badgley@nm.com.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

Life is made up of choices. In every aspect of it, you have to know how to deal with certain situations. In addition, you have to be equipped with the tools you need to keep moving forward. Chuck Omphalius of Max It Out (MIO) Retirement discusses the rationale behind his 930 Plan to create awareness for people. We also talk about tax-wise strategies for hedging against inflation, then we take a little tangent and talk about one of Chuck's non-work interests: youth soccer. Tune in and learn how to live tax-advantaged!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

Did you miss the Former Advisor Host, Brian Powers? This is your lucky episode! Today, Brian returns with a massive update on his new role. For those who don't know Brian, he's the Former Vice President of Business Development Marketing at JGS, CPA, and the Founder of The Advisor Podcast. Join in the conversation as Brian talks with Michael Garofalo from the other side of the mic about his work with Mid Hudson Construction Management. You'll hear juicy details about the economic progress Brian sees coming to the Hudson Valley. Additional topics include environmental concerns during construction, current commercial projects, and building material shortages. If any of that interests you, you'd want to tune in to this episode. Enjoy!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

Brittany Johnson and Laura Johnson aren't afraid of dirty work as long as it means that they get to grow their business. Their normal business operation, based in Middletown, New York, focuses on fire and water remediation - but COVID-19 added a whole new dimension: disinfection of surfaces. The shortage of PPE combined with significant uncertainty around the spread of the virus made 2020 an extremely challenging year for their business transition. Because of this, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce recognized SERVPRO as the 2020 Business of the Year. JGS' Michael Garofalo and Rob Unger speak to the Johnson sisters about their work during the pandemic and the accounting services JGS provides them.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://jgspc.com/newsroom/podcast/

When cutting costs, people usually don't think of utilities since it is the lifeblood of any establishment. But what if there was a way for you to save money for your business just by looking into your energy consumption? Today's guest Matthew Holland is the Vice President of Business Development at Reflective Energy Solutions. They work tirelessly to help clients manage their energy expenses and ultimately save money by analyzing their usage, comparing competing providers, auditing their bills for savings and suggesting technological improvements. In this episode, Matthew joins Brian Powers to weigh in on how you should be looking into energy costs and discuss the different cost-saving energy options for your business. Tune in to get money-saving and sustainable advice for your business!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

You have to be prepared for the moment 100% of the businesses start to reopen. You have to be there right out of the gate, but how can you do that if you keep worrying about the smaller tasks? If you want to grow, you need your full attention on your main mission. This is why you need a professional employer organization system. To talk more about that is Tom Lemmey and Brian Kennedy. Tom and Brian work at Ethan Allen HR Services where they can assist your small business by doing the back-office work. Alongside your host, Brian Power, learn how H.R. departments can adapt to a changing post-Covid workforce.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you can't get stressed. Everyone gets stressed. Some people are so used to being stressed that they don't even know that they are. Join your host, Brian Power, and his guest, Prash Kotecha, on how to build resilience against stress. Prash is the Owner of Stress To Success, where he coaches leaders to optimize their lifestyle. Especially in these uncertain times, people need to be able to deal with stress. Prash helps them reframe, recalculate, and recover so that they can achieve success. Learn how to convert your stress to success and practice resiliency today.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

The after-effects of COVID-19 for business operations are far-fetching. Without discipline, you’ll have to deal with massive breakdowns. Brian Power’s guest in this episode is Colin Clayton, Business Development Executive at Staples Advantage. Colin talks with Michael about how you can’t rely on one employee or supplier to run your processes. Otherwise, if that one employee or supplier fails, the entire chain of dependables collapses. Join in to find out how you can prevent this from happening. Don’t miss this episode!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Many small businesses these days don't have the resources to increase efficiency and mitigate costs. This hinders them from moving forward and growing because of how much time they are spending on things that can be automated. This is where the power of technology and digital transformation comes in. Join Brian Powers and Andrew Cohen in this discussion about workplace efficiency. Andrew is the CEO and Managing Partner at EVOKE, one of JGS CPA's closest (geographically) affiliates from the Business Resource Network of the BDO Alliance. Andrew builds digital workplace solutions for businesses, especially the small ones.  Brian and Andrew talk about workplace changes and using technology to improve efficiency. Tune in and learn how technology and automation can help companies focus on growth. Also, find out how Andrew brings businesses into the modern age.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Doing property tax assessments is one crucial area of real estate to determine where your money is going and what it means to you in the future. Since this is quite a complicated process, seeking professional help is never a bad idea. Brian Power talks with Karen Hagstrom from Stenger, Diamond & Glass law firm to share how she helps people in this process. She explains the pitfalls to avoid in residential properties and the misconceptions about reducing home value and taxes. Karen also explores how to approach commercial properties in today’s new normal, where certain municipalities may be hurt because of the fast people relocation and the sudden shift to the virtual scene.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Social Security definitely offers a lot of retirement benefits, making it an excellent investment for anyone. However, not everyone is properly educated on maximizing how much you can get from it. Brian Powers talks with Jim Blair and Marc Kiner from Premier Social Security Consulting to share the most important strategies to follow to properly navigate Social Security and calculate its benefits. They enumerate tips for various situations, from divorced parents, deceased partners, disabled children, and many more. Jim and Marc also discuss early and full retirement, explaining the benefits either option can offer.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

In this episode of The Advisor Podcast powered by JGS, CPA, we welcome attorney A.J. Iuele of the firm Stenger, Diamond and Glass, LLP. A.J. speaks about the facts and myths of spousal support. Spousal Support also known as spousal maintenance (and formerly called alimony) is money paid from one spouse to the other once a marriage has ended. While the words are different, the meaning is the same.  A.J. reminds us if you are currently going through a divorce, you should be familiar with how maintenance will affect your specific situation. Divorce rates typically rise just after the holiday season. Add a COVID catalyst to the mix and the first quarter of 2021 has the potential to see a dramatic spike in divorce filings. We discuss the components spousal maintenance and what you should be aware of if you are going through this unfortunate situation. If you are facing a divorce, it doesn’t matter what your financial situation is—you undoubtedly have financial concerns. We discuss that before you begin down that path, you should speak with a divorce attorney to find out if such a drastic and final change is the right thing for you. A.J. reminds us that legal counsel can help you to explore other options that may be available to you, such as a legal separation.We find out in this episode that there are many factors that need to be accounted for before making such a life-changing decision. If you have any questions or would like to speak to schedule a consultation, please contact AJ Iuele at 845-298-2000 or email him ajiuele@sdglaw.com A.J. also wrote blog post about this topic. You can check it out here: https://sdglaw.com/the-facts-and-myths-of-spousal-support/  Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Residential leases either as a landlord or a tenant can be difficult during normal times. But now during the COVID-19 Crisis it has added a layer of complication to it. Ian Lindars, attorney with the firm Stenger, Diamond and Glass SDG Law returns to discuss some of the new changes in New York to the law. We last spoke with Ian in July. He discussed new provisions put in place right before the pandemic. We covered the steps of eviction and how it can become a long the process can become based on the specific municipality. Ian stressed the importance of having a precise plan if you are a landlord on how to handle non-payment. He also spoke about now during the crisis landlords and tenants are working together when dealing with issues. There are new laws in place to stop evictions during the crisis. Ian discussed the New York Safe Harbor Act that had been signed into law and then updated right before our recording, if you have a financial hardship due to the crisis you cannot be evicted from your residential lease. He stressed you have to be able to prove the hardship due to COVID-19. And Ian also mentioned that this new law does not include commercial leases. Another significant aspect of this act prevents the landlord from displacing the residents from their home. But landlords can still obtain a judgement if they can’t collect the lease payment. This doesn’t get the money initially but it does protect the landlord and long term will help in negotiations.  Ultimately, Ian mentioned how tenants and landlords need to work together during these tough times. How they need to be practical and approach issues from a business perspective.  Turning to negotiations in your approach before legal action can turn out better in the end.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

In this time of quarantine and isolation, running errands can be the last thing you want to do. Brian Powers’ guest has the solution for you. He sits down with Micah Bennett, the owner of Hudson Valley Concierge Service that offers services that range from picking up groceries to being an extra pair of hands during a busy time. In this episode, Micah shares with us the birth of his business that is proving to be a necessity at this time. At the heart of it is how he is taking his customer service to the next level. Join him in this conversation to hear more about it and how you can apply it to your business.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Equal parts animal shelter and community resource, the Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA) is making a big impact in the Hudson Valley. In this episode of The Advisor Podcast brought to you by JGS, CPA we speak with executive director, Lynne Meloccaro.With a new leadership team in place, an entirely humane approach and a mission to foster a community where all animals are treated with respect and compassion, the nonprofit organization, located at 636 Violet Avenue in Hyde Park, NY, has reinvented itself. In fact, under its new direction, the DCSPCA has achieved a 95 percent live release rate – an impressive 18 percent increase – and introduced programs to augment its reach in the region. In late 2018, DCSPCA appointed Lynne as executive director to address the issues that had given the shelter a somewhat rocky recent history. As the former executive director of The American Symphony Orchestra and Bard College’s The Orchestra Now, Meloccaro, a lifelong animal lover, brings decades of professional experience in nonprofit management to the DCSPCA. For the past two years, she has quietly and diligently worked to improve the standard of care for the animals and to institute managerial best practices. She hired a new team of experienced shelter professionals to help realize the organization’s mission to aid animals in need and support the community of pet owners. This effort has resulted in a host of positive, mission-minded steps. One of the primary goals, and a driving “why” of the DCSPCA, is to secure lasting homes for adoptable pets. This only happens as the culmination of numerous other essential functions: DCSPCA rescues stray and abandoned animals from all over the county; its humane law division seizes animals from abusive situations and prosecutes the abusers; it receives wounded and injured animals and restores them to health; and each year it takes in 700 to 800 kittens born in the wild that would otherwise not survive. DCSPCA now offers a variety of new programs to support Dutchess County’s population of pet owners. DCSPCA will board and care for animals free of charge for up to 60 days for people who need emergency housing for their animals when, for instance, owners are hospitalized or had a house fire. DCSPCA works with several community partners such as Grace Smith House, Hudson Valley Hospice, and Mental Health America of Dutchess County to care for the pets of clients of these programs. DCSPCA offers special repayment plans for people whose animals require medical attention beyond the means of owners to pay right away. DCSPCA will treat an animal and work out a customized repayment schedule. In this way DCSPCA has been able to save the lives of several dogs and cats and reunite them with their owners.In partnership with Dutchess County Department of Health, DCSPCA has expanded the number of free rabies clinics it holds to four each year, ensuring a healthier overall population of animals in the county.The shelter stocks a network of human food pantries with pet food to support people who may be struggling economically. Especially this year, the pet food pantry program has been a critical service to families in need. In 2020, DCSPCA embarked on a new initiative to help keep pets in their homes. It has established field teams that will visit the home to address behavioral issues with dogs and cats and educate the owners on how best to work with their animals so that they do not have to give them up.“The new vision for DCSPCA,” Meloccaro stated, “is not just as a warehouse for unwanted animals, but a community resource center to assist Dutchess County in caring for its animal population.”Find out more info at https://dcspca.org

During this pandemic the need is great to re-invent what we take for granted. In this episode of The Advisor Podcast, Gina Sullivan of Revel 32 in Poughkeepsie explains how she her husband Jim and their family have done just that with their event space.  Gina shared with us the history of the building and how they have been working for the last year and a half to renovate a former Masonic Temple into 20,000 square feet of event space. While it is a great space for larger events like weddings, concerts or fundraisers, we discussed how they have had to re-invent during COVID-19. Since it is so large they are able to accommodate guests with enough room for social distancing. Their hope for the space is that clients would rent the space and then customize it as they see fit. Revel 32 has recently hosted events where they partnered with Simply Gourmet for a “pop up” restaurant and other caterers or restaurants to give them opportunities to thrive during this difficult time. And even more recent Chef David Burke is doing events in the space. Revel 32 has also attracted Hudson Valley non-profit organizations to do “out of the box” type of events in the space during COVID-19. Gina and Jim Sullivan have been developing in the area for over 11 years. So, we discussed 40 Cannon Street next to Revel 32 that Gina, Jim and their family renovated. It is home to Kings Court Brewing, 1915 Wine Cellar, Café 40 and 49 apartments. Gina told us their vision for both buildings is to make the community a part of it. Even when it came down to the name they turned to the community on social media to help select it. Their hope is to shine as a beacon for the community during the hard times of a pandemic and the good times that are to come.  To find out more visit their website https://www.revel32.com/ Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join The Advisor Podcast Community today:jgspc.comFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTube

Bankruptcy can come with a lot of misconceptions. When it comes to bankruptcy it is easier to talk about what it is not. It is not the company going out of business or management being tossed out. In the latest episode of The Advisor Podcast brought to you by JGS, CPA, Mary Ephraim an attorney from Stenger, Roberts, Davis & Diamond, LLP SRDD Law spoke with us to dis-spell the myths surrounding bankruptcy. Mary also discussed how to navigate the process especially now during the COVID-19 Crisis. Mary explained that the goals of the bankruptcy process is to keep a company alive. The process is a way to “put the brakes on things” Mary explained. She said it allows you to collect all of your property and money then pay people off in a certain order to make the most of what your have. Then you can hopefully emerge from the bankruptcy process leaner and more efficient. Mary also covered the new laws and programs in New York State that are helpful for more small businesses in regards to bankruptcy and how the government has streamlined the process. Mary mentioned too that you will want to have your creditors on your side especially the ones you will need to continue your business. Mary gave us a lot of insight in to the bankruptcy process and emphasizes the importance of hiring a professional. To find out more about Mary Ephraim from Stenger, Roberts, Davis and Diamond SRDD Law please visit their website. https://srddlaw.com/

Navigating commercial and residential leases either as a landlord or a tenant can be difficult during normal times. But now during the COVID-19 Crisis it has added a layer of complication to it. Ian Lindars, attorney with the firm Stenger, Roberts, Davis and Diamond SRDD Law discusses some of the new changes in New York to the law. Ian discussed new provisions put in place right before the pandemic. We covered the steps of eviction and how it can become a long the process can become based on the specific municipality. Ian stressed the importance of having a precise plan if you are a landlord on how to handle non-payment. He also spoke about now during the crisis landlords and tenants are working together when dealing with issues. There are new laws in place to stop evictions during the crisis. Ian discussed the New York Safe Harbor Act, that had been signed into law right before our recording, if you have a financial hardship due to the crisis you cannot be evicted from your residential lease. He stressed you have to be able to prove the hardship due to COVID-19. And Ian also mentioned that this new law does not include commercial leases. Another significant aspect of this act prevents the landlord from displacing the residents from their home. But landlords can still obtain a judgement if they can’t collect the lease payment. This doesn’t get the money initially but it does protect the landlord and long term will help in negotiations. We discussed the rights of commercial landlords and businesses closing. Ian discussed the terms of those leases can allow you to go after the tenant personally. But a lot of it is based off the terms of the lease. Ultimately, Ian mentioned how tenants and landlords need to work together during these tough times. How they need to be practical and approach issues from a business perspective. Turning to negotiations in your approach before legal action can turn out better in the end.