Economy Telephone Seminars

Environmental Issues and Agriculture ...griculture accounts for a significant portion of the U.S. economy and land area, and is subject to a growing list of environmental regulations including the Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; Endangered  more...

International Payroll Compliance Issues ...economy has created opportunities for a large number of companies to expand internationally. This has resulted in an increase in cross-border transfer of their employees, thereby creating a host of challenges for companies that must administer payrolls in different jurisdictions with a myriad of reporting and tax withholding rules. Companies must find a way to manage the global payroll and  more...

Resolving Corporate and Construction Disputes with Collaborative Law ...economy, all business people are looking for ways to cut costs. One budget item that can be substantially reduced is the expense associated with litigation. Corporations can cut overhead and construction companies can avoid unnecessary project delays by getting disputes resolved quickly and economically outside of the courthouse. Litigation involves more than legal fees; there are also costs  more...

XBRL in Transition:From Requiring XBRL to Leveraging XBRL to Improve Data Collection, Analysis, and Business Reporting BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide a comprehensive overview of XBRL technology from the SEC mandate, why XBRL, how XBRL works, potential problems, issues and how to overcome them to why the market will leverage XBRL as a global, open architecture reporting framework for improved business reporting and analysis. Learn what XBRL means, why public companies have adopted it and why those  more...

Loan Modification Fundamentals ...his crisis will have a significant impact on the nation's economy. Borrowers and lenders alike are working to resolve these defaults and foreclosures, attempting to find a balance between allowing consumers to remain in their homes without bankrupting their lenders. This live audio conference will discuss the practical ways borrowers and lenders can strike that balance by modifying the terms  more...

Creating Successful Employee Surveys ...veness of HR management systems and processes. In today's economy and workplace, this however is just the starting point. Identifying the drivers of employee engagement and commitment and helping your organization become a great place to work is no longer enough. Enhancing the value and productivity of human capital depends on aligning employment policies and practices with organizational  more...

Construction Payment Bond Fundamentals ...economy, more situations arise where someone in the line of project contracts, from the prime contractor down to a second- or lower-tier subcontractor, fails to pay its bills - or even goes out of business. Those who are unpaid must seek alternative means to ensure payment. And those who are higher on the project chain must take steps to assure the flow of funds all the way down the line.  more...

Cold Calling Tips and Scripts ...difficult time in selling now, when no one is buying. The economy has changed the rules, and sales people who never before had to make an appointment need to learn these skills NOW! You will learn how to get the proper person on the phone, explain the reason for the appointment, handle the objections, and close on the appointment date and time. We will cover selling tips as well as appointment  more...

Effective Collections: A Proactive Approach to Credit Management ...s, job losses, bankruptcies, foreclosures and the failing economy are all contributing to factories closing, job loss and business owners going out of business because they can't get paid. Learn how to take specific steps and use positive action to streamline and maximize your credit management policies. This live audio conference is designed for credit and collection managers, presidents,  more...

All You Need to Know About the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act but Didn't Know to Ask ...economy falters and the credit crisis continues help keep your business out of a lawsuit by better understanding and learning more about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, who is affected, what debts are covered, who enforces it and how you can collect more money while following the law. Failing to properly train collectors is a top reason companies get sued. Don't let this happen to you,  more...

Workers' Compensation Issues for the Construction Industry ...ocess to owners and general contractors. In a challenging economy in which multiple entities are competing with one another, this program can both help to contain the costs of the burden of workers' compensation, as well as providing ideas that can help your firm in the project selection process. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to describe situations that create debit modification  more...

Municipal Finance Fundamentals ...economy has endured tremendous stress and fluctuation during the past three years. Investors are seeking investments that will provide them with a favorable rate of return and yet afford them a higher degree of security. Increasingly, investors are looking to the United States tax-exempt municipal market to obtain those two objectives. As a result, the volume of the municipal market in primary  more...

Collateral Valuation in the New Economy ...economy of the past several years has materially impacted asset values, and the complexity of investment vehicles has made asset valuation, at best, problematic. Investors must plot an optimal course with their existing holdings. Additionally, future investments require an entirely different valuation approach than is possible under traditional models. Only the architects of these investments  more...

Hot Topics in Retail Leasing ...nants are unable to live out their lease terms due to the economy and the 'killer retail lease' forms being utilized by the larger retail complex owners. Addressing some of the important operational needs of retail tenants and uncovering hidden costs and regulation limitations can make a difference in a brand's survival. This audio conference presents some of the recent challenges for retail  more...

Economic Nexus Standards in State Taxation ...form of physical presence in the taxing state. In today's economy, however, states are continuing to push nexus limits farther than ever before and have begun to reach beyond traditional notions of nexus by relying on economic connections to create nexus. Is merely having customers in a state or generating income from a state enough to create tax obligations? This audio conference will explore  more...

SBA Loan Guarantees: Current Purchase Issues and Complexities ...economy, many lenders are looking to the credit enhancement offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration's government guaranteed lending programs to keep capital flowing to America's small businesses. While the many benefits of the programs may be appealing to lenders an understanding of the guaranty purchase process and the pitfalls which lenders fall victim to, resulting in discounts and  more...

Boundary Law Issues ...w review of the issues specific to your area with greater economy. Learning Objectives - You will be able to describe how to determine boundaries. - You will be able to review legal issues. - You will be able to define boundary line agreements. - You will be able to discuss and review sample agreements. This teleconference is designed for attorneys, developers, surveyors, engineers,  more...

Phased Retirement in The New Economy BenefitsThe concept of phased retirement first gained popularity in the 2000s, primarily based upon the shrinking labor force and employers' concerns regarding the loss of valuable talent to retirement. As a result, Congress enacted certain legislative and regulatory rules regarding phased retirement arrangements. These rules seek to provide flexibility for older workers desiring to take part in a  more...

Brownfield Redevelopment and LEED in 2010: What Happens When You Mix Green and Brown? ...ld attract public and private financial investment as the economy improves. In this challenging economic climate, buyers, credit tenants and long-term investors are increasingly likely to reward developers who apply these asset values, operational efficiencies and real estate development conditions as a condition of occupancy or investment. We will also help potential LEED applicants on  more...

Metal Building Design for Changed Occupancy or Loading ...economy, many building owners are electing to update their current location or existing structure instead of purchasing new facilities. Metal buildings are very common due to their efficiencies and lower up-front construction costs as they are designed to meet exact project requirements. Changes in the project requirements that increase loading or moving building components can be challenging  more...

Workers' Compensation Handbook Best Practices ...f legitimate claims is a daunting task. In this difficult economy, it is essential you take every step you can to reduce your workers' compensation exposure and costs. This 90-minute audio conference is geared to provide you with the best handbook practices - policies, procedures and techniques - for staying in control of your workers' compensation claims and explaining these issues to  more...

Illinois Leave Laws: Navigating a Minefield ...economy may have been stagnate, the legislature has not. Over the past couple of years, Illinois has passed or expanded numerous leave laws presenting even more obligations for employers. The interaction of these laws can be complex and difficult to institute. This teleconference will assist you in understanding their obligations in implementation and compliance. Leaves include Victims Economic  more...

Health Care Reform Update ...legislation will effectively restructure one-sixth of our economy and have a significant impact on our personal lives. Beyond the partisan politics and media hype are the practical concerns of employers, HR professionals, attorneys, third-party administrators, and other consultants and professionals who work with group health plans and related benefits on a daily basis. This teleconference will  more...

Implications of the Michigan Budget Shortfall ...development. Most people do not understand how Michigan's economy works and how it relates to the State Budget process. This teleconference will help shed some light on what economic factors go into the development of the state budget and the impact the current recession and budget shortfall is having on the citizens of Michigan. The teleconference will also examine some possible solutions and  more...

Cyber Crimes: Phishing, Pharming and Beyond ... digitization and interconnectedness of both the nation's economy and society increase. This digital expanse envelops business, allowing multinational corporations (and individuals) to collect and retain inestimable quantities of personal information about employees, customers and counter-parties, in addition to storing and using valuable intellectual property and proprietary programs, source  more...

Sale Leaseback Transactions Today: Monetizing Real Estate Assets ...economy and a chilly borrowing environment require a re-thinking of how capital and debt are used in your business. Monetizing real estate assets by sale-leaseback transactions may free up needed capital to invest in your business, particularly if the real estate is undervalued. This teleconference will help you understand when and where sale-leaseback transactions on real estate assets may  more...

Understanding the Apportionment Rules for Service-Based Businesses ...rules were written several decades ago at a time when our economy was dominated by the manufacturing of tangible personal property. Thus, these rules focused on the manufacturing industry and were out of touch with service operations. Second, as our economy has shifted its focus to services and e-commerce, states are beginning to revise their apportionment rules to account for differences  more...

Secondary Sources of Repayment Fundamentals BenefitsCollateral and personal guarantees are important components of commercial loan structure because they provide secondary sources of repayment in the event the primary source of repayment is no longer adequate. Collateral and personal guarantees are evaluated when a loan is being made but the ultimate realizable value of both is likely to change if they are ever needed to repay the loan.  more...

LEED Tax Incentives and Credits for Green Buildings ...on in clean energy investments intended to jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow. The Department of Energy is issuing a series of grant opportunities directly, and through state and local government, to address these areas. This teleconference will highlight the numerous opportunities companies have to reduce the cost of investment in green buildings and energy  more...

An Introduction to L3Cs: Low-Profit Limited Liability Companies ...economy has left many charities and businesses, all with great intentions, struggling for financial support. These organizations need to re-evaluate their business models to successfully adapt in this economic climate. This teleconference will provide advisors and business owners with a broad overview of a new hybrid for-profit/nonprofit business model: the low-profit limited liability company  more...

Current Issues Facing Real Estate Lenders: Managing Through the Tidal Wave of Distressed Properties ... a unique time in the cycle of real estate financing. The economy is at risk in a way not experienced since the Great Depression. Credit markets are frozen and financial institutions are under severe distress. Real estate assets are suffering from deflation in value and illiquidity. Tenant distress, soon followed by landlord challenges, will create further deep disruptions. It is critical for  more...

Protect and Collect - The Effective Use of Engagement Letters ...economy finds companies in every industry, including professional service firms, looking at best practices to keep revenues steady and to decrease liability. The collection process has become more burdensome as cash flow tightens across the country. With more and more lawsuits arising against professional service providers and their firms, law firms, accounting firms and even bookkeeping/tax  more...

Rewards Transformation: A Unique Approach to Total Rewards Strategy and Design in the Current Economy BenefitsIn the current economic environment, organizations are concerned with reducing costs while retaining top talent. Total rewards costs can often exceed 40 percent of company's revenue and in many cases it is difficult to demonstrate ROI. This teleconference presents a unique approach to total rewards strategy, design and cost management called rewards transformation. Rewards transformation  more...

Community Association Legal Issues - Charting the Course Through Rough Seas ...economy, managing Community Associations presents new and complex issues to the board of directors and the management companies. The value of and the ability to sell real property in a common interest community are significantly affected by the appropriate and effective management of the Association. Implementing a budgeting process and establishing collection policies which are followed are  more...

Collection Issues for Condominium and Homeowners' Association: Legal Tips, Concepts and Current Trends in Assessment Collection ... collect unpaid assessments may not be working in today's economy. This teleconference will discuss various legal rights, remedies and proceedings related to community association assessment collection, particularly in light of the historically high foreclosure and bankruptcy filings. Step-by-step procedure for pursuing litigation, either against a homeowner personally or through lien  more...

Subleasing Issues In A Down and Recovering Market ...fice market, bringing with it a flood of subleases as the economy continues its downward trend, and even as it recovers. It is time to dust off the practices and procedures lessons first learned in 1991 and 1992 when the savings and loan industry collapsed, and then again in 2000 and 2001 when the dot-com bubble burst, because subtenants now find themselves once more in a rare position: the  more...

FASB Statement 157 - Fair Value Update on Corporate Asset Valuation ... financial services industry, capital markets, and global economy. While implementing changes mandated by FAS 157 (ASC 820) has been challenging for many companies - the rule aims to make it easier to communicate value to shareholders. This teleconference will provide an overview of FAS 157 (ASC 820) guidelines, including the definition of fair value, defensive value, and the three-tier  more...

Case Study: What Makes Dixon Schwabl One of the "Best Small Companies to Work for in America" ...st challenging and rapidly changing industries in today's economy. She believes that creating a great place to work elevates not only employees and clients, but also the entire community with a positive ripple effect. With double-digit growth and national recognition for her firm, Ms. Dixon will discuss how she continues to look for the 'WOW' in every part of her business. Human resource  more...

Living With Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) ... set of legal requirements. In this currently challenging economy, the UPMIFA provides nonprofit institutions with the legal authority to make prudent expenditures despite having endowment funds which have asset value below their original or historical dollar value (underwater funds). Learn how new spending rules requiring application of the seven factors of prudence change the legal landscape  more...

Employee Expense Reimbursement Best Practices ...ely support and monitor reimbursable expenses. In today's economy, establishment of best practices and ensuring compliance is crucial to minimize the cost and legal risk of inappropriate practices. This teleconference will explore the legal landscape governing employee expense reimbursement, outline the legal and financial risks of improper procedures, and provide practical tips and tools for  more...

Affordable Housing: Finance and Development, How to Maximize the Available Resources ...he subprime mortgage crisis and a downturn in the general economy. As a result, finding capital and equity to build affordable housing has become more and more difficult as investors sit this one out while the market stabilizes. This teleconference will highlight the issues, problems, causes, recent trends, what can be done and what is being done to address and stabilize the affordable housing  more...

Current Issues in Attributional and Agency Nexus ...nships with third-parties in the taxing state. In today's economy, states are pushing nexus limits farther than ever before and are increasingly focusing on third-party and affiliated relationships as a means to create nexus. This teleconference will explore the concept of third-party nexus - often called agency nexus or attributional nexus - and will explain some of the traps and pitfalls  more...

Current ERISA Fiduciary Issues for Financial Institutions ...ciary issues affecting financial institutions in this new economy and evolving regulatory world. Among the topics to be covered are transactional issues for newly combined and otherwise affiliated financial institutions, ERISA issues implicated by the economic downturn, legislative and regulatory developments of special interest to financial institutions, and evolving developments regarding  more...

Effective Sales Management: Short and Long-term Planning, Forecasting, and Expense Budgeting ... maintaining effective sales activities. In an uncertain economy, performing long-term budget planning is often viewed as a luxury, rather than as an essential business practice. In every kind of economy, however, the need to anticipate financial boundaries is essential to ongoing business success. Understanding and monitoring the inflows and outflows of cash must be a top priority for every  more...

Properly Handling Employee Complaints of Discrimination BenefitsThe existence of effectively enforced rules, the fair and thorough investigation of complaints and misconduct, and an understanding of the legal process relating to claims are critical to enabling a company to limit potential charges and lawsuits asserting discrimination. This teleconference will afford practical guidance in analyzing and responding to charges effectively and lawfully.  more...

Maintain and Gain Downtown Businesses in a Tough Economy: Key Retention and Recruitment Concepts BenefitsIt is possible to pursue new growth and attend to those who have already invested in your community. In fact, we believe that it should be a goal of every economic development or downtown to have a balanced 'maintaining and gaining' approach to economic growth. This teleconference will illuminate a number strategies and tactics to consider as you pursue this goal. Learning Objectives -  more...

Understanding Bankruptcy Code Section 503(b)(9) ...economy there is an unprecedented wave of retailer bankruptcies that is likely to increase over the next year. Frequently, sellers of goods to insolvent retailers end up financing, unwittingly, these bankruptcy cases. In 2005, the bankruptcy laws were amended to provide sellers of goods received by a debtor within 20 days before bankruptcy an administrative expense priority claim in bankruptcy.  more...

Managing Benefit Options for Part-Time Employees ...economy recovers and restructures, many employers find themselves employing more of their workforce on a part time basis. Additionally, in hard to recruit fields such as health care, or with entry level employers such as retailers, part-time employment is the norm and may account for more than 50% of the workforce. Employers struggle with how to design a program that will attract and retain the  more...

Discipline and Termination Considerations for Employees on Leave ...economy when many employers are forced to terminate employees, they should be cognizant of federal and state laws that may be implicated with respect to employees on leave. Employee leave can be as short as a few hours to vote, several months to care for a newborn or longer than a year due to a disability. In the event that an employee who is on leave will be terminated, whether for cause or  more...

Terminating a Construction Contract: Legal Issues and Considerations ...economy causes owners and contractors to increasingly consider the last resort of terminating their construction contracts. It is important to fully appreciate and understand the law governing termination in order to avoid causing even more economic damage. This teleconference will provide the basic concepts of termination and will provide some examples of the right and wrong way to terminate  more...

Practical and Legal Aspects of Real Estate Auctions ...economy, many real estate developers, investors and fiduciaries are holding surplus inventory with poor turnover performance and a grim outlook on return on investment. The carrying costs to maintain the property during a lengthy conventional brokerage sale weaken the asset's physical properties and investment potential. Real estate auctions have been a viable solution for more than 40 years  more...

How To Prevent Construction Projects From Going Bad ...economy, the construction process may have become more risky than ever. This teleconference focuses on actions you can take to keep your project pointed toward success. It addresses the steps that can and should be taken to help anticipate, identify and manage the problems inherent in the construction process. n nThis teleconference is intended to benefit attendees who want to have a better  more...

IRS Form 1040 - Schedule D Update nUnited States taxpayers are experiencing many challenges in our current economic environment that will have major effects on their tax returns. The collapse of the housing market, home foreclosures and worthless securities has affected most taxpayers. Preparing the 1040 Schedule D is challenging for even the most efficient tax professional. By attending this teleconference, you will be reminded  more...

Water Well Rehabilitation - Technical Considerations and Economic Advantages ...cost of installing new wells. However, the decline of the economy has not reduced the requirement of water purveyors and other well owners to provide a safe and dependable supply of high-quality groundwater. Recent drought conditions in some areas have increased the demand on groundwater supplies, and in less arid areas groundwater wells are also desirable to mitigate security concerns and  more...

Valuation for Gift and Estate Tax Purposes in a Troubled Economy nWhether we are in a recession or depression, the values of assets are not what they once were. If you are contemplating whether to consider gift and estate tax planning or executing a plan, what will the impact of this troubled economy be on your tax valuations? This teleconference provides up-to-date guidance on current market conditions, and evolving valuation industry practices and techniques  more...

Payment Fraud ...ards or ACH, are good? Fraud is on the rise, with a tough economy and the abundance of malware in the market today, it is only a matter of time before your company becomes a target. As a business owner you need to understand the signs to look for that an order may be bad. You need to understand the tools that are available to you to investigate a potential customer. n nThe teleconference is  more...

Establishing Payment Arrangements: Beyond Net 30 nMore than 10,000 businesses have slow or nonpaying customers. How can you collect that money efficiently and quickly and keep that money coming in? The credit crisis, high fuel costs, job losses, bankruptcies, foreclosures and the failing economy are all contributing to factories closing, job loss and business owners going out of business because they can't get paid. Maximize your in-house  more...

Supply Chain Strategies in a Down Economy ...tries are struggling to meet earning targets in this down economy. Hardly a day goes by when you don't read about layoffs or other drastic measures that companies are taking to cope during the current economic downturn. What can companies do to help weather the storm? Taking an aggressive look at supplier costs can be a key strategy for shoring up the bottom line. This teleconference will help  more...

Estate Planning Opportunities in an Uncertain Environment nMotivate the reluctant client; freeze the estate value to reduce the estate tax load. How many of us have clients waiting on the sidelines to decide what to do after experiencing 2008? The uncertain times and uncertain market have actually created the perfect time to use some of the advanced planning tools in the estate planner's arsenal. Depressed values for good assets open up the opportunity  more...

Current Trends in Transit-Oriented Development nAs the United States faces the most severe economic recession since the Great Depression, one sector of real estate - transit-oriented development - is situated to protect investors from the economic downturn and deliver attractive long-term profits. TOD provides a new investment opportunity for both the public and private sectors as our cities are faced with the challenges of rapid price  more...

The Fundamentals of Leasing Provisions and Covenants ...economy it's more important than ever for real estate attorneys and practitioners to be clever in understanding the legal and financial implications of lease terms and covenants. This teleconference will delve into the essential terms of the commercial lease and focus particularly on the clauses that often draw the most attention during negotiations: common area maintenance, key tenant  more...