T Need Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Telecommuting: The Next Wave of Wage and Hour Litigation BenefitsMany employers offer their employees the opportunity to work from home either on a regular or temporary basis. While the flexibility of a telecommuting arrangement can benefit both the employer and the employee, allowing a nonexempt employee to work at home can lead to a minefield of wage and hour issues that you must carefully navigate to avoid potential liability. As telecommuting has  more...

Evaluating Your Third Party Administrator: Are You Getting What You're Paying For? BenefitsUsing a third-party administrator is ubiquitous with all types of employee benefit plans. However, proper administration by TPAs should not be taken for granted. As with all facets of employee benefit plans, TPAs need to be monitored and evaluated to ensure proper plan administration and fulfillment of a plan sponsor's fiduciary responsibility. This teleconference explores the key roles of  more...

Discover the Secrets of Microsoft(R) Excel Pivot Tables BenefitsAny Excel user who maintains database-like data invariably needs tools to manage and analyze the data beyond mere sorting and filtering. Excel 's pivot table feature gives you a quick and powerful way to create summary cross-totals combined with an enormous flexibility to restructure your results with simple dragging of fields. Whether you need the ability to create a quick look at the  more...

Estate Planning for the Final Years of Life BenefitsEmpirical evidence and directed studies indicate that the majority of Americans fail to plan for their final years of life. Ironically, this is the time when many people are confronted with their greatest challenges and most stressful experiences. This teleconference will cover why people need to plan, what they need to plan for and how to apply proven strategies for dealing with the final  more...

IRS Guidelines for Good Governance and the Continued Tax Exemption of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations BenefitsGiven continued congressional scrutiny of whether tax exemption is a worthy federal subsidy for any type of tax-exempt organization, proper governance and accountability to the local community are key factors that may distinguish the tax-exempt sector from the taxable sector. The Internal Revenue Service, the press and others have linked the need for good governance to the quest for  more...

Revitalizing Vacant Commercial Properties BenefitsWith the tremendous turmoil in the commercial real estate market, there will plenty of potential opportunities for owner-users and investors to purchase vacant properties at pennies on the dollar. The question is how? The ability to acquire these properties and bring them back to a viable place to do business or to investment status will require a plan and know how. This teleconference  more...

The Art and Science of Ethically Firing a Client BenefitsSo you think distancing yourself from an uncooperative client is as simple as saying, in the words of Donald Trump, 'You're fired.'? Not so. Both ethical and fiduciary considerations come into play when a lawyer seeks to withdraw from ongoing representation of a client. This teleconference will provide a detailed discussion of those ethical rules, as well as the impact of withdrawal on  more...

Recent Trends in CPA Technology BenefitsTechnology has totally transformed the way CPA's do business. In this teleconference, we will highlight recent trends in the technologies that play an important role in how we do business today. Whether you practice in public, private, education, government or in any other role, this program will give you some insight as to where technology is at and where it will be tomorrow. This  more...

Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors: What You Need to Know About ABC's BenefitsThis teleconference will give you an overview of the basics to general assignments for the benefit of creditors, a state law alternative for the liquidation of a distressed business that while long available under state laws, has had little use outside of states such as California, Illinois, Florida and Massachusetts. The fiduciary nature and responsibilities of the assignee will be  more...

Powers of Attorney: Medical Records Release Concerns BenefitsBusy medical practices understand that each day, personal health information is transmitted in various forms between hospitals, doctors, attorneys, insurance companies, patients, and their lawyers and families. With increasing reliance on electronic medical records, health information can be transmitted with minimal effort. However, health information requests become more confusing and  more...

Opportunities for Recycling Construction Waste and Demolition Debris BenefitsNationally and internationally, sustainable building is taking hold. One part of sustainable building is reusing and recycling materials during construction and demolition. More and more projects are requiring the recycling of materials during construction and demolition, and contractors and others will need to know how to potentially meet this requirement. This 90-minute teleconference  more...

Techniques to Prepare for Difficult Employee Discussions BenefitsSexually offensive behavior, poor communication and leadership skills, excessive absenteeism, and attitude problems - whether you're encountering commonplace or exceptionally serious employee relations issues, you'll need a down-to-earth strategy to protect yourself and your organization. Verbally addressing problems head-on can be a daunting task because of their confrontational nature,  more...

Avoiding the Pitfalls of GMP Contracting BenefitsAs owners have searched for project delivery systems that reduce the duration from project conception to project completion, one of the most common approaches has included the use of guaranteed maximum price, or GMP, contracts. However, as the use of these contract formats has proliferated, so have disputes that strongly suggest that the parties using them do not fully understand: (a) the  more...

Fundamentals of Writing RFPs BenefitsVendors cannot possibly offer an intelligent, thoughtful proposal solution if your RFP is unclear, unorganized and disjointed. This engaging teleconference will provide proven methods for drafting RFPs that are clear, precise and produce desired results. Learn 10 writing tips that will guide you in creating an effective RFP. Learn how to format your RFP to lead vendors toward answering  more...

Employee Expense Reimbursement Best Practices BenefitsMany employers spend significant sums on employee expense reimbursement and need to prepare and enforce robust policies to adequately 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  more...

HR Time Lines: The Complex Integration of FMLA, WC, Disability and COBRA BenefitsHow do worker's compensation, FMLA, disability and COBRA laws work - together, independently or concurrently? What can run together? What cannot? When can we cancel the health plan, for what reason and is it a COBRA qualifying event? We will pull all of these together to explain the employer's liability. When can coverage be canceled? What laws protect employee benefits? Many times all  more...

Bankruptcy Retention and Disclosures: Knowing When and What to Say BenefitsBankruptcy is a specialized practice quite different than typical litigation. In general litigation, secrecy and limited disclosures are the norm. However, the filing of a bankruptcy and one's involvement in it, either as a debtor, professional or even creditor, requires specific and often extensive disclosures to protect the interests of the estate and the integrity of the bankruptcy  more...

Skip Tracing: Three Types of Skips BenefitsIt's true that anyone can do skip-tracing - but to do it properly, you need to know more than the raw mechanics. At this teleconference you'll learn the practical techniques you can use to finally find who you're looking for. You'll get insider secrets from a renowned skip-tracing expert. Discover the no-nonsense tools you need to perform database searches, get valuable information and  more...

Reading and Understanding Soil Reports BenefitsJust because you have hired a consultant to provide you a soils report does not necessarily mean it will be put to good use. Many of the terms and even the recommendations given in soils reports could use some explanation. This teleconference will help you understand what type of soils report you may need, the technical terms found within the soils report, what is really the important  more...

Medical Records: Responding to Subpoenas and Investigations BenefitsDon't be caught off guard. You could be breaching the confidentiality of patients without even realizing it! From HIPAA requirements to state privacy laws, legal issues abound in the medical records arena. If you're not up to date on medical records law, your company could face serious legal and financial liability risks. Attend this teleconference and gain critical information on  more...

Stark Act Update: Recent Changes and Operational Challenges BenefitsThe Stark Act is a very technical law that prohibits several common financial arrangements between physicians and entities to which they refer, including hospitals. If a physician has a financial arrangement with an entity that bills for or performs 'designated health services,' the financial arrangement will need to meet all components of an applicable exception. If the Stark Act is  more...

Strategies to Reduce Bullying and Social Aggression BenefitsIncreasingly educators, health professionals, parents and lawmakers realize the seriousness of bullying, cyber bullying and social aggression in school. Certain state laws and regulations now hold schools personally responsible for the effects of bullying, including cyber bullying. Whether your school plans to implement one or more bullying prevention strategies, or a comprehensive  more...

Understanding UCC Article 9 Foreclosures BenefitsCurrent market conditions pose an alarming rate of defaults on commercial loans not seen in years. With defaults commonplace and secured creditors facing challenges in protecting their interests, foreclosing on assets under UCC Article 9 may be the right option. If appropriate, a public auction, private sale or friendly foreclosure under Article 9 may provide a quick and relatively  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Easement Valuations: Common Pitfalls and Principles BenefitsMany state and local governments are acquiring a variety of preservation easements for a broad variety of reasons and it is important that property owners understand the proper method of valuing these easements to insure they are receiving just compensation. Further, condemnors are increasingly recharacterizing temporary construction easements as noneasements to avoid paying compensation.  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask BenefitsMost companies that care about safety in the workplace have implemented a drug and alcohol testing program. An added benefit to companies is a reduction in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. What makes an effective program? What kind of safeguards should there be to ensure accuracy? What does a drug test really measure? What is the best sample: urine, hair or oral fluid? Are  more...

Document Retention and Destruction: What Human Resource Professionals Must Know BenefitsCorrectly handling the documentation of employees is one of the most difficult and tedious tasks that human resources professionals need to perform for their organizations. Knowing the proper procedures to follow to document employees in the workplace is a key skill needed by most human resources professionals. This teleconference will provide you with information on the key concepts and  more...

Enterprise Resource Planning - Getting the Payback From Your ERP System BenefitsYou will get an overview of the planning hierarchy in world class businesses and how the planning process utilizes the ERP system. You will better understand the need for robust metrics and an accountability infrastructure, and will become more aware of the power the ERP discipline has in getting the most return for the effort invested. It will become apparent that there is a lot of  more...

15- Minute Expert Adult Patient Assessments: Practical Strategies, Tips, and Updates for Health Care Professionals ...rom head to toe, identifies areas of concern and those that need immediate intervention, and will give you helpful tips for common special patient needs. Whether you are a new or seasoned health care professional, this 90-minute teleconference is a practical and comprehensive refresher of how to perform a quick, yet effective physical examination for adults. Apply these practical strategies and  more...

Pupil Records: Rules, Responsibilities and Requirements BenefitsLegal issues concerning pupil records arise on a daily basis in a variety of contexts, often leaving school administrators under pressure to make split-second decisions regardless of the legal ramifications. Among many others, schools may face pupil records dilemmas such as: 1. Expelled student claims she was wrongfully disciplined and takes her case to the media. The media asks the  more...

The UCC Article 9 Update BenefitsThe revisions to Article 9, which generally became effective in 2001, substantially changed the law. Now, with a few years of experience, the case law is beginning to emerge and develop, and practitioners are beginning to identify issues not contemplated by the drafting committee. The changes to the Article 9 filing system were significant and the prevalence of filing cases suggests that  more...

Foreclosing on Real and Personal Property Collateral: What You Need to Know BenefitsLoan defaults are rising and secured creditors are once again having to think about enforcing their rights through foreclosure of real and personal property collateral. This can be a complicated process that requires a good deal of planning in order to reach a successful outcome. This teleconference will help the people responsible for loan workout and enforcement evaluate their positions  more...

When HOA's and the IRS Compete for Lien Property: Lien Priorities, Perfections and Foreclosure Rights BenefitsIn lien law, timing is everything - or is it? If an HOA's statutory lien is perfected by recording its CC R's, then an HOA lien should have priority over a subsequently recorded IRS income tax lien; but does it? When the IRS records an income tax lien, lien priority determinations under state law may be complicated by governed federal laws. This teleconference will discuss HOA lien  more...

Emerging Trends in Infrastructure Finance - The Stimulus and Beyond BenefitsOur nation's competitiveness has long relied on an efficient, effective and affordable infrastructure network. Over time, both private and public sector investors have played roles in developing our infrastructure. Unfortunately, as the era of government-led and government-financed infrastructure comes to an end because of diminishing resources, alternatives must be explored. Governments  more...

Changes to Cafeteria Plans: What You Need to Know to Prepare BenefitsThe IRS recently issued new rules which replaced parts of the old regulations. These new rules are exciting but require you to review and act on your old documents. The information provided will assist you in decisions for the upcoming plan year and how to prepare for the changes. Human resources and benefits managers, attorneys, controllers, CFOs finance directors, payroll managers,  more...

Advanced Microsoft Excel Formulas and Functions: Master Your Usage of Excel's More Powerful Formulas and Functions ...as the time to explore all of them (and of course you don't need to know them all)? This teleconference gives you exposure to those 'hidden' functions and gives you new and powerful tools, such as array formulas, that will make your usage of Excel even more powerful and efficient. Also included are some of those valuable tips that you may have picked up in the previous teleconference,  more...

Integrated Project Delivery Principles and Building Information Modeling BenefitsMany in the facilities community, including designers, builders and owners, need a hand understanding IPD and BIM. What does it all mean? Who benefits and how? Some that have heard about IPD and BIM may be wondering how to either ask for it in their projects or implement these principles in their firms. There are some basic concepts in IPD and BIM that can be used in every project large or  more...

Mental Illness and the ADA BenefitsManaging employees with claimed mental conditions creates unique challenges for employers attempting to comply with the ADA. What mental impairments does the ADA protect? How does the employer know of these often invisible disabilities and of the employee's need to accommodate the condition? How does an employer accommodate conditions that cause employees to violate work rules or request  more...

Ethical Issues in Effective Settlement Negotiations BenefitsThis teleconference will outline the key ethical rules and parameters faced by lawyers during negotiations of litigated matters, and emphasize the recent guidance from the ABA and various state and federal courts on matters ranging from basic duties of disclosure to the often murky rules affecting class actions and the settlement of complex litigation affecting numerous parties. This  more...

Drafting Clear and Enforceable Contracts ...one can understand. It will cover the critical details that need to be in every contract and the language that can be used to simply express these details to achieve the legal result desired by both parties. It also will provide you with an appreciation of how what is included (and what is omitted) in a commercial contract affects how the contract will be interpreted should a dispute arise.  more...

Preparing an Accurate Form 1041 BenefitsWith more individuals using trusts in estate planning, knowing how to prepare an accurate Form 1041 is becoming more important than ever. Properly computing taxable income and correctly allocating taxable income between the entity and its beneficiaries can avoid not only challenges by the IRS but also disgruntled beneficiaries. This teleconference will help you understand the main rules on  more...

Subleasing Issues In A Down and Recovering Market BenefitsBrokers and property owners agree: The subprime mortgage meltdown has finally reached the office 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  more...

Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities Under ERISA BenefitsMaintaining an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 requires that people managing the plan or investing plan assets become fiduciaries. You need to know when they might become an ERISA plan fiduciary. You must understand your legal obligations to plan participants and beneficiaries. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the  more...

Prevailing Wage Law--An Understanding of The Davis-Bacon Act BenefitsWage and hour laws have become the principal source for the new wave of employment class actions, which often result in hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in many cases millions of dollars, of recoverable damages and attorneys' fees awarded to the successful litigants and their attorneys - in addition to the substantial amount of legal fees and administrative costs incurred by  more...

Immigration Compliance for the HR Professional: Employment Authorization Issues and Beyond BenefitsAll United States employers must comply with employment authorization and verification laws, regardless of the size or composition of their workforce. This teleconference will supply you with the information you need to ensure your company is in compliance with employment authorization rules and regulations. Detailed guidance on employment verification procedures, Social Security number  more...

Daubert Motions: Challenging Expert Opinions BenefitsSince the U.S. Supreme Court decided Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals in 1993, the federal law governing expert testimony has undergone a radical transformation. The courts of most states have also now adopted Daubert to some extent. Every litigator needs to understand the impact of Daubert and its progeny. Used properly, Daubert can be a powerful tool for excluding expert evidence.  more...

A Privacy Law Primer: What Every Attorney, Compliance and Security Officer Should Know BenefitsPrivacy and information security legislation, standards and case law are having an ever-larger impact on your relationships with your customers, clients and employees, as well as on your company's management of personal information. Issue-spotting in this area requires some familiarity with the complex state, federal and international regulatory patchwork and nongovernmental standards that  more...

From TV to Twitter: Working With the Media During a Crisis BenefitsIn today's media-intensive world, how leaders communicate during a crisis can be just as important - sometimes even more important - than how they manage the problem itself. Whether it's a natural disaster, accident, sensational crime or political controversy, the public and the media demand answers and information now, whether through traditional or new social media channels. Managing and  more...

Practical Transportation Design and Solutions: Concepts and Implementation BenefitsDue to the increasing age of our nation's transportation infrastructure, in conjunction with the increasing demand for travel, the need for ongoing road preservation, safety and mobility projects has continually increased. However, the long term availability of funds for such improvements continues to diminish. Typical planning and design approaches may prioritize projects at the planning  more...

Medical Identity Theft: Why You Must Prevent and How to Minimize Its Occurrence BenefitsMore and more patient information is being captured electronically, both within the provider setting and remotely from the patients themselves. Additionally, an increasing number of myriad touches of this data occur on a daily basis by various known and unknown entities, not all of whom are authorized or have a specific need to know. In this environment, ample opportunity exists for  more...

Form 5500 Reporting Update BenefitsEmployers who offer an employee benefit plan must file an annual report regarding the plan's financial condition, investments and operations, unless specifically exempt by law. Filing the Form 5500 will satisfy this. This teleconference will help you understand when you need to file a Form 5500 and what you need to file, and will focus on some recent changes that may impact your filings.  more...

Effective Sales Management: Short and Long-term Planning, Forecasting, and Expense Budgeting BenefitsThis teleconference helps the individuals responsible for planning and updating budgets, with a focus on 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  more...

Statutory Research and Legislative History for Paralegals BenefitsWhenever a case or issue is covered by statutory authority, there may be questions as to what the language of the statute means and how it can be applied to a given situation. Attorneys often need to research the legislative history of the applicable statute to create a viable argument as to what was the intention of the legislative body that passed a particular law. Courts have different  more...

Taxation Issues Related to Debt Restructuring, Modifications and Bankruptcies BenefitsThe current market climate has created opportunities for investors or debtors themselves to acquire outstanding debt at remarkable discounts. Unfortunately, it also has left many companies struggling and in need to modify their outstanding debt. Many large, well know companies have dissolved or declared bankruptcy. Debt modifications, repurchases and bankruptcy can have a profound tax  more...

Medical Records 101: Responding to Requests for Patient Information BenefitsRegister for this teleconference and get an overview of medical management issues faced by health care providers in responding to requests for patient information for litigation purposes. The conference speaker, who has extensive experience in civil litigation, including the representation of large medical institutions, will provide guidance in avoiding mistakes in disseminating patient  more...

Providing Investment Advice to Retirement Plan Participants Without Triggering Liability BenefitsThe current recession and volatile financial markets highlight the importance of financial literacy. Until recently, retirement plan sponsors have been constrained in the types of investment advice that can be provided to plan participants. Plan sponsors have long wanted to provide the investment advice their participants desire, but without incurring liability for advice given in good  more...

Form 709: Gift Tax Fundamentals BenefitsTransfer taxes are imposed on the gratuitous transfer of property. When property is transferred during lifetime, a gift tax may be imposed. While the most ignored tax, failure to properly comply with the gift tax laws during life may cause estate tax problems at death. During this teleconference, you will learn when a gift tax return should be filed, what type of gifts need to be reported,  more...

Managing Post-Construction Claims BenefitsClaims that arise after project completion can ruin a previously successful job. Such claims arise from a host of problems, such as physical failures, unpaid lower tier contractors, undiscovered defects of design and construction, and personal injuries. Taking steps to avoid such claims is prudent but companies also need strategies to deal with claims that inevitably arise. This  more...

Promoting Wellness and Recovery of People With Mental Illness Through Strengths-Based, Person-Centered Practice BenefitsThis topic is important for all levels of the human service and community corrections fields. Policy-makers and funders must develop policies and procedures that support and promote evidence-based practice with this challenging group of service participants. Service organizations must become more outcome-focused in their helping efforts. Direct practitioners, therapists, case managers and  more...

Excel Formulas and Functions De-Mystified: Manage Your Excel Worksheets With Power and Confidence as You Master Formulas and Fun BenefitsAnyone using Excel invariably needs to create and understand how to use formulas and functions. For some Excel users, it is the centerpiece of what they do on daily basis. Many Excel formulas involve simple mathematical constructions using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but sometimes you need more complex formulas to reach an answer. Excel has more than 300 built-in  more...

Understanding the Complexities of OCIPs and CCIPs Insurance Programs ...m an OCIP or CCIP program and explore the major issues that need to be addressed and resolved in order to implement a successful program. If you are involved in planning or negotiating a construction project of any significance, you should attend this teleconference. Learning Objectives: - You will be able to manage and construct a better OCIP. - You will be able to identify and deal with  more...

Lender Liabilities BenefitsRecent unrest in the credit markets and the unknown fallout from widespread instability in the subprime lending markets has prompted numerous economic prognosticators to predict an increase in loan defaults and corporate bankruptcy filings. As a result, lenders should expect that borrowers, guarantors and bankruptcy trustees will become more aggressive in asserting lender liability claims  more...

Making Revisions to Closed Medical Records BenefitsMedical records contain some of the most sensitive and personal information that exists about individuals in modern society, and some closed records may need revision because of new information received or because of the requests of individuals to correct or modify existing information. When is it appropriate to make revisions, how and under what circumstances, and at whose request? This  more...

Product Development Metrics for Manufacturers: Measuring Your Productivity BenefitsR D and product development organizations are behind transaction processing and operations functions in their understanding of measurement and its place in the organization. Six Sigma and Lean initiatives have facilitated great improvements in corporations without significantly benefiting most marketing, R D and product development organizations. Inventive professionals resist measurement  more...

Legal Construction Issues in Connection With Office Condominiums BenefitsWhat you don't know could hurt you - stay updated on issues concerning office condominiums. Join us for this innovative teleconference and get up to speed on the construction of condominiums. Get a handle on complicated issues surrounding the construction of a condominium association. Avoid problems down the road by protecting yourself and your company - find out exactly what the critical  more...

Purchasing Law: Breach, Repudiation and Excuse BenefitsYou have survived the battle of the forms or signed a supply agreement but there is a problem - your supplier hasn't delivered, the goods don't work the way they should or you have reason to think that they won't be delivered. This teleconference will provide you a basic understanding about what you can do when your purchase contract goes bad. You will receive a primer on the steps you  more...

Pitfalls of Participant Loans in Retirement Plans BenefitsParticipant loans in a qualified employee benefit plan are a common problem area due to their complex administration. Plan sponsors of qualified employee benefit plans need to be aware of many pitfalls to avoid tax consequences. Even worse than tax consequences is the possibility of the entire plan losing its preferred tax status. This teleconference will explain the regulations of  more...

Pervious Concrete - The Pavement That Drinks! BenefitsPervious concrete is an innovative building material with many environmental, economic and structural advantages. The proper use of pervious concrete is a recognized best management practice by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for providing first-flush pollution control and storm water management. Property owners and developers can also reduce fees and enhance the bottom line by  more...

Who Should Bear the Risk? Top 10 Things Developers Need to Know About Loan Documents BenefitsWith the tightening in the commercial lending market, developers are under increased pressure to provide lenders with projects that present no more than a responsible risk. After an equity requirement, loan documentation is the primary vehicle for allocating risk between the parties. This teleconference will help you understand lenders' requirements and the variety of loan documentation  more...

Effective UCC Search Strategies to Minimize Risk BenefitsLenders and other creditors need to know where they stand if a debtor becomes bankrupt. Primarily, this is a function of whether they have a lien or security interest and if so, whether anyone else has a prior lien or security interest. Liens generally must be made public in some way - usually by a filing in a public office - in order to enjoy priority, so prospective lenders and creditors  more...

New Regulations for the Credit Card Industry: Prepare Now and Avoid Penalties BenefitsOn May 22, 2009, President Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 to regulate several aspects of the credit card industry. This is one of the most sweeping changes to hit the industry for quite some time. This new legislation amends the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, and places a  more...

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Procedures: What You Need to Know BenefitsBankruptcies are a fact of life and with the new bankruptcy amendments, Chapter 13s are taking a bigger slice of the consumer bankruptcy pie. This teleconference will discuss the Chapter 13 process and how it differs from Chapter 7 bankruptcies. It details the structure of the typical Chapter 13 case and presents pointers on maximizing the recovery of you and your client. This  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll BenefitsPayroll personnel are continually faced with legal and practical challenges associated with employee benefits, overtime, nonexempt employee requirements, employee bonus payments, confusing payroll forms, etc. Not only do you have to know your own state laws but often times neighboring state laws if you have employees across state lines. The taxability of employee benefits is confusing and  more...

New Rules and Formats for International ACH Transactions nInternational commerce is rapidly growing but with that growth comes challenges, the most significant being the need to track transactions to ensure funds are not being disbursed to or from individuals that are threats to the U.S. The Office of Foreign Asset Control is the government organization that tracks this information. Their regulations require that all international transactions comply  more...

Introduction to New ICD-10 Coding: Preparing for Implementation nThe International Classification of Disease and Operations, Ninth Edition has out-lived its usefulness for capturing morbidity and mortality amongst the world population. Most developed nations transitioned to ICD-10 several years ago, but because of the tie of ICD-9-CM to payments in the United States there have been a series of delays in the US implementation. As the US moves a lightening speed  more...

Building Information Modeling: Planning, Design and Legal Considerations nWhether you are an owner, a designer or a builder, you need information about building information modeling. The good news is that there is lots of information out there; the bad news is that much of it is not useful. No one knows everything about BIM but we can start by talking about authoritative sources for BIM information, then sprinkle in some basic BIM concepts. Information will be  more...

Voir Dire: Effective Techniques for Getting and Using the Information You Need nVoir dire is one of the most important phases of a jury trial. However, the rules and procedures governing the jury selection process are often informal, subject to the broad discretion of the trial court, and can vary widely between jurisdictions, judges and even different cases before the same judge. A trial lawyer's strike decisions are some of the most important strategic decisions made in  more...

Increasing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Manufacturing Logistics nIn manufacturing logistics, the first priority is providing the right support to make production flow smoothly and put out the goods the company sells. This is effectiveness. The second priority is to provide this support without wasting human, technical or financial resources. This is efficiency. What most companies do in logistics is pursue efficiency at the expense of effectiveness, curtailing  more...

Construction Contract Accounting: A Three-Dimensional Look at the Numbers nFinancial reports do more than help you comply with the terms of the contract. Financial reporting can help you become more profitable by giving you the information you need to make smart management decisions. This teleconference will discuss three types of accounting - financial, tax and internal/management. Learn how to combine the different methods to get a three-dimensional view of your  more...

Utilizing Settlement and Severance Packages Properly nFor HR professionals and CFOs, this teleconference is a must. As companies face ongoing reductions in force, mass layoffs and performance-based terminations, this teleconference will tell you what you need to do in planning terminations both as reductions in force and other terminations. You will learn how to decide the appropriate severance and what should be contained in the severance agreement  more...

Drafting Trusts in Estate Planning nEstate tax laws keep changing. Did you know that even though the estate tax exemption is predicted to stay at $3.5 million the lifetime gift tax exemption will stay at $1 million, leaving the door open to reduce the estate tax exemption back down to $1 million when Congress tries to balance the budget in a few years? In addition to estate taxes, clients' families need protection from probate, bad  more...

FDIC's Role When a Financial Institution Fails: What Businesses and Bankers Need to Know nThe FDIC is modernizing its current business processes and procedures for determining deposit insurance coverage in the event of a failure of one of the largest insured depository institutions. This teleconference will provide you with information on the complex rules governing FDIC insurance coverage and how to maximize FDIC coverage. The coverage rules, the new rules recently passed and  more...

Convergence of Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Financial Advice nIn the current volatile and uncertain economic climate, estate planning advisors and their clients need to re-examine conventional estate planning wisdom, better understand how fiduciary performance will be tested and evaluated, and more carefully assess the perceived benefits and actual risks of a variety of investment types within planning structures.  more...

Labor Law Update: Preparing for Upcoming Regulations nAttend this teleconference and learn the new laws and strategies regarding a variety of employment-related laws that are in effect or are expected to be in effect for 2009. From the new COBRA rules, FMLA regulations, EFCA and union initiatives, issues involving wage and hour and independent contractors, the latest drug and alcohol testing, confidentiality and security of personnel data,  more...

Writing Construction Specifications: Formats and Practices nAfter a facility's design is complete and construction products have been selected, construction specifications must be prepared that are clear, correct, complete and concise. Specifications also need to conform to recognized standards for formats in order to be expediently produced and used. This teleconference is an overview of current construction specification formats and writing practices,  more...

Preparing for the International Financial Reporting Standard nOn November 14, 2008, the SEC released its proposed road map for the adoption of IFRS in the United States. At about the same time, leaders from the G20 countries at a financial summit in the United States issued a statement which, among other things, confirmed the leaders' support for developing a single set of high-quality global accounting standards. n nBoth of these events represent progress  more...

Doing Business in Texas? An Overview of the Texas Margin Tax nFor decades, the Texas Franchise Tax remained virtually unchanged. Once equipped with the knowledge that Texas limited partnerships were not taxable, many companies saw little need to delve further into the details of the tax. Beginning with reports due in 2008 all this has changed with the revised Texas Franchise Tax, known as the Texas Margin Tax by everyone but the Texas Comptroller's Office.  more...

Managing And Disciplining Unsafe Employees - A Cornerstone Of An Effective Safety Program nThis teleconference will examine the importance of managing and disciplining unsafe employees on the success of any business. Part of the discussion will examine the potential detrimental impact of ignoring unsafe employees can have on a company and the possible civil and criminal liability that can occur. This teleconference will examine the policies and procedures that need to be in place to  more...

The New HIPAA Special Enrollment Rules and Related Disclosure Issues nRecently enacted legislation expands the special enrollment rights currently applicable to group health plans and imposes new notice and disclosure obligations for employers that maintain such plans. While many of these obligations are not effective until after 2009, the special enrollment changes are effective April 1, 2009. In addition, the new law imposes civil penalties of up to $100 a day  more...

Payment Fraud nAs a business owner, how do you know your customers are who they say they are? How do you know if the payments they are making to you, using credit cards 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  more...

IRS Form W-9 and W-8 Series: Payee Identification and Tax Determination nForm W-9 is used to obtain a valid TIN number from a payee. This teleconference will cover the requirements and compliance of form W-9. Payers of various types need to file information returns with the IRS regarding payments to individuals and other types of business entities. The most common are the 1099 series used to report payments to contractors, dividends, interest, real estate  more...

Understand and Interpret Financial Statements nIn 90 information-packed minutes, you will gain the essential knowledge you need to read and interpret financial statements. First, you will learn what the major financial statements - the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement - tell you about an organization and how they tie together. You will examine the concepts behind the major sections in the financial statements, such as  more...

Supply Chain Strategies in a Down Economy nOrganizations of all sizes and across all industries 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  more...

Effective Fundraising Techniques for Nonprofit Organizations nNonprofit organizations always need to diversify their revenue from earned income, government grants with philanthropic fundraising. Now, in tough economic times, you must determine how to maximize the effectiveness of your fundraising program. This teleconference will cover the basic elements of a complete fundraising program for annual operating support as well as ways every organization can  more...

Paycheck Calculation Basics nThis is an excellent teleconference for those new at withholding payroll taxes or for those who need a refresher course. You will learn tips on how and why to determine if the worker is exempt or nonexempt. We will cover the calculation of and the maximum deductions for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2009. n nThere are multiple methods of calculating federal withholding, which one should  more...

Green Leases: Negotiating Renewals and Direct Leases Under Sustainability Mandates nA steadily increasing number of tenants, along with state pension funds and other institutional partners of commercial landlords, and state and local legislators are combining forces to press commercial landlords into moving forward with green buildings and the greening of existing buildings. The LEED® movement for green building leases started with encouraging energy efficiency and then  more...

Keys to Understanding Land Records nThis teleconference will provide you with the practical information you need to better understand the process of researching and evaluating land records in connection with the transfer of ownership and real estate financing. This teleconference will identify real property interests and sources of land information, explain how property interests are created and transferred, and discuss title  more...

Designing Effective Interest Rate Risk Management in Turbulent Times nThe current market has created challenges in managing risks while making a profit. Our tools for risk measurement were in place to help us take action to avoid as much of the impact as possible; yet a review of bank interest margins in the wake of massive rate reductions shows that bankers have a ways to go when using the interest rate risk information to make decisions. n nDuring this  more...

Updating and Maintaining Wills, Trusts and Estate Plans for the Evolving Client nThis teleconference has two primary focuses. The first part will highlight issues and opportunities for a drafting attorney to revisit and update an existing client's estate plan or prepare an update for a new client with existing documents. This part will focus on when and why clients need to review and revisit their estate plans and how to spot those issues for existing and potential clients.  more...

Begin With the Brain: Three Things Educators Need to Know! nThis engaging teleconference will provide valuable information about three key elements of brain-compatible teaching and learning. Recent research about how student's brains grow, develop and respond to the environment should influence our classroom practices. Understanding some brain basics can give you guidelines to help you design truly brain-compatible classrooms and school environments. When  more...

What You Need to Know About Section 404 Permits nAny proposed project involving wetlands or other waters of the United States is likely to require some type of permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As the federal agency responsible for regulating impacts to wetlands, the Corps' regulations and the permit process can represent a significant part of a project's development. The identification of wetlands or other waters on a project  more...

Problems and Risks Associated With Green Construction ...traditional design and construction contract documents that need to be re-evaluated in terms of allocating responsibility of performance; coordination of obligations and the risks and consequences of not achieving the desired result or objective, including unique insurance, indemnity, consequential damage and liability considerations. n nLearning Objectives: n- You will be able to define risk  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments ... n nMission critical actually refers to any enterprise that needs total continuity of operations regardless of any disruptions due to loss of grid power, severe weather, equipment failure or even routine matters such as equipment maintenance and upgrades. This teleconference will help you to ensure appropriate power reliability through an understanding of proper design and safe operations of  more...

Payroll Recordkeeping: What You Need to Know nIn recent years there has been an explosion in the number of lawsuits and claims for overtime and unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Did you realize that liability for FLSA violations can be enormous? Recent reports estimate that over the last few years companies have collectively paid out more than $1 billion annually to resolve FLSA claims! Learn the role of the FLSA and its  more...

Overcome Your Competition: Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace nYear in and year out, sales professionals invest their time and their organizations' money along with leveraging high-priced resources in sales pursuits, but walk away with no fruit for their labor. This percentage varies from company to company, but on average the percentage of opportunities pursued and not closed is well over 50 percent! Extensive studies have proven this excessively high  more...

Restructuring: Changing Your Choice of Business Entity nEach business goes through various stages of its life cycle as it grows. The plans of its owners change, and management succession and exit strategies become more immediate concerns. As a result, initial tax and state law decisions need to be revisited, and when warranted, consideration of changes to a company's tax and legal structure may be advisable or necessary. This teleconference will  more...

Electronic Record Retention: Mistakes HR Professionals Can Avoid nLearn the facts and get advice on cutting your dependence on paper records. According to the Association of Information and Image Management, more than half of organizations that attempt to implement paperless records management systems fail. Don't be one of them. This teleconference will help HR managers and anyone attempting to implement paperless records management to go paperless effectively.  more...

Pitfalls with Lean Implementation nAre you (or about to be) in the 90% lean failure group? In implementing lean, the cards are stacked against your success. The sad truth is this: eight or nine organizations of 10 who embark on implementing an improvement initiative like lean, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma FAIL to get the benefits they should. This wastes time and money, and disenfranchises the workforce. In extreme cases, it can  more...

Capital Improvements for Condominium and Homeowners' Associations nThe common elements of all forms of community associations are in a never ending cycle of deterioration. It is the fiduciary responsibility of the association's board of directors to protect and maintain the community. It is not optional to address the physical condition of the community in a well-considered manner. This teleconference will help you develop strategies. The board itself needs to  more...

Toxic Properties: Mold, Meth Labs and Beyond nAre you 100% sure that property is safe? Don't guess - know the history of the property and the risks that history presents to potential buyers. Sign up for this teleconference and you'll get the up-to-date information you need to recognize the most pressing toxic property concerns in the country. n nYou'll hear from expert speakers about mold, meth labs, asbestos and - most importantly -  more...

From Contact to Contract: The Ladder Approach to Managing a Sale nMost salespeople follow a chaos theory of managing a sale - whatever happens, happens. Consequently, after leaving an initial meeting with a prospect they wonder how, when and why they should reconnect with the prospect. Not only does this lead to lost opportunities, even with prospects who do become clients the process is difficult, fraught with worry and uncertainty, and wastes a great deal of  more...

Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss nThis teleconference will bring you up to speed on issues related to hazardous occupational noise. Understand the intricacies of the effects noise exposure have on hearing. Get a handle on complicated issues surrounding the calculation of hearing impairment. Avoid problems down the road by getting to know state-specific workers' compensation issues. You'll gain the practical insight you need to  more...

Construction Project Closeout: Is Your Customer Satisfied? nMake sure your customer is satisfied at project completion - register for this thorough teleconference today. You'll learn the proactive strategies you need to make sure project closeout goes smoothly and you're not spending the final days dealing with claims and complaints. n nOur expert will give you tips on establishing a bulletproof closeout checklist, handling move coordination and dealing  more...

State Income Tax Apportionment-The Sales Factor and The Throwback Rule Benefits This teleconference will provide an in-depth analysis of the sales factor used in state and local income tax apportionment. You'll learn all about the sourcing of sales of tangible personal property and services, including the dock sales test and market-based sourcing. Find out what you need to know about the throwback rule and the throw-out rule. Get expert advice on handling issues  more...

Curbing Unauthorized Overtime Benefits Year after year, one of the most challenging tasks employers face is keeping track of the hours their nonexempt employees work and correctly paying any required overtime premium. When unauthorized overtime occurs, labor costs skyrocket, and businesses face a budgeting nightmare. And when employees perform compensable work off the clock, the potential overtime liability for an employer  more...