The worst inflation in 40 years is hammering American families. The price of gasoline soared 49.6% from December 2020 to December 2021, according to a recent analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Used car prices jumped 37.3%, meat prices increased 12.5%, and electricity prices surged 6.3%.... Read More
Building healthy habits for your family is hard. I know; I have four kids and I find it to be a daily struggle. My kids don’t always agree with my suggestions to eat fruits and vegetables, drink enough water and get plenty of sleep. And the struggle doesn’t end with my kids. My wife and I also strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but our busy schedules make it challenging to ensure we have balanced meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Low energy, trouble focusing and frequent sickness can plague our house if we’re not practicing healthy habits daily. ... Read More
As the effects of the coronavirus continue to reshape our world, 2022 will see several factors accelerating the shift to a more digital, hybrid future. In the year ahead, there will be a continued focus on digital transformation as the driving force creating value for business owners. Below are some considerations of what will come next—and how organizations in Central Indiana can position themselves for success.... Read More
You have probably heard a tragic story about someone who pinched pennies to save for retirement, only to have their life cut short before enjoying the fruits of their labor. As my grandma says, "Everything in moderation," but how do you find the right balance between enjoying your today and investing for your tomorrow?... Read More
It’s common for companies to assume they know more about their products and services than anyone else, so it comes as no surprise they also assume they can do the best job of providing support to customers to need help. So why do so few internal help desks live up to expectations?... Read More
On any given day, I feel pulled in a thousand different directions at once. I’m a mom of two young kids, an attorney at Shiel Sexton and president of the Junior League of Indianapolis (JLI). But I’ve found that no matter how much I am juggling in my personal and professional life, nothing centers me like making time to volunteer.... Read More
You might be surprised to learn you have an emotional response to numbers. What might surprise you even more is learning that reaction is rooted in ancient attempts to understand and predict the universe.... Read More
There’s a shift happening in consumer spending and it has nothing to do with inflation. Studies show Millennial and Gen Z consumers are likely to prioritize their spending on local businesses, and many emphasize supporting those that support their communities. ... Read More
Are you buried in paper? If “junk” mail is overtaking “real” mail, maybe it’s time to take control. Opt-out of the unnecessary mailbox clutter; get bills electronically; and regularly purge your paper files.... Read More
New cybersecurity rules go into effect for banks in 2022. Starting in May, banks are required to report any major cybersecurity incident to their primary governmental regulator within 36 hours of discovery. Banks also must notify customers if an incident, with impact, lasts more than four hours. Cybersecurity is a mutual responsibility in the business community. Here are strategies recommended by our bank’s CIO to help business owners keep data and information safe.... Read More
Let’s face it, health insurance is confusing and expensive. We know medical debt is the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. – and most medical debt bankruptcies are filed by individuals who actually did have insurance. ... Read More
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it,” Peter Drucker is known to have said. The objective of measuring various performance metrics for your business is to help you determine what is working well and what needs to be improved.... Read More
Back in February, Intel unveiled its intent to locate a $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing hub near Columbus, Ohio – the largest private-sector investment in state history. Company executive Keyvan Esfarjani later summarized Intel’s reasons for planting its flag in the Buckeye State: “It really comes down to three things: Land, infrastructure and, most importantly, talent,” he said. “Ohio meets all of that.” (Of course, $2.1 billion in state incentives didn’t hurt, either.)... Read More
On May 27th, the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” will be in theaters 36 years after the release of the original Top Gun. In a famous scene from the original, Tom Cruise describes how he (and Goose) were inverted and could take an up-close Polaroid that proved the government’s analysis of the enemy’s capabilities did not accurately reflect reality. What does this have to do with the bond market?... Read More
Astaroth, DarkHotel, Fireball and Echobot are all great names. But they’re malware that can create havoc in a computer. While most computer users are now savvy and tuned into how tech villains serve up malware, recent studies show malware is getting more sophisticated. Here’s the story and how to avoid getting lured into clicking with regret.... Read More
Working in various capacities with nonprofits from small to large for a few decades I’ve seen a great deal. Surprisingly, “the more things have changed the more they’ve stayed the same,” a quote from 1849 attributed to French writer, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr. ... Read More
I’m always fascinated by company leaders who cannot grasp the value someone with a different perspective can bring to them. It reminds me of that homespun wisdom that it’s impossible to read the label from inside a jam jar.... Read More
Conexus Indiana has been charting Indiana’s digital transformation journey for the last two years with the help of Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. By working with Conexus Indiana to report where they are on this journey and what resources they need to accelerate it, the state’s makers and movers have helped to improve Indiana’s prospects in these rapidly changing industries. ... Read More
In one of his fables, Aesop’s coined the phrase “leave well enough alone.” Though his commentary and usage of the phrase centered around a fox and a hedgehog, the expression is well-suited for the new proposed changes to the SECURE Act that will impact distributions to IRA inheritors. ... Read More
As Central Indiana employers struggle to fill open positions, there’s an often-overlooked labor pool that could help fill workforce gaps. Thousands of Hoosiers with disabilities are unemployed – and the business community can play a critical role in addressing the disparity.... Read More