Nationwide, 88.5% of U.S. homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate below 6%, down from a record high of 92.8% in mid-2022, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That means more than 88.5% of homeowners with mortgages have a rate below the current weekly average of 6.66%, prompting many to stay put instead of selling and … [More]
Brand Personalities of Top Four U.S. Airlines Revealed in Study
Phoenix-based Zion & Zion, a full-service, global marketing agency, released part six of its multi-part study that explores the relative brand personalities of 45 top U.S. brands. In the sixth study, the Zion & Zion research team explored brand personalities of the top four U.S. airlines and the impact of those personalities on performance. In a prior study the Zion … [More]
New Report Finds Growth of Women Business Owners Outpaces the Market, Metro Phoenix a Top Area
Women-owned businesses continue to fuel the economy, representing 39.1% of all businesses – over 14 million – employing 12.2 million workers, and generating $2.7 trillion in revenue. According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, in partnership with Ventureneer, CoreWoman, and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the number of women-owned businesses … [More]
2024 Predictions on AI, Cybersecurity, and Email Authentication
As the commentaries that follow detail, in 2024, we can expect to see a dramatic escalation in AI-fueled disinformation and sophisticated cyber threats, especially during the U.S. election year! With disinformation spreading more rapidly due to advanced AI tools, email authentication will become critical to safeguard against false narratives. The election season will likely … [More]
Business Leaders Split on Recession Forecasts as Economic Outlooks Moderate, Says Survey
Performance expectations remain high despite labor and inflation challenges
Following a year marked by banking industry disruption, geopolitical risks and sustained macroeconomic challenges, small and midsize business leaders are sharing a more balanced outlook heading into 2024, while pulling back from previous predictions of a near-term recession, according to JPMorgan Chase’s 2024 Business Leaders Outlook survey released today. Expectations for a … [More]
Their Take: NFIB State Director Discusses New Reporting Requirements for Small Business Owners
In a conversation with ABC 15’s Ben Brown, NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich discussed new beneficial ownership reporting requirements for small business owners, which took effect January 1, 2024. Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), more than 32 million businesses will be required to report information about their business and business owners to a new federal database … [More]
Give Quiet a Chance in 2024 (It’s the Small Change That Changes EVERYTHING for Professionals)
Another year is winding down, and, sadly, your job is STILL making you miserable. You’re stressed, burned out, and overwhelmed. Even when you manage to get things done, your work is at best unfulfilling and at worst totally meaningless. And at the end of the day, you’re too exhausted to enjoy your friends and family. The worst part is, you’re not exactly sure why you feel … [More]
IRS Announces Limited-Time Repayment Program for Faulty Employee Retention Credit Applications
The Internal Revenue Service has just published Announcement 2023-3 which allows companies to repay Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) funds that they received from the federal government based on a defective application. The Service is offering this program to mitigate the impact on businesses who were the victims of unscrupulous promoters of ERC applications. The limited … [More]
Embracing the Future: Phoenix’s Small Business Landscape in 2024
A glimpse into the projected trends that promise to shape the Greater Phoenix small business community in the coming year
As we stand on the cusp of 2024, the entrepreneurial spirit in Phoenix is palpable, with the region’s economy showing robust momentum over recent months with new business growth exceeding the national average. But with a global economic downturn looming and new technological and societal trends emerging every day, businesses in Phoenix need to adapt if they want to thrive in … [More]
Are You Directing Most of Your Resources to Market-Facing Innovation? Here’s Why You MUST
Once upon a time, your company’s founder was laser-focused on delivering superior, differentiated value to customers. Those customers had specific needs, and the company set out to fulfill them better than anyone else. But as the years passed and the business grew, that intense focus, well…drifted. Leaders got caught up in other priorities—say, tweaking productivity or quality, … [More]
Navigating the Path to Tax Season Success
Essential end-of-year strategies for Arizona business leaders
As 2023 draws to a close, business owners in Arizona gear up for the inevitable task of tax preparation. While end-of-year accounting can often feel like drudgery, when done right, the significance of proper planning to drive long-term success cannot be overstated. From leveraging tax law changes to buttoning up charitable contributions and large purchases, ensuring your … [More]
Their Take: Arizona’s Dated Subdivision Laws Are a Roadblock to Desirable Development
Under the Arizona Department of Real Estate’s application of federal and state law, condominium developers are required to deliver a finished condominium unit to an end-purchaser within two years of signing the purchase agreement (Two-Year Delivery Requirement). Otherwise, developers could face significant liabilities, namely, exposure to a potential breach of contract, right … [More]
Realign Your Goals to Keep 2024 Resolutions: 5 Key Tips for the New Year
After 15 years in business and taking her Scottsdale-based leadership development company, U & Improved, to international acclaim, Corporate Trainer, Motivational Speak and Author of “From Me To U” Jodi Low is sharing five key tips to help realign one’s goals and keep resolutions in the New Year. “After hosting seminars around the world, one thing I’ve seen clients … [More]
Social Listening and Essential Response: How to Use Social Media to Your Brand’s Advantage
Using social media as a tool for customer service is a cornerstone of digital marketing in the 21st century. However, it isn’t as simple as firing off a series of posts on X in response to angry customers. In fact, responding to customers when they are angry is merely one component of a broader social strategy — one that’s only necessary if the other components are struggling … [More]
Less Than Two Weeks to Renew Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax License
As a reminder, businesses are required to renew their transaction privilege tax (TPT) license before January 1, 2024 to continue conducting business in Arizona. Penalties will be assessed for all renewals after January 31. The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) urges taxpayers to file, pay, and renew online through AZTaxes.gov for easier renewals and faster processing. … [More]
New Workplace Wellness Survey Report Finds Caregiving Workers More Stressed, Less Prepared for Large Emergency Expenses
A new Workplace Wellness Survey report published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research finds caregiving workers are slightly older on average, more likely to work part-time than non-caregivers, stressed about finances and are challenged to juggle work and caregiving responsibilities. The 2023 WWS included an oversample of caregiving workers … [More]
New Multifamily Renter Sentiment Report Reveals Surprising Trends in Housing Choices and Generational Preferences
Knightvest, a fully integrated real estate investment and management company, released the results of the company's first annual survey measuring multifamily renter sentiment. The survey provides insights into the rent-versus-buy decision, the downstream effects of high mortgage interest rates, and differences in generational preferences around … [More]
How Private Equity Can Leverage Healthcare Savings
Many companies are looking to maximize return for their investors but in today’s age the challenges facing financial performance are ever-present. High employee turnover, rising cost of healthcare benefits and inflation can all negatively impact the profitability of a business. One way to drastically improve a business’s profitability is by reducing the money spent on … [More]
