The Belt and Road Initiative is the largest initiative of the 21st century in terms of projected impact and given the strong political and financial drives behind it. The Chinese have called this initiative a bid to enhance regional connectivity for a brighter future; others have called it a push by China to create for itself a global role and to position itself in the middle … [More]
Tariffs: Up and Down the Arizona Craft Brewing Supply Chain
It may be stating the obvious to say that a tariff on any commodity will have a repercussion all along the supply chain it touches. Yes, that includes our favorite locally brewed beers. In Business Magazine spoke with Rob Fuller, executive director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, to learn how President Trump’s recent tariffs impact these businesses and the businesses … [More]
Ethical Data Mining
A recent data breach involving Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, affected at least 87 million Facebook users. People’s data was unknowingly used for politically manipulative ads. While an extreme example of unethical data mining, the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal challenges businesses and marketers to think about the ways they collect, use and … [More]
Will Blockchain Uplevel the Arizona Real Estate Market?
Love it or hate it, blockchain is disrupting nearly every industry. And while most associate blockchain with Bitcoin or cryptocurrency, it really refers to its underlying technology — and that technology holds a tremendous amount of promise to a range of industries and uses, including real estate. What exactly is blockchain? In a nutshell, it’s a decentralized, distributed … [More]
Five Cryptocurrency Tax Mistakes the IRS Takes Seriously
Since the release of Bitcoin in 2009, more than 4,000 alternative currencies have emerged in the decentralized banking market. For nearly 10 years, the IRS has sought to gain a foothold in what has since become a booming market with a rising number of participating asset holders. The recent Coinbase, Inc. case ruling makes it clear that the United States government is intent on … [More]
The Opportunity Zone Program (Part 2)
The Opportunity Zone Program is new federal income tax incentive program designed to encourage private capital investment in Opportunity Zones (O-Zones), which are certain designated areas throughout the United States. Opportunity Funds (O-Funds) act as intermediaries between O-Fund investors and the actual investments in the O-Zone. O-Funds are required to hold 90 percent … [More]
Top Influencers for Online Sales Are … (Surprise!)
Top-ranked reviewers on online retail sites such as amazon.com may influence purchases, but a research study from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business finds that those who post reviews less often and more informally can be seen as more trustworthy and have more of an impact on sales. Shyam Gopinath, assistant professor of marketing at Kelley, and two co-authors of … [More]
The Opportunity Zone Program (Part 1)
Buried in the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the creation of the Opportunity Zone Program. This new federal income tax incentive program is designed to encourage private capital investment in Opportunity Zones — designated distressed communities throughout the United States (including possessions of the United States). Specifically, the Opportunity Zone Program … [More]
Allergic to Work?
Americans miss 24.5 million workdays each year due to “occupational asthma” and lose energy and focus due to sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. And these numbers are getting worse as the number of people with allergies is increasing and global warming, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, is fueling longer allergy seasons. With the EPA saying the lingering cold … [More]
Cyber-Secure Travel?
It has been recently reported that digital hotel door locks can be compromised by simple tweaks to their in-built security software, according to research from a cybersecurity firm. The hardware kit used to clone keys involves scanning the RFID tag or mag stripe included in a card key, which is then copied by a small device which is then able to generate a huge number of extra … [More]
A World of Difference in Leadership
Leadership has been a hot topic for several decades, and the ways women lead has landed at the top of the discussion. Although the pace has been less than dazzling, women have found their footing in every level of existing organizations or have created organizations to provide an environment suitable for them. I should know. I was one of the women who founded a company and … [More]
In Business for Good
Colleges have long been a source of innovative ideas, and in recent years many higher institutions of learning have adopted formal programs to assist students and faculty in starting up a business around their idea. The recent Collegiate Challenge, presented by Conscious Capitalism Arizona and hosted by Grand Canyon University, focused on encouraging startups that … [More]
Employers Benefit from Price Transparency in Healthcare
Employers as well as consumers have been pushing for price transparency in healthcare for some time, but now the idea is gaining momentum. Employers know price transparency can help their employees make informed healthcare decisions and, ultimately, better manage the cost of care. Nationally, healthcare represents nearly one-fifth of the total gross domestic product, and the … [More]
Capitalize on New Facebook News Feed Algorithm
Recently, Facebook announced some significant changes to its news feed algorithm that will, ultimately, affect both users and businesses. According to reports, Facebook’s executive team saw that news articles and marketing ads were creating an imbalance in the platform, drowning out all the personal moments people had to share. The new algorithm aims to correct this imbalance, … [More]
Workers Comp Damage Control
Arizona’s workers compensation system helps employees who are injured on the job receive necessary medical care and treatment. Injured workers’ claims are processed through the Arizona Industrial Commission. The ICA not only processes claims, but also resolves legal disputes that may arise concerning issues of compensability, continuing benefits, loss of earning capacity and … [More]
Medical Marijuana: Establishing Standards
With bipartisan support in place, Arizona Senate Bill 1420 should end up as law, and while this paves the way for medicinal use of marijuana in the state, healthcare providers — and dispensaries — will have strict regulations to follow. SB 1420 passed the Arizona State Senate by a vote of 27–3 in late February, and the Arizona State House of Representatives held a hearing … [More]
How Firms Manipulate Numbers for Market Gain
Businesses constantly hear that, to succeed when selecting partners, they need to do their homework. But what if the financials they review don’t really reflect reality? How does a firm make good decisions when it comes to their money? Or, maybe more importantly, how do businesses know the real strength of the firms they’re intending to partner with? GAAP vs. Non-GAAP … [More]
What Nonprofits Need to Know When Choosing a Bank
From managing cash flows to navigating tax-exempt regulations, banking plays an important role in the financial well-being of any nonprofit organization. So, when a nonprofit is looking to choose a bank, there are several factors to consider. Realize that cash is not always necessary to secure credit or a loan. A common misconception is that nonprofits need cash to secure a … [More]
