by Leif Jensen | Jan 14, 2026 | Advertising |
Small business owners say they need the most help with social media marketing. Main area of needed help Surveyed small business owners report that social media marketing is the marketing activity where they most often feel underprepared and in need of support. This is...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 12, 2026 | Advertising |
Small businesses, far from needing motivation to market their companies, primarily struggle with a fundamental lack of clarity and direction regarding what actually needs to be done. They unequivocally understand the imperative to attract new customers and recognize...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 7, 2026 | Taxes |
As of October 1, 2025, the IRS and all federal agencies generally no longer accept or issue paper checks, with limited exceptions available for those who cannot use electronic payments. This change is mandated by a presidential executive order to increase efficiency,...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 5, 2026 | Corporate Entities |
I have written in the past that S-Corps are the most popular corporate entity. Now thanks to the U of I Tax School pulling the numbers together to back it up, they account for over two-thirds of all corporations filing federal tax returns. Moreover, the number of S...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 17, 2025 | Rant |
Illinois residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation. Illinois Policy Institute research shows Cook County property tax bills have risen 78% since 2007, despite median property values rising just 7.3%. The treasurer reported last year’s collections were...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 15, 2025 | Money Management |
Early career workers need to set up a financial foundation. This will assist them on the path to financial security. Like retirement, the idea is to start early and maintain throughout their careers. Currently 56% of workers early in their careers do not have 3 to 6...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 10, 2025 | Money Management |
I was surprised to find in this day and age that yes, women are still paid less than men, although the gap has narrowed over time. In 2024, women working full-time, year-round earned about 81 to 85 cents for every dollar men earned, a figure that can be even lower for...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 8, 2025 | Money Management |
ADP was sharing that many workers are financially fragile. 27% of workers do not have any emergency savings. Over time the question was asked if your furnace broke down would you be able to replace it. The question now is a hot water heater. People don’t have the...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 3, 2025 | Money Management |
I know it is truly surprising that workers are stressed about money. The costs of existing in Illinois are constantly increasing. I personally am thrilled that my property taxes went up 30% with no increase in services or any other benefit that a money grab out of...
by Leif Jensen | Dec 1, 2025 | Running a Business |
I found this little tidbit on the internet, it seems to cover ground always covered with only some insite. Whether a business fails in it’s first year or tenth year, it is typically due to more than one reason. Understanding the specific causes behind small business...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 19, 2025 | Running a Business |
At one of my networking events, I was talking to someone who described their business as owning a job and not a business or a career. They were discussing what will be the survival rate of the business, meaning what is the survival rate of industry rivals. Finally,...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 17, 2025 | Running a Business |
I was reading an article that highlighted the following as issues concerning their financial stability. Lack of Funds Nothing can hold a business back like money problems. This is even more true for small businesses. While most larger companies have enough cash flow...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 12, 2025 | General |
It looks like there may be changes in store for college degrees in the future. Attendance has fallen off, mostly due to the ever-increasing tuition costs and the likelihood of not finding a position that comes close to repaying student loans let alone a lifestyle. ...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 10, 2025 | Money Management |
Assumable mortgages are apparently making a comeback amid high mortgage rates. They allow a home buyer to take over the seller’s mortgage, including its interest rate and remaining balance. Roughly 25% of mortgages in the U.S. are assumable. They gained popularity in...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 5, 2025 | Rant |
As a country we don’t know how to fix anything any more. The world is more complex, a hundred years ago when I was a kid, tv’s had tubes in them. Yes, I am that old… Now when a tv was not working you would unscrew the back off of the tv and look at the tubes, it one...
by Leif Jensen | Nov 3, 2025 | Money Management |
If you ever watched a movie or tv show you are aware of some common methods a scammer might use to commit fraud with a stolen check: Altering information on a check: A scammer may use common household chemicals to change the printed dollar amount and payee name on a...
by Leif Jensen | Oct 29, 2025 | Money Management |
What you can do to protect yourself from mail theft and check fraud. There are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of getting taken advantage of by someone engaging in a mail theft-related check fraud scheme. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help protect...
by Leif Jensen | Oct 27, 2025 | General |
As a follow-up to my last post on Functional illiteracy today, I now address the past. General illiteracy rates in the 1930s In 1930, the US Census reported 4.3% of the population aged 10 and over as illiterate, meaning they could not read and write at all. For those...
by Leif Jensen | Oct 22, 2025 | General |
I was rereading “Pudd’nhead Wilson” by Twain again, I enjoyed it years ago and wanted to reread it. There was a mention of the illiteracy of some of the populace of Dawson’s Landing MO. So, I thought where do we stand as a people today in the US. Functional...
by Leif Jensen | Oct 20, 2025 | General |
It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke, yet it is the truth. William Shakespeare made investments that could be considered annuities to provide him with retirement income, similar to a modern pension. Specifically, in 1604, concerned about his financial future,...
