There is a difference between being an “Advocate” and “practicing law”. Good Advocates do not cross the line. Advocates are individuals who work on behalf of another person. People in need of advocates generally are those who would have difficulty trying to maneuver within a complex, structured system. Examples of systems or situations that would require advocacy would be the …
Ponzi Scheme vs. Pyramid Scheme
New Mexico Has Known Its Fair Share of Scams. Back in the early 2000’s there was a buzz among professional women in Albuquerque. I became aware of it when a friend told me she was advancing $5000 from her credit card in order to participate in an investment program that was by invitation only, and open solely to women. She …
Can Businesses Make Exceptions To COVID-19 Face Mask Requirements For Clients?
As businesses slowly reopen from forced closure and the Stay- at- Home requirements are gradually lifted, business owners find themselves trying to navigate the new guidelines of the State, CDC and OSHA while keeping their clients happy. The mandate for the public to wear masks tends to be the current requirement that is causing the most conversation among business owners …
What to Consider When Your Tenant Asks You to Renegotiate a Commercial Lease
Is the Lease About to Expire? The first thing to do is look at your lease and determine when the lease is set to expire. Is your tenant attempting to renegotiate for a future lease agreement, or are they trying to renegotiate the rental rate on their current lease? Most leases will specify that the tenant must notify the landlord …
Employment Contracts: Why They Are Important and How You Can Use Them to Protect Your Business.
Hiring new employees is a difficult process. You have to be sure they are properly suited for their position and have a personality and temperament which will suit the work environment you have spent time and effort putting together. This coupled with negotiating benefits, salary, and slotting in time for training in an already busy schedule can seem overwhelming and …
Today Is a Good Day For a Business Succession Plan.
“Unexpected events can set you back or set you up. It’s all a matter of perspective.” Mary Anne Radmacher Let’s face it. In today’s Coronavirus environment, we are all weighing the “What If’s?” in our heads. All the things as a business owner you thought you could put off until tomorrow need to be addressed… today. Having a business succession …
Why Lying Is Actually Worse than Insider Trading…
In 2004 Martha Stewart spent five months in a federal prison in Alderson, West Virginia. After she served her time she still had to fulfill two years of unsupervised release, pay a large amount of money in fines to the SEC and step down as CEO from her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. To this day, most Americans incorrectly believe …
What to do when your Professional License is at risk.
Its more than a simple customer compliant. Those who work under a professional license know that formal complaints means that one’s ability to sustain their livelihood may be at risk. It is the decisions and actions in the moments and hours after a complaint has been communicated that can determine whether a professional will be able to continue in their …
The Family Business Succession Plan
Family owned business can be tough; especially since family is forever and a business lasts as long as the front doors can stay open. A family business can never be truly free of passion, so it is important to understand the importance of utilizing consultants from outside of the family in conjunction with a Trust and Estate planning team to …
Are you dealing with an “Ike”?
Image Source: Rob Mieremet / Anefo [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons In 2007, Ike Turner died leaving a large estate and several friends and family claiming it as their own. Due to the lack of legal documentation and representation he left his estate in the hands of the state to determine the heir to his fortune. Who is entitled …
