Dividend investing
It is easy to lose focus as an investor. While everyone recognizes the need to maintain a long-term perspective, almost every bit of information we hear is short-term in nature. In reality, there are...
View ArticleMoney management: A muni meltdown, or an opportunity?
By Sharon L. Thornton Recently, financial columnists have forecast a rocky road for the municipal bond market. In a December 2010 episode of “60 Minutes,” Meredith Whitney, a banking analyst at her own...
View ArticleUse analytical tools to limit risk in commercial lending
We all understand the basic concept that a certain amount of risk must be taken in order to receive a return. When lending money, risk means there’s a chance the bank might not be repaid, either in...
View ArticleLessons in lending: are banks changing their views on equity?
Down payment or equity is a term that has been thrown around a lot in the banking industry over the past couple of years. As the credit markets have changed over the past three years, have banks...
View ArticleIndependence vital in fraud investigations
I would like to think that most companies are committed to doing business honestly. They try to do the right thing, and when a problem is found, they try to correct it quickly. Even when a scandal is...
View ArticlePACA trust beneficiaries versus secured creditors
The perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) requires produce buyers to make full payment, promptly, for any produce they purchase, and provides for civil liabilities against buyers who fail to...
View ArticleForecast for 2012: Weak expectations as banks face hurdles
Banks are facing weak expectations for loan growth amid requirements they maintain higher capital levels, which should spur lenders to acquire rivals as a way to bolster their balance sheet growth and...
View ArticleTrustees should conduct regular reviews of trust-owned life insurance
In light of sweeping changes made to the estate tax laws in 2010, now is a good time to review life insurance policies — particularly if those policies are held in trust. As we all know, after a bit of...
View ArticleInclude philanthropy in your estate planning
With tax season upon us, it is a good time to think about planning strategies for 2012, including philanthropic legacy planning, also known as planned giving. Generally speaking, a planned gift is a...
View ArticleFinancial tips and tune-ups to improve your firm’s business
Succeeding as a solo or small firm attorney means being not only a good lawyer, but also a savvy businessperson. Unfortunately, most attorneys did not choose the profession to become businesspeople —...
View ArticleHarvesting a better understanding: Counsel should understand how lending is...
Michigan’s agricultural industry is changing. This shift has been triggered by a growing demand for locally and regionally grown foods, greater numbers of farmers’ markets, entrepreneurial farming...
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