Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
VIEWPOINT: Automated Lead Nurturing
An essential tool in today’s marketing toolkit The majority of high-quality leads received through a company’s website never receive a response. Among the leads that do get a response, 78 percent take more than an hour to respond to. Research suggests we will lose a customers’ attention unless they receive a response in five minutes […]
VIEWPOINT: What Private-Equity-Backed Firms Need in a Marketing Leader
Companies backed by private equity need to compress time. They can’t wait for a green marketing leader to meander, nor can they rely on marketing leaders who deal in abstractions and are afraid to lean into quantitative targets. Private-equity-backed companies need marketing leaders who bring three capabilities and experiences to the table: 1) a track
Ask Rusty: Why is my Age 70 Benefit not Higher than my January Amount?
Dear Rusty: I plan to retire in 2025 (the year I turn 70). Given that I’m still working, I’m delaying my Social Security until that year. I noticed on my Social Security statement that my payment in January 2025 will not be much different than my age 70 amount in October 2025. If that is
VIEWPOINT: Estate Planning Never Stops
While estate planning is crucial for promoting financial and generational wellness, the majority of American adults don’t have estate-planning documents — like wills, trusts, or health-care directives — in place. It’s common for many of us to avoid this process for a whole host of reasons, including procrastination, the misconception that it is strictly for
Ask Rusty: I’m 64. When Should I Claim My Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old and still working full time. My question is: when should I start receiving my Social Security? I would like to start it in January 2024 and go part time at work, but would I be losing much Social Security by not waiting until full retirement age? Signed: Trying
VIEWPOINT: Employers Who Promote Self-Care are Winning
Many businesses have been pushing their employees to perform at new levels since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Consider these statistics recently shared by the Harvard Business Review on how workloads increased between February 2020 and February 2022: • Weekly team meetings increased by 252 percent • Six billion more email messages were
VIEWPOINT: New NYS Labor Law Shines Light on Employee-Driven Innovation
On Sept. 15, 2023, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an amendment to a New York Labor Law that would invalidate certain intellectual-property provisions in employment agreements, effective immediately. Under this amendment, Section 203-f, any provision in an employment agreement that requires employees to assign the rights to inventions to their employer will now
Ask Rusty: About Federal Taxation of Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: Why are my Social Security benefits being taxed at all? The Social Security FICA payroll taxes taken out of my paycheck while I was working were paid with taxable income. Signed: Disgruntled Taxpayer Dear Disgruntled Taxpayer: Many Americans share your belief that federal taxation of Social Security benefits is unfair because we pay
VIEWPOINT: Boomerang Employees: Why You Lose Them & How to Keep Them
They say if you care about something, set it free and if it comes back, it’s meant to be. In many ways, the same can be said for employees and their workplaces — as “boomerang employees” have become the latest hiring trend. This term is used to describe employees that leave their positions to pursue
Ask Rusty: I’m a Veteran. How Do I Get My Extra Social Security?
Dear Rusty: As a military veteran, I was told that the final amount of my Social Security should be a little higher as a reward for my military service. If so, I have two questions: 1. How much is the boost? 2. How can I know that amount has been applied? Signed: Unsure Dear Unsure:
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.