Kyle and Company, P.C.

White House fights back against hackers

News Finder — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:00:10 +0000

The Obama administration on Wednesday announced a series of steps aimed at combating botnets — networks of computers that hackers take over and use to spread spam or attack websites.

Botnets have become a favorite weapon of hacker groups such as Anonymous that use them to overwhelm the servers of government and industry websites.

Bring LEGOs and Crayons to Your Next Meeting

News Finder — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:00:50 +0000

We humans like to use our hands to express ourselves and find solutions. In fact, there are many cultures that are known for the way they can communicate with gestures.

LEGO gets that. You might think they’re just for kids, but if you set out a few blocks at your next meeting I guarantee they will be touched and assembled. TheLEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) initiative was started in 2004 and continues today as a way to use play with purpose, as shown by several case studies. There are 377 members in the Serious Play professional community made up of facilitators who can help you organize a better meeting or work session.

Heard in More US States: See You in Tax Court!

News Finder — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:00:54 +0000

Georgia State Representative Allen Peake owns 20 restaurants and this year he took his frustrations with his tax bills to the state capitol, where he helped push through legislation creating a new state tax court.

“I’ve had several sales tax audits done and disputed them, and never felt I had a fair shake,” said Peake, echoing the views of other business owners.

Fidelity: Retiree Medical Care Will Cost as Much as House

News Finder — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:15 +0000

A 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 is estimated to need $240,000 to cover medical expenses throughout retirement, according to the latest retiree health care costs estimate calculated by Fidelity Investments. This is a 4% increase from last year, when the estimate was $230,000.

Americans Lack Understanding, Concern for Disabilities’ Effects

News Finder — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:27 +0000

Despite the risks posed by disability in retirement, many Americans don’t understand their chances of becoming disabled, a report released May 8 by the American College found.

The vast majority of Americans don’t realize arthritis is the leading cause of disability. Thirty percent believed workplace accidents were the main cause of disabilities. Back and spine problems were the second most common cause of disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control, far more common than the next leading cause of disability, heart trouble.

“Fiscal cliff” could cause U.S. recession

News Finder — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:33 +0000

(Reuters) – A stalemate over how to tackle a series of fiscal deadlines at year’s end would likely push the United States economy into recession in the first half of next year, the Congressional Budget Office warned on Tuesday.

A wave of U.S. tax hikes and automatic spending cuts – dubbed the “fiscal cliff” – are set to take effect in January unless Congress and the White House agree on ways to delay or revise at least some of them.

AICPA unveils Total Tax Insights calculator

News Finder — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:38 +0000

The AICPA on Tuesday introduced the Total Tax Insights calculator, an online tool designed to give U.S. taxpayers a clearer, more complete picture of their estimated total federal, state, and local tax obligation.

US economy picks up after early spring slump

News Finder — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:48 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Maybe the U.S. economy’s strength this winter wasn’t just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year’s first four months.

The data released Wednesday suggest growth in the April-June quarter is off to a good start, helped by falling gas prices and solid hiring gains. Fears of a spring slump are easing.

Disposition of digital assets: reasons for digital estate planning

News Finder — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:23 +0000

Death in the digital age is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Traditionally, fiduciaries and family members start administering an estate by reading the individual’s mail and sorting through records at the person’s home. However, with online accounts and paperless billing, these traditional approaches may not be available to fiduciaries today. The information needed to locate and access tangible and digital assets is often in the digital world itself. Email accounts are typically the primary access point to all other online assets. Online statements, notifications, messages, paperless bills etc., will all come through to the decedent’s emails. Moreover, the decedent’s address book and calendar are often tied to or stored within the email account.

How to Get the Most Out of Social Security Planning for Couples

News Finder — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:03 +0000

Couples can get more out of their Social Security benefits by timing which spouse files first and ensuring that the higher earner delays benefits until age 70, said certified financial planner Michael Kitces on Thursday at the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) conference in Chicago.