Blog articles about finance, HR, and tax

Voluntary Benefits: Types, Tax Rules and Examples (2026)

Look at your last pay stub. You might see short lines like "VOL LIFE," "DENT," or "ACC INS." Those are voluntary benefits, and you chose them... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 25, 26

Summary Plan Description (SPD): What It Covers in 2026

Human Resources

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Summary Plan Description (SPD): What It Covers in 2026

Most people never read the benefits guide their employer hands out. Then a claim gets denied, or a 401(k) match looks off on a pay stub. That guide is the summary plan description,... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 24, 26

Maryland Saves: 2026 Guide for Employers and Workers

Payroll

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Maryland Saves: 2026 Guide for Employers and Workers

Close to one million private-sector workers in Maryland had no retirement plan at work. Maryland Saves is the state's fix. It's a simple savings account that runs... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 23, 26

Payroll

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What Are Payroll Deductions? Types and Examples (2026)

Your offer letter says $52,000 a year. Your first deposit says something much smaller. So what are payroll deductions, and where does the rest of the money go? They are the... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 22, 26

Hourly vs Salary: Pay, Overtime and Pros and Cons (2026)

Payroll

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Hourly vs Salary: Pay, Overtime and Pros and Cons (2026)

Two jobs can both pay about $50,000 a year and still leave you with very different paychecks. One pays you for every hour, including overtime. The other pays a fixed amount... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 21, 26

Payroll

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Payroll Software for Accountants: 2026 Buyer's Guide

Payroll software for accountants has one hard job: get every client's pay out on time, with the right tax taken out, every single pay day. Payroll comes with fixed IRS... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 20, 26

How Does Unlimited PTO Work? Rules, Pay and Pitfalls (2026)

Human Resources

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How Does Unlimited PTO Work? Rules, Pay and Pitfalls (2026)

Your offer letter says "unlimited PTO," but nobody tells you the real number. So how does unlimited PTO work once you start the job? In short, there's no bank... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 19, 26

FLSA Exemption Test: How to Tell If a Job Is Exempt (2026)

Human Resources

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FLSA Exemption Test: How to Tell If a Job Is Exempt (2026)

A salary and a manager title don't make a job exempt from overtime. The FLSA exemption test does. It's the federal check that decides if a worker gets time and a... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 18, 26

Benefits Package: What's Included and What It's Worth

Human Resources

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Benefits Package: What's Included and What It's Worth

Two jobs can pay the same $22 an hour and still be very different offers. The difference is the benefits package. For the average private-sector job, benefits make up about... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 17, 26

Good Standing: What It Means and How to Prove It (2026)

Business Operations

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Good Standing: What It Means and How to Prove It (2026)

A bank asks for proof that your LLC is in good standing, and you've got a week to send it. Don't panic. This proof is a simple state document, and most owners can... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 16, 26