Blog articles about finance, HR, and tax

Succession Planning Definition: Process and Benefits (2026)

Ask two people what succession planning means and you get two different answers. An HR manager pictures a leadership bench. A business owner pictures handing over the keys.... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 10, 26

What Are Pre-Tax Deductions and Contributions? (2026)

Tax

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What Are Pre-Tax Deductions and Contributions? (2026)

You open your pay stub and the gross pay looks right. Then a stack of lines underneath starts chipping away at it. So what are pre-tax deductions and contributions, and why... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 09, 26

Contract to Hire: How It Works and How You Get Paid

Human Resources

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Contract to Hire: How It Works and How You Get Paid

You get an offer, and the title says contract to hire. Is that a real job, or a temp job with a nicer name? It is a real job with a trial period attached. You work a set... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 08, 26

Payroll

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Healthcare Payroll Explained: Pay Types, Overtime, and Paystubs

A pay stub from a hospital looks nothing like one from a retail store. A nurse can finish one week with four different hourly rates on the same check. That is why healthcare... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 07, 26

12 Common 401k Questions, Answered With 2026 IRS Numbers

Payroll

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12 Common 401k Questions, Answered With 2026 IRS Numbers

Almost everyone with a workplace retirement plan keeps a short mental list of things they have never quite gotten around to asking. How much should you put in? What happens... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 06, 26

Operating Budget: What It Is and How to Build One (2026)

Finance

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Operating Budget: What It Is and How to Build One (2026)

An operating budget is the plan that tells you whether next year actually works on paper. It projects what you expect to earn and what it costs to keep the doors open, month... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 05, 26

How Does Salary Pay Work? A 2026 Paycheck Guide

Payroll

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How Does Salary Pay Work? A 2026 Paycheck Guide

Your offer letter says $60,000 a year. Your first pay stub says $2,500, and the amount that reaches your bank is smaller still. Neither number is a mistake. So how does salary... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 04, 26

What Is a W3? Form W-3 Explained for 2026 Filers

Tax

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What Is a W3? Form W-3 Explained for 2026 Filers

You hit "W-3" on a year-end payroll checklist and find no copy in your files. That's normal. Asking what is a w3 is one of the most common payroll questions... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 03, 26

Compensation Discussion: How to Talk About Pay (2026)

Human Resources

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Compensation Discussion: How to Talk About Pay (2026)

Around 70% of managers say they're uncomfortable talking to employees about pay, according to guidance published by West Virginia University. The person on the other... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 02, 26

Illinois 401k Mandate: What Employers Must Do in 2026

Payroll

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Illinois 401k Mandate: What Employers Must Do in 2026

If you run a business in Illinois, this rule is probably already your problem. The Illinois 401k mandate gives most private employers two choices: offer a retirement plan,... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Oct. 01, 26