With the desktop PC receding as the basic hardware for connecting users to the web, many equations are changing. For Google Inc. (GOOG – Analyst Report), which has dominated the search market on the desktop platform for awhile now, this could be regarded as a threat to its leadership position. Many top market research points to the fact that mobile platforms will overtake the PC over the next few years. Evidence of this is the already elevated growth rates for mobile computing devices and cell phones. Google’s competition for search market share primarily comes from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT – Analyst Report) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO – Analyst Report), although local companies such as Baidu (BIDU – Snapshot Report) in China add to the competition. A new entrant in the space is Apple Inc. (AAPL – Analyst Report), which has recently made investments and initiated data collection actions that indicate its growing interest. In the mobile…

All businesses are looking for ways to improve their bottom line, but one way is quite often overlooked, especially for California-based corporations.  Utilizing a Long Beach CPA firm that understands the needs of businesses will go a long way in helping your company save money.  Not only can a Long Beach CPA firm provide consultation services and long-range planning for California companies, but they can help your company when tax time rolls around.  If you start now with a Long  Beach CPA who has a clear understanding of Long Beach Enterprise Zone Credits and other types of business credits and incentives, your company will pay much less in taxes next year. What are Long Beach Enterprise Zone Credits? Your Long Beach CPA should be able to explain to you that California has forty-two Enterprise Zones located throughout the state.  These are economically challenged…

If you own a California company and are looking for ways to keep your company solvent for another business year, why not take advantage of tax credits that many companies simply let pass them by.  Certified public accountants can help you ascertain which California tax credit and California tax incentives will most benefit your company and for which your business is eligible. Corporate Energy Tax Credits If your company conducts business within one of the state’s forty-two Enterprise Zones, you may be eligible for several important enterprise zone credits.  These corporate tax credits include Sales/Use Tax Credits that can be applied when your company purchases technology, pollution control, energy conservation, research and development or manufacturing and processing equipment.  So by choosing equipment that helps you preserve the environment, you will be eligible for corporate energy tax credits. Others are available based on the transportation you…

Corporations in Los Angeles know that finding an excellent tax preparer can help them take advantage of the many business tax credits that are available.  However, it is important to find a Los Angeles expert CPA who stays abreast of Enterprise Zone Tax Credits, and someone who is not only well versed in state tax law but federal tax law, and can offer your appropriate CPA business consulting.  Los Angeles companies find that they can substantially reduce the amount of tax they need to pay each year by finding a CPA in Los Angeles that understands the needs of corporations.  There are several important features that a Los Angeles expert CPA can bring to your organization, so it pays to do some investigation before deciding on one. An appropriate business CPA in Los Angeles should: •    Have a thorough understanding of federal and California Hiring Tax Credits…

As we have said consistently for many years, we favour passive funds and tracker funds when investing clients’ capital. The evidence for actively managed funds where the Fund Manager stock picks, and perhaps tries to time the markets leading to consistent long term performance above the average is thin on the ground. Especially so when you take into account the higher costs usually associated with active fund managers. So, in our opinion, the decision for canny investors using passive and tracker funds is beyond doubt. However, there are various types of tracker/passive funds, and this is what we would briefly like to look at here, as well as to remind ourselves how to go about building your portfolio. So, how is an investment portfolio built? The vast majority of new clients we meet usually have a collection of funds that has been sold to them over the years. It’s…

I can’t tell you how many times I meet executives and when I ask if I can add them to my Linked In professional network, the response is “What’s LinkedIn?” LinkedIn is just one of many social networking mediums that executives use to stay connected with colleagues, clients, perspective clients and more… In the past executives networked through lunches, telephone calls and introductions at events and seminars. The social media revolution has spawned new and simplified ways to connect. Are you a creature of habit? The most common reasons that executives have communicated to me that they have resisted starting a blog, a twitter account or other social media presences are:   Do not have the time Embarrassed that they haven’t taken the time to keep up with technology Know so little that they do not know where to start Do not understand how it will help them Cannot draw…

If you are thinking of buying a home, make sure you do so prepared. Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you may ever make. There is so much more to consider than how much you will need as a down payment to what the current interest rate is. Many individuals who have never owned a home will misjudge the true cost of maintaining a home by only considering what the mortgage payment would be in correlation to rent that they are paying. The carrying cost of your new home is not just as simple as your mortgage payment. Depending on the size of the home your carrying costs could be upward of an additional $1,000 per/month once you factor in heat, electricity, property taxes, maintenance expenses and more. PLUS, once you move in you may discover that there are repairs needed to the property. This can…