Opinion

The language of business

With the current issue of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal focused on accounting and finance — two subjects near and dear to my heart as someone who teaches in a…

What’s your incentive?

Is it just me, or are coffee shops always cold? For several reasons, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, none of which are because I like coffee…

Why cyber attacks are more than an IT problem

Statistics indicate that a cyber attack is a potentially business-ending event, just like a flood or when someone throws a cigarette into a trash can and burns down a building….

SALT deduction parity

Historically, individuals have been able to deduct income, property and certain other state and local taxes as an itemized deduction on individual federal income tax returns — referred to as…

Thunder Road

Sitting around the coffee table one early morning, our group took an informal survey and concluded, informally of course, that many of us aren’t carrying around all our original parts….

The argument over Arkansas sovereign immunity and taxpayers’ constitutional right to challenge the state

The right of Arkansas taxpayers to challenge improper use of state tax dollars is enshrined in the Arkansas constitution. But does that right belong to every Arkansan or is it…

VenCent’s Inaugural FinTech Summit in Little Rock a national success

This month, in my hometown of Little Rock, The Venture Center hosted the inaugural VenCent FinTech Summit, which brought together leaders in the banking industry, as well as entrepreneurs and…

Even MVPs need an EVP

November 2021 was a record-setting month in the United States, as 4.5 million workers resigned from their jobs — more than twice the 2 million from the same month a…

Conserving Arkansas agriculture: The Inflation Reduction Act

Our rain dances have finally come to fruition. After months of crippling drought and triple-digit heat, Arkansas agricultural producers have been blessed with a break from the dry conditions. But…

Need to invest in school nurses, counselors greater now than ever

When I was a kid, the major duties of the school nurse, as far as I knew, were to patch up a skinned knee after recess, take the temperature of…

Sitting in the tension

We talk about tension like it’s a bad thing. Maybe it’s just about stretching. Stretching and being able to hold differing points of view at the same time. Leading and…

The Inflation Reduction Act: a cure or placebo for high drug prices?

Someone this week said of the congressionally enacted “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA), “Well, it may not actually reduce inflation, but it will sure reduce Medicare prescription costs.” Will it actually…

Success by 40

Let’s face it. If you can be successful in your field before turning 40, you have a lot of runway left to become even more successful later in life. It’s…

Arkansas should lead the nation in leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs

Starting a new business is challenging for anyone, as I know from first-hand experience. Even with an MBA, it wasn’t easy. But it’s even harder for women, who must face…

Crypto as retirement strategy

This article should be helpful to fiduciaries seeking an understanding of how the markets related to virtual currency function in the context of retirement planning. Virtual currency is being embraced…

Of missed emails and dead cousins

I didn’t make the trip to the Sonoma County Courthouse in Santa Rosa, Calif., last month for the hearing on a bank’s petition to admit to probate the will of…

When security is mainstream, it’s too late

It’s funny to see someone post on social media, “Let’s make this go viral.” Why? Because that concept was only cool before it became a mainstream phrase. Using that phrase…

A glimmer of hope at the gas pump

In the throes of a record-breaking heatwave and uncharacteristically high gas prices, Arkansans might be looking for reasons to ditch the keys, cancel summer plans and stay home. But despite…

Pay the teachers, Arkansas

Arkansas teachers deserve better than the insulting dismissal by the Arkansas legislature that we saw this week. Teachers in Arkansas are overwhelmingly underpaid, and as a result, we are losing…

Staffing, cost issues make for uncertain prognosis for Arkansas health care providers

The COVID-19 pandemic has put extreme stress on our health care workforce, resulting in burnout, exhaustion and trauma, and leading many workers to exit the industry. Critical staffing shortages during…