by NFS | Jul 16, 2012 | Archives
Recently, an entity calling itself “Compliance Services” mailed solicitations entitled “Annual Minutes Requirement Statement Directors and Shareholders” to numerous Massachusetts corporations. This solicitation offers to complete corporate meeting minutes on behalf of the corporation for a fee. Despite the implications contained in the solicitation, Massachusetts corporations are not required by law to file corporate minutes with the Secretary of State.
You do not have to do business with Compliance Services. The forms provided by them are not required by the Office of the Secretary of State. Whether you choose to do business with them will in no way affect your corporate filing with the Secretary of State, either positively or negatively.
It is important to remember that any official statement or request from the Office of the Secretary of State will clearly indicate its origin by displaying the name of Secretary of State William Francis Galvin.
If you have any questions concerning this notification, please contact Secretary Galvin’s office by email at corpinfo@sec.state.ma.us or by telephone at (617) 727-9640.
by NFS | Jul 5, 2012 | Archives
Summer’s here and if you’ve been thinking about “going green” and making your home more energy efficient, then there’s no time like the present, especially if you take advantage of residential energy tax credits still available to homeowners.
The Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit is available to individual taxpayers to help pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, solar electricity equipment and residential wind turbines. Qualifying equipment must have been installed on or in connection with your home located in the United States.
Geothermal pumps, solar energy systems, and residential wind turbines can be installed in both principal residences and second homes (existing homes and new construction), but not rentals. Fuel cell property qualifies only when it is installed in your principal residence (new construction or existing home). Rentals and second homes do not qualify.
The tax credit is 30% of the cost of the qualified property, with no cap on the amount of credit available, except for fuel cell property.
Generally, labor costs can be included when figuring the credit. Any unused portions of this credit can be carried forward. Not all energy-efficient improvements qualify so be sure you have the manufacturer’s tax credit certification statement, which can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website or with the product packaging.
What’s Included in the Tax Credit?
- Geothermal Heat Pumps. Must meet the requirements of the ENERGY STAR program that are in effect at the time of the expenditure.
- Small Residential Wind Turbines. Must have a nameplate capacity of no more than 100 kilowatts (kW).
- Solar Water Heaters. At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed. The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs. The water must be used in the dwelling. Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.
- Solar Panels (Photovoltaic Systems). Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.
- Fuel Cell (Residential Fuel Cell and Microturbine System.) Efficiency of at least 30% and must have a capacity of at least 0.5 kW.
We’re happy to help you sort out the tax credits available for your “green” home improvements this summer. Give us a call or email us today!
by NFS | Jul 3, 2012 | Archives
We remain the land of the free because we are the home of the brave.
As we celebrate Independence Day, take a moment to remember those who fought for our freedoms and gave their all for you and me.
We truly appreciate your business.
QUOTES
from the Patriots…
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On America
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| “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
— Abraham Lincoln
“May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!”
— Daniel Webster
“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”
— Lee Greenwood
“We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.”
— Woodrow Wilson
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by NFS | Jul 2, 2012 | Archives
Among other worthy causes, July is Bio-terrorism/Disaster Education and Awareness Month. With all of the unexpected happenings in the world, it is important that we are prepared for an emergency disaster. Take this time to educate yourself and your whole family on what to do in any type of disaster. Get a plan ready and have needed supplies handy if you ever need them.
Identification. If you suddenly find yourself standing in a pile of rubble that was once your home and your worldly possessions, establishing your identity will be of paramount importance. Access to personal identification documents such as your Social Security card, driver’s license, marriage license, birth certificate, passport and any citizenship papers will help you quickly establish your identity and speed up the co-ordination of your efforts with insurance companies, construction contractors, bankers and other entities involved in rebuilding and recovery.
Create a Backup Set of Records Electronically. Individuals and businesses should keep a set of backup records in a safe place. The backup should be stored away from the original set. Keeping a backup set of records – including, for example, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, etc. – is easier now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet. Even if the original records are provided only on paper, they can be scanned, which converts them to a digital format. Once documents are in electronic form, taxpayers can download them to a backup storage device, like an external hard drive, or burn them onto a CD or DVD.
You should also consider online backup, which is the only way to ensure data is fully protected. With online backup, files are stored in another region of the country – so if a hurricane or other natural disaster occurs in your area, documents remain safe.
Document Valuables. Another step you can take to prepare for disaster is to photograph or videotape the contents of your home, especially items of higher value. A photographic record can help prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims. Photos should be stored with a friend or family member who lives outside the area, or in the above mentioned online backup solution. Such proof can include photographs or videos of personal possessions; remember, digital cameras and camcorders make it possible to quickly and easily create a complete home inventory record.
Update Emergency Plans. Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and business situations change over time, as do preparedness needs. When employers hire new employees or when a company or organization changes functions, plans should be updated accordingly and employees should be informed of the changes.
Make sure you have a means of receiving severe weather information; if you have a NOAA Weather Radio, put fresh batteries in it. Make sure you know what you should do if threatening weather approaches.
We’re Here to Help. Rebuilding your life in the wake of a disaster is a daunting task. However, advanced preparation can go a long way toward making recovery easier. If you don’t have your documents in order, there’s no time like the present to get started. Once you have everything in its proper place, remember to update it. If you lack the time or energy to keep your files updated on an ongoing basis, schedule a yearly checkup and use it as an opportunity to put the latest version of everything into your files. Even the most well-organized disaster recovery materials will be of no use to you if they are out-of-date. Please contact my office for your free “Emergency Planning Guide” today. This detailed guide will provide more in depth plans to help you protect your financial records from disaster.
by NFS | Jul 2, 2012 | Archives
Imagine there is a bank which credits your account with $86,400 each morning, carries over no cash balance from day to day, and every evening cancels whatever amount you have failed to use during the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost whatever time you have failed to use to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it erases the records of that day. If you fail to spend the day’s deposits wisely, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.”
You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today
- To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask the student who has failed his exam.
- To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask the mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
- To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
- To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask the daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed.
- To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet again.
- To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask the person who has just missed the train.
- To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask the person who has survived an accident.
- To realize the value of a MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
–Author Unknown
Please call our office if we can be of service.
To view the complete NFS Retirement Readings Newsletter for June 2012, click here.
