In motion fall-2013-final
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The document discusses the challenges and opportunities companies face in adapting to rapidly evolving technology, highlighting the importance of IT upgrades like moving away from Windows XP. It features Sikich, a prominent accounting and advisory firm, emphasizing their commitment to personalized services and client success. Additionally, it profiles Planar Systems, a leader in digital display technology, showcasing their innovative products and corporate culture that prioritizes flexibility and empowerment.
In motion fall-2013-final
- 1. motion Elevate Performance Issue 2 �� Autumn 2013 Digital Technology Planar’s Displays Manufacture Opportunities 2013 Tax Planning The Year of “Careful” Planning Women & Money Finding Financial Success
- 2. A LETTER from the CEO For companies today, navigating the constant changes in technology can be challenging. Whether you’re in an industry new to developing technologies such as big data (page 3), working for a technology company that relies on innovations motion to drive business (page 4), or learning how to implement a trend such as Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD (page 11), technology is a critical component in finding success. Elevate Performance Issue 2 In our first-ever issue of IN Motion, which debuted in July, we mentioned the need for �� Autumn 2013 www.sikich.com companies using Windows XP to upgrade as soon as possible. Microsoft’s decision to end all support of the operating system will undoubtedly impact many. If you missed our first issue, you can still view the digital version (find the Windows XP article on page 3) at sikich.com/in-motion. Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of IN Motion. The response you gave to the first issue was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to exceeding expectations each quarter! James A. Sikich, CPA CEO and Managing Partner LEARN more: TABLE of Contents �� Realize your organizational goals through the one-of-a-kind solution set Sikich, a leading accounting, advisory, investment banking, technology and managed services firm, brings to your unique challenges and needs. With more than 500 associates, we rank as one of the country’s top 40 largest Certified Public Accounting firms and are among the top 1% of technology Value-Added Resellers worldwide— yet you receive the personalization and attention you need to grow and experience success. Get to know Sikich by reading IN Motion and taking a look at our website, sikich.com. You’ll find out how you can gain value for your organization through our dedicated industry teams, client commitment and extensive list of services: � IT Services � ccounting A Assurance � arketing M Public Relations � Business Valuation � Dispute Advisory FEATURE STORY 4 Digital Technology 9 Women Money Finding Financial Success 2 �� inmotion | AUTUMN 2013 � Retirement Planning � ERP CRM Software 2013 Tax Planning The Year of “Careful” Planning 10 � Supply Chain � uman Resources H Consulting � Talent Acquisition � Tax Planning � nvestment Banking I Corporate Finance PUBLISHER � Wealth Management Michelle Spellerberg, CMO EDITOR Rebecca Miller DESIGNER Colleen Hughes Photographer Matt Stout Special thanks to Planar Systems, Inc. for contributing to the writing of the feature story. IN Motion is published four times a year by Sikich. 1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400, Naperville, IL 60563 Request or update your subscription by emailing rmiller@sikich.com. ©2013 Sikich LLP, All Rights Reserved. Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities Exchange Commission and member of FINRA/SIPC.
- 3. inspire PARTNER Profile Meet Tom Luken A Notre Dame graduate, Tom has been with Sikich since Kolb+Co. merged with the firm in mid-2013. Find out why this partner always has leftovers in his fridge. What I like most about Sikich: The culture and entrepreneurial spirit. Our workplace awards and growth record speak for themselves. Partner at Sikich LLP CPA Milwaukee, WI Office Quick Tips Organizations I belong to: PrimeGlobal (past board member); Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (Council of Small Business Executives board member); Northbrook Church (serving in Men’s Ministry and on the Stewardship Team); and Westmoor Country Club (past president/board member). My favorite Sikich Value is: Commitment and extraordinary competence. My father taught me to work hard and play hard. This trait has carried over into my professional life with my work ethic and quest to become the trusted advisor of my clients. Alerts Quick Tips Question of the Qtr. QUICK TIPS Alerts In another life, I would be: A major league baseball player. My favorite place in the world is: The lanai on my Marco Island, FL condo overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. WHAT I’M reading I’m inspired by: People who are driven to succeed and who give the credit to others when they experience success. My biggest professional accomplishment: Starting the Kolb+Co. tax department from scratch in 1984 and growing it to a 25-person powerhouse in the Southeast Wisconsin market by 2000, at which point I succeeded Bob Kolb as President/CEO. I read the Milwaukee JournalSentinel and The Wall Street Journal daily, and I get my best business advice from Accounting Today. People would be surprised to know that: I was born in Peoria, IL and remain an avid Chicago sports fan, which is dangerous in Green Bay Packers country. Three things you’ll always find in my fridge: A cold beer (Coors Light), cheese (I live in Wisconsin, after all) and leftovers (I’m the second youngest of eight kids and was taught never to waste food!). My favorite technology/gadget: My iPhone—not sure how I survived seven years ago. Question Quick Tips of the Qtr. Alerts ALERTS Big data, the capturing and analysis of large data sets, is a technology trend helping companies increase their value and obtain a competitive edge. One industry leveraging this trend is oilfield services (OFS). OFS leaders have realized the importance of data capture, storage, search, sharing, analysisStats Quick and virtualization, and have demonstrated big data usage success. Is your business ready for healthcare reform? Even though the employer mandate enforcing penalties on large employers that do not provide appropriate coverage until January 2015 was recently delayed, many provisions of the act will require action in theQuick Stats months. Visit following http://bit.ly/hcr-steps for a list of 10 steps you can take to ensure your business is prepared. For OFS companies in particular, big data provides seismic data processing for exploration opportunities and competitive intelligence in OFS development. Big data identifies unusual conditions on drilling sites and predicts maintenance issues for equipment and software. Because OFS companies can reap remarkable benefits from embracing this trend, it is important for a company to explore how it can use big data. Visit http://bit.ly/ofs-data to explore the ways your company can begin using big data and what you should review prior to doing so. On August 29, 2013, the U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS announced that “same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.” This means that it does not matter whether a married same-sex couple lives in a state where same-sex marriages are not recognized. For purposes of all federal tax laws, including those related to employee benefits, if a same-sex couple was married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage, they will be treated as married. Visit http://bit.ly/same-sex-tax for details. Question of the Qtr. of the Quarter Why should I care about unclaimed property? While not a tax, unclaimed property is a major revenue source for states. It can be many things, but one of the most Quick Stats common forms of unclaimed property is uncashed checks. States have become increasingly creative in expanding the concept of “unclaimed property.” Many require the escheatment (the payment of the unclaimed property to the state after a period of dormancy) of such items including outstanding credit balances in accounts receivable. Often, businesses write these items off into income after a certain period, but write-offs to income are the first thing state auditors examine. Learn more about unclaimed property, and view an example of how unclaimed property can be created, by visiting an in-depth blog post at http://bit.ly/up-audits. AUTUMN 2013 | inmotion �� 3
- 4. innovate Digital Technology Planar’s Displays Manufacture Opportunities N ew York City’s Fifth Avenue, certainly one of the world’s most famous streets, is one of the busiest streets in the United States. The store-lined street hosts thousands of people every day from all over the world, all of whom might notice sights such as Saks, FAO Schwarz and the Guggenheim Museum. But what one might not notice immediately is the breadth of technology that retail stores use to entertain, attract and engage pedestrians, promoting their brands as potential customers walk by. For instance, the entrance to the Hollister store between 52nd and 53rd Streets is completely made up of a video wall matrix displaying a live shot of Huntington Beach in Southern California. Planar Systems, Inc. is the high-tech company creating this innovative, advanced video wall technology. “To me, technology is a means to an end. It’s a facilitator. From an IT perspective, the risk of missing strategic business opportunities is high when companies choose not to invest in technology. My team monitors the latest trends to ensure we’re not missing opportunities, but we also continually true up our portfolio to ensure that we don’t continue investing in technologies that no longer provide an advantage to our clients, or to Planar itself,” Maurer continued. “Whether our clients want to display information or inspiration, they rely on us to solve their biggest display challenges.” Founded in 1983, publicly traded Planar (NASDAQ: PLNR) specializes in digital display technology on everything from desktop monitors to digital signage, for control rooms to the video wall manufactured and installed for Hollister’s Fifth Avenue store. Publicly traded Planar Systems, Inc., a high-tech company specializing in digital display technology, is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon. “Whether our clients want to display information or inspiration, they rely on us to solve their biggest display challenges,” said Jeff Maurer, chief information officer at Planar. “We’ve been doing this for three decades now, and we bring that experience to bear in our products, as well as our unique solutions for our customers.” Planar’s enthusiasm for the latest trends—as well as emerging technologies—has been a key component in the company’s success. This enthusiasm is evident as soon as one walks into their Hillsboro, Oregonbased headquarters. The lobby, a technology-heavy, yet simplistic space, showcases some of their recent work. Visitors are able to not only view this work, but also interact with the technology. Touch-screen monitors house design and game applications, and ceiling-high video matrices feature incredible digital designs. A Coca-Cola-branded mini refrigerator sits in the front with what appears to be a transparent door. Made possible with the Planar LookThru transparent LCD display, this high-technology door displays moving, mesmerizing designs—like lemon-lime-colored bubbles emerging from a Sprite bottle—that will leave visitors craving a glass of the refreshing beverage. Across from the refrigerator sits a box, which is approximately two square feet, and has a similar purpose. The box contains a pair of running shoes, which one can see through its transparent door. Designs moving through this door include information about the product and inspirational quotes—two things that athletes will stop to watch. “Our success does stem from an exceptional track record in the history of the display industry, but our other key to success is flexibility and our commitment to partnership,” said Maurer. “Our team is extremely flexible with our customers. Our professionals frequently engage with them to fully understand their unique display requirements, and that allows us to provide robust, well-engineered solutions.” Flexibility is a key component not only in Planar’s relationships with its customers, but also with its internal clients—the employees. Continued �� 4 �� inmotion | AUTUMN 2013
- 5. According to Planar executives, approximately 80 percent of their video wall products are manufactured in their Oregon-based manufacturing facility. AUTUMN 2013 | inmotion �� 5
- 6. Digital Technology CONTINUED… “Our culture is unique—it’s informal and people are empowered at all levels,” Maurer described. “Everyone, from those on the manufacturing line to management, feels empowered to improve our processes and products.” Maurer explains that the company’s rational culture invites all employees to approach problems and contribute potential solutions. “We debate and then everyone commits to the chosen solution; we put our shoulder to it and make it happen.” Although Planar offers a variety of digital display products, the one that has grown the most (and is currently the most popular) is the Clarity Matrix video wall panels. According to Maurer, Planar’s LCD video wall is a flexible system of panels that are thinly bezeled so they can be tiled together to create impactful, creative large video “Our culture is unique— it’s informal and people are empowered at all levels. Everyone, from those on the manufacturing line to management, feels empowered to improve our processes and products.” The teamwork-focused atmosphere at Planar allows the company’s professionals to build strong relationships with customers and present them with products that will improve bottom lines. The video wall matrix outside of the Hollister store attracts Fifth Avenue shoppers whether or not the store was on their must-visit list. “Our customers pay us compliments every day by trusting us with their projects and relying on us to help them grow their businesses,” said Jennifer Davis, vice president of marketing at Planar. “We regularly hear feedback that they love the features of our products, especially around serviceability, warranty, support and, of course, image performance.” displays. They are engineered for ease of installation as well as reliability and maintainability in the field—all key product differentiators for Planar. High-end fashion retailer Gucci is another retail customer that partnered with Planar to enhance the look of and experience in its Milan, Italy flagship store. Using more than 50 of Planar’s Clarity Matrix video wall display panels, customers become immersed in high-quality imagery of Gucci’s fashions. This ultimately helped redefine high-end retailing and transform customer communication through highly intuitive content and interaction. “This project created one of the most unique retail store environments in the world,” said Davis. “With elements of interactivity and fashion imagery, the combination creates a statement befitting a global fashion brand of Gucci’s reputation.” Planar’s products are found in a variety of venues, including control rooms, airports, hotels, corporations, sports stadiums and retail stores. 6 �� inmotion | AUTUMN 2013 Mississippi State University (MSU) has incorporated leading-edge technologies as part of its mission. One of the university’s newest residence halls, South Hall, boasts a two-story lobby that was transformed by
- 7. trend to move manufacturing outside of the U.S., Planar has remained an important manufacturing employer in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area.” Maintaining its presence in Oregon is an important part of Planar’s history, and the company makes every effort to help its community not only through sustaining jobs, but also reducing its carbon footprint. “As is fitting a company headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, we strive to reduce the power requirements of our products and our dependence on nonsustainable materials in our designs, policies and initiatives,” explained Davis. “We do this while promoting the proper collection, recycling and recovery of electronic equipment at the end of its Tips Quick productive use.” Alerts Currently, Planar’s Clarity Matrix is the company’s most popular product. These video wall panels are thinly bezeled so they can be tiled together to create large video displays. Planar’s Clarity Matrix product. The video wall—featuring 16 panels for nearly 120 square feet of total display area—now serves as a TV, movie screen and electronic billboard. Content includes live football games, campus activity information and even video games. Planar’s Clarity Matrix video wall displays are flexibly implemented and can be used in a variety of situations. In addition to retail stores and university buildings, Planar’s products are in control rooms, airports, hotels, corporations, sports stadiums and other venues. And furthermore, it is highly likely that these Clarity Matrix systems were designed and manufactured right here in the United States. According to Planar executives, approximately 80 percent of their video wall products are manufactured at their home base in Oregon, while the remaining products are manufactured at the company’s plant in Albi, France. “We are very proud that much of our manufacturing is still done here in Oregon,” said Maurer. “Contrary to the Question of the Qtr. Planar’s founders, Jim Hurd, Chris King and John Laney, established the company in Oregon, and their passion for preserving the state and all of its beauty is evident as one walks through Planar’s corporate headquarters and Hillsboro manufacturing facility. All conference rooms in the headquarters are named after mountain peaks in Oregon, and conference rooms in the manufacturing facility boast names such as Deschutes and Willamette— rivers in the state. QUICK STATS In the next five years, Maurer expects that Planar will continue its strategy of focusing on large video wall displays and interactive technologies, such as touch screens. And for a company that prides itself on offering only the best, one can only expect that Planar will continue developing top-ofthe-line technologies to help businesses worldwide improve communications, enhance interactivity and ultimately, reach their long-term goals. � 30 Years in Business Quick Stats 330 Employees 8 Offices Worldwide 2 Years with Sikich Sikich Service They Use: Technology, for Implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP Software Contact Information: 1195 NW Compton Way Hillsboro, OR 97006 Ph: (503) 748-1100 www.planar.com AUTUMN 2013 | inmotion �� 7
- 8. involvement Volunteering at Naper Nights Sikich Partner Stays Young at Heart Chris Korsgard knows a thing or two about music. The partner in Sikich’s technology practice has been to more than 500 concerts in the past 40 years. “I was a struggling and tone-deaf guitar player and wannabe rock star growing up,” said Korsgard. “Going to live shows has been the closest thing to doing it myself.” Now, Korsgard uses his passion for music as a volunteer for the Naper Nights event committee. Hosted by Naper Settlement, an outdoor history museum in Naperville, IL, and sponsored by Sikich, the outdoor summer concert series brings in rock tribute bands from across the country. Held on the fourth weekend in June, July and August, Naper Nights draws more than 8,000 attendees each year. Korsgard, a long-time Naperville resident whose list of favorite bands starts with Led Zeppelin and Wilco, has been the event’s co-chair for the past two summers and is always looking for ways to enhance the event. In fact, about 150 teams participated in a rock music trivia contest he organized this year where attendees answered questions from the live stage on Facebook. � FIRM News 8 �� inmotion | AUTUMN 2013 The Sikich Scoop Sikich enters new market Effective August 1, Sikich merged with Wisconsin-based Kolb+Co., a public accounting and advisory firm. This merger resulted in Sikich operating its first location in Wisconsin, which is now the firm’s second-largest office. The Milwaukee team will remain in its current location at 13400 Bishops Lane, Suite 300 in Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee. The firm now boasts more than 500 employees, including 87 partners. Additionally, the added growth will diversify the firm’s breadth of services, enhance its capability to service more markets, and provide expanded client opportunities. Learn more at sikich.com/kolbco. Sikich ranks on Inc. 5000 For the first time, Sikich has been ranked on the Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. With three-year growth of 47 percent, the firm ranked #4627 on the list, published by Inc. magazine. In addition to an impressive growth rate, Sikich also increased personnel count by nearly 50 percent in the past three years. Read more at sikich.com/inc-5000. �
- 9. influence 2013 Tax Planning The Year of “Careful” Planning T ax planning is a complicated and critical task every year. As you planned last year, you likely felt unique challenges that stemmed from the uncertainty of potential tax increases. However, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) was passed on January 1, 2013, preventing income tax rate increases for most taxpayers. For businesses, ATRA also addressed a number of expired tax breaks. While many breaks and break enhancements have been extended, some businesses may be affected by ATRA’s increase to the top ordinaryincome tax rates for individuals, from 35% to 39.6%. In order to take advantage of the tax breaks available for your business this year, it is necessary to be thorough in your tax planning—this will also minimize the impact of higher rates if such rates will affect your business. Find more details specific to ATRA at sikich.com/ fiscal-cliff. Should I defer my business’s income to next year? Generally speaking, it’s better to defer tax—but not always. Start by forecasting your business’s income for 2013 and 2014 so you can take advantage of deductions at the right time. Consider deferring income to next year and/or accelerating deductible expenses into the current year. On the other hand, if you might be in a higher tax bracket next year, you may consider the opposite approach—accelerating income and deferring deductible expenses. What happens if my business purchased a depreciable asset this year? If you purchased a depreciable asset this year, there are a few depreciation-related breaks and strategies that you could employ. Some of these include: 1. he Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System: T If the asset’s useful life is one year or longer, you will have to depreciate the cost over a period of years. This system will typically provide larger deductions than the straight-line method. 2. ifty-Percent Bonus Depreciation: Extended F by ATRA, this additional first-year depreciation allowance is generally available for qualifying assets acquired and placed in service in 2013 (there are exceptions for 2014). Qualifying assets include new tangible property with a recovery period of 20 or fewer years, water utility property and more. 3. ccelerated Depreciation: Qualified leaseholdA improvement, restaurant and retail-improvement property is allowed a shorter recovery period (15 years compared to 39 years) through 2013. 4. ost Segregation Study: For those who have C recently purchased, built or remodeled a building or space, this study identifies opportunities that may be depreciated quickly, thus increasing current deductions. Qualified assets may include decorative fixtures, security equipment, landscaping and parking lots. Continued �� AUTUMN 2013 | inmotion �� 9
- 10. 2013 Tax Planning CONTINUED… Women Money Finding Financial Success What has changed with vehicle-related deductions? Vehicle expenses for business purposes can be deducted using the mileage-rate method, which is 56.5 cents per mile driven in 2013, or the actual-cost method—total out-of-pocket expenses, including fuel, insurance and repairs, plus depreciation. And while there are many rules and limitations that apply, new or used vehicle purchases may also be eligible for expensing. My company manufactures products in the U.S. Do I still qualify for a deduction? The Domestic Production Activities Deduction is available to traditional manufacturers and to businesses in activities such as construction, engineering, architecture, computer software production and agricultural processing (http://bit.ly/dpad-ag). The deduction is 9% of the lesser of qualified production activities income or taxable income, and is limited to 50% of W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer that are allocable to domestic production gross receipts. Which tax credits should I consider this year? Tax credits reduce tax liability dollar-for-dollar, making them significant for tax planning. For 2013, there are a few to look into: 1. ealth Care Coverage for Small Businesses: For H tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35% of group health coverage premiums paid by the employer, as long as it contributes at least 50% of the total premium or of a benchmark premium. The full credit is available for employers with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and average annual wages of less than $25,000 per employee. Partial credits are also available. 2. etirement Plan Credit: Employers that have 100 R or fewer employees and that create a retirement plan may be eligible for a $500 credit per year for three years. 3. ork Opportunity Credit: This credit, extended W by ATRA through 2013, encourages hiring of certain disadvantaged groups. Qualifying groups may include food stamp recipients, ex-felons and nondisabled veterans. This is just a snapshot of what you may expect while tax planning for your business in 2013. Download the 2013-2014 Tax Planning Guide (sikich.com/tax-guide) for additional insights, and always consult a tax expert if your situation is complex. � 10 �� inmotion | AUTUMN 2013 W omen today have never been in a better position to achieve financial security for themselves and their families. Even though women who work full-time year-round still only earn 81 percent on average of what men earn (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), women also represent almost half of the workforce and earn the majority of all bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. On the road to financial security, women often face unique challenges that their male counterparts may not. Therefore, it is especially important that women take an active role in their financial well-being by taking six steps. These include taking control of your money, becoming a more knowledgeable investor, advocating for yourself in the workplace, planning for retirement, protecting your income and assets, and creating an estate plan. Explore these steps in detail by viewing our on-demand webinar at sikich.com/ women-money. � Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. General securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC.
- 11. inbox BYOD: Risk or Opportunity? DOWNLOAD THIS BYOD Whitepaper Did you know that 91 percent of U.S. citizens are within reach of a mobile phone 24/7? With the rise of mobility, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend—using personal mobile devices for business purposes—is getting considerable attention. Before allowing your employees to get on board with BYOD, understand how to balance the risks it can carry with the opportunities it may hold. Learn more at sikich.com/byod-whitepaper. � sikich.com/byod-whitepaper Using a personal device for work purposes, whether permissible or not, is called Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD. BY THE END OF 2012, THERE WERE 6.8 the average person in the u.s. has 2.9 BILLION MOBILE DEVICE SUBSCRIPTIONS, or M O B I L E D E V I CE S plans, WORLDWIDE BY THE END OF 2013, the number of mobile devices WILL exceed the number of people on earth 64 % OF PEOPLE in the U.S. USE THEIR PERSONAL DEVICES FOR WORK… WITHOUT PERMISSION. Opportunities reduce improve roaming productivity and other charges employees are happier when they use a familiar device There are fewer upfront costs to purchase devices for employees when they start or when they break them vs. RISKS if a personal device is stolen, can the employer do a remote wipe? how do you handle a non-exempt worker with access to work email on a personal device? mobile malware increased by 162 % in 2012 when employees QUIT, their phones house your data AUTUMN 2013 | inmotion �� 11
- 12. 1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400 Naperville, IL 60563 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 2013 calendar of events SIKICH OFFICES Corporate Office 1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400 Naperville, IL 60563 (630) 566-8400 10.23 Date: Wednesday, October 23 Chicago – Monroe Street (312) 541-9300 Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT Details: Chicago – Wacker Drive (312) 648-6666 sikich.com/ managementreporter-i-training Decatur, IL (217) 423-6000 Management Reporter Training Course Designed for users with limited or no knowledge of Management Reporter, this virtual training course will cover navigation and working with row, column and tree dimensions. Hands-on activities will help you create detailed financial reports and work with the side-byside, relational and variance reporting functions. A followup, intermediate training course is also available in November (http://bit.ly/ mr2training). Denver, CO 10.2310.30 Dates: Wed., 10/23 (Naperville, IL); Thurs., 10/24 (Chicago, IL); Tues., 10/29 (Springfield, IL); Wed., 10/30 (St. Louis, MO) Time: 8:30 a.m. – Noon CT Details: Department of Labor Benefits Update If you are a plan sponsor or human resources professional, and are concerned about operating a successful 401(k) plan, you won’t want to miss this seminar. Better understand your fiduciary responsibilities and explore common mistakes in administering 401(k) plans, including the red flags that may initiate a Department of Labor investigation or an IRS audit. sikich.com/ dol-seminar-2013 (720) 200-0142 Houston, TX (832) 831-3549 11.14 Date: Indianapolis, IN (317) 842-4466 Thursday, November 14 Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT Milwaukee, WI (262) 754-9400 Rockford, IL (815) 282-6565 Springfield, IL Details: sikich.com/gp-admin Microsoft Dynamics GP Training Course Join this virtual training course to learn the basic functions and skills needed to support the technical system administration tasks for the Microsoft Dynamics GP software solution. The course will include a lecture, demonstration and handson practice in areas such as troubleshooting, SQL backups, archiving and more. 11.19 Date: Tuesday, November 19 Time: 3 – 5 p.m. CT, followed by networking from 5 – 6 p.m. Details: sikich.com/agsummit AgriBusiness Summit Receive a 360-degree view of valuing, buying and selling an agribusiness with inside perspectives from key members of a transaction team. From investment banking and financing to legalities and business valuation, this seminar will cover a breadth of topics that will set you on a course to making informed decisions regarding the future of your business. (217) 793-3363 For more events, visit sikich.com/events. St. Louis, MO Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA/SIPC. (314) 275-7277