H&S Announces Addition of Farm and Agriculture Specialist

March 4, 2013/in Locations & Services, Press Releases/by revel

H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist.

FREMONT, Michigan – H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist. Michaelia graduated from Calvin College in 2012 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and she has an extensive background in agriculture.
“I grew up on a dairy farm in Newaygo County,” said Michaelia Breuker, H&S Companies Farm and Agriculture Specialist, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to combine my passion for accounting with my love of agriculture.”
“We’re thrilled to have Michaelia on the team,” said Jack Hendon, H&S Companies Co-Founder, “from her family business, she has a deep understanding of the challenges farmers face.”
Michaelia feels that it is essential for the agricultural community to be aware of the 2013 tax provisions that could have a direct effect on their businesses.
“There are important provisions that need to be recognized by farmers, which may affect how they operate in the next few years. I want to make sure that this information is received in a timely matter, especially when it has a direct impact on their businesses,” Breuker said.
According to Breuker, there are currently three key tax provisions farmers need to be aware of:

Farmers – You’ve got more time this year to file and pay your income taxes. Instead of March 1, 2013, you have until April 15, 2013.
Bought more than $139,000 of equipment (new or used) last year? Congress retroactively increased Section 179 Expensing election from $139,000 to $500,000. This limit is good for 2013 as well, but drops to $25,000 for 2014!
50% Bonus Depreciation (new equipment only) was also extended for all of 2013 and then vanishes. 2013 may be a great year for upgrading your equipment!

To learn more, contact Michaelia Breuker at 231.924.8072.

H&S Announces Addition of Farm and Agriculture Specialist

March 4, 2013/in Locations & Services, Press Releases/by revel

H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist.

FREMONT, Michigan – H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist. Michaelia graduated from Calvin College in 2012 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and she has an extensive background in agriculture.
“I grew up on a dairy farm in Newaygo County,” said Michaelia Breuker, H&S Companies Farm and Agriculture Specialist, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to combine my passion for accounting with my love of agriculture.”
“We’re thrilled to have Michaelia on the team,” said Jack Hendon, H&S Companies Co-Founder, “from her family business, she has a deep understanding of the challenges farmers face.”
Michaelia feels that it is essential for the agricultural community to be aware of the 2013 tax provisions that could have a direct effect on their businesses.
“There are important provisions that need to be recognized by farmers, which may affect how they operate in the next few years. I want to make sure that this information is received in a timely matter, especially when it has a direct impact on their businesses,” Breuker said.
According to Breuker, there are currently three key tax provisions farmers need to be aware of:

Farmers – You’ve got more time this year to file and pay your income taxes. Instead of March 1, 2013, you have until April 15, 2013.
Bought more than $139,000 of equipment (new or used) last year? Congress retroactively increased Section 179 Expensing election from $139,000 to $500,000. This limit is good for 2013 as well, but drops to $25,000 for 2014!
50% Bonus Depreciation (new equipment only) was also extended for all of 2013 and then vanishes. 2013 may be a great year for upgrading your equipment!

To learn more, contact Michaelia Breuker at 231.924.8072.

H&S Announces Addition of Farm and Agriculture Specialist

March 4, 2013/in Locations & Services, Press Releases/by revel

H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist.

FREMONT, Michigan – H&S Companies is proud to announce the addition of Michaelia Breuker as their Farm and Agriculture Specialist. Michaelia graduated from Calvin College in 2012 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and she has an extensive background in agriculture.

“I grew up on a dairy farm in Newaygo County,” said Michaelia Breuker, H&S Companies Farm and Agriculture Specialist, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to combine my passion for accounting with my love of agriculture.”

“We’re thrilled to have Michaelia on the team,” said Jack Hendon, H&S Companies Co-Founder, “from her family business, she has a deep understanding of the challenges farmers face.”

Michaelia feels that it is essential for the agricultural community to be aware of the 2013 tax provisions that could have a direct effect on their businesses.

“There are important provisions that need to be recognized by farmers, which may affect how they operate in the next few years. I want to make sure that this information is received in a timely matter, especially when it has a direct impact on their businesses,” Breuker said.

According to Breuker, there are currently three key tax provisions farmers need to be aware of:

Farmers – You’ve got more time this year to file and pay your income taxes. Instead of March 1, 2013, you have until April 15, 2013.
Bought more than $139,000 of equipment (new or used) last year? Congress retroactively increased Section 179 Expensing election from $139,000 to $500,000. This limit is good for 2013 as well, but drops to $25,000 for 2014!
50% Bonus Depreciation (new equipment only) was also extended for all of 2013 and then vanishes. 2013 may be a great year for upgrading your equipment!

To learn more, contact Michaelia Breuker at 231.924.8072.

Get Financially Fit!

February 18, 2013/in Committed to Our Communities, Locations & Services/by revel

It's time to get that piggy bank in shape!

You can’t make real money unless you are financially fit, so drop those dumbbells, grab your pen and paper, and join H&S Companies Partners Ward VanDam, Mike Farmer, and Randy Filbrandt at the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce March Business Briefing.

Randy will show you how to put together a financially fit plan to get you on track (and you don’t even have to roll out of bed at 5 am)! Need a little motivation? Muskegon Brake & Tires, REMAX, and The Fish Monger’s Wife will share case studies.

Plus, Ward VanDam will share a brief tax update (with all of the recent tax changes, you won’t want to miss it), and Mike Farmer will share a small business accounting update.

Don’t wait! Pre-Register now. Space is filling up fast.

Event Details

Tuesday, March 12, 2013
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

Download the Business Briefing flyer for more information and for the pre-registration form.

2012 NLRB Rulings Could Be Invalidated

January 31, 2013/in Locations & Services/by revel

On January 25, 2013, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the appointments made during that time were unconstitutional.

On January 9, 2012, three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), made by President Barack Obama, were sworn into service. However, it has been determined that during the time the recess appointments were made, the Senate, who normally has to confirm presidential appointments, was not in a formally-declared recess. Instead, they were holding pro forma sessions during which they met every couple days and were conducting limited Senate business.

On January 25, 2013, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the appointments made during that time were unconstitutional. The ruling of Noel Canning v. The National Labor Relations Board determined that the NLRB lacked a sufficient quorum in order to conduct proper business. In order for the NLRB to make rulings, it must have at least three valid appointments.

The ruling of this case will have a substantial impact on businesses across the country. While the ruling isn’t final — the President can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Senate can change the rules concerning the appointment process — it does temporarily invalidate many controversial decisions made by the board since January 9, 2012. These rulings include such topics as:

Termination of employees for postings to social media sites
Witness statements made to the union, reimbursement of higher taxes paid due to back pay awards
Continuation of dues check-off after expiration of a CBA
Limitations on employee discussions of internal investigations
Disregarding of employer arbitration procedures.

Many employers felt that the NLRB has overstepped its bounds by making rulings on cases that don’t normally concern the NLRB and aren’t thought of to impact an employee’s Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Check back to hscompanies.com often as we will be following appeals and rulings concerning this issue closely.

For more information on how these rulings could affect your business, contact H&S Companies HR Manager Travis Sinquefield.

Travis Sinquefield
HR Manager
616.735.3088
traviss@hscompanies.com

Read the full text of the ruling.

H&S Companies Mount Pleasant To Host an Open House

January 21, 2013/in Locations & Services/by revel

The Mount Pleasant Office will hold an open house on Friday, February 1, 2013 so clients and friends can see our newly remodeled facilities and meet our expanded team of professionals. Download the open house flyer for complete details

Click to download flyer

H&S Companies Mount Pleasant To Host an Open House

January 21, 2013/in Locations & Services/by revel

The Mount Pleasant Office will hold an open house on Friday, February 1, 2013 so clients and friends can see our newly remodeled facilities and meet our expanded team of professionals. Download the open house flyer for complete details

Click to download flyer

H&S Companies Mount Pleasant To Host an Open House

January 21, 2013/in Locations & Services/by revel

The Mount Pleasant Office will hold an open house on Friday, February 1, 2013 so clients and friends can see our newly remodeled facilities and meet our expanded team of professionals. Download the open house flyer for complete details

Click to download flyer

2012 Newaygo County Farmers Forum A Huge Success

December 17, 2012/in Locations & Services, Tax Tips/by revel

The Newaygo Insurance Agency’s 2012 Newaygo County Farmers Forum, held on Tuesday December 11, 2012, was a huge success! Photo Credit: office.microsoft.com

The Newaygo Insurance Agency’s 2012 Newaygo County Farmers Forum, held on Tuesday December 11, 2012, was a huge success! Approximately 120 farmers from across the county gathered at Northern Trails Restaurant and listened to experts from across disciplines to bring them up-to-speed on matters of concern.

Chad Appold, H&S Companies CPA, and Jack Hendon, H&S Co-Founder, presented to the group on tax changes that may affect farmers in 2013.

“The Farmers Forum was a very impressive gathering,” said Jack Hendon, H&S Companies Co-Founder, “Dan Johnson, of Newaygo Insurance Agency, did a terrific job of bringing together subject matter experts! We’re looking forward to next year’s forum.”

Other items covered, included: safety issues concerning farmers, Right to Farm Act proposed changes, and weather insurance information.

To learn more about tax changes that are slated to affect farmers, download our free outline or contact Chad Appold.

Chad Appold
Certified Public Accountant
231.924.8003
chada@hscompanies.com

H&S Partner to Teach Fundamentals of Financial Management

November 7, 2012/in Locations & Services/by revel

Learn the fundamentals of financial management with Randy Filbrandt on 11/14/12

Randy Filbrandt, Certified Public Accountant & H&S Companies Partner, will be teaching the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center’s Fundamentals of Financial Management Workshop on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

This introductory class is designed to help small business owners understand how to apply financial information to managing their business more effectively. This will give those in-charge, the ability to understand accounting principles, financial statements, and work more effectively with their accounting team.

Fundamentals of Financial Management

When: Wednesday, November 14, 2012; 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center
200 Viridian Dr, Muskegon, MI 49440
Cost: Free
Register: MI-SBTDC Website

About Randy

Randy Filbrandt is a partner and has been with H&S Companies since 1994. His background includes work with non-profits and retirement plan audits, as well as, monthly accounting and tax preparation for individuals and businesses. Randy is a member of the MACPA, AICPA, BNI of Muskegon, and is active in the Muskegon and Grand Haven Chambers of Commerce. Randy has also served on the board of the Hume Home since 2002.