The straight line

Gardiner Thomsen sponsored the AAI (Agribusiness Association of Iowa) Golf Outings this year (three events the last two weeks, one more to come) and for those of you who entered to win our door prize, please see our winners below! The winner at Dike was Ben Buie, Grain Division Manager with East Central Iowa Cooperative....

For years, people have questioned the viability of the Social Security system going forward. In July, the Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The report projects that the combined asset reserves of the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will...

The dictionary defines a process as a series of related steps that lead to a desired result. If members of your sales staff are in a slump, implementing a formal sales process can help them identify their deficiencies. Although not every salesperson can be a superstar, an improved sales process can improve your associates’ performance and your...

Comparative advertising is legal as long as it’s truthful. But the truth can be a difficult concept and competitors often sue for damages and seek injunctions to stop the ads. The courts don’t always side with the party who is offended by an advertisement. Here are two cases of companies that won in legal struggles with...

At the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court adjourned for its summer recess. Here are five recent cases from its 2016 term that may be of interest to business owners and managers. Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton(S. Ct. No. 16-74, June 5, 2017) Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), employees...

In one significant case, the U.S. Tax Court allowed a taxpayer to claim deductions for meals that stretch the limits of the traditional “sleep-or-rest” rule for business travelers. (Bissonnette, 127 TC No. 10) Background: Generally, you can deduct 50% of your meals and all incidental expenses when you are away from home on business. The IRS considers...