Mike Thrift

Marketing Manager

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May 10, 2026

Section 754 Election: How Partnerships Use Inside Basis Step-Ups to Save Incoming Partners and Heirs From Phantom Gains

A Section 754 election lets a partnership adjust the inside basis of its assets when an interest transfers or property is distributed, preventing incoming partners and heirs from being taxed on appreciation that economically belonged to the seller. The election is permanent, covers both 743(b) and 734(b) adjustments, and matters most for real estate, family, and professional service partnerships.

mike

partnershipstax-planningreal-estate

May 10, 2026

Self-Funded vs Level-Funded vs Fully-Insured Health Plans: How Small Employers Cut Premium Costs Without Taking on Catastrophic Claim Risk

A funding-model guide for small employers comparing fully-insured, level-funded, and self-funded group health plans, with the math on stop-loss coverage, ERISA fiduciary exposure, Form 5500 filings, and when each model actually saves money.

mike

health-insuranceemployee-benefitssmall-business

May 10, 2026

Series LLC Structure: Master LLC, Internal Liability Walls, and When to Use It

A 2026 guide to the Series LLC: how a single master entity can hold multiple internally-isolated series, which states recognize the structure (Florida joins via SB 316 on July 1, 2026), how the IRS taxes each series, the bookkeeping discipline required to keep the liability walls intact, and when separate traditional LLCs remain the safer choice.

mike

llcbusiness-structurereal-estate

May 10, 2026

State-by-State Pay Transparency Laws in 2026: A Compliance Guide for Multi-State Employers

Seventeen states plus D.C. now require salary ranges in job postings, with thresholds and penalties that vary enough for one nationwide ad to violate three statutes. A field guide to the 2026 patchwork, the remote-posting traps, and how multi-state employers turn compliance into routine operating discipline.

mike

compliancepayrolllegal

May 10, 2026

Tax Planning During Divorce: QDROs, Post-TCJA Alimony, and Section 1041 Property Transfers

A practitioner's guide to the tax mechanics of divorce — how a QDRO splits a 401(k) penalty-free, why alimony in agreements executed after 2018 is no longer deductible, how Section 1041 carryover basis can turn a 50/50 settlement into an unequal one, and how the Section 121 home-sale exclusion survives when one spouse moves out.

mike

tax-planningtaxpersonal-finance

May 10, 2026

Wyoming vs. Delaware vs. Nevada LLC in 2026: Asset Protection, Privacy, and Annual Costs Compared

A 2026 comparison of Wyoming, Delaware, and Nevada LLCs across real annual costs ($110–$600), charging-order statutes, single-member protection, anonymity rules, and the foreign-qualification trap that erases out-of-state savings.

mike

llcbusiness-structureincorporation

May 9, 2026

The 13-Week Rolling Cash Flow Forecast: A Direct-Method Guide for Small Businesses

A practical playbook for building a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast using the direct method—how to model receipts, disbursements, and weekly variance so small businesses spot liquidity gaps four to twelve weeks before they hit.

mike

cash-flowforecastingsmall-business

May 9, 2026

401(k) Hardship Withdrawals and Plan Loans Under SECURE 2.0: When to Tap Retirement Funds Without Wrecking Your Future

A record 6% of 401(k) participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025. This guide compares hardship withdrawals, plan loans, and SECURE 2.0 penalty-free distributions—with the actual tax math, deemed-distribution traps, and a decision framework for when to tap retirement funds.

mike

retirement-savingsretirement-planspersonal-finance

May 9, 2026

529-to-Roth IRA Rollover: Move $35,000 of Unused College Savings Into Tax-Free Retirement

SECURE 2.0 lets the beneficiary of a 529 plan roll up to $35,000 of unused college savings into a Roth IRA tax-free and outside Roth income limits, provided the account is 15+ years old, contributions are 5+ years seasoned, and the beneficiary has earned income. This guide walks through the five federal tests, the state tax clawbacks that can erase the benefit, and a clean five-year execution plan.

mike

personal-financetax-planningretirement-savings

May 9, 2026

The Accountable Plan: How S-Corp Owners Reimburse Themselves Tax-Free for Home Office, Mileage, and Travel

A working IRS-compliant accountable plan lets S-Corp owners reimburse home office, 72.5¢/mile mileage, internet, and travel tax-free—turning otherwise-lost expenses into deductible corporate spending. This guide covers the three §1.62-2 requirements, a worked $3,126 home office calculation, the five mistakes that get plans reclassified as wages, and the monthly bookkeeping rhythm that keeps it audit-proof.

mike

s-corps-corporationtax-deductions

May 9, 2026

ASC 842 Lease Accounting for Private Companies: Putting Operating Leases on the Balance Sheet

ASC 842 requires private companies to capitalize nearly every lease longer than 12 months as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. This guide walks through the five-criteria classification test, the six-step calculation, the risk-free rate and short-term lease expedients, and the audit findings that most often trigger restatements.

mike

financial-reportingbalance-sheetcompliance

May 9, 2026

Cyber Insurance for Small Businesses in 2026: MFA Requirements, Ransomware Coverage, and Premium Benchmarks

S&P forecasts a 15–20% rise in cyber insurance premiums for 2026 after a 126% jump in ransomware incidents. A guide to the controls underwriters now require, typical small business pricing ($1,000–$7,500 for $1M of coverage), and the exclusions behind the 40%+ claim denial rate.

mike

insurancebusiness-insurancesmall-business

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