Business Section
Welcome to the HalfwaytoConcord.com Business Section. Here you will find up to date information on business and finance. We cover local, state, national and international issues -- considering submitting today!
When to take Social Security benefits
September 25, 2008
The age at which one first becomes eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits is 62. However, you can elect to defer receiving benefits to a later date, up until your full retirement age. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1960, your full retirement age is 66 plus two months for every year after 1954 you were born. So, for example, if you were born in 1959, your full retirement age would be 66 years, 10 months. If you were born after 1960, your full retirement age is 67. Read more
Halfway To Concord launches Online Store
September 23, 2008
Borrowing a phrase from Newt Gingrich, Halfway To Concord announced today it has launched its online store so visitors can “Click Here, Click Now, Pay Less” to do their holiday shopping online with ease and style. Click thru and shop for deals on name brand products, today, including electronics, music, computer, clothing, toys, travel and books.
Ford to sell 65-mpg vehicle in Europe but not U.S.
September 18, 2008
Businessweek reports that Ford cites business reasons why it can sell its new 65-mpg ECOnetic vehicle in Europe but not the U.S. Lame excuse #1, it runs on diesel.
Election 2008 impact on Estate Taxes
September 16, 2008
As I write this we are in the midst of the political conventions and focused on the two major party candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama. These candidates have expressed their views on estate taxes, but remember, it is the Congress that is driving the estate tax bus. As regular readers know, the federal estate tax is in a state of flux. Presently, the estate tax is scheduled to be eliminated for decedents dying in the year 2010. It returns permanently the following year, unless Congress acts, with a $1 million exemption, down from $2 million in 2008 and $3.5 million in 2009. Most prognosticators believe that Congress is unlikely to leave the estate tax system alone, but election year politics will likely keep Congress from passing any reforms until next year at the earliest. Read more
U.S. automakers next after Fannie Mae bailout
September 15, 2008
The ink isn’t dry yet on the $200 billion Fannie Mae bail out and Nancy Pelosi is chatting up bailing out automakers in Detroit! Where does it stop? America’s entire infrastructure will be socialized before the next President takes office! Pelosi’s plans may have to be placed on the back burning pending repercussions over the Lehman firesale.
Who will publish America’s last newspaper?
September 11, 2008
John Keister has been writing about the future of newspapers. He notes Eric Alterman’s Out of Print, that appeared recently in the New Yorker. While some newspapers are developing an online strategy or, like the New York Times, have acquired strong web properties likeAbout.com, he suggests that newspapers must ask themselves how to recharge revenue and subscribers. This may be a great question but only if newspapers and corporate aggregators—that control 23 newspapers in the Bay Area alone—commit to rebuilding trustworthiness.
U.S. Official: Russia aims to corner energy distribution
September 9, 2008
A Senior U.S. official in Rome, Sunday, said Russia intends to control energy delivery to the West and that it’s critical for the West to diversify routes for oil and gas supplies. Read more
Small business online spending
September 8, 2008
The nearby chart shows the percentage of small businesses in the Boston market that publish a web site. Double the percentage number to see the average monthly dollar amount each category spends on online advertising. It’s interesting to see the synchronicity of the percentage of businesses with web properties and the dollar amounts. Read more
Repurpose content to build your web presence!
September 5, 2008
Brochure Copy, QA, Powerpoint Presentations, Newsletter articles, older press clippings, you name it…Lee Odden posts an excellent article on how businesses can repurpose tons of content they already have into search engine spider food that points at your company website. Local businesses can get started right here at Halfway To Concord. Take a look at some of the stories in the Business section and then Contact Bill for more details!
