 I don’t know if the insurance companies are going to send any notice of this since it is an employer responsibility! Legislative Update Deadline to Send Health Insurance Marketplace Notice to Employees Is Oct. 1 The Oct. 1 deadline for employers to distribute the notice about the Health Insurance Marketplace of Illinois to employees is approaching. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about the notice. What is the Marketplace notification? Employers who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) have to send a notice to employees about new coverage options through the Marketplace. To which employers does this apply? According to the Department of Labor, the FLSA applies to employers that employ one or more employees who are engaged in, or produce goods for, interstate commerce. For most employers, a test of not less than $500,000 in annual dollar volume of business applies. The FLSA also specifically covers the following entities: hospitals; institutions primarily engaged in the care of the sick, the aged, mentally ill or disabled who reside on the premises; schools for children who are mentally or physically disabled or gifted; preschools, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education; and federal, state and local government agencies. What is the deadline for distributing the notice? Employers are required to provide the notice to each new employee at the time of hiring beginning Oct. 1, 2013. For 2014, an employer has to provide the notice within 14 days of an employee's start date. With respect to employees who are current employees before Oct. 1, 2013, employers are required to provide the notice by Oct. 1, 2013. By what method does the employer have to distribute the notice? The notice is required to be provided automatically, free of charge. It can be provided in writing either by first-class mail, or electronically if the department’s electronic disclosure safe harbor requirements are met. Is there a model notice that employers can use? Yes. The federal government has released model notices for employers that provide a health plan and for those that don’t. Employers can use these notices until the federal government releases final notices. Additional details are on the Department of Labor website. 
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 Platinum Networking Group Member Creates Website to Help Local Communities and Businesses
Ground floor opportunity to showcase your business Westmont, IL – The Alkaye Media Group has created www.ShopandDiscover.com, a new website to encourage economic development of small communities by promoting events and local businesses. This site features an extensive events calendar and lists many local businesses; many of which are supported by personalized videos to assist in telling their story. Internet marketing is booming It’s a well known fact that today more people check the internet first to plan their trips and shopping. This site combines all of the features people seek, plus the power of video which is known to engage more viewers. Included are special offers for users from local venues plus social media involvement via a Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/shopanddiscover ) to continue the media campaign. Special offer for Founding Members For a limited time, ShopandDiscover.com is offering businesses the chance to become a founding member of the site for as little as $20 per month. Each business will be listed on the search, shown on the home page map and placed in the category of their choice. Add Video to your listing For over 30 years, Alkaye Media has produced videos which attract attention with crisp content and style. A recent article by Emarketer (http://tinyurl.com/a3j7jfu), confirms that video is one of the best ways to market and tell your story to prospects. AMG can create your video, post it to www.shopanddiscover.com, YouTube as well as your own website for a small investment – far less than any traditional form of advertising. For more details, contact Al Kohout Alkaye Media Group 630-971-8700; [email protected] 38 N. Cass Westmont, IL 60559  Should I Go to the Dealership or an Independent Auto Repair Shop?
4 Myths About Dealership Services One of the questions we face on a regular basis is: ìWhy shouldnít I just get my car serviced at the dealership?î Itís often assumed that the dealership would be the best option to fix your vehicle; after all they are the ones who sold it to you, right? Doesnít that mean they would be the best ones to repair it? Weíve all heard the saying about what assuming does to you. In reality, J&C Auto Service in Downers Grove, IL can service, repair and maintain your automobile just like the dealerships ñ many times with even MORE benefits! Letís take a closer look at some of the assumptions about dealership repair services: Dealership vs. J&C Auto Service in Downers Grove, IL (Independent Auto Repair Shop) 4 Myths About Why to Bring Your Car to the Dealership for Repair: 1. ìThe dealership knows my car better than an independent auto repair shop.î This isnít true! J&C Auto Service has mechanics who are ASE Master Certified Technicians. Being ASE Master Certified is a higher level of training than many dealership mechanics have, because many of the dealerships employ technicians working for a wage, not building a passionate career. In addition, not only do the professional mechanics at J&C Auto Service know your vehicle inside and out, they also have advanced knowledge, training and experience with many other vehicle makes and models. This added experience helps us diagnose problems faster based on the simple fact that weíve seen it all though the years! 2. ìThe dealership has better technology to fix my car.î Also not true. We have the same, state-of-the-art automotive repair tools, equipment and information systems as the dealerships. In many cases, our shopís technology and diagnostic equipment actually surpasses the equipment found in typical dealership service departments. 3. ìThe dealershipís mechanics are always busy, so they must be doing good work if people keep using them.î Being busy has nothing to do with quality. What many people donít realize is that the dealershipís service departments are often overloaded fulfilling warranty or recall work for their vehicles, not the providing the ongoing maintenance services that your vehicle needs for a long life. 4. ìI have to go to the dealership because of my new car warranty.î Not true! The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act legally authorizes independent auto repair shops to service and repair your vehicle right from the showroom floor WITHOUT it affecting your warranty! Now that you have some insight into the assumption that taking your car to the dealership is better than taking it to J&C Auto Repair in Downers Grove, IL, we can tell you the ADDITIONAL benefits of choosing J&C Auto Service: Benefits of Bringing Your Car to J&C Auto Service: 1. We want your car to be repaired and run well. We are passionate about repairing and maintaining automobiles. After all, this is the main focus of our business! The dealerships, on the other hand, are in the business of selling cars. Their main focus and income does not come from keeping your car running reliable for 200,000+ miles, they would rather sell you a new car than repair the one you have! 2. Our business is based around customer service. We are dedicated to building great relationships with customers, so you can count on a better, more customized experience. By nature, much of our business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, so we want to make sure your experience with us is easy, convenient and enjoyable. Plus, we value the relationships we build ñ it makes our workday more fun to see familiar faces and happy customers! 3. We offer a rewards program which has you earning a point for every dollar that you spend with us, you then accumulate points and receive certificates/coupons to use for future service. We also offer a 24-hour vehicle drop-off. We want to help make your experience easier. Some extra services that we offer are online appointment scheduling, and free local shuttle services so you donít have to wait around for your repairs. While itís clear by now that we recommend customers choose to get their cars serviced and repaired here at J&C Auto Service in Downers Grove, IL instead of the dealership, we hope the information laid out here is beneficial in helping you make your own decision.
 If the subject of this interests you, just Click here for detailed information.
We are currently accepting new clients and we are scheduling "One on One QuickBooks Training" sessions. The training is done using your own QuickBooks files. You choose the areas of QuickBooks where you need help or want to learn new techniques that will help you become more efficient working with QuickBooks. Janice Papais is a CPA and a QuickBooks Pro Advisor who does our QuickBooks training. Contact her today. Need help with your accounting, your taxes, or your payroll? Since the initial consultation is free, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Call us today at (630) 320-3720 or e-mail us at [email protected]. We would like to help you. You can also find links to your On Line Advisor E-Newsletter and your Calculators on our website at www.monarchfinancialllc.com. Art Bradley CPA & Don Wittmer CPA Monarch Financial Group, LLC 118 S. Washington Street Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 Phone (630) 320-3720 [email protected] [email protected]  To Market, To Market…That’s What We Do
I don’t know if those of you who will read this will remember your Mother Goose, but I did when I was thinking about marketing this afternoon: To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, dancing a jig; To market, to market, to buy a fat hog; Home again, home again, jiggety-jog; To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done. Think of how much we buy without ever darkening the door of the market. And to top that we are now being told that 25% of all sales over the internet are being done with a smart phone! And it will be 50% of all sales before we know it. My how things have changed. Marketing has been fairly simple for quite a long time. When you broadcast your message, people simply believed it. You let them know how great your product or service was and if they responded by buying it right away, you added something free to the deal. People bought into the techniques used to create some urgency to make the purchase like:
What has taken its place is what is called “Permanence Marketing”. Michael Michalowicz in an article titled: “The Death of Hype Marketing and What to Do About It” had this to say about the need to address customer needs: “Customers need to individually believe your message before they buy. Customers need to hear your message over and over (repetition), over an extended period of time (longevity), and most importantly, via multiple sources (3red party validation). Customers must have a way to dip their toe in the water (no risk).” He suggests the following as a way to adopt Permanence Marketing for your organization (a brief summary):
(Adapted from: The Death of Hype Marketing and What to Do About It. By Mike Michalowicz) I hope you find this helpful and thought provoking about your marketing. By: Dennis Gleason ~ West Suburban Office Products ~ Elmhurst, IL 60126  If the subject of this e-mail interests you, just Click here for detailed information. We are currently accepting new clients and we are scheduling "One on One QuickBooks Training" sessions. The training is done using your own QuickBooks files. You choose the areas of QuickBooks where you need help or want to learn new techniques that will help you become more efficient working with QuickBooks. Janice Papais is a CPA and a QuickBooks Pro Advisor who does our QuickBooks training. Contact her today. Need help with your accounting, your taxes, or your payroll? Since the initial consultation is free, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Call us today at (630) 320-3720 or e-mail us at [email protected]. We would like to help you. You can also find links to your On Line Advisor E-Newsletter and your Calculators on our website at www.monarchfinancialllc.com. Art Bradley CPA & Don Wittmer CPA Monarch Financial Group, LLC 118 S. Washington Street Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 Phone (630) 320-3720 [email protected] [email protected]  CLICK HERE to enroll in LifeLock now. When it asked for a representative name, type in Russell Caforio.
Contact Russ Caforio with any questions. Thank you, Russ Caforio 630-495-2901 |
