Make Next Year Better
Now is the time to start planning so next year is better than this one. Start by reflecting on the current year and identifying what worked well and what didn’t. Were the challenges hiring good staff or training them? Making…
Finance
Increasing the Value of Your Business
You have a business that is doing well and paying the bills. Maybe it has put one or two children through college. The kids are working, maybe on the Mainland, and not interested in taking over the family business. Now…
Divorce in Hawaii: Till Debt Do Us Part
Divorce is painful no matter where you live, but the pain in your wallet can be especially torturous in Hawaii. Hawaii is highly ranked for quality of life – which helps marriages thrive – but is also worst in the…
5 Steps to a Lasting Legacy
A charitable gift annuity provides a meaningful gift to charity while improving your financial situation in two ways for the rest of your life: a steady stream of income and tax benefits. More important, you create a lasting legacy in…
Rent or Buy?
Six factors to consider when choosing whether to buy or rent a home in Hawaii Trade her peaceful rental on 2 acres in rural Maui for a condo of her very own? No thanks. Over the 30 years she has…
Business' Biggest Secret
Dane Atkinson used to be the kind of startup CEO that board members praised because he attracted top-notch talent while saving money. Certain candidates were just not aggressive at negotiating their salaries, and he took advantage of that. “It’s easy…
The Cost of Dying
There are many ways to memorialize the dead, but one constant is that a little forethought and communication - before you go - can save your family a lot of money and grief after you're gone. A few times a…
The Careerist: Should I Jump Into the Gig Economy?
Q: I’ve got a steady job making decent money, but it’s 40 hours/week in a cubicle. Some of my buddies are skipping the “office grind” for freelance work or are jumping on with Uber and Lyft. They’ve got flexibility and…
Talk Story: Peter Ho
Even after six years at the helm of the state’s second largest bank, Ho is still a relatively young CEO, at age 50. However, he points out: “There are a lot of miles on the odometer.” We talk to him…
