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Navigating the New Overtime Rule: What Employers Need to Know

As the calendar inches closer to July 1st, 2024, employers across the nation are preparing for a significant shift in overtime regulations. The Department of Labor’s recent announcement regarding the new overtime rule has left many businesses seeking clarity on how this will impact them.

Eligibility Expansion

One of the primary objectives of the new overtime rule is to extend overtime protections to a broader segment of the workforce. Previously, employees earning below a certain salary threshold were automatically eligible for overtime pay. However, with the updated regulation, this threshold is set to increase, including more employees within its scope.

Image Credit: US Department of Labor

Impact on Lower-Wage Workers

Workers earning salaries below the revised threshold will see the most direct impact. As they become newly eligible for overtime pay, they stand to benefit from increased compensation for any hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

Adjustments for Employers

Employers, on the other hand, will need to adapt their payroll and workforce management strategies to accommodate the expanded eligibility criteria. This may involve reassessing employee classifications, adjusting compensation structures, or implementing changes to work schedules to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Industries and Sectors Affected

While the new overtime rule applies across various industries and sectors, specific industries may feel its effects more heavily than others. Sectors with more lower-wage workers, such as retail, hospitality, and healthcare, will likely see more employees impacted by the rule change.

Our Payroll Professionals Are Here to Help

Our Payroll team is here to help you navigate the payroll-focused intricacies of this new overtime rule with confidence. Call 215-723-4881 or contact us online.

J. George Sweeney

Shareholder & Director

George is a Shareholder and Director and is also a Founding Member of Canon Capital.  He received his Associates in Science in 1972 from Montgomery County Community College and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1974 from LaSalle College.  George has been a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1980.  George is a member of the Board of Directors and the Secretary for the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, an Advisory Board member of the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA, a Charter Member of the Upper Perkiomen Valley YMCA, and a Finance Committee member of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce.  He resides in Perkiomenville with his wife and has two children.  He enjoys running and swimming for fitness and spending time with his family.

Maximize Your Tax Refund: Why Your Employees Need a Paycheck Check-Up Now

Were your employees’ tax return results not what they expected this year? Many taxpayers have had the unpleasant surprise of a tax bill instead of the anticipated refund. This is likely due to not having enough funds withheld from each paycheck.

That’s why we recommend a paycheck check-up at least once a year, whether completed at the start of the calendar year or right now, to ensure they’re withholding the right amount for the remainder of this year. Share this paycheck calculator on the IRS website to help them run their numbers and make any necessary adjustments to their W4 form.

Questions? We are happy to help. Give us a call at 215-723-4881.

Brent Thompson

Shareholder & Director

Brent joined Canon Capital in 1998 and was admitted to the company as a shareholder in 2018. He is responsible for providing management advisory services, tax and general business planning, tax preparation, and financial statement preparation and review services for numerous businesses and their owners. Brent also assists his fellow firm directors with scheduling, staff development, and business development. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Temple University.  In addition to holding his CPA designation he also holds the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. Brent is a member of the AICPA and the Institute of CMA’s and is a former instructor of business development courses at Montgomery County Community College. He has also served on the Economic Restructuring Committee for the Souderton-Telford downtown revitalization efforts and the Stewardship Committee for Keystone Fellowship. Brent resides in Souderton with his wife and three children. He enjoys boating, water-skiing, and working on home improvement projects.

Michael Witter

Shareholder & Managing Director of Canon Capital Certified Public Accountants

Mike is a Managing Director of Canon Capital and a Founding Member of Canon Capital in 1987.  With over 37 years experience, he specializes in tax consulting, business strategic planning, and personal financial planning.  Mike works tirelessly to help clients proactively plan for their financial future, while maximizing their best opportunities to achieve their financial goals.  Mike graduated from Messiah College with his Bachelor’s degree in business and earned his Masters of Science degree in Taxation from Widener University.  He achieved the Personal Financial Specialist certification and is a member of the AICPA, including the Personal Financial Planning Section, and the PICPA.  Mike resides in Souderton with his wife and has four children and nine grandchildren.  He enjoys hiking, travel, sports, and time with family.

QuickBooks Desktop is Going Away: Now What?

Intuit has recently announced the eventual phasing out of the desktop versions of its QuickBooks accounting software. After July 31, 2024, Intuit will no longer issue new subscriptions to these QuickBooks Desktop products:

  • QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus
  • QuickBooks Desktop Enhanced Payroll

Existing users of these products can continue renewing their subscriptions and will receive support and security updates after July 31, 2024. The final sunset date has not yet been shared by Intuit.

 Why move to QuickBooks Online now?

We recommend you make the move to QuickBooks Online sooner rather than continuing with your Desktop version. The advantages of working in cloud-based accounting software outweigh the learning curve.

Increased efficiency

With available online automated accounting services, the information in QuickBooks Online is timely, accurate, and always at hand. From an accounting perspective, this gives you more time to work on your business and allows your CPA to be involved at a higher level to provide guidance as needed.

Increased protection

Using the online version of QuickBooks gives you greater protection from these cyber threats:

  • Data breaches: older software has inadequate safeguards to detect malicious behavior.
  • Fines and denied insurance claims: Cyber Insurance onboarding questionnaires will ask if you are running any software that would be considered “end of support.” Likewise, government compliance standards all require affirming a statement that you are not running any end-of-life or end-of-support software.
  • Extended downtime: due to lack of vendor support as well as data breach or corruption

A cloud-hosted application like QuickBooks Online will avoid these risks, providing:

  • New features and security enhancements
  • Typically have a 99.8% uptime guarantee
  • Known and consistent costs for budgeting purposes
  • Hardware requirements are minimal.
  • Changes that are spread out over time.

Added Benefits

Making the transition from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online is a seamless process. After creating the QuickBooks Online account, your most recent desktop data file would be migrated to the new platform. This process will take approximately 24 hours. It may take more or less time, depending on the size of the file being migrated.

After that, you can start enjoying the benefits of using cloud-based software:

  • Secured Storage that Remains Compliant
  • Access From Anywhere
  • Faster Processing
  • Centralized Tasks
  • Real Time Transactions
  • Integration
  • Access to mobile apps for mileage, expenses, etc.

Where do we go from here?

If you’d like to learn more about using QuickBooks Online, our recent webinar provides greater detail in preparing for this change. We recommend viewing the webinar in its entirety.

One source, many services, the right decision.

If you have questions about next steps or if we can be of service, please contact us online or call 215-723-4881.

Canon Capital Management Group Names Chuck Porter, Jr., Co-Director of Wealth Management

We proudly announce the promotion of Chuck Porter, Jr., to Co-Director of Wealth Management.

Chuck joined Canon Capital in 2006 and has been working as a Senior Investment Advisor. In 2018, he was admitted to the company as a shareholder.

Chuck will serve alongside Co-Director Patricia Webb in developing strategic initiatives, guiding the delivery of exceptional client service, and fostering continued growth for the Wealth Management unit.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Chuck into this new, well-deserved role,” said Webb. “With his exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to our clients, I am confident that his passion for our company’s success will bring new dimensions to our team and further elevate our standards.”

Porter is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary who earned a degree in Economics with an emphasis in Personal Financial Service from Widener University.  Porter has also earned a Certificate in Financial Management for the Family Office from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.

“As I step into this new role, I’m deeply committed to ensuring that our firm is positioned not only for growth but for sustained success over the long haul.  I could not have reached this milestone without the unwavering support and dedication of our remarkable team of advisors and support staff. Together, we are poised to achieve great things, and I’m excited to continue serving you with the same level of commitment and care,” said Porter.  “I also want to assure my clients that this promotion doesn’t equate to a change of advisor for them. I remain dedicated to serving in an advisory capacity, just as before.”

Welcome the Newest Members of the Canon Capital Management Group Team

Please welcome Andrew Stein and Cherie Strozzieri, who have joined the Canon Capital Management Group team within the last few months.

Andrew SteinAndrew Stein’s financial services industry expertise is demonstrated in his advisory role with clients regarding their investments and planning, ranging from asset growth to retirement income planning. Mentoring is a priority for Andrew, who spends his time outside of work helping to facilitate local sports camps with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

 

 

 

Cherie Strozzieri brings extensive experience in corporate, non-profit, and private sector accounting services. She is also a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as volunteering time to various philanthropic endeavors.

 

 

 

Learn more about our team and how they can be of service to you.

Margaret McCarthy Earns Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist Designation

Please join us in congratulating Margaret McCarthy, Client Relationship Associate at Canon Capital Investment Advisory, on earning the Chartered Retirement Plans SpecialistSM (CRPS®)  designation.

This designation, awarded by the College for Financial Planning, demonstrates McCarthy’s expertise in retirement plan design, installation, and maintenance for businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities of all sizes.

Her continued commitment to excellence will undoubtedly benefit our clients as they work toward their retirement goals.

For more information about the CRPS® designation and its significance, please visit the College for Financial Planning’s website.

For inquiries about or assistance with retirement planning, feel free to contact us online or call 215-723-4881.