Blogs

Giving Starts at Work 12/04/2024

In the non-profit world, the 4th quarter of every year is known as the “giving season.” As much as 50% of all contributions to non-profits comes during the year’s end. Yes, the spirit of the holidays can add glitter to the idea of giving, but in truth, the tax benefit of making cash donations plays...

Longevity and Good Fortune 11/12/2024

Maryland is beautiful in November. There may be no other state in the union that is more vibrant and colorful in the middle of Autumn. Many folks in the country’s northeast would probably argue that point, but they are not writing this blog post. November is also a month we are encouraged to be...

Bittersweet October 10/02/2024

In a quote by Carol Bishop Hipps, October is a complex psychological moment of the year for all of us: "Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.” Perhaps October is a “bittersweet” confusion because it was originally...

Summer's Out of Reach 9/03/2024

Photo credit: Charlotte Simmons September may be the most complex month in the calendar year. It is the proverbial blessing mixed with a curse, or some might say a double-edged sword. It is our annual simultaneous ending and beginning time. Sad songs are written about the beginning of summer in...

August: The Dog Days of Summer 8/01/2024

It is a very evocative phrase, conjuring up images of exhausted dogs or struggling professional baseball players, but the origin of the expression has nothing to do with either of those things. The phrase originally comes from the Latin dies caniculares, which translates to "days of the dog...

July: Declaration of Financial Independence Month 7/18/2024

When most Americans think of July, Independence Day comes to mind immediately. We use the 4th of July to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but the Revolutionary War wasn’t declared until the 8th and independence was not won for 7 years after that, so maybe the days are...

June: The Fiscal Year End and A Month for New Beginning 6/14/2024

For many companies and government agencies, June marks the end of the fiscal year. The calendar year ends in December with holidays and begins again in the following January with resolutions about the coming year. The fiscal year is a 12-month period that can be chosen by a company to facilitate...

May is Maryland's Poster Child 5/03/2024

The month of May, as the name positively projects, is a month of growth. Here in the Old-Line State, May is a kaleidoscope of deep and rich colors. From the verdant farmlands and rolling countryside to the crisp green and blue ocean vistas, and the colorful urban cityscapes, May is a celebration of...

Spring: A Season for Hope and Strategy 4/02/2024

April is a welcome and fertile annual breeding ground for optimism, and renewed hopefulness for a successful future. Almost 300 years ago, Alexander Pope coined the phrase “hope springs eternal,” presumably referencing the renewed energy of April and “spring.” Spring season officially comes in...

The Idle of March 3/01/2024

If you own a business, the month of March should concern you. Roman history famously demonstrates how March can be a particularly tough time to be the boss. It’s like the Tuesday of months. The months of January and February are a blur, great aspirations of new beginnings and new outcomes, just...