Hello, Summer!

Summer is finally here – and I’m sure many of you are as ready to enjoy it as I am, after all of the rain (this has been the rainiest June on record here in N.Y.) we had this spring. I’m a big believer in work-life balance, and I’ll be diving into family activities during my time off this summer, as the Weiner household heads to the East End of Long Island.

Accounting is one of the most exciting professions there is and also one of the most demanding. I encourage everyone on our team to take time to recharge – including me. It can be hard to wind down when you’ve been powering through various regulatory and tax deadlines since January, but it’s well worth it. I’m often amazed at the insights that come to me when I’m doing something that has nothing to do with work, like firing up the barbeque or spending time at the beach or in the pool with my kids.

Many of our Marcum professionals will be following my lead. Every year, we plan our schedules carefully to make sure that during our predictable down times between the various deadlines we deal with that everyone on our team has time to enjoy the summer months if they want to take time off – but that we’re still properly staffed when clients need us.

It’s hard to believe that it’s my seventh year writing this column. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead when I started it, but, as I look back, it’s been a great way for many of you to get to know me and to keep in touch with you. I wish I could meet every client individually, but given our growth in recent years, I haven’t figured out a way to make that happen. In the meantime, the notes that many of you send to me help me keep a finger on the pulse of what really matters to you. We’re an entrepreneurial firm serving other entrepreneurs, and I truly value every thought you share with me.

Before I sign off for the summer I’d be remiss without thanking the team that helps me get this column out every Friday morning. It’s not as easy as it might seem (since we’re finishing up this week’s installment at 6:30am this morning.) To Elaine Pofeldt, Julie Gross Gelfand and Chris Pelosi, a big THANK YOU! I truly couldn’t do it without you.

I wish you all a fantastic summer, no matter where you choose to spend it. Enjoy the beautiful days ahead! We’ll be back September 6!

July 4 is just around the corner. Let’s hope that the spirit of Independence Day continues to be a beacon for our country, particularly as we head into election season. It’s easy to get caught up in our differences but we’re all one people and we have a lot to appreciate and be thankful for in this great country of ours.