Busy Season
With the headlines we’ve been seeing lately, it’s easy to forget that there’s a lot of other activity going on – in our own offices. Here at Marcum, we’re heading into our busy season as we help clients get ready for their annual financial statements and tax filings due in the first quarter.
This year, it’ll be busier than usual. PPP2 was approved in late December as part of the second stimulus package, and applications opened up this week for some businesses. We’ll be helping many of our clients to assess whether they qualify for this go-round and, if they do, help them submit applications so they can start 2021 on the strongest footing possible. And we are helping clients apply for forgiveness on their PPP1 loans as of this writing.
Many of our offices are trying to reopen – which at this point won’t be before February 15, while we continue to work remotely for now – but since the COVID-19 pandemic started, I’m happy to say our team hasn’t missed a beat. We are serving our clients with the same attention to personal engagement as we always have. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve actually been more productive and in closer touch with clients than ever because of our commitment to help our clients have the best outcomes in any and all circumstances, and because of all of the technologies we have at our disposal. It’s hard to believe a year ago most of us didn’t know what Zoom was.
In times like these, many middle-market companies need a sounding board, and our Marcum professionals truly enjoy helping them find creative solutions to the challenges they are facing and to make the most of new opportunities. We’ve made it a priority to see how we can be helpful – which, in the end is what we’re here for. We genuinely care about our clients and what is happening in their lives and their businesses.
If you haven’t gotten started yet on tax preparation, this week and next are an ideal time to take stock of where you are on that front. Also be sure to check out our 2020 Year-End Tax Guide, which contains a lot of useful information that can help guide you through the coming months. It’s also important to stay on top of strategic planning. If you haven’t revisited your strategic plan recently, I encourage you to reach out to your Marcum professional to make an appointment in the next week or two. We may not be working from our customary offices, but we’re very reachable by phone, videoconference and email.
With President-Elect Biden about to take office, no doubt we’ll be seeing some changes in stimulus programs and tax policy on the horizon. It’s too soon to tell exactly what shape they will take, but our team is staying on top of the latest developments so we can share them with you immediately. And we are continuously updating the Marcum Coronavirus Resource Center about stimulus-related news.
It’s not easy to stay on top of it all but we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to be aware of important updates and changes.
Monday is the annual holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., someone who dedicated his life to civil rights and racial equality and was taken from us much too soon. I’d be remiss without acknowledging everything he stood for. His legacy will live on forever.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and remember, we are all in this together!
