Don Croghan, CPA

            Identity theft is a growing problem which we are all aware.  Most individuals recently have taken steps to help protect themselves from this crime on a personal level by shredding junk mail and credit monitoring.  What can businesses do to help safeguard employee and client information?  Here is a small list the Journal of Accountancy (June,2007) have created; which ones are your business implementing and which ones should they start. 

• Do not collect more personal information than is needed
• Protect personal information you collect, use, disclose, and retain
• Do not retain personal information longer than legally required and/or necessary by law
• Dispose of personal information appropriately
• Restrict access to personal information to individuals within a business needing to access information
• Ensure additional methods for sensitive personal information retained
• Instill awareness and train employees on the proper handling of personal information
• Keep antivirus software and security patches current
• Know federal, state, and local laws and the rights consumers and employees have under these laws
• Conduct regular audits to ensure personal information is protected

           These practices can help keep employee and client information safe, giving everyone a good piece of mind that their personal information is protected in your business’ hands.

Hello,
My name is Don Croghan, a CPA from Knoxville, IA. Knoxville is the birthplace of the Iowa flag and home to the Knoxville Nationals, a 4 day sprint car event known around the world as the ‘best sprint car racing anywhere”.

I have been helping with the tax and financial challenges of my clients for the past 25 years. Over the last several years, however, a new challenge has been facing the families of high school students: how to provide the best college education for their children without sacrificing everything (financially) they have worked toward to this point in their lives. You know us parents, we want only the best for our children and sometimes find it hard to find a voice of reason when it comes to college.

The parents I’ve worked with find it a challenge to file the FAFSA form, visit the colleges, get the ACT testing completed, and on and on. It’s simply too much of a stretch to find information on all the facets of getting their child ready for college these days. Most families focus on getting their child ACCEPTED at a college with a good reputation. What they should be focused on is getting their child accepted at the RIGHT college at the BEST POSSIBLE PRICE. That’s where a good college financial planner can help.

As I was gaining the knowlege to add college planning to my practice, I was sending my oldest child to college. In looking back, I know we paid a couple of thousand more than needed for her education, simply because I completed the FAFSA form incorrectly! I also could have picked a better option for college loans. The thing is, most families don’t know what they don’t know. A good college planner is worth double or triple the investment families make for their services.

So, stay tuned. In this blog I will share some insights with you that you can use to prepare for your childrens’ college education. These tips will get you more in tune with the things that make a difference on applying and paying for that college education that is so essential in todays economy!

My next post will discuss the letter that most colleges require with application to college.

Until then, if you wish to communicate with me, use the form below:

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