Latest news with #PaulMiller
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Orion Innovation Listed in The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025 Report
EDISON, N.J., /CNW/ -- Orion Innovation ("Orion"), a leading digital transformation and product development services firm, announced it was named in Forrester's report, The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025. In the report, Forrester defines connected product engineering service providers as "Firms that conceive, design, develop, launch, and scale new connected (or embodied) products that combine a physical product with digital applications to directly deliver new revenue for their clients." The report acknowledges Orion among notable product engineering services providers; Orion sees this as a significant acknowledgment of the company's capabilities and momentum in helping enterprises engineer smart, connected products that drive innovation and business value. "We are proud to be recognized by Forrester in the Connected Product Engineering Landscape," said Dmitry Oshmarin, CTO of Product Engineering, Orion Innovation. "Our mission is to help our clients reimagine what's possible with connected products—accelerating time to market, improving user experience, and unlocking new revenue models. To us, this acknowledgment shows the impact we're making through our end-to-end digital engineering capabilities." The report provides an overview of notable service providers that help enterprises design, build, and scale connected hardware and software products. Orion's attributes its inclusion to its deep engineering expertise, domain-led approach, and ability to deliver high-performance, next-generation connected solutions across industries such as manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, and consumer technology. This recognition comes at a time when enterprises are doubling down on connected product strategies to stay competitive and meet the growing demand for intelligent, data-driven experiences. Authored by Forrester Vice President and Principal Analyst, Paul Miller, the report mentions that connected product engineering services can fill gaps in organizations' capabilities, validating market fit for new products, reducing time to market, and ensuring the cost-effective delivery of a connected product's value throughout that product's life. Orion brings together its strong heritage in embedded systems, cloud, IoT, and AI with a customer-centric innovation mindset to enable organizations to create smarter, more sustainable products. From concept to deployment—and continuous evolution—Orion supports clients at every stage of the product lifecycle. About Orion Innovation Orion Innovation (Orion) is a leading digital transformation and product development services firm. Rooted in engineering excellence and design thinking, Orion combines agility, scale, and maturity to deliver impactful solutions. With a team of approximately 6,000 associates, the company helps Fortune 1000 clients improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and build innovative digital products. Orion invests in advancing Data & AI—including Generative AI—and Cloud technologies to drive customer innovation. Operating from offices across North America, EMEA, India, and Latin America, Orion serves clients in a wide range of industries, including Telecom, Media & Technology, Sports & Entertainment, Professional Services, Financial Services, and Healthcare & Life Sciences. For more information, visit
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
7 Key Signs Your Budget Isn't Working
We hear a lot about how challenging sticking to a budget can be, particularly when we're new to the process, but we don't often hear about how challenging it can be to adhere to a budget that just isn't serving us. In fact, we may not even know the signs that a budget we're so earnestly trying to honor is a total bust and potentially doing us more harm than good. Read Next: Check Out: GOBankingRates spoke with financial experts to learn about the seven red flags indicating your budget isn't working — and what to do to get back on track. Do you find yourself dipping into savings or using credit cards to cover basic expenses? If you have, your budget is failing you. 'If your monthly paycheck isn't covering things like groceries, utilities or gas and you're regularly pulling from your savings or running up your credit cards, that's a red flag,' said Paul Miller, CPA, founder at Miller and Company, LLP. 'It means your budget isn't aligned with your actual cost of living.' To get on track, you'll need to get back to the basics of your budget. 'Track every dollar for a full month — even the $5 coffee,' Miller said. 'Then compare your fixed vs. variable expenses. You may need to cut back on discretionary spending or reassess housing or transportation costs. The goal is to ensure you're living within your means, not beyond them.' Explore More: Money can be a lot like time in that we may look at our situation and think, 'Where did it all go?' But if you find yourself wondering this fairly often, your budget is definitely not serving you. 'This one's common,' Miller said. 'If your account balance feels like it evaporates faster than expected, your budget may be too vague, or worse, nonexistent.' If you're not sure where your money is going, start with a zero-based budget, 'where every dollar is assigned a job, including savings and fun money,' Miller said. 'Awareness is powerful. Once you know where the money is going, you can redirect it more intentionally.' Living paycheck to paycheck is all too common in the U.S., and one of the main points of a budget is to avoid or break this cycle. 'If you've budgeted but you still end up having very little or nothing at all at the end of the month anyway, what you've budgeted aren't actual behaviors but dreams,' said Bill London, partner at Kimura London & White LLP. 'There should be some breathing room in your work budget — not survival but some breathing room.' Tracking expenses is key to remedy this problem. 'Compare reality expenses and your current budget,' London said. 'You probably underestimate something as basic as food, commute or subscriptions. Get your budget into reality so it most accurately represents reality (not reality you hope it were) and make deposits into your savings cushion every month — even $50.' It can take a long time to reach our financial goals, particularly the big ones like saving enough for a down payment on a house or eliminating student loan debt. But we should, gradually, be making some progress as the months go by. If you're not, something is wrong. 'If you've been trying to save for a vacation, pay off debt or build an emergency fund and nothing's growing, it's likely your budget isn't prioritizing those goals,' Miller said, adding that the way to solve this is to 'pay yourself first, build automatic savings into your budget like it's a bill. Even $50 or $100/month adds up over time. If debt is the issue, try the snowball or avalanche method, and make sure your monthly budget reflects a plan not just survival.' The mere word 'budget' can make us feel like a door slamming in our face, cutting off access to joy. But an effective budget is actually meant to be freeing, so if you feel deprived, your budget is probably broken — or at least, how you think about it is. 'Many people view budgets as something that says, 'No! You can't spend money!' Understandably, this makes the word 'budget' invoke feelings of restriction, shame, guilt, tension and other negative emotions,' said Emily Blain, an accredited financial counselor and the owner of Dream Big Financial Coaching. 'Instead, shift your mindset to give yourself permission to spend your budgeted amounts without feeling guilty! Rather than 'I can only spend $X on eating out,' think 'I can spend $X on eating out and still spend $Y on clothes without worrying about paying my bills!'' 'If you have a budget but don't know whether you can afford to add an expense or travel somewhere, your budget isn't helping,' Blain said. 'Your budget should help you clearly see trade-offs and know how much wiggle room you have when bills go up or you want to add a new subscription. If travel and vacations are important to you, then those should have a permanent home in your budget so you can save for them year-round.' If you have a partner with whom you share a financial life and things have been tense lately in terms of money, a lacking budget could be to blame. 'Budgeting isn't just about the numbers, it's about peace of mind,' Miller said. 'If you and your partner are frequently tense or disagreeing about spending, that's a sign the budget isn't working for you.' The trick is to make budgeting a team sport. 'Sit down together once a month to review spending, adjust where needed, and agree on shared goals,' Miller said. 'If you're solo, find an accountability partner. A budget should help you feel more in control, not more anxious.' More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Mark Cuban Says Trump's Executive Order To Lower Medication Costs Has a 'Real Shot' -- Here's Why This article originally appeared on 7 Key Signs Your Budget Isn't Working
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's temporary tax breaks: 5 ‘big beautiful bill' provisions that may not stick around for long
Millions of Americans will see significant shifts in their tax bills under President Donald Trump's 'big beautiful bill.' The sweeping legislation delivers several key tax breaks, including no federal income tax on some tips and overtime pay, a car loan interest deduction, a higher state and local tax (SALT) deduction and a new 'bonus' deduction for qualifying seniors. However, those provisions come with an expiration date. 'These provisions are temporary largely due to how tax legislation must be structured to comply with budget rules in Congress,' says Paul Miller, CPA and founder of accounting firm Miller and Company in New York City. 'To avoid blowing up the federal deficit, many cuts or benefits expire after a few years unless extended,' he says. Here's a closer look at some of the major tax breaks that are slated to disappear and how that could impact your taxes. Under the new law, the cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction jumps from $10,000 to $40,000, but only for five years. The SALT deduction sparked intense debate during negotiations over the bill. Several key Republican lawmakers withheld their support until the cap was raised, particularly to provide relief to residents in high-tax states. In response, GOP leaders added the temporary increase to secure passage. While a taxpayer can claim up to $40,000 in 2025, that cap adjusts annually for inflation, starting with $40,400 in 2026. Once the provision expires after 2029, unless extended by Congress the deduction will revert to the prior $10,000 cap. The enhanced SALT deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $500,000 or more in 2025. The MAGI limitation will also be adjusted for inflation through 2029. 'Once this provision sunsets, it could drop back down, meaning taxpayers in high-tax states could lose a significant deduction,' Miller says. 'If you're planning on paying off large state or local tax bills such as property taxes or state income taxes, now might be the time to do so.' Prior to the passage of the new tax law, the SALT limit was set at $10,000 with that cap scheduled to sunset in 2025. The new measure significantly expands the deduction for now and taxpayers who itemize their deductions can take advantage of the temporary measure. Learn more: These nine states have no income tax — will you save money? A key campaign promise by Trump is now law — at least for the next four years: to eliminate taxes on tips. Under the new law, taxes on qualified tips will be temporarily eliminated for some workers. Currently, tip income is taxable and workers who receive it are required to report and pay taxes on those earnings during the year. However, beginning in 2025, taxpayers can deduct up to $25,000 of tip income when they file their federal income tax return. The new tax benefit is available whether a taxpayer itemizes or takes the standard deduction, and is in effect from 2025 through 2028. To qualify, a taxpayer's MAGI must not exceed $150,000 for single filers or $300,000 for married filing jointly couples. The new bill not only extends the deduction to employees but also to independent contractors and business owners who receive tips as part of their operations. However, to qualify, their gross income (including tips) must exceed their business expenses, not including the tip deduction itself. For example, a freelancer who earns $55,000 in 2025 — including qualifying tips — and has $20,000 in business expenses (excluding the tip deduction) would be eligible to claim the deduction, since their gross income exceeds their expenses. Learn more: Standard deduction vs. itemized deduction: Pros, cons and how to decide Workers who pick up extra shifts may now qualify for temporary relief on their overtime pay. From 2025 through 2028, single filers can deduct up to $12,500 of overtime pay, and married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $25,000. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, employees who work more than 40 hours per week are typically entitled to time and a half for each additional hour worked. Like regular wages, overtime pay is generally taxable. Under the new law, workers will still pay taxes on overtime pay throughout the year, but they may qualify for a deduction when filing their federal income tax return. The deduction is available regardless of whether the taxpayer itemizes their deductions or chooses the standard deduction. In order to qualify for the deduction, the taxpayer must provide a valid Social Security number. Both the tip income and overtime pay deductions operate in the same way: Taxpayers can reduce their taxable income as long as their MAGI is below $150,000 ($300,000 if married filing jointly). For taxpayers whose income exceeds these thresholds, the deductions will begin to phase out. 'This is a big [tax break] for working-class earners,' Miller says. 'If you rely on tips or are working extra hours, now's the time to capitalize on this break.' He cautions taxpayers not to assume this provision will last beyond 2028. Instead, he advises using it as a tool to help build an emergency savings fund and avoid increased spending during this time period. Learn more: Current tax brackets and federal income tax rates Taxpayers aged 65 or older can benefit from a temporary tax break of up to $6,000 from 2025 through 2028. This bonus deduction is designed to help ease the financial burden on older Americans. To qualify, seniors must meet both the 65-or-older age rule, and income requirements: Single filers must have income below $75,000 Married couples filing jointly must have income below $150,000 For a married couple filing jointly, if both spouses are 65 or older and meet the income thresholds, the deduction doubles to $12,000. This deduction can be claimed whether taxpayers itemize or take the standard deduction. This tax break expires after 2028, unless Congress extends it. The additional deduction for qualifying seniors is another helpful, though temporary, provision, Miller says. 'For retirees on a fixed income, even a modest bump in the standard deduction can significantly reduce their taxable income,' he says. 'It's a good time for seniors to reassess how they manage withdrawals from retirement accounts, and for families to consider tax-smart strategies for elder care.' Learn more: A new charitable giving tax deduction is coming, and millions of taxpayers will qualify Car owners can now claim a temporary deduction that allows up to $10,000 in interest paid on qualified auto loans to be deducted on their tax return. Before the passage of the new tax law, interest on personal auto loans wasn't deductible. This new provision applies to tax years 2025 through 2028. After that, the deduction will no longer be available, unless Congress extends the provision. Taxpayers may qualify for the new deduction whether or not they itemize or take the standard deduction. But their MAGI must not exceed $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for married couples filing jointly. Along with income requirements, the vehicle must meet certain criteria, which include the following: Must be used for personal purposes (commercial vehicles won't qualify) Must be classified as a car, minivan, SUV, pickup truck or motorcycle Must weigh less than 14,000 pounds Final assembly of the vehicle must be completed in the United States Learn more: Electric vehicle (EV) tax credit hits a dead end under the megabill While millions of Americans will see tax savings as early as this year, it's important to remember that these breaks are temporary. From a bonus tax deduction for older adults to no federal tax on tips and overtime pay, and a higher SALT cap, now is the time to plan ahead. Many of these provisions are scheduled to expire in 2028, unless Congress acts. Taxpayers should take full advantage of these tax breaks before the window closes. 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Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Questex Strengthens Operational Real Estate Platform Through Acquisition, Expanding Strategic Growth and Market Leadership in the Built Environment
NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questex, a leading authority in the operational real estate investment sector, today announces the acquisition of the event and media assets of Affordable Housing Finance and Multifamily Executive. This move reinforces the company's aggressive growth strategy and positions it to capitalize on rising market demand across the built environment. The acquisition significantly expands Questex's real estate portfolio extending its global hospitality real estate presence into the U.S. affordable housing and multi-family markets, which are projecting growth over the next several years, driven by sustained demand, demographic shifts, and public-private investment initiatives. The acquisition supports Questex's overarching growth strategy, which focuses on both organic and strategic expansion within fast-evolving, high-growth industries. There is a nationwide shortage of affordable housing and according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2029 housing market forecast, home prices are projected to increase by approximately 17% from 2024 levels—outpacing inflation and underscoring the critical role of the multi-family and affordable housing sectors in the future of real estate. Sources: U.S. News & World Report: 2025-2029 Housing Market Predictions and National Low Income Housing Coalition The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes These adjacent markets share strong synergies with Questex's existing operational real estate offerings, presenting a compelling opportunity to deliver essential content, connections, and innovations to a broader ecosystem. By integrating Affordable Housing Finance and Multifamily Executive, Questex further solidifies its leading position as a trusted partner to decision-makers across the hospitality, real estate, and housing finance sectors. 'The affordable housing and multi-family markets are experiencing rapid growth amid increasing urbanization and rising global demand for accessible housing,' said Paul Miller, CEO of Questex. 'This acquisition enables us to bring our proven expertise in high-impact events, data-driven digital platforms, and actionable insights to these expanding sectors. It reflects our commitment to helping people live better and longer by investing in industries that shape how we live, work, and experience the world.' Building on a significant hospitality platform, Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Hospitality & Operational Real Estate, a newly created group comprised of living and lodging real estate media and event assets at Questex, unveils a strengthened and strategically aligned group, focusing on the Built Environment. Khajavi added, 'This addition reinforces our leadership in real estate and aligns with our broader strategy of serving global and scaled sectors that are reshaping the built environment and the experience economy.' This acquisition builds on Questex's recent strategic initiatives in the real estate space, including the acquisition of the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), the 2024 launch of IHIF Asia, and the debut of BxR, the first U.S. event dedicated to branded residences. Questex will use its expanded real estate position as a launch pad for additional organic launches in underserved areas of the market. For more information about Questex and its growing portfolio, visit About QuestexQuestex helps people live better and longer. The company brings people together in the markets that help people live better—hospitality, operational real estate and wellness—and the industries that help people live longer—life sciences and healthcare—along with the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. In the experience economy, Questex connects its ecosystem through live events, enriched with data insights and digital communities, to deliver exceptional experiences and measurable results. It happens here. Media Contact:Kate SpellmanChief Commercial OfficerQuestexkspellman@ (212) 895-8488Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Ombudsman criticises Revenue NSW for trying to silence corruption watchdog complaints
A "deeply concerning" attempt by the NSW tax and fine collection agency to silence complaints and prevent people going to the corruption watchdog has been revealed, leading to a demand for a wideranging audit. The NSW Ombudsman tabled a special report in state parliament on Monday, claiming the extraordinary action was warranted due to Revenue NSW's conduct. The agency tried to resolve a dispute using a deed of settlement and release, which explicitly stated complaints against it could not be lodged to the ombudsman or the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). "The Deed impedes the work of integrity agencies, and is contrary to the public interest," ombudsman Paul Miller wrote in the report. "The provision has a chilling effect on complaints and may result in agencies evading proper scrutiny." If you have any information about a story, contact Tony Ibrahim. The settlement contract also includes confidentiality clauses, prohibiting people who sign it from making its terms public. The ICAC added taxpayers have a statutory right to complain to integrity agencies. "Any attempt to enforce such a provision would also constitute detrimental action against a person for making a complaint," chief commissioner John Hatzistergos said, in response to a draft copy of the report. The ombudsman said it came across the "deeply concerning" instance after reviewing public complaints made against Revenue NSW. Revenue NSW responded to the findings a week after receiving a copy of the ombudsman's draft report. The agency said the deed was being used to settle a "prolonged" tax dispute last month, and that the contract passed a review conducted by the Crown Solicitor's Office. He denied the problematic provision was part of the agency's standard practice, claiming similar provisions have not been spotted in other settlement contracts, in the week after learning about the report's findings. But a research institute dedicated to preserving Australia's democratic foundations believes not enough is being done to determine if other agencies are including similar provisions in their contracts. "There is every possibility that there could be 20 or 30 or hundreds of these deeds signed in circumstances where there could be instances of corrupt conduct within Revenue NSW and we wouldn't know," chair of the Centre for Public Integrity Anthony Whealy KC said. Mr Whealy said the risk of having the provision in more forms could be unchecked misconduct or corruption, as integrity agencies might not have had a basis to investigate. "This is such a dangerous precedent and such a dangerous document that I think the only way the public could be satisfied was for a full audit to be carried out in all of the government departments." His calls go beyond the recommendations made by Mr Miller, who instead recommended the Premier's Department and the Cabinet Office issue a directive to all government agencies, informing them "that this practice is inappropriate and unacceptable, and that it is not to be done". Mr Whealy also recommended Revenue NSW disregard any provision in a deed prohibiting someone from making complaints to integrity bodies, and to not take steps to enforce it. The state government stopped short of committing to a course of action but condemned the use of the problematic provision. "We'll have a look at [an audit] and whether there needs to be any reminders from the Department of Premier and cabinet," Acting Premier Ryan Park said. "We have these instruments and agencies in place so that the community can have confidence in their public officials who administer their money."
