Even highly trusted, well meaning, and proficient employees have been known to crack under financial strain and resort to stealing from their workplace.

Harder times mean some employees will be looking for ways they can cut down their personal expenditures. One technique they may resort to is pilfering your business' assets.

Processes and routines that remove temptation and opportunity - or internal controls as accountants refer to them - are the most effective way of deterring internal theft.

Here are some tips to help set up your controls. And, we can help with your business' specific situation. Just give us a call!

Many family fights are about money. In bad times the fights are worse and more frequent. They can permanently damage a struggling relationship.

We have some suggestions to help:

• Talk to your spouse about money. Really. Talk!. Check out You Paid How Much for That? before your next "discussion" about money.
• Lean the 6 Financial Mistakes that Couples Make, and avoid them.

Your accountant is happy to provide impartial financial advice, but we let others do the marriage counseling. So, read the books and articles, and do some constructive talking.

"Remember, everyone loves to feel important and the best place to start making someone feel important is right at the beginning, with the first person the customer has contact with," counsels Hal Becker.

If you want to provide excellent customer service, turn to the person doing your receptionist duties. Check their traits, support them, and don't cut them to "save" money.

You will receive 40 automatic entries in the Tax Season Giveaway if you get all your tax information to Sterck Kulik O'Neill by 5:30 pm today. That's 40 chances to win a Garmin 760 GPS, a 120 Gigabyte iPod classic, a Canon 10 Megapixel camera, or 8 Gigabyte iPod Nanos.

Can't do it today? Then deliver the information by next Friday and earn automatic 20 entries!

Help us do your taxes on time AND receive automatic chances to receive the GPS and other cool electronics!