Issue 1 �� Summer 2013

Elevate Performance

Green Investing Making an Impactwith Your Money

Ahead of the Cure “Timmy’s” Encouraged to Heal the World

Strategize the Sale Preparing to Sell Your Company

motion

2 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013

Issue 1 �� Summer 2013

www.sikich.com

Realize your organizational goals through the

one-of-a-kind solution set that Sikich, a leading

accounting, advisory, investment banking,

technology and managed services firm, brings to

your unique challenges and needs. With more than

450 associates, we rank as one of the country’s

top 40 largest Certified Public Accounting firms

and are among the top 1% of technology Value-

Added Resellers worldwide—yet you receive the

personalization and attention you need to grow

and experience success.

Get to know Sikich by reading IN Motion and taking

a look at our website, sikich.com. You’ll find out how

you can gain value for your organization through our

dedicated industry teams, client commitment and

extensive list of services:

� Accounting

& Assurance

� Business Valuation

� Dispute Advisory

� ERP & CRM Software

� Flex-Staff Solutions

� Human Resources

Consulting

� Investment Banking

& Corporate Finance

� IT Services

� Marketing &

Public Relations

� Retirement Planning

� Supply Chain

� Tax Planning

� Wealth Management

PUBLISHER Michelle Spellerberg, CMO

EDITOR Rebecca Miller

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Julie Krehbiel, CFP

DESIGNER Colleen Hughes

PHOTOGRAPHER Matt Stout

Special thanks to Timmy Global Health for

contributing to the writing of the feature story.

IN Motion is published four times a year by Sikich.

1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400, Naperville, IL 60563

Request or update your subscription

by emailing rmiller@sikich.com.

©2013 Sikich LLP, All Rights Reserved.

Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered

Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Triad Advisors,

Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich

Corporate Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the

Securities Exchange Commission and member of FINRA/SIPC.

motion

ALETTERfrom the

CEO

Throughout the years, we have prided ourselves on

providing you—our clients, our colleagues, our friends—

with news and resources that will help build business,

increase productivity and elevate performance. From tax

alerts to tips on marketing your business to cutting-edge

technology updates, we have had industry and service-specific experts ready to

help you. But we’re upping the ante.

I’m thrilled to introduce you to IN Motion, a Sikich magazine that will appear

on your desk or in your email inbox every quarter. Within each issue, you’ll

find downloads, quick tips and alerts; explore how a valued Sikich client found

success; learn more about our partners; and get access to information that will

help you improve your organizational performance today. We hope you enjoy the

first issue—and all subsequent issues—of IN Motion. I encourage you to let us

know what you think!

James A. Sikich, CPA CEO and Managing Partner

FEATURE STORY

Ahead of the Cure

4Green Investing

Making an Impact with Your Money9

Strategize the Sale

Preparing to Sell Your Company10

LEARNmore:

TABLE of Contents ��

Elevate Performance

SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 3

Meet Jeff Rudolph PARTNER

Profile

Partner-in-Charge at Sikich LLP

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Naperville, IL Office

Originally from the Bronx, New York, Jeff has been with Sikich since 1998. Find out what inspires him and the technology he’s using today.

What I like most about Sikich: The

way we look outside of the box to grow

our business and serve our clients. How

many CPA firms would build and invest

in a website to sell gourmet food, for

the simple reason of learning about

e-commerce, so we can help our clients

understand the web? Back in 1999, we

built gourmetnow.com for this very reason.

My biggest professional

accomplishment: Helping grow the

Sikich technology practice. We started

with 20 employees as Intelligent Computer

Solutions, merged with Sikich in 1998

and now have 140 tech employees.

In another life, I would be:

A fiction writer.

Three words that describe me:

Short, competitive and disciplined.

I’m inspired by: People who altruistically

take up a cause to help someone or some

group of people much less fortunate,

like a friend of mine who donated his

kidney to a friend of his—a mother of

three—to save her life.

People would be surprised to know:

That I grew up in the Sedgwick projects in

the Bronx where I never went “out” to play,

because when you live on the 10th floor

you only go “down” to play.

Two things I can’t live without:

ChapStick and reading glasses.

The one person in history I’d like to

meet: I would love to meet Albert Einstein in

present day and see what he can do with all

the advances in technology and discoveries

that have been made since 1955.

My favorite technology/gadget:

Two years ago it would have been my

Blackberry—I used one version or another

since 1997. I miss the Blackberry keyboard,

but the iPhone apps were a game changer.

Also, I never travel without the Paperwhite

e-reader (http://bit.ly/paperwhite-ereader).

I spend my leisure time: Playing poker,

working with my hands, working out,

skiing and if I get lucky, SCUBA diving.

WHAT I’M USING

My Outlook calendar runs my life. If it’s not on my calendar, the event or appointment does not exist. I also make extensive use of my contacts—not only people, but I also record every good restaurant I visit with keywords, so I can easily find each one again.

inspire

QUICK TIPS ALERTS OF THE QUARTER

Attention, recruiters! The secret to

getting top-quality job candidates in the

door while maintaining compliance: avoid

the cookie-cutter approach. Develop

a unique recruitment strategy with the

following steps.

1. Use pre-screening questions to

eliminate candidates who don’t meet

basic criteria.

2. Obtain applications from candidates

who move forward after pre-screening.

3. Conduct pre-employment testing to

determine candidates’ behaviors and

abilities—but don’t use this as a hire/

no-hire tool alone.

4. Get reference checks from past

supervisors and background checks to

determine education, criminal history

and more.

5. Formalize the offer. A good offer letter

will outline essential information and

leave no room for interpretation. Find

more tips at sikich.com/hr-guide.

Organizations currently running on

Windows XP have nine months to upgrade.

Come April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer

support the operating system, meaning no

automatic fixes, updates or technical assistance.

Without this support, an organization’s

network is vulnerable to viruses, spyware

and other malicious software. For more

information, visit http://bit.ly/xp-2014.

Every taxpayer that acquires, produces

or improves tangible property will be

required to implement the new IRS repair

and capitalization rules, effective for tax

years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

The regulations provide guidance for

treatment of materials and supplies,

repairs and routine maintenance,

capital improvements and disposal of

property subject to depreciation. Special

consideration should be given when

choosing new tax capitalization methods

as they can impact other tax deductions,

state tax and inventory. Visit bit.ly/tang14.

What laws should I consider while tax planning for the remainder of 2013?Two tax laws will have a significant impact

in 2013—the Patient Protection and

Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA)

and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of

2012 (ATRA). Under PPACA, employers

face a variety of tax-related compliance

requirements, including the “play or pay”

provision that goes into effect in 2014.

Read about changes to the tax code

and more at sikich.com/tax-strategies.

Additionally, ATRA addressed a

combination of higher taxes and forced

spending cuts scheduled to go into

effect this year. Find details about this

legislation at sikich.com/fiscal-cliff. Focusing on tax planning early will

allow you to adjust your withholding or

estimated tax payments to avoid both

a surprise and a penalty in April 2014.

4 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013

Ahead of the Cure“Timmy’s” Encouraged to Heal the World

W hen Dr. Chuck Dietzen visited Quito, Ecuador

several years ago, he saw a 93-year-old

woman who needed some education on what

causes diabetes and high blood pressure, and how to

reduce her risk. With Dr. Dietzen’s help, she adjusted

her diet—reducing her sodium intake,

in particular—and lost 15 pounds.

When Dr. Dietzen went back to Quito

last year, the woman was doing

so well, she was in a position to

stop taking her medication for both

conditions. Now, she and her two

daughters were concerned about

her 96-year-old husband, who had

been complaining of headaches

and arthritis. Dr. Dietzen reviewed

his charts, looked at the interpreter

and said, “Does he think that these

three women are causing these

headaches?” The interpreter asked

the man, who suddenly looked

up at Dr. Dietzen and said, “Si!”

Translation: “Yes!”

“Yes, he could cut back on the salt, but I’d tell you—if

I look as good as he does at 96, I’ll be very happy; if

I’m even around that long,” said Dr. Dietzen. “That’s the

sort of transformation we’re seeing in the villages; in the

Barrios—an overall improvement.”

“We’ve seen the transformation because we’re

consistent. We don’t just show up once every few

years—we are there every two to three months,” Dr.

Dietzen continued. “We’ve seen a substantial drop off

in the number of emergencies we see, and we’ve seen

incredible improvement in the sustainability of all the

chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension.”

Dr. Dietzen has been going to underserved communities

since 1999. At the beginning of his journeys, many of

the communities he visited had no infrastructure, clean

water, plumbing, roads or even

houses. He realized that quality

health care was a necessity for

these communities, but questioned

how he could deliver it in an

innovative way.

After landing an opportunity to work

with Mother Theresa on orthopedic

missions in India, Dr. Dietzen found

his answer, and Timmy Global

Health was founded in 1997 upon

his return to the United States.

“Ultimately, while working with

the South India Church of Christ

Mission and the Missionaries of

Charity, it became apparent to me

that we needed to start something

different—a different idea about how you deliver health

care to the poor,” said Dr. Dietzen. “The idea was that

we could transform the world by taking advantage of

the fact that the young people in this country have great

hearts, they are creative and resourceful, and they could

do great things.”

So Timmy Global Health, previously Timmy Foundation,

was founded in Indianapolis out of the notion that

students should be empowered to tackle global health

challenges and provide quality health care to those

who wouldn’t typically have access to it. Named after

Dr. Dietzen’s oldest brother who passed away a few

days after he was born, Timmy manages projects in

Ecuador, Guatemala, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic

and the United States. The organization sends

medical service teams made up of doctors, nurses

and students to these countries to work with partner

organizations and treat patients. Timmy also invests in

public health projects, provides financial contributions

to build the capacity of their partners, and donates

in-kind medicines and medical supplies necessary for

expanding access to care.

“One of the things that really distinguishes us and we’re

really proud of is that when we provide our services

abroad, we don’t just send medical teams—we

understand that meeting health care challenges isn’t

“The idea was that we could transform the world by taking advantage of the fact that the young people in this country have great hearts, they are creative and resourceful, and they could do great things.”

innovate

Dr. Chuck Dietzen founded Timmy Global Health

in 1997 after working with Mother Theresa on

orthopedic missions in India and delivering quality

health care to the poor.

Continued ��

SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 5

Timmy sends medical

service teams to Ecuador,

Guatemala, Nigeria and the

Dominican Republic, and

around the United States.

6 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013

just about sending volunteers to a rural community,”

said Matt MacGregor, executive director of Timmy.

“It is setting up the infrastructure and the long-term

commitments to our partners and to those communities

[that need quality health care].”

“Imagine finding a young boy in the Amazon base

of Ecuador who has a heart murmur,” MacGregor

continued. “Seeing that patient in his community is

important, but it’s the first step in a long process to

making sure that he is healthy. We have set up systems

so that we can provide the best possible chance for

our patients to thrive.”

Part of Timmy’s mission also includes financing its

partners and investing in public health programs. In

fact, Timmy distributes approximately $2.6 million of

medicine and medical supplies each year to its partner

organizations abroad, as well as to organizations in

Indianapolis that work with low-income and uninsured

populations.

“It’s a big effort to distribute $2.6 million worth of

medicine and medical supplies,” said MacGregor.

“We work on a lot on paperwork so that the health

administration and customs agencies approve [the

medicine and supplies] entering the country. We have

a big focus on making sure that we are not violating

any laws in the places we work. We understand that

there are health challenges in the places that we work,

but we’re not the type of organization that thinks we

are the ‘be all, end all’ by any means. We want to work

with local organizations and governments to make sure

we’re providing the services in the best manner.”

All of the supplies that Timmy medical teams bring

along are stored in a warehouse at the non-profit’s

Indianapolis facility. Storing them on-site allows Timmy

to ensure they are not using any tampered goods or

expired medicine.

The final part of Timmy’s mission is working with

and encouraging the next generation of health care

professionals to help improve the quality of health care

that these countries receive.

“A big part of our work is making sure that future

doctors, future nurses, future public health professionals

and future pharmacists understand how they can

transform the lives of other people and understand what

health disparities mean,” said MacGregor. “When [Dr.

“…when we provide our services abroad, we don’t just send medical teams—we understand that meeting health care challenges isn’t just about sending volunteers to a rural community; it is setting up the infrastructure and the long-term commitments to our partners and to those communities [that need quality health care].”

Timmy stores all of its supplies in a warehouse at the

non-profit’s Indianapolis facility, ensuring they do not

use tampered goods or expired medicines.

Ahead of the CureCONTINUED…

Matt MacGregor, executive director of Timmy, states

that the non-profit works with 35 universities and 10

high schools across the U.S. encouraging students

to get involved.

SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 7

Dietzen] started the organization, he looked at this scale

and scope of health care challenges and said, ‘I’m going

to throw myself at these things, and I hope other people

do as well. But I also know that meeting the needs of

the millions of people around the world who don’t have

access to health care is going to require that the next

generation is very involved.’ At our core, we are really

trying to do both of those missions—trying to expand

access to care while at the same time empowering

that next generation to tackle health disparities, both at

home and abroad.”

Though based in Indiana, Timmy works with 35

universities and 10 high schools across the United

States by encouraging those students to be on the

front lines of this movement. Timmy students—dubbed

“Timmy’s”—go abroad for a week or two and work the

rest of the year on their campuses and communities to

further Timmy’s mission.

“Our students in many

ways are our interest

groups of future health care

professionals who want to

eliminate health disparities in

any way, shape or form,” said

MacGregor. “They might do

that by traveling abroad with us

and volunteering in our clinics.

But they also do that by holding

advocacy events on their college

campuses, fundraising money

for patients they see in our

clinics, doing local service or

volunteering at a local hospital

or free clinic.”

According to Dr. Dietzen, Timmy

is an organization that truly

belongs to the students who take part in the program,

regardless of whether they aspire to work in health care

or be a community leader for another field.

“The transformation we see in the students is really in

their confidence and ability to heal,” said Dr. Dietzen.

“We give them the head nod that we believe in them,

that we actually are confident that they can step forward

and do this.”

“We’ve had some students who we’ve mentored since

high school who went on to undergrad and graduate

school, and in many of their cases medical school,” Dr.

Dietzen continued. “We recently got an email from one

of our former ‘Timmy’s’ who is finishing up his residency

in global medicine. He will be working with another not-

for-profit and actually be stationed in Rwanda. These

are the world changers.”

Dr. Dietzen is proud that patients say they love going to

Timmy clinics because they receive genuine care.

“I think that’s evident in not only what we do in each

clinic, but the compliance that we get with those

patients,” said Dr. Dietzen. “They come back to

report to us how life has changed, that they’re doing

their part and they’re pleased that we’re returning to

continue our part.” �

16 Years in Business

10 Employees One Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers

Sikich Services They Use � Audit� Tax Planning� Consulting

Contact Information22 E. 22nd StreetIndianapolis, IN 46202

Ph: (317) 920-1822

www.timmyglobalhealth.org

QUICK STATS

“A big part of our work is making sure that future doctors, future nurses, future public health professionals and future pharmacists understand how they can transform the lives of other people and understand what health disparities mean.”

8 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013

Enduring a hip replacement on both hips is tough. Add an aneurysm that nearly kills you and

four months hospital bed rest, and one

might find the situation near impossible

to handle. Last year, this happened to

Charles Hardin, an Aurora, Ill. resident.

With a good attitude, but no wife or

children, Hardin, 59, needed help making

a variety of house repairs to create a

healthier place to live—enter Rebuilding

Together Aurora (RTA).

“Taking a day to make an immediate

impact on someone’s life was a no-

brainer,” said Timm Bellazzini, audit

supervisor at Sikich. “Hearing Charles’

story made me realize how lucky I am

and how important it is to give to others

in need.”

Helping others is second nature at Sikich;

this was the fourth year the firm has

participated in RTA. Throughout the day,

a group of nearly 20 volunteers installed

electrical outlets and wiring, repaired

water damage, installed a garage door

and worked on many other projects that

positively impacted Charles by making

his house more like a home. View all our

photos at http://bit.ly/rta-2013. �

involvement

Sikich Employees Lend a HandRebuilding Together Aurora 2013

Sikich forms advisory board

Sikich has formed an Advisory Board,

to which three Chicago-area business

leaders were appointed. The leaders offer

perspectives and advice to the Sikich

Executive Board and management team

to assist the firm in reaching its goals and

continuing its quick growth.

Sikich welcomes the following members:

Paul S. Detlefs, founder and president of

The Prestwick Group, a consulting and

advisory firm focused on small and mid-

sized businesses and their owners; Dennis

M. Malchow, senior operating partner at

Arbor Investments, the leader in food and

beverage private equity; and Keven Wilder,

owner of Wilder, Inc., a retail consulting

firm that helps clients develop successful

marketing and merchandising strategies.

Sikich acquires technology practice

Effective June 1, Sikich acquired the

technology practice at PKF Texas, a

CPA and professional advisory firm.

This acquisition expands Sikich into

Texas and adds to its team of Microsoft

Dynamics NAV professionals. Eight

individuals joined Sikich through this

acquisition, including Gregory Price, CPA,

CISA, CFE, joining as a partner in the

firm’s technology practice. �

The Sikich ScoopFIRMNews

SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 9

influence

Green InvestingMaking an Impact with Your Money

F rom driving vehicles powered by natural gas or

hydrogen fuel cells, to recycling electronics, to

installing solar panels, the opportunities to live

green are becoming endless. But individuals are not

the only ones living this way—companies have been

changing their ways to reduce their carbon footprints

as well. And as the trend to live green continues and

grows, so does the trend to be a socially responsible

investor for those companies going green. According

to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible

Investment (USSIF), $3.74 trillion in total managed

assets use one or more sustainable and responsible

investing strategies, or 11 percent of the dollars under

professional management in the U.S.

Many new green investment groups use an ecological

strategy to select companies to support with investors’

money. With the recent initiatives of many local

governments and the increasing pressure to transition

from carbon dependence to alternatives, the demand

for green technology and alternative energy has been

increasing, creating a growing market and subsequently,

a new trend for investors—green investing.

What is green, or socially responsible, investing?

Green investing is investing your money in a way that

matches your values. This may mean screening out

companies that violate the Environmental Protection

Act, have bad labor conditions, have little diversity on

the board or make a product contrary to your morals.

Green investment activities focus on companies

committed to conserving natural resources, producing

alternative energy sources, and implementing

clean air and water projects or other environmentally

conscious business practices.

Pure green investments derive all or most of their

revenues from green activities. Green investments can

also be made in companies with other lines of business

in addition to green-based initiatives or products.

How can I invest in socially responsible companies?

There are several ways you can invest in green

companies, including:

� Buying the stock or bonds of individual companies

� Purchasing shares of mutual funds that only invest in

these companies

� Using a socially responsible money management firm

that asks companies about diversity programs, labor

practices, environmental issues, product safety, etc.

Green investing happens through individual securities or

pooled investment vehicles. However, green investing

is not safer than a market index (such as the S&P 500).

In fact, investing in “green” companies can be riskier

than other strategies, since many green companies are

in the development stage, with low revenues and high

earnings valuations.

What is the goal of socially responsible investing?

A major goal of socially responsible investing is to shift

your money away from destructive companies, such

as those that pollute, discriminate, employ sweatshop

labor, produce harmful products or support oppressive

governments. Shift your investments toward companies

such as renewable energy, health care and education.

Focus on diverse organizations that employ good

labor practices and have no environmental issues—or

other issues that are important to you. By investing in

socially responsible companies, pressure is put on all

companies to implement and adhere to positive social

and environmental policies.

What is “greenwashing” and how can I avoid it?

The term “greenwashing” is a combination of green

(environmentalist) plus brainwashing. Greenwashing

Continued ��

10 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013

happens when a company creates a superficial display of

concern for the environment by promoting environmentally

friendly programs to deflect attention from an

organization’s environmentally unfriendly activities.

In addition to greenwashing, is there anything else

I should be aware of?

Don’t believe everything you hear. Many environmental

claims made by consumer products are false or

misleading. Organizations are attracted to act green

for various reasons, including to:

� Divert the attention of regulators and deflate

pressure for regulatory change

� Persuade critics of good intentions

� Expand market share

� Reduce staff turnover

� Make the company attractive for potential investors

The most effective way to avoid misleading companies

is to do your research and take the time to discuss

green investing options with a professional who can

help you with the necessary research.

How do I start?

There are a number of resources that provide

information on green investing, including the USSIF

(ussif.org), Green America (greenamerica.org) and

SocialFunds (socialfunds.com). Using these resources,

start your green investing journey with these steps:

1. Start by researching companies before you invest.

Learn what corporations are doing about green

practices and be an active shareholder.

2. Determine which issues matter to you. You may want

to eliminate investments by larger categories, such

as tobacco. You may want to divert your investments

away from companies that spread pollution, have

poor labor policies, lack diversity in management or

the board room, or have product safety issues.

On a positive note, one option is to use your

investment dollars to do good for other people.

3. Bottom line: Put your investments where

your values lie.

Going green isn’t just great for the environment; it can

be good for your wallet too. Learn to impact change by

directing your investment dollars. By watching what your

investments are supporting, another area of your life will

match your values —just as your efforts to recycle and

use other green practices do. �

Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered

Investment Advisor. General securities offered through Triad

Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Source: Green America: Guide to Socially Responsible

Investing (2012)

Green InvestingCONTINUED… Strategize

the SalePreparing to Sell Your Company

I f you are a business owner contemplating selling

your company, you understand that many facets

of sale preparation are complex. As with many

important endeavors, proper preparation can have

a dramatic impact on results. Paying close attention

to a number of key issues can help business owners

increase the chances of selling at an attractive

valuation while reducing the stress and headaches

that typically accompany the sales process.

While it is impossible to identify all potential

eventualities, there are key steps business owners

can take before initiating a sales process that

are likely to enhance both the experience and

value attained. For example, understanding one’s

motivation for selling, whether for exit or retirement,

diversification of assets, need for capital growth

or another reason, can affect the entire process.

Learn more about the steps one can take for sale

preparation by downloading our whitepaper at

sikich.com/preparing-sale-whitepaper. �

Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate

Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities

Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA/SIPC.

SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 11

Do you know what your customers want?Keeping up with changes in technologies, methodologies or consumer

tastes is difficult. The marketing landscape is constantly evolving—

new technologies develop, new skill sets are deemed invaluable and

Google changes its algorithm. Staying current will help your products

and services stand out—and your customers coming back for more.

For more stats and tips, visit sikich.com/marketing-ebook.

DOWNLOAD THIS

sikich.com/marketing-ebook

13 Marketing Trends

for 2013 eBook

SOURCES: INSTAGRAM; COMSCORE

100+MILLIONU S E R S G L O B A L L Y

THIS PHOTO-SHARING-BASED SOCIAL NETWORK

HAD 30 MILLION USERS LAST YEAR.

48+MILLIONU S E R S G L O B A L L Y

ARE ACTIVE

ON PINTEREST,

COMPARED TO

APPROXIMATELY

11 MILLION

USERS ONE

YEAR AGO.

Video is surprisingly powerful.2

SOURCE: CONTENT MARKETING INSTITUTE

85%OF INTERNET USERS

IN THE U.S.

VIEWED ONLINE

VIDEO CONTENT

IN SEPTEMBER

2012 ALONE.

50% OF ALL INTERNET

TRAFFICCOULD COME FROM VIDEO CONTENT BY

201446%

OF PEOPLESAY THAT SEEING A PRODUCT OR

SERVICE MENTIONED IN AN ONLINE

VIDEO WOULD LEAD THEM TO SEEK

OUT MORE INFORMATION.

We’re in a four-screen world now.3

THIS MEANS

YOU NEED A

WEBSITE THAT

ACCOMMODATES

LAPTOP OR PC,

TELEVISION,

TABLET AND

SMARTPHONE

USERS. A WEBSITE

BUILT WITH

RESPONSIVE

WEB DESIGN

AUTOMATICALLY

RESIZES FOR THESE

DIFFERENT DEVICES.

SOURCE: GOOGLE

inbox

80%

TIME SPENT ON

APPS

OF TIME SPENT ON MOBILE DEVICES,

THE AVERAGE U.S. CONSUMER SPENDS

80% OF THAT TIME ON APPS.

� THE AVERAGE MOBILE USER LAUNCHES

NEARLY EIGHT UNIQUE APPS PER DAY.

� THE APP ECONOMY IS WORTH AN ESTIMATED

$25 BILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE.

SOURCES: FLURRY ANALYTICS;

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

90% OF

ALL MEDIA

INTERACTIONS

ARE SCREEN-

BASED.

WE SPEND 4.4

HOURS OF OUR

LEISURE TIME IN

FRONT OF SCREENS

EACH DAY.

Incorporate search engine optimization to get found online.6

93%

PERCENTAGE OF ONLINE EXPERIENCES THAT START WITH CONDUCTING A SEARCH.

75%

PERCENTAGE OF WEB USERS WHO DON’T SCROLL PAST THE FIRST PAGE OF SEARCH RESULTS.

39%

PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESSES’ CUSTOMERS WHO COME FROM ORGANIC SEARCH.

Social media is a business function.5

Visual storytelling is the wave of the future.1

4 Mobile apps are booming.

U.S. COMPANIES USING SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR MARKETING PURPOSES: 2009-2014

SOURCES: FORRESTER; HUBSPOT; MARKETINGCHARTSSOURCE: EMARKETER

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

57% 72% 81% 88% 91% 92%

1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400Naperville, IL 60563

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

2013 calendar of events

7.23DATE:

TUESDAY, JULY 23

TIME:

NOON – 1 P.M. CT

DETAILS:

sikich.com/tangible-property-webinar

NEW TANGIBLE PROPERTY REGULATIONS

Join this webinar to learn

more about the new temporary

regulations for tangible

property. These regulations

apply to the entire lifecycle of

tangible property, including

expenditures to acquire,

improve, maintain and dispose

of tangible property. The

webinar will cover issues such

as unit of property, materials

and supplies, improvements of

tangible property, accounting

method changes and more.

8.21DATE:

WEDNESDAY,

AUGUST 21

TIME:

NOON – 1 P.M. CT

DETAILS:

sikich.com/supervisory

SETTING EXPECTATIONS

As a supervisor, you must

do more than set and

maintain basic standards

if you are going to build

performance. You must

also establish individual

objectives tailored to the

needs of the organization

and employee. This

webinar will explore

what a performance

expectation looks like

and your role as a

supervisor in defining

those expectations.

8.29DATE:

THURSDAY,

AUGUST 29

TIME:

NOON – 1 P.M. CT

DETAILS:

sikich.com/retirement-webinar

MEASURING SUCCESS IN YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

A strong and effective

retirement plan is key in

recruiting and retaining

top employees as well as

meeting your fiduciary

obligations as a plan

sponsor. Determine

whether your program is

helping your employees

achieve maximum

retirement security during

our informational webinar.

9.10- 9.12DATE:

TUESDAY, 9/10

(SPRINGFIELD, IL);

WEDNESDAY, 9/11

(NAPERVILLE, IL);

THURSDAY, 9/12

(CHICAGO)

TIME:

7:30 A.M. – NOON CT

DETAILS:

sikich.com/2014-hr

WHAT’S ON YOUR 2014 HR TO-DO LIST?

Dive into your human

resources planning

activities for 2014 by

attending this seminar.

Determine what should

be on your radar screen

to help you create a

productive year for

your organization, and

examine upcoming

issues, trends and

changes in HR to get

your planning off to

a strong start.

Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate

Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA/SIPC.

For more events, visit www.sikich.com/events.

SIKICH OFFICES

CORPORATE OFFICE1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400

Naperville, IL 60563

(630) 566-8400

CHICAGO – MONROE STREET

(312) 541-9300

CHICAGO – WACKER DRIVE

(312) 648-6666

DECATUR, IL(217) 423-6000

sikich.com/decatur

DENVER, CO(720) 200-0142

HOUSTON, TX(713) 860-1466

INDIANAPOLIS, IN(317) 842-4466

sikich.com/indianapolis

ROCKFORD, IL(815) 282-6565

sikich.com/rockford

SPRINGFIELD, IL(217) 793-3363

sikich.com/springfield

ST. LOUIS, MO(314) 275-7277

sikich.com/stlouis