While restrictions on tapping into one’s retirement account have been loosened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local financial planning experts say it still may not be the best option. If it is pursued, however, a person needs to know if ...
Read More »Experts’ insight on withdrawing retirement funds during COVID to aid in financial stability
Preparing for social and racial justice in cannabis 
American anti-cannabis policy can be traced back to the 1930s, when Harry J. Anslinger led the charge of cannabis prohibition, including industrial hemp, through racially targeted propaganda (“Reefer Madness”) that vilified the Mexican and Black communities. His influence would continue ...
Read More »Experts advise on how businesses should plan for eventual legalization of recreational marijuana 
Proponents of legalizing marijuana in New York are mixed on whether waiting until 2021 to get the law passed is a setback or an advantage for the proposed industry. New York was poised this year to become the 12th state ...
Read More »Legalization of recreational cannabis likely coming down the pike for NY 
The state of New York will pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana use in: A. 2020, B. 2021, C. in the near future, or D. none of the above. In the summer of 2020, none of those answers can be ...
Read More »Local experts weigh in on new technologies, procedures for cardiac care 
For 200 years, cardiologists have relied on stethoscopes to be able to assess patients’ hearts and lungs, says Dr. Sabu Thomas, a UR Medicine cardiologist specializing in heart failure. Now, with a handheld, point-of-care ultrasound on the market, a cardiologist ...
Read More »Clinicians: Cardiac patients shouldn’t avoid hospitals when experiencing symptoms 
Local medical providers are concerned that people may have put off important heart-related medical concerns because they were worried about going to a health care facility during COVID-19. The situation, however, appears to be improving with increased efforts to raise ...
Read More »Heightened stress levels from pandemic can impact heart health 
The cardiologist certainly could relate to what his patients were saying. This was his life, too. Stuck in the house in the early days of COVID-19. The gym closed and dreary April days discouraging outdoor exercise. A little anxiety. A ...
Read More »Risk management takeaways from COVID-19 pandemic 
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for businesses and entrepreneurs, both large and small, but experts say there are a number of risk management lessons that can be learned from the unparalleled crisis. Unlike any situation in the past century, ...
Read More »Business as usual? Managing risk amid uncertainty 
Area business owners from across industries are poised to protect and pivot, managing risk as they reopen to foot traffic. But will that usher in a return to business as usual? In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Read More »Business insurance: Take steps to reduce uncertainty 
COVID-19 is likely to have an impact on business insurance moving forward, with area experts saying it could be a balancing act between providing additional coverage for a global pandemic while keeping premiums at a manageable rate. Skip Pleninger, president ...
Read More »B2B payments: Transitioning from high touch to high tech 
Over the past few months, our workplaces have changed tremendously. Offices that were once full of people are now nearly empty. Work that was once done in person is now being done at home. With so many now working remotely, ...
Read More »Senior care agencies laser in on boosting morale, safety measures 
COVID-19 is likely to change how senior living facilities and home care agencies operate in the long-term, area experts say, and many are already seeing an impact as people transition to the “new normal.” Among the changes they could see ...
Read More »Navigating elder care amidst COVID-19 limitations 
In this upside-down world of COVID-19 almost no one is feeling normal. If you are helping an older parent or other family member as a full or part-time caregiver, you may be feeling extra anxious, stressed and overwhelmed. As if ...
Read More »Regaining trust from families as senior living communities prepare to move forward 
DJ Goldstein said he has learned something each day of his 11 months as executive director of Legacy at Maiden Park. In the past three months, one lesson has been reinforced daily. “Trust is important and I think transparency goes ...
Read More »Checking all the boxes before welcoming employees back to work 
As regions of New York State continue their phased re-openings, businesses of all sizes have prepared or are preparing to recall their employees to return to work — either physically or virtually. As with seemingly every aspect of the COVID-19 ...
Read More »