New adviser rules may bolster retirement plans
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionNew rules for financial planners advising retirement plans and Health Savings Accounts could have an unexpected benefit for small businesses. The rules, from the U.S. Department of Labor, place new “fiduciary” responsibilities on financial advisers and consultants. They must pick the most economical plans – without regard to their own compensation — when advising clients. Read More →
Dubroff: Raising minimum wage to $15 per hour will hurt businesses
Columns, Latest newsHaving pushed through one of the largest tax increases in California history, Gov. Jerry Brown has now put his stamp on a minimum wage hike that will likely take away as much opportunity as it provides. A pragmatist and fiscal prude, Brown jumped into the minimum wage debate and wrung from union advocates concessions that Read More →
Forcing workers to save may be key to retirement
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionTaxes and savings are much in the news these days. Baby boomers aren’t saving enough for retirement. Millennials will need $2 million portfolios in order to achieve a decent level of retirement income. Federal income taxes are too high – and don’t get us started about California. Old-fashioned pensions are largely gone from the private Read More →
Bigger global effort needed to thwart ISIS terrorism
Columns, Latest newsWhat a difference a year makes in the fight against terrorism. Fifteen months ago, the world witnessed an assault on freedom of the press when terrorists allied with ISIS attacked and murdered journalists from Charlie Hebdo, the satirical French magazine. As millions of people mourned the 11 victims, some wondered if the magazine itself had Read More →
Tacky chamber move sets a bad example
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionWhen we launched the Pacific Coast Business Times 16 years ago, one of our core values was to respect existing business organizations. That’s why we went the extra step and joined chambers of commerce from the Conejo Valley to San Luis Obispo. We continue to support our chambers and last year we became a media Read More →
State of the City: Santa Barbara in great fiscal shape
Latest newsSanta Barbara is in its best fiscal shape since the Great Recession but faces some hurdles in the short-term, top officials said at the annual State of the City breakfast March 24 at the Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. City Manager Paul Casey said the city has full-funded general reserves – or 25 percent of one Read More →
Dubroff: Santa Barbara takes a regional view of innovation culture
Columns, Latest newsIn a sign that the current wave of tech entrepreneurship might just be sustainable, cities across the Tri-Counties are beginning to embrace the startup culture. San Luis Obispo is thinking about housing a much bigger tech savvy workforce, working closely with Cal Poly and capitalizing on the success of MindBody. Ventura is looking beyond the Read More →
