U.S. GDP expanded at an annualized rate of 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013, slower than expected but faster than the 0.4% growth rate in the last quarter of 2012. Growth in the private sector was partially offset by a 4.1% decline in public sector spending in the first quarter, and experts predicted that the economy will continue to improve at a relatively slow rate...

The Commerce Department released a report in late February that estimated that U.S. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 0.1% in Q4 2012, missing the 0.5% gain forecasted by analysts. This sluggish growth marked the slowest quarter since Q1 2011. Much of the weakness came from a slowdown in inventory accumulation and a decrease in military spending, which are factors that are expected to reverse in the first quarter of 2013...

One of your trusted advisors has suggested that you meet with an investment banker. You respond, “I’m not ready to sell my business, so why would I meet with an investment banker now? Those guys are deal makers interested in closing fees and not much more...

While the fiscal cliff was averted at the last minute a month ago, the U.S. economy remains tenuous, with major issues remaining including the debt ceiling and government spending cuts, and with negative reports on GDP and unemployment having an adverse impact on confidence levels. Still, many are optimistic for gradual improvement in 2013...

During the beginning of 2013, Congress approved of a bill to help avert the fiscal cliff and avoid the significant spending cuts and tax increases that were predicted to send the country back into another recession. The bill – which increased top tax rates while extending tax cuts for a majority of Americans – was initially voted on by the Senate and later approved by the House of Representatives...