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Tremendous forces are radically reshaping the world of work. Economic shifts are redistributing power, wealth, competition and opportunity around the globe. Disruptive innovations, radical thinking, new business models and resource scarcity are impacting every sector. Businesses across the world are beginning to understand that they need a clear and meaningful purpose, and mandate for the decade ahead if they are to attract and retain employees, customers and partners.

Today, more business and IT executives are implementing dynamic threat intelligence and information sharing to shift cybersecurity and privacy capabilities from reactive to proactive. They understand that they can build business advantages and customer trust by detecting, responding to and mitigating cyberthreats in real time.

In 2009 the Bitcoin blockchain emerged as a form of a smart contract and has since evolved. From both a technological and legal perspective, smart contracts will continue to evolve and disrupt in digital asset sales and capital markets, supply chain management, smart government records and smart cities, real estate land registries, and self-sovereign identity systems.

President Trump’s recently released proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018, titled “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” has numerous points of interest for employers, including proposals to: cut the Department of Labor’s budget; slash the budget and workforce of the National Labor Relations Board; reduce the budget of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Program and merge it with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; implement mandatory E-Verify for all employers; and establish a federal paid family leave program.

President Trump has directed the Secretary of Labor to re-examine the Department of Labor’s (DOL) final so-called “Fiduciary Rule” to determine whether it “may adversely affect the ability of Americans to gain access to retirement information and financial advice,” and to prepare a new cost-benefit analysis of the Fiduciary Rule that focuses on potential adverse impacts on investors, retirees, and the retirement services industry.

When the only tie that binds a family together is sharing business ownership, chances are the Family Enterprise will struggle to remain family-owned and intact for successive generations. However, when the family and the Family Enterprise are mutually supportive, the opportunity for sustainability is greatly enhanced. By taking a family-centric approach and applying a “Family Accord” framework—one that is based on structure, communication, and consensus—families can enjoy far greater odds of long-term success with their Family Enterprise.

The economy is relatively healthy, but history has taught us that growth cycles don’t last forever. It’s not if there will be an economic downturn—it’s when. Knowing that there’s a cyclical pattern to many markets, savvy owners and executives figure out how to take advantage of business cycles to create a continuing growth trajectory and boost profitability. From that strategic planning point, five action items are critical to middle-market companies for maximizing growth, profitability, and value—in any economy.

Strategy is a crucial area of focus, but one area that’s often overlooked is planning for an unforeseen event. For example, what would happen to your business—and your family—in the event of your premature death or disability? How can you ensure a successful ownership transition and protect your family in the event of such an occurrence? One way is to have a buy-sell agreement in place.

Lawsuit awards can be incredibly high, and individuals known to have substantial assets are particularly vulnerable. In some cases, the high-stake lawsuits can cause devastating reputational damage. Given the risks and exposure, the need for holistic liability protection is an important issue. Learn the different types of liability insurance available and how to address some of the most common sources of risk, including board membership and social media and online activity.