Business Columns
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The right college fit will save you moneyApr 22, 2026 9:47 am - In 1990, the cost of full-time attendance at a four-year college was around $10,000 a year. In 2025, the average cost of attendance in 2025 was $27,277 for in-state residents and $37,408 for out-of-state. And that’s at a public university. Sticker prices at private institutions is even higher.
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Will contractor’s lien prevent sale of condo unit?Apr 21, 2026 3:27 pm - A roofing contractor filed a lien against the individual units of our building. Will this lien prevent me from closing on an upcoming sale of my unit?
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Two complaints against property managersApr 20, 2026 6:29 pm - A few months before moving, I noticed a crack in the bathroom window by the stall shower. I notified management, and now they are charging the cost of the repair against my security deposit.
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A constitutional amendment to deliver property tax relief for Illinois homeownersApr 18, 2026 12:30 pm - Less than 1% of Illinois’ taxpayers earn more than $1 million per year. But that number grew by 36% between 2019 and 2023, four times the rate of growth of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000. Millionaires also have seen their inflation-adjusted incomes double over the past four decades while take-home pay has been stagnant for everyone else.
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Can a condo board keep employee disciplinary records private from owners?Apr 15, 2026 1:22 pm - As a condo owner, am I entitled to view the disciplinary records of the maintenance staff employed by the association?
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Buyer takes issue with seller’s disclosure statementApr 14, 2026 5:13 pm - A seller said a home had no issues, but the home inspector found many. The buyer canceled the sale. Should the homeowner reimburse the buyer for the inspection fee?
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Taxpayers at risk in lawmakers’ rush to pass Bears stadium billApr 11, 2026 1:20 pm - Lawmakers returning to Springfield this month have no shortage of pressing issues. Yet one item is set to rush to the front of the line: a deal to keep a new Chicago Bears stadium in Illinois.
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Can condo board include operating deficits in special assessment for repair project?Apr 08, 2026 10:23 am - Our condo board is wondering whether we can implement a special assessment for operating deficits in conjunction with a special assessment for exterior construction.
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Turning taxes into opportunity: A family approach to building wealthApr 08, 2026 10:01 am - Under new federal legislation often referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” 100% bonus depreciation was brought back. On the surface, that may sound like just another tax law change. But for the right clients, it creates real opportunities — opportunities to save money, reinvest, and move closer to what they’d like to achieve.
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Start. Use. Do. Small business marketing philosophy for todayApr 08, 2026 8:28 am - Tennis legend Arthur Ashe motivated himself with a philosophy that seems almost definitional for independent business owners today. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can,” Ashe famously stated. This mindset is what propelled him to reach for ever-increasing success.