small business owners

Small businesses have and will continue to play a vital role in helping communities thrive. In the past small businesses have typically been our local bakery, florist, dry cleaners, barber shop, candy store, and the pizza and sandwich shop. Present day, small businesses now include online artisan and jewelry boutiques, clothing stores, food trucks, pop-up shops, nail salons, and pet walkers, to name a few.

During this National Entrepreneur Month, we not only recognize the tenacity of small business owners, but our veterans who took the leap of faith to open a small business. While November is widely known as a time our country honors and recognizes the contributions veterans made to our country, it’s also a moment we acknowledge the impact entrepreneurs have made to our economy; both adding valuable contributions to our country.

Have you thought about turning your passion and something that serves others into an opportunity that could pay the bills? Perhaps you sold lemonade, homemade desserts or candy when you were a kid. At that time, you were probably nurturing your entrepreneurial spirit. Many small-business owners will agree that when you’re passionate about what you do, it does not feel like work; you’re just doing what you were placed on this earth to do.

Move to Cape Cod and spend my days watching the waves roll in ... return to New York to be close to my roots ... or venture someplace completely new. What I want to do when I retire, I still don't know. What I do know is, I want to be in control of my financial future and to live independently as I age.

Future Beneficiaries Could Choose Private Plans: Liberal Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., have teamed up to come up with a political compromise on Medicare spending.