THE CEO’S ONE-PAGE FINANCIAL DASHBOARD FOR 2026
(January 2026)
Most CEOs do not need another dashboard. They need a better one. In this article, Jeff Solomon outlines a one-page financial framework designed to cut through noise, reduce reactive decision-making, and give leaders a clear, repeatable view of their business. The result is not better reporting, but better leadership…more.
THE DECEMBER DRIFT:
How CEOs Quietly Lose Money In The Final 30 Days Of The Year
(December 2025)
December often feels like a sprint to the finish line. In The December Drift, Jeff Solomon explains how year-end urgency can quietly undermine financial discipline and set companies up for a weaker first quarter. The article outlines the common decisions that erode cash and flexibility in the final weeks of the year and offers a practical framework to help CEOs slow down, protect margin, and enter the new year positioned for strength rather than recovery…more.
Scenario Planning for Small Businesses:
A CFO Tool You Can’t Afford to Ignore
(November 2025)
Uncertainty is not the exception in small business. It is the operating environment. In Scenario Planning for Small Businesses, Jeff Solomon explains why relying on a single forecast leaves leaders exposed and introduces a practical three-scenario framework that helps business owners prepare for both upside and downside outcomes. The article shows how scenario planning turns uncertainty into a decision-making advantage by linking financial triggers to clear, predefined actions…more.
Do Not Let Vision Outrun Finance:
A CEO’s Playbook
(October 2025)
Vision alone does not create growth. Without financial discipline, even the strongest strategy becomes wishful thinking. In Do Not Let Vision Outrun Finance, Jeff Solomon explains why CEOs must align vision, operations, and finance into a single leadership triangle. The article shows how clear ownership, disciplined planning, and CFO-level financial leadership turn ambition into executable strategy and protect the runway required for sustainable growth…more.
Cash Flow vs. Profit:
Why Your Business Can Be Profitable Yet Still Run Out of Cash
The hidden financial paradox that catches even experienced business owners off guard
(September 2025)
Profit and cash flow tell two very different stories, and confusing them is one of the most common ways otherwise healthy businesses get into trouble. In this article, Jeff Solomon explains why companies can appear profitable on paper while still facing cash shortages, and breaks down the real-world mechanics behind the profit–cash disconnect. The piece offers practical insight to help business owners protect liquidity and avoid being surprised by their bank balance…more.
Is Your Business Running on Real Numbers—or Just a Gut Feeling?
(August 2025)
Many business decisions are made with confidence but without clarity. In this article, Jeff Solomon explores the hidden risks of running a business on incomplete or outdated financial data and shows why gut instinct is not a substitute for real numbers. Through real-world examples, he explains how unclear financials undermine decision-making, stall growth, and quietly increase risk long before problems become visible…more.
Understanding the Income Statement
(April 2025)
The Income Statement is a cornerstone of financial management. It offers a detailed view of your business’s performance over a given period—monthly, quarterly, or yearly—and helps guide informed decision-making…
Interpreting an Income Statement can feel overwhelming, especially if finance isn’t your area of expertise. That’s where a fractional CFO can help. Offering high-level financial expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO, they can guide you in understanding your financial statements and turning them into actionable strategies to grow your business and improve profitability….more
Optimizing Your Business
Clearing the Clutter to Save Money (March 2025)
As business owners, we get caught up in the day-to-day grind of running our companies, but how often do we step back and think about optimizing the business itself? Whether it’s inventory, software, or resources, taking time to streamline can make a real impact. Let me walk you through a few examples to highlight what I’ve seen.
The Cost of Excess Inventory
Recently, I was at a networking event and spoke with Stan, a long-time business advisor. He shared a story about one of his clients, a product-based business with a rigid “no-discount” policy. The owner refused to run sales, which, on the surface, seemed like a strong stance on brand integrity. However, it created a significant problem—overstock…more
Ignorance or Negligence
(February 2025)
Having the right information about your business is important. For the financial aspects of your business, there are certain key indicators that you, as a business owner, should have readily at your disposal. You should have in easy reach information about:
- how much cash you have
- your payables (what you owe others)…more
Advice vs. Opinion
(January 2025)
In my profession, as a fractional CFO helping business owners to grow their companies, owners will often turn to me for advice and I am happy to provide it. After all, it is one of the reasons they work with me so they can get access to someone with over 20 years of experience as a CFO. However, there is a distinct difference between the advice I provide to my clients and my own opinions.
Normally, business owners want to know, “What would you do if you were in my shoes?”…more
Error of Omission
(December 2024)
When communicating financial information, there needs to be both clarity and understanding. Using financial jargon can quickly lose the reader. More importantly, you must write for any and all audiences.
For example, if you are a publicly held company, your audience may include shareholders, government regulators, journalists, market watchers, your employees and the general public. On the other hand, if you are held by a private equity funded…more
