MarginFirst Advisors Insights
Healthcare Costs Continue to Rise. Why Employers Are Rethinking Their Healthcare Strategy
Rising medical inflation, specialty pharmacy costs, and workforce health challenges are prompting employers to look beyond traditional cost-control strategies and rethink how healthcare is delivered. Introduction Healthcare costs have become one of the fastest-growing challenges facing employers. According to PwC, commercial medical costs are projected to increase approximately 9% in 2027, the highest trend in…
Already Filed Your Tariff Claim? You May Still Be Leaving Money on the Table
Many importers believe filing a tariff refund claim is the finish line. In many cases, it’s only the beginning. Over the past several months, we’ve spoken with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customs brokers who all told us the same thing: “We’ve already filed.” Our response is always the same: “Great. What happened next?” That question…
AI Isn’t Replacing Consultants. It’s Raising the Bar for What Good Consulting Looks Like.
AI accelerates analysis. Human judgment determines what matters. Artificial intelligence has become one of the most talked-about topics in business. Every week brings another announcement about faster models, new AI agents, or another task that can now be automated. The conversation often centers on one question: Will AI replace people? That may be the wrong…
Tariff Recovery
Margin Intelligence A $166 Billion Tariff Refund Opportunity Is Emerging. Most Importers Aren’t Ready. If your organization imported goods in 2025 or 2026 and paid tariffs, a recent court ruling may have created a significant recovery opportunity. Most business leaders have heard the headlines. A court ruling has created what may become one of the…
Business Benefits of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Public Law 119-21 is a sweeping reform that quietly restored and expands several powerful business tax incentives. These changes give business owners a rare opportunity to unlock large, immediate cash benefits that were previously phased out or restricted. You have a limited time to claim the Retroactive Credits, so act quickly. Read More
Companies Are Leaving Payroll-Tax Savings on the Table
Yet there’s one cost center almost everyone overlooks: FICA. Based on industry audits, the vast majority of U.S. employers are paying more than required — not because of an error, but because they haven’t explored a compliant, IRS-recognized structure that’s been hiding in plain sight. Read More
Tariff Impacts
Tariffs, Margins, and Market Shifts: What I’m Hearing From the Field. The new round of tariffs has sparked plenty of headlines — but what’s actually happening on the ground? Read More
The AI Business Challenge
Since the first release of this paper in 2024, the AI landscape has changed dramatically. Several new tools have hit the market, and AI has made major strides in reasoning, task execution, and information processing. Read More
The Margin Modernization Series – Part 1
Rethinking How Companies Create Value in a Cost-Pressured World This series explores the shift already underway across the business landscape — from reactivecost reduction to proactive margin expansion Read More