A Man is Not a Plan Book Earns 2020 TAZ Award

Mary Grace Musuneggi’s book A Man is Not a Plan was announced as a 2020 TAZ Award winner. A Man is Not a Plan is one of two books receiving TAZ recognition in the Business category. The TAZ Book Awards celebrate accomplished authors in the genres of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, young readers, and drama.

“I am honored to be recognized by the TAZ Awards,” said Mary Grace Musuneggi, CLU, ChFC, CFS, RFC. “I am passionate about helping women take control of their lives and it is gratifying to have this work receive such a distinction.”

The Authors’ Zone has held the TAZ book competition since 2014. Books are awarded based 80% on content and 20% on production.

A Man is Not a Plan: Success Strategies for Independent Women helps women understand and navigate the issues that could keep them from becoming the CEO of their life. It is Mary Grace Musuneggi’s second book following Singles Steps: Strategies for Abundant Living.

Mary Grace Musuneggi helps individuals and small business owners develop comprehensive strategies for pursuing their financial goals. An award-winning entrepreneur and Chairman & CEO of The Musuneggi Financial Group, Mary Grace is also a financial educator, author and motivational speaker who frequently lectures on financial planning and lifestyle issues.

Throughout her career, Mary Grace met women who were facing challenges that dramatically influenced their lifestyles and the quality of their lives. In response to this, she founded Single Steps Strategies, a life planning resource that helps women work towards abundant, balanced and successful lives. Single Steps Strategies recently celebrated ten years of empowering women through information and education.

Click here to order A Man is Not a Plan.

About A Man is Not A Plan

At the age of 25, as a widow with a nine-month old son, Mary Grace Musuneggi became keenly aware that Cinderella was a fairy tale and that her salary as a parochial school teacher would never be enough to realize her goal of owning a home. Mary Grace decided to take charge of her own situation and carve out the abundant life she wanted for herself and her son. The story of her journey to become the first female agent in an insurance firm, to that firm’s first female financial planner, to Chairman and CEO of her own successful firm is filled with anecdotes, humor, and practical advice. In her role as a financial planner, Mary Grace meets women of all ages who rely on a man as a financial plan with disastrous results. But you won’t find detailed instructions about how to make a budget here because this book is about more than money. It is about finding the courage to be CEO of your own life, whether a man is in your life or not. This book will inspire you to examine your own dreams and goals and to get on the path of achieving them one step at a time. Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and start reading. This book will change the way you think and the way you live.

Mary Grace Book Event

On Sunday, March 8, Mary Grace Musuneggi joined other “Inspiring Women Authors” for a celebration of Women’s History Month.

The event included reading of excerpts from A Man is Not a Plan as well as questions from women in attendance.

The event was sponsored by Passages & Prose and held at the Barnes & Noble at Settlers Ridge.

Get your own copy of A Man is Not a Plan here and learn how to make your own history happen!

Women Business Enterprise Certification

This article was supplied by Danielle Dietrich, Esq. of Tucker Arensberg. Danielle is the April, 2020 Singles Steps Strategies Spotlight.

Many people have heard of diversity certifications for their business, but most haven’t explored the option. Now is a great time to work on an application for certification if your business is a candidate: 51% owned and controlled by one or more women or minorities. Certifications as a WBE and/or MBE generally do not have size requirements. However, in order to qualify as a DBE (through the government), your business must be below the threshold set by the Small Business Administration rules for your industry. For DBE certification, the owner may have a maximum personal net worth of less than $1.32 million (certain assets, such as ownership in your business and your residence are excluded).

Not only can a certification help your business in the long run, but the documentation required is much of the same information that your business may be pulling together for loans and other relief due to the COVID-19 crisis.

WHAT CAN WBE/MBE/DBE STATUS DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

State and federal agencies, as well as corporations, often have diversity spend requirements or goals.

Many state and federal contracts have requirements that a certain amount of the contract spend must be with diverse suppliers. It is not enough to be a diverse supplier- you will need to show that you are certified. Having a certification can give you access to those opportunities that you would not have without your certification.

Even if your business does not do government work, many corporations now have similar goals and/or requirements for diversity spends. There are also additional opportunities for diverse businesses to network with these corporations and learn about opportunities for work. There are incredible networking opportunities, both formal and informal, with other diversely owned businesses. For example, I am part of a local group of women-owned businesses that gets together monthly for lunch or breakfast. The amount of connections made through this informal group is tremendous. It is rare to leave that meeting without a connection having been made to help your business.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

The process involves gathering a lot of information about your business and your finances (both personal and business) and filling out a detailed application. Some business owner are intimidated by this process- perhaps your business records aren’t in the best shape. However, I suggest that you view this as an opportunity to get this part of your business “cleaned up” – your business will be the better for it.

After the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by one of the certifying agencies. They may ask for additional documentation or clarification on certain issues. Next, the agency will schedule a site visit. They will visit you at your place of business (or your home, if you do not have a separate office) to interview the owner(s). During this visit, they are looking to make sure that the purported woman or minority owner is really the one controlling and operating the business. Please note that during the COVID-19 crisis, I have heard of some of these site visits taking place via video conference.

After the site visit is completed, the certifying agency will issue a decision. If you are approved, congratulations! If you are denied, you may have the opportunity to file a formal appeal. I strongly suggest that you do not appeal without legal assistance.

HOW I CAN HELP YOU WITH THE PROCESS

I have helped many clients through all levels of the certification process- as much or as little as needed. Some clients want me involved throughout the entire process- helping them gather and organize documents, drafting the application, etc. Other clients put together their entire application, and have me do a final review to spot potential issues prior to submission. Some clients only call me once there is an issue- requests for more information, or to appeal denials.

The best time to involve me in the process is prior to submitting your application. Through my experience with the different certifying agencies and knowledge of the factors they consider, I can spot potential issues and trouble spots prior to submission. For example – I often see language in Operating Agreements in multimember LLCs that requires “supermajority” votes for certain actions. These can potentially tank your application! By having me review the application, I can help you correct any issues prior to submission, saving you time and money. Once you submit the application, you cannot go back and change the information that you submitted. If you are denied, you cannot apply again for another year.

– Danielle Dietrich, Esq., Tucker Arensberg

Special Offer for Single Steps Readers

As a thank you to Single Steps Strategies for including me in this feature, I am pleased to offer readers a complimentary 15-minute consultation regarding whether any of these certifications are right for your business- please email me to schedule (all consultations subject to a conflicts check). – Danielle