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• Internal Auditors Urged to Heed New SEC Proxy Disclosure Rules

  February 8, 2010

  The SEC’s recently issued proxy disclosure rules provide chief audit executives with opportunities to help companies improve their governance and risk management practices, according to the Institute of Internal Auditors.

• CPA Financial Planners Find Clients Wary of Markets

  February 4, 2010

  More than half of CPA financial planners say their wealthy clients are not confident in the stock market, according to a survey by the American Institute of CPAs.

• Financial Services School Waives New-Student Fee

  February 4, 2010

  The American College, a nonprofit educational institution that offers various financial services certification programs, is waiving its new-student fee of $130 for anyone who registers for their first course by Feb. 26.

• AICPA Offers Roth IRA Conversion Guide

  January 26, 2010

  The American Institute of CPAs is offering a CPA-oriented guide on Roth IRA conversions now that the old $100,000 income limit for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA no longer applies.

• Gamel Receives AICPA Service Award

  January 25, 2010

  The American Institute of CPAs has given its 2009 Personal Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award to financial advisor Beth Gamel.

• Majority Believe It’s Harder to Get Wealthy Now

  January 19, 2010

  A new study shows that the majority of Americans think wealth is beyond their reach and it won’t be easier to get rich any time soon.

• Taxing times call for more than tax prep

  January 11, 2010

  Financial planning is natural outgrowth in client service

• College Offers Financial Scholarships to Vets

  December 29, 2009

  The American College, an educational institution devoted to financial services classes, has created a $500,000 scholarship fund to offer financial aid to veterans.

• Advisor Software Buys Asset Management Firm

  December 28, 2009

  Advisor Software has acquired Advisor Partners LLC, an asset management firm that specializes in creating comprehensive investment portfolios and managing client accounts on behalf of professional investment advisors.

• SEC Votes for Greater Pay Disclosure at Companies

  December 16, 2009

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to require companies to disclose more information about their compensation practices and the background of their board members.

• IRS Proposes Regulations on Stock Basis Reporting

  December 16, 2009

  The Internal Revenue Service has issued proposed regulations under a new law that will require reporting of basis and other information by stock brokers and mutual fund companies for most stock purchased in 2011 and all stock purchased in 2012 and later years.

• Building better baskets

  December 14, 2009

  Down economy brings out the best in asset allocation apps

• House Passes Financial Regulatory Reform Bill

  December 11, 2009

  The House has approved a comprehensive financial reform bill, albeit with a number of key provisions weakened in recent days.

• Teaching Virginia’s Children Some Cents

  December 8, 2009

  A lot of the lessons learned from the past year’s credit crisis are pretty basic. Maybe those responsible need to go back to high school.

• Virginia CPAs Offer 2010 Financial Literacy Calendar

  December 1, 2009

  The Virginia Society of CPAs has produced a free Financial Fitness Calendar for next year.

• Site Aims to Promote Financial Literacy

  December 1, 2009

  Financial education provider Financial Finesse has launched a new Web site to promote financial literacy.

• Broker-dealers weather the crisis

  November 16, 2009

  What they did - and what they're doing differently

• When every car is a purple car

  November 16, 2009

  Asset allocation and diversification in an atypical market

• Financial Planners Oppose FINRA Oversight

  November 3, 2009

  Financial planning trade groups have written a letter to congressional leaders protesting an amendment that would extend the regulatory authority of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to cover investment advisers who are associated with broker-dealers under FINRA authority.

• PFP NEWS

  November 2, 2009

  Investors soon forget financial crisis lessons

• Insurance assurance

  November 2, 2009

  With over $3 trillion in cash values, life insurance ranks second only to the mutual fund industry in magnitude.

• CAQ: Investor confidence is stabilizing

  November 2, 2009

  Individual investors' confidence in the U.S. capital markets is stabilizing this year after dropping precipitously between 2007 and 2008, according to a survey by the Center for Audit Quality.

• Raymond James Raises Minimum AUM for Investment Advisors

  October 29, 2009

  Raymond James Financial Services is increasing the minimum level of assets under management that it requires new registered investment advisors affiliated with its Investment Advisors Division to hold, from $30 million to $50 million.

• Investing During a Non-Normal Market Environment

  October 15, 2009

  Probably the most critical goal of professional portfolio management is to allocate client assets in such a manner as to achieve appropriate diversification.

• Roth IRA Rule Changes Prompt Financial Consultations

  October 15, 2009

  A pending rule change in the eligibility requirements for a Roth individual retirement account could encourage more people to seek out guidance from their financial advisors, according to a new survey.

• LAUNCHING A PRACTICE: Removing the Barriers to Entry

  October 19, 2009

• CAQ Finds Investor Confidence Stabilizing

  September 30, 2009

  Individual investors’ confidence in the U.S. capital markets is stabilizing this year after dropping precipitously between 2007 and 2008, according to a survey by the Center for Audit Quality.

• Nearly Two-Thirds of Households Lack Financial Plans

  September 29, 2009

  Preparing for retirement and managing income while in retirement are among the top issues confronting American consumers, according to a new survey, but despite those concerns, the majority of households lack a written financial plan.

• Directory Created for Stock Grant Holders, Advisors

  September 29, 2009

  Web site myStockOptions.com has developed an online directory that connects stock grant holders with the financial, tax or legal advisors they need.

• ETFs May Displace Mutual Funds

  September 22, 2009

  Exchange-traded funds could provide better long-term investments than the traditional mutual fund, according to a new study by Deloitte.

• AICPA Joins Alliance for Investor Education

  September 17, 2009

  The American Institute of CPAs, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, and the Retirement Security Project have joined the nonprofit Alliance for Investor Education.

• Financial Advisors Identify Ways to Build Business

  September 15, 2009

  Financial advisors and wealth managers are doing better with their business-building efforts by using marketing and social media, according to a new survey.

• Web Site Aims to Clarify Financial Planning Designations

  August 25, 2009

  A new Web site from the American College aims to clear up the confusion about which advanced designations are the best fit for a financial planner’s practice.

• CFP Board Plans New Requirements

  August 11, 2009

  The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is proposing to require individuals who want to become a CFP to prepare an integrated, written financial plan and present it.

• NewRiver Provides College-Savings Plan Software

  August 4, 2009

  NewRiver Inc. has introduced FundPoint Desktop for 529 Plans, a desktop software product designed to manage multi-layered 529 college-savings plan information.

• Plante & Moran Offers Liquidity Stress Test

  August 4, 2009

  Accounting firm Plante & Moran has introduced a “Liquidity Stress Test” tool that manufacturing businesses can use to assess their working capital needs.

• AICPA Opens Financial Planner Portal

  July 16, 2009

  The American Institute of CPAs has opened a PFP Practice Portal for CPAs who are interested in becoming personal financial planners and earning the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist credential.

• Breslow Starling Joins AICPA Benefit Plan Center

  July 13, 2009

  Accounting firm Breslow Starling has been accepted into the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center by the American Institute of CPAs.

• Treasury Proposes New Law for Investment Advisors

  July 10, 2009

  The Obama administration has proposed legislation to Congress that would establish consistent standards for anybody who provides investment advice.

• When Diversification Fails

  July 9, 2009

  To help ameliorate the declines experienced during a bear market, the investment community has long advocated diversifying one's equity holdings across various equity asset classes, such as large-cap growth and value, mid-cap growth and value, and international stocks.

• FPA Urges Members to Write SEC About Custody Rule

  July 8, 2009

  The Financial Planning Association is encouraging its members to write to the Securities and Exchange Commission protesting a proposed regulation that will require investment advisors to undergo surprise annual accounting audits by an outside accounting firm.

• IMCA Raises Standards for CIMA Certification

  July 8, 2009

  The Investment Management Consultants Association implemented changes to its Certified Investment Management Analyst certification program yesterday, the organization said.

• Financial Advisor Salaries Rebound

  July 8, 2009

  Salaries of financial advisors are rebounding after a soft 2008, according to a new survey.

• AccuFund Enhances Accounting Suite

  June 29, 2009

  AccuFund has upgraded its financial reporting software for nonprofit, municipal and government organizations with new features for budget development, allocations and financial reports.

• Adaptive Planning Adds Multidimensional Planning

  June 29, 2009

  Adaptive Planning has released version 6.0 of its eponymous product, with new multidimensional business financial planning features and integration with NetSuite.

• Cheshire Adds More Estate Planning Features

  June 23, 2009

  Cheshire Software has expanded the estate planning features in its wealth management software product, Cheshire Wealth Manager.

• CPAs Tell Clients to Change Investment Strategy

  June 23, 2009

  CPAs who also hold the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist credential are advising many of their high-net-worth clients to rebalance their portfolios, reassess their tax planning and control their expenses and cash flow, according to a new survey.

• Penn Mutual Forms CPA Partnership Program

  June 16, 2009

  Penn Mutual Life Insurance has created a Professional Advisors Alliance program with the aim of bringing together financial advisors and CPAs to expand their services, distribution channels and revenue.

• Geithner Outlines Exec Compensation Reforms

  June 10, 2009

  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner described a series of reforms that the Obama administration wants to make to executive compensation practices, including support for “say-on-pay” legislation that would give investors more input into executive pay packages at public companies.

• Engineers Can Apply Financial Design

  June 5, 2009

  The huge changes in the automotive industry have caused many engineers to lose focus of their overall financial plan.

• Timing the Market? No Way!

  May 29, 2009

  It has been said repeatedly that the one aspect most investors can really count on is that markets are cyclical.

• Beyond the Magic Number

  May 22, 2009

  Americans today are being forced to review their retirement planning goals with greater scrutiny.

• Nonprofits can survive and thrive in an economic drought

  May 18, 2009

  Tough times deplete already-scarce resources across the economy, and governments are increasingly asked to provide more and more assistance as tax revenues diminish.

• In Brief

  May 4, 2009

• Financial Planning Group Supports More Regulation

  April 28, 2009

  A coalition of three prominent financial planning trade associations called for legislation to create a national organization to oversee the financial planning profession but prevent the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority from acting in that capacity.

• Developing Strategic Partnerships

  March 1, 2009

  Over the past decade, many CPA firms throughout the country have established and continue to establish financial services advisory platforms.

• Join a Wealth Management Networking Group Today!

  March 1, 2009

  As CPA, tax and accounting firms like yours look to the future, wealth management should become an integral part of every professional engagement you have with your clients.

• Advisory Teams on the Rise

  March 1, 2009

  Many financial planners, accountants, and other financial professionals are turning to advisor teams to improve practice efficiency and leverage their client bases. A recent survey of FPA members, produced by Cerulli Associates, showed that nearly half of respondents participate on advisory teams.

• Shooting for the stars

  April 19, 2009

  The Internal Revenue Service now has a new interest in sports and entertainment - and not just as a spectator.

• Estate Tax Planning for 2009 and Beyond

  April 7, 2009

  With the repeal of the federal estate tax set for 2010 and its reinstatement scheduled just one year later, estate tax planning has become more complicated than ever.

• Advising Younger Generations About Investing

  April 5, 2009

  Gen X and Y may reap some big benefits from the bear market, and advisors who target those generations could profit from helping them.

• Boomers Making Seismic Plan Changes

  April 3, 2009

  More than half of affluent 60-year-olds are revamping their retirement plans, according to Bell Investment Advisors' fourth annual Affluent Boomers at 60 Survey of 500 high net-worth 60-year-olds.

• IRS Provides COBRA Guidance

  April 2, 2009

  The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance to clarify the COBRA benefits offered under the recently passed stimulus bill.

• Tax Strategies for IRA Owners Affected by the Market

  March 31, 2009

  The sharp stock market decline we've experienced has no immediate tax effect on pre-retirement-age taxpayers who invested their traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs in stocks and mutual funds, since losses as well as gains are not recognized within either type of IRA.

• Financial Planning Briefs

  March 31, 2009

• Seniors Lack Economic Security

  March 31, 2009

• Watershed Era for Environmental Investing

  March 31, 2009

• RIA Ability to Monitor Data from Banks, Brokerage Houses

  March 31, 2009

  Financial advisors will get on-demand access to a complete view of their clients' financial portfolio, including assets held at competing brokerage firms.

• Saving More, Cutting Debt

  March 31, 2009

• Aiding 401(k) Filing Requirements

  March 31, 2009

• Cost Cutting and Saving

  March 27, 2009

  American families are said to have a newfound commitment to cutting household expenses and saving money, according to the First Command Financial Behaviors Index that was just released.

• ADP Expands Retirement Services

  March 24, 2009

  ADP has launched ADP Access, a retirement program that combines the benefits of ADP's 401(k) plan recordkeeping services and the guidance of a financial advisor.

• Grant Thornton Launches Hedge Fund Services Unit

  March 23, 2009

  Global CPA and business-advisory firm Grant Thornton is gearing to launch a new practice unit -- hedge fund internal control, governance and regulatory compliance services.

• Questions to Ask

  March 20, 2009

  Today is the first day of spring and it's a welcome sight for those of us in the Northeast. It's been a rather interesting winter, to say the least.

• Free Webcast: What You Need to Know About Estate Planning

  March 18, 2009

  No matter how much money your client has, it's crucial to have a basic estate plan simply to ensure that the financial goals of the client are met after the client dies.

• Clients, Advisors Urgently Seek Answers

  March 15, 2009

  As the economy worsens and unemployment continues to rise, many people who have stayed invested may be asking themselves if they made a mistake by not selling out and remaining in cash.

• HBK Acquires Stikelether

  March 16, 2009

  CPA firm Hill, Barth & King has acquired Stikelether & Associates of Fort Pierce, Fla., expanding the firm's presence on the state's "Treasure Coast."

• Do What You Love

  March 13, 2009

  Mary Lloyd says that retirement is simply not for old folks, anymore!

• Securities Settlements Down 50 Percent

  March 12, 2009

  The average settlement as a result of securities class-action litigation dropped more than 50 percent in 2008, to $31.2 million, according to a report from Cornerstone Research.

• Shareholder Meetings Likely to Be Contentious

  March 10, 2009

  Accounting firm BDO Seidman anticipates that shareholder meetings this year will be dominated by concerns about excessive executive compensation, recession plans and credit concerns.

• Seniors Lack Economic Security

  March 6, 2009

  So, do you get the feeling that American seniors will be living longer but on less money?

• Financial Planning Video Site Launches

  March 5, 2009

  The American College has introduced a video-on-demand Web site that will provide information for financial planners on wealth management and related topics.

• Tax & Financial Planning News

  March 1, 2009

  Crisis center launched; Avalara launches blog; Copanion names CFO; Morningstar ponders credit ratings; CCH names sales tax team; Advent net jumps; ADP net and sales rise; and SpeedTax starts channel program.

• These Ladies Are Savvy

  February 27, 2009

  Although admittedly many people look upon January 1st as the trigger-point for resolutions, an organization known as Savvy Ladies figures that April 15th is really the better date.

• Bill Would Beef up Broker-Dealer Auditor Oversight

  February 27, 2009

  Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., has introduced a bill in Congress to close a legal loophole that allowed Bernard Madoff's tiny auditing firm to avoid scrutiny.

• Tax Season Essentials: Children's Investment Income

  February 26, 2009

  Children with investment income may have part or all of this income taxed at their parent's tax rate rather than at the child's rate, according to the IRS.

• Don't count out mutual funds!

  February 23, 2009

  Talking with your clients about investment strategies may not be easy given the current economic climate, but preparation and ongoing assessment of an investor's portfolio are the keys to restoring confidence.

• Straight talk on Boomer Retirement

  February 23, 2009

  A growing number of Baby Boomers, America's largest generation, are considering retirement in the midst of what many are calling the worst economic environment since the Great Depression. This year alone, Americans have seen the value of their 401(k) and other retirement plans decline by over $2 trillion.

• Your Retirement Goals Pushed Back?

  February 20, 2009

  Despite tightening their wallets, Americans are now further from achieving their retirement goals amidst the weakening economy.

• Gillan Named Senior Advisor at SEC

  February 19, 2009

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed former Public Company Accounting Oversight Board member Kayla Gillan as senior advisor to new Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Schapiro, effective immediately.

• Can We Learn Something Here?

  February 13, 2009

  Canadian consumers are in structurally better financial shape than U.S. consumers.

• SEC Begins XBRL Mandate for First 500 Companies

  February 11, 2009

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has begun requiring 500 of the largest companies to start filing their financial statements in an interactive data format.

• Retiring: It's Not What's For Dinner

  February 10, 2009

  Retirement doesn't have to be just about bingo and shuffleboard.

• Morningstar Ponders Credit Ratings

  February 9, 2009

  Morningstar has issued a statement that it is considering establishing its own credit-ratings systems in competition with rating agencies such as Moody's and Fitch, although it has no plans in place.

• SEC Chair Wants to Beef up Enforcement

  February 9, 2009

  Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro announced plans to make it easier for SEC staff to bring enforcement actions and indicated that the Financial Accounting Standards Board would further modify fair value accounting standards.

Related Articles

• PFP NEWS

• Internal Auditors Urged to Heed New SEC Proxy Disclosure Rules

• CPA Financial Planners Find Clients Wary of Markets

• Financial Services School Waives New-Student Fee

• AICPA Offers Roth IRA Conversion Guide

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