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• 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.

• Planning to Ease the Pain

  February 7, 2009

  The need for financial planning tools that can help is greater than ever. Products reviewed: Cheshire WealthManager, eMoney, GainsKeeper, MasterPlan, NaviPlan, Morningstar Principia, Profiles Professional, PFP Notebook, PFP Relief, ViewPlan

• This Year's 10 Investment Resolutions

  February 6, 2009

  Manny Weintraub is the founder, principal, and portfolio manager of Integre Advisors, based in New York City.

• 70 Is the New 65

  February 6, 2009

  Many Americans are planning to delay retirement, postpone vacations and reconsider buying or selling their homes as the result of the economy, according to a new survey by the American Institute of CPAs.

• CPA Financial Advisors Reassure Worried Clients

  February 6, 2009

  Clients are coming to their CPAs with concerns about their shrinking retirement savings as the recession deepens.

• Wiss Forms Economic Recovery Team

  February 2, 2009

  Accounting firm Wiss & Co. has created an economic advisory group to help business owners and executives deal with the recession.

• Ease Section 529 Plan Investment Restrictions for 2009

  February 1, 2009

• Financial Planning Briefs

  February 1, 2009

  IRA and Section 529 credit card rewards, Schwab combines units, and estate planning strategy models.

• Increased Regulation of Hedge Funds Expected

  February 1, 2009

  Over 98 percent of senior hedge fund managers surveyed expect increased regulation of the hedge fund industry.

• Single Repository for Municipal Bond Info

  February 1, 2009

  The SEC has announced it has made rules change so the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board will become the central repository for ongoing disclosures by municipal issuers.

• Investor Protection for Certain Equity-Indexed Annuities

  February 1, 2009

  The SEC approved a new rule that establishes standards for determining when equity-indexed annuities are not considered annuity contracts under the securities laws and thus subject to the investor protections.

• Online Tool for Mutual Funds Comparison

  February 1, 2009

  FINRA has a new online tool, The Fund Analyzer, to help with the analysis of mutual fund investments.

• Roth Conversion Might Pay

  February 1, 2009

  "While the sharp stock market decline has no immediate tax effect on pre-retirement-age taxpayers who invested their traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs in stocks and mutual funds, there are tax strategies for owners of traditional or Roth IRAs to consider," says Bob Trinz, senior tax analyst from the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters.

• Investment Performance and Liability Claims

  February 1, 2009

  When investments don't perform well, clients get upset. Here are the professional liability insurance claim ramifications and how to guard against claims.

• Don't Be Left Out of AUM Rankings

  January 30, 2009

  Last year, we published for the second time a ranking of CPAs by AUM (Assets Under Management).

• New York Governor Signs CPA Legislation

  January 30, 2009

  New York Governor David Paterson has signed a bill expanding the regulation of CPAs throughout the state.

• Cultivating an Intergenerational Financial Planning Model

  January 27, 2009

  Here's a smart idea for all you financial planners out there. Target the children of your Baby Boomer clients.

• 10 Challenges for a Wealth Management Practice

  January 26, 2009

  Investors of all ages, and especially Baby Boomers, are increasingly turning to their CPAs to help them grapple with the financial planning challenges they will face leading up to and during retirement.

• Management Over Myth

  January 23, 2009

  Carl Famiglietti is managing partner of Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico, based in Boston.

• Firm Organizes Task Force for Troubled Economy

  January 23, 2009

  Accounting firm Wipfli has created a task force to help companies cope with the financial crisis.

• ExpertPlan Acquires Actuarial Enterprises

  January 20, 2009

  Retirement recordkeeping software developer ExpertPlan has acquired Actuarial Enterprises Inc., a third-party administrator of defined benefit and insurance plans.

• Retirement Decked by Economic Uncertainty

  January 16, 2009

  Eighty-eight percent of financial advisors now say that their clients are "off-target" for a timely retirement,

• Adaptive Planning Adds Audit Trail

  January 15, 2009

  Adaptive Planning introduced the latest version of its on-demand corporate financial planning software, adding new collaboration features, including cell notes and an audit trail.

• Broker-Dealer Auditors Need to Register with PCAOB

  January 12, 2009

  The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board said the financial statements of non-public broker-dealers now need to be certified by PCAOB-registered auditing firms.

• 10 Tips for Surviving the Recession

  January 9, 2009

  Wade Slome has led an adventurous life.

• Millionaires' Net Worth Plunges 30 Percent

  January 9, 2009

  U.S. households worth $1 million or more have seen their assets decline 30 percent during the financial crisis, according to a new report.

• Patty Duke and Cousin Pitch Social Security

  January 9, 2009

  Patty Duke and her look-alike cousin from her old TV series are back, this time helping seniors apply for Social Security benefits online.

• Securities Lawsuits Spiked in 2008

  January 7, 2009

  With 210 federal securities class-action lawsuits filed in 2008, the level of litigation last year was at its highest level since 2004, according to a new study.

• Tax Clients Need PFP Advice

  January 5, 2009

  The economic turmoil of the past year presents a unique opportunity for accountants to broaden their practices to include financial planning.

• Higher tab for higher learning

  January 5, 2009

  The stock market crash, plummeting real estate values and the credit crunch have created general-purpose anxiety for most CPA clients. But for those with children someday headed for college, that looming burden weighs particularly heavily.

• Don't Veer Off Course

  January 5, 2009

  Having a long-term financial plan gives your clients' logic a leg up over their emotions during times of market volatility.

• IRS Extends Deadline for 403(b) Plan Sponsors

  January 5, 2009

  The Internal Revenue Service recently gave 403(b) plan sponsors an extra year to comply with new requirements.

• CPA Firm Starts Recession Consulting Team

  January 5, 2009

  Accounting firm Goldstein Lieberman has introduced a consulting team to help business clients cope with the recession.

• Premature Cashing in Not a Good Idea

  January 2, 2009

  It looks as though many Americans are cashing in their 401(k)s prematurely.

• Focus on... Collective Investment Funds

  January 1, 2009

  A collective investment fund (CIF) is an investment vehicle that combines the tax exempt assets of various individuals and organizations to create a well diversified portfolio.

• Financial Planning Briefs

  January 1, 2009

  College for Financial Planning expands scholarship program; fiscal 2008 SEC enforcement results; growing demand for retirement income planning; H.D. Vest offers remote check scanning; Ameriprise completes Seligman acquisition; predicting mutual funds' performance; taking Social Security early; SEC modernizes disclosure requirements for foreign companies offering securities in U.S. markets.

• Higher Reverse Mortgage Limit

  January 1, 2009

  The maximum amount that homeowners age 62 or older can borrow by selling their homes back to the bank via a reverse mortgage has been raised.

• What Clients are Doing

  January 1, 2009

  Clients of CFP professionals are taking steps in line with their long-term financial goals, with some 45 percent moving their assets to lower risk investments while 40 percent are taking advantage of lower stock prices.

• Making The Retirement Decision

  January 1, 2009

  At a conference presented by Berdon LLP, Scott Ditman recommended that the first step for Baby Boomers considering retirement is the creation of an anticipated budget based on fixed and discretionary expenses and matching that against anticipated income.

• Improper Gifts and Entertainment SEC Sanction

  January 1, 2009

  The SEC charged Lazard Capital Markets plus four employees with collectively spending more than $600,000 while improperly entertaining traders at Fidelity Investments in an effort to generate brokerage business.

• System Fee Waived

  January 1, 2009

  The SEC and the North American Securities Administrators Association say they will waive the initial set-up and annual system fees paid by investment advisor firms to help maintain the Investment Advisor Registration Depository system.

• Integration Framework Offered by Thomson Reuters

  January 1, 2009

  Thomson Reuters announced that it will offer its Framework Integration Services as a complimentary service to all Thomson ONE Wealth Management customers.

• Enhanced Financial Planning Content to Aid Advisors

  January 1, 2009

  SunGard says it has enhanced the financial planning content available in its WealthStation wealth management platform to help firms attract, service, and grow client relationships.

• Changes in Mutual Funds Disclosure Coming

  January 1, 2009

  The SEC has voted unanimously to improve mutual fund disclosure by requiring that funds provide investors with a concise summary in plain English of certain key information they need to make informed investment decisions.

• Beyond Bean Counting to Proactivity

  January 1, 2009

  To Selwyn Gerber, managing partner of Los Angeles-based Gerber & Co., the focus of his firm is on helping make a business more profitable, by tightening controls, and improving information flow.

• Market Demand for CPA Financial Planners

  January 1, 2009

  CPA financial planning practices are growing at a faster rate, and also have higher profit margins than non-CPA firms offering the same services.

• Retirement In Crisis

  January 1, 2009

  There is no question that in today's economic climate, lots of people have lots of different questions.

• Looking for the Holy Grail?

  January 1, 2009

  Alternative investments may be the answer

• Public Not Saving

  January 1, 2009

  That's not an understatement according to the 2008 Bank of America Retirement Savings Survey which shows that 51 percent of the general public and 40 percent of those categorized as 'affluent' are saving less, with approximately one in five citing that they're saving 'much less.'

• People Need More Help

  January 1, 2009

  A new national survey by Consumer Reports says that more than half (56 percent) of respondents think that government hasn't done enough for them in these tough economic times.

• Calming Nervous Clients

  January 1, 2009

  The panicky message left on my voice mail excitedly said, 'Please call as soon as possible. It is vitally important.'

• Dealing with Market Volatility

  January 1, 2009

  When markets drop and volatility increases, clients begin to worry that they will not achieve their financial goals.

• Navigating the Economic Storm for Foundations and Charities

  January 1, 2009

  We're taught that God helps those that help themselves, but what about those that help others? During this economic crisis, foundations and charities may need help as much as anyone and instead of motivational rhetoric, they need some concrete suggestions on how to protect and maximize their endowments, continue to raise funds for existing programs as well as capital projects, and manage cash flow needs.

• "Heading Off" a Crisis

  January 1, 2009

  How is it possible to keep your head on straight when we are seeing an enormous drop in wealth in our retirement and personal accounts?

• Reach Out To Your Clients

  January 1, 2009

  As a CPA or tax professional, you are uniquely qualified to help your clients and the investing public during these challenging economic times.

• Remaining the Voice of Reason

  January 1, 2009

  In the third and fourth quarters of 2008, the U.S. investor witnessed some unprecedented events which affected both Wall Street and Main Street.

• Volatility Is the Key

  January 1, 2009

  'There is no retirement crisis,' says David Steinberg, founder and head of Summit Funding. That statement caught me by surprise. 'Instead, there are tens of millions of personal stories each requiring that we craft individual responses.'

• The Four Things You Need to Know

  January 1, 2009

  When it comes to retirement planning, your clients are constantly bombarded with information. Rather than serve to educate them, it has the reverse affect--it frightens them

• Helping Clients Contain their Concerns

  January 1, 2009

  Firefighters use the term 'containment' to describe the degree to which they are able to limit a wildfire from spreading. In today's economic firestorm, as we wonder whether 'retirement is burning,' we can adapt this concept of containment to keep our clients' worries in check.

• Bear Hug Your Clients

  January 1, 2009

  Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Will you invest it wisely? An investment that I believe you should make is an investment of your time 'bear hugging' your best clients.

• Saving for College in this Climate

  January 1, 2009

  It's an understatement to say that the current market conditions can cause concern when long-term investment accounts, including college savings and retirement plans, begin rapidly losing their value.

• Make Investing Easier For Clients

  January 1, 2009

  Your clients are listening to the seemingly non-stop negative news about their investments. They are commiserating with their friends with comments like these: 'The markets are so crazy. I'm worried about my retirement. There has to be a better way to invest.'

• Straight Talk on Boomer Retirement

  January 1, 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.

• Management over Myth

  January 1, 2009

  Accounting firm management often finds itself locked in a tug of war between applying theory and being pragmatic, a struggle that can dampen capabilities and in some cases the overall development of a firm.

• Spotlight On... NetWorth Services

  January 1, 2009

  Back in February of this year, The Wall Street Journal published a story about how the Internal Revenue Service has been facing congressional pressure to narrow the nation's huge tax gap. As a result, lawmakers in both parties appear willing to give the IRS more tools to improve tax compliance and boost revenue. Enter NetBasis, a software system developed by NetWorth Services, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona.

• Toolbox: New Retirement Products

  January 1, 2009

  Today's investors are tomorrow's retirees, and they are understandably anxious.

• The Incredible Shrinking Estate

  January 1, 2009

  Best Use of the Gift Tax Code

• Lawmakers Want Bush to Suspend Minimum 2008 Distributions

  December 29, 2008

  A group of 61 members of Congress has written to President Bush asking him to suspend rules that require senior citizens to withdraw money from their severely depleted retirement accounts by the end of the year.

• Despite Recession, CEOs Still Earning More Cash and Stock

  December 29, 2008

  CEOs at many companies are earning a greater proportion of their compensation in the form of stock, but they're still getting more cash than ever, according to a new study.

• IRS Revises Tuition Program Rules

  December 26, 2008

  The Internal Revenue Service has given Section 529 tuition programs the ability to change their investment strategies more frequently in response to the financial crisis.

• Cheshire Software Adds Estate Planning

  December 26, 2008

  Cheshire Software has added estate planning features to its wealth management product.

• Minimum IRA Distributions Still Required for 2008

  December 24, 2008

  The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have decided against changing a rule that requires retirees to withdraw a minimum distribution from their retirement savings accounts by the end of 2008.

• FASB Improves Financial Instruments Reporting

  December 24, 2008

  The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued the first of two proposed standards intended to simplify the accounting for financial instruments in response to the financial crisis.

• Financial Crisis Survey

  December 24, 2008

  Please respond to a short survey on how you are helping your clients cope with the financial crisis.

Related Articles

• Financial Planners Oppose FINRA Oversight

• PFP NEWS

• CAQ: Investor confidence is stabilizing

• Insurance assurance

• Raymond James Raises Minimum AUM for Investment Advisors

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Editors' Picks

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  Full agenda at Council

  The road to IFRS, ongoing regulatory reform and sustainability headline AICPA confab

• 

  How to Be a Hero to Clients

  Barry Schimel, CPA, gave some thought-provoking tips on how to stay in clients’ good graces during a keynote address this morning at Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting’s user conference in Orlando.

• 

  LAUNCHING A PRACTICE: Removing the Barriers to Entry

  CPAs are brilliantly positioned to become successful and profitable wealth managers, yet they often face barriers that, without proper planning, can keep them from taking the necessary steps to create an additional profit center.

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