Wealth management

After the market crash of 2008-2009, many investors were tossing in the towel on asset allocation, suggesting that it had major flaws as evidenced by nearly every asset class moving significantly lower in apparent lockstep.

CPA firms that have expanded their practice into the personal financial planning market are likely finding that investors may be more optimistic today than they were a few years ago.

IMGCAP(1)]The current uncertain political, economic, and tax environment has led many people to postpone preparing or updating their estate plans.

The growing popularity of online deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial could be encouraging many consumers to make impulse buys rather than save their money for more important financial priorities, according to the American Institute of CPAs.

Accounting Today is in the midst of collecting submissions for its 2011 ranking of the Top Firms by AUM.

Less than half of affluent parents (49 percent) in a nationwide poll felt it was important to leave a financial inheritance to the next generation, according to the U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth Survey.

A new initiative at the Internal Revenue Service aimed at cracking down on high-income taxpayers with assets abroad has only managed to audit 13 returns since it was set up a year and a half ago.

Nearly 40 percent of working Americans say they will never afford retirement, according to a new survey by the American Institute of CPAs.

Stock buybacks do not necessarily help just the CEOs whose compensation is tied to their companies’ earnings per share, but can also advance the interests of shareholders, according to a new study.

Fewer workers this year plan to use their tax refunds to pay off their bills, and more plan to put the money into savings, according to a new survey.

The American Institute of CPAs has joined up with the White House on a new initiative aimed at helping veterans and their families who want to start or grow a small business.

Check out the digital edition of the April 2011 issue of Accounting Today.

Rising fuel and food prices are blunting the gains from the economic recovery, hurting Americans’ ability to save and weighing on consumer sentiment, according to a new survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs by Harris Interactive.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has revised its accounting standards to provide greater consistency in the treatment of various types of debt restructuring.

Despite an earnings slide of roughly 13 percent compared to 2009, some 94 percent of financial advisors remain satisfied with their career choice, according to a recent poll.

BOOMERS EXPECT TO DELAY RETIREMENT BY FOUR YEARS

There are several ways to serve your clients in the financial planning world. None are wrong or right—but some are definitely better than others.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service said Thursday they have extended the deadline beyond April 18 for filing a key tax form for people who died last year.

Nies Financial Group, a financial firm based in Sartell, Minn., will be joining KDV Wealth Management, a regional financial services and CPA firm, effective April 1.

The Financial Planning Coalition has called on Congress to support the Securities and Exchange Commission in establishing a fiduciary standard of care for broker-dealers.