October / November
Showing 321–336 of 469 results
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Estate Planning Pitfall — Your family doesn’t know where to find your records
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 350
Abstract: If a person dies suddenly, family members will need to know where to locate his or her will, trusts, life insurance policies and other critical estate planning documents — along with bank and brokerage accounts, IRAs or other qualified retirement plans, mortgages and other loans, real estate documents, tax records, and automobile titles. This article offers a list of tips for keeping important documents secure and accessible.
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Intellectual property requires careful estate planning
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 787
Abstract: Intellectual property (IP), such as patents and copyrights, can have great value, but in many ways they’re treated differently from other property types. This article explains the differences between patents and copyrights. It then discusses valuing IP, and deciding whether to transfer the IP to family members, colleagues, charities or others through lifetime gifts or through bequests after death.
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Defined-value gifts — Give now, value later
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 567
Abstract: Making large gifts can be a challenge if they consist of illiquid, difficult-to-value assets. They must be supported by a business valuation, and there’s a risk that the IRS will claim, years later, that a gift was undervalued for tax purposes. But, as this article explains, a defined-value gift — which is a gift of assets that equal a specific dollar amount, rather than a set number of FLP units or a fixed percentage of a business — protects against unexpected taxes down the road. With little time before this year’s record-high exemption amount expires, a defined-value gift can avoid the need for rushed valuations and unintended tax consequences.
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Considering an ILIT? Now’s the time
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1159
Abstract: Life insurance proceeds generally are income-tax-free to beneficiaries, but may be subject to estate taxes. One of the best ways to keep life insurance out of one’s taxable estate is to place the policy in an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). But those who are thinking about setting up an ILIT for an existing policy should consider doing so before the end of the year to take advantage of the record-high gift tax exemption. This article looks at the benefits of an ILIT, and shows how to deal with some significant limitations. A sidebar explains how a recent IRS ruling makes ILITs more attractive by permitting a grantor to build additional flexibility into the trust.
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Disaster can strike without warning — How to prepare your business for the worst
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 338
Abstract: This last decade has seen its fair share of natural and man-made disasters. An effective business continuity plan helps ensure that a company can restore mission-critical functions following all types of calamities, such as natural disasters and power failures. This short article offers tips for developing a plan.
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How should Social Security fit into your retirement planning?
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 741
Abstract: While no one should expect Social Security to be the cornerstone of their retirement income, it’s important to consider how it should fit into one’s overall retirement plan. This is not easy to do while Social Security’s future is so uncertain. Although Social Security probably won’t go away entirely, it does present some financial challenges. Since no one knows how and when Congress will resolve these challenges, this article explains how individuals should weigh Social Security and other savings methods, depending on such factors as current age and anticipated retirement date.
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Accounting standards for private companies move forward
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 849
Abstract: In theory, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) should apply to businesses of all sizes. But, as many owners of privately held companies know, GAAP often doesn’t make sense for their situations. However, recent initiatives by the Financial Accounting Foundation and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offer a structure for providing the information needed by most users of private companies’ financial reports without requiring the level of detail mandated of public companies. This article examines the proposals, while a sidebar discusses International Financial Reporting Standards for small and midsize enterprises.
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Digital mail offers convenience, less clutter
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 933
Abstract: Organizing household bills and financial statements can quickly become unwieldy and eat up valuable storage space. And the environmental impact of producing and mailing billions of bills and statements to consumers can also add up quickly. To date, however, there hasn’t been an easy way for consumers to make the switch to electronic bills and statements. But a handful of companies are set to offer a new type of electronic billing and payment solution that’s being referred to as “digital mail,” which allows clients to electronically receive, organize, act on and store bills and statements. This article discusses the pros and cons, while a sidebar lists four providers.
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Practical Perspectives: Key financial issues for you and your family — Alarmed taxpayer gets AMT checkup
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 519
Abstract: In this issue’s “Practical Perspectives,” we meet alarmed taxpayer Alan. After reading several articles about the challenges he and his fellow taxpayers may face when filing their 2012 returns, Alan noticed a particularly ominous take on the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Unless Congress passes another “patch” to raise the income level, more middle and upper-middle income earners will be subject to the AMT. Concerned, Alan visited his tax advisor to discuss the current law and defensive strategies.
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Moneylines: News briefs for businesses
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 325
Abstract: In this issue, “Moneylines” looks at how accounting rules may soon get easier for privately held companies; a survey indicating the reluctance of many small businesses to expand this year; and a survey that shows that companies have mixed feelings about social media.
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Early mortgage payoffs aren’t a no-brainer
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 751
Abstract: The decision to speed up mortgage payments isn’t a no-brainer. There are certainly advantages, but, as this article explains, these should be weighed against the benefits of using money in other ways. First, it’s important to have a quickly accessible nest egg set aside for emergencies. It’s also important to look at the return on investment of paying off early vs. such alternatives as deducting mortgage interest, refinancing, paying down credit card debt, maxing out contributions to an IRA or 401(k), or purchasing company stock at a discount.
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What’s the latest? — 3 hot tax issues for businesses as the year winds down
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1156
Abstract: There may be some significant tax law changes in 2012 — or there may not. And the fact that it’s an election year only compounds the intrigue. This article looks at three particularly hot tax issues for business owners to keep an eye on as the year winds down: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA); bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing; and the Work Opportunity credit as it pertains to hiring veterans. A sidebar offers a reminder that failing to properly file a Form 1099-MISC could lead to costly penalties or an audit.
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Why your board needs IT expertise
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 447
Abstract: These days, information technology (IT) is a critical component of most companies’ business strategies. Increasingly, companies are addressing IT issues by ensuring that their boards have some IT oversight expertise. This article notes the benefits of board-level IT oversight and how it might be implemented.
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Rewiring the switch — SEC to test new circuit breakers
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 671
Abstract: On May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged approximately 1,000 points — and then recovered those losses in a matter of minutes. In the wake of the “Flash Crash,” the SEC acknowledged that the existing “circuit breaker” system designed to protect the financial markets from excessive volatility and massive panic selloffs could use some rewiring. This article discusses two pilot initiatives that will take effect in 2013.
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Earnouts: Don’t overlook the tax implications
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 687
Abstract: When one company acquires another, the buyer and seller often have conflicting views on the target’s value. One way to bridge this valuation gap is with an earnout. When negotiating earnout provisions, the parties typically focus on financial issues. But, as this article explains, the potential tax implications deserve attention, too.
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Is the price right? — Management must assume responsibility for fair value
October / November 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 939
Abstract: Estimating the fair value of a public company’s investments can be difficult and subjective. Many companies rely on third-party pricing sources such as broker/dealers or valuation specialists for fair value recommendations. When companies do so, it’s important that their management understand its responsibility to oversee the process and implement effective internal controls for financial reporting purposes. This article lists questions that management should ask and controls it might implement. A sidebar discusses the three-tier fair value hierarchy.