2010
Showing 449–464 of 657 results
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Do you know the impact of the 2010 estate tax repeal on your estate plan?
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 947
Abstract: On Jan. 1, 2010, a one-year repeal of the federal estate tax went into effect, throwing many estate plans into disarray. The repeal also applies to the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, while the gift tax lives on with a top rate of 35% (10 percentage points lower than in 2009) and a $1 million lifetime exemption (the same amount as in 2009). This means that many estate plans might not meet their objectives; income tax bills could increase and transfers to trusts could be affected. So, while the future of the estate tax remains uncertain, it’s critical to review one’s estate plan to assess the impact of the current tax laws and to prepare for what the future might bring.
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Don’t lose out on loss deductions
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 315
Abstract: When a business is losing money, the tax code’s net operating loss (NOL) provisions can help ease the pain. But these days, many businesses have been operating at a loss for some time and have had insufficient income in recent years to take advantage of NOL carrybacks. To make the break more useful, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (WHBAA) temporarily extended the maximum carryback period to five years for most businesses. WHBAA provides several options for businesses with NOLs.
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When family business succession planning goes awry, fix it — fast
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 754
Abstract: What if children or other family members are interested in taking over but they aren’t ready to run the business? A sound succession plan is a must in this situation, but even the best-laid plans can go awry. The good news is that there are steps one can take to right the succession ship. It’s important to involve all levels of the organization, and to take steps to maintain interim leadership if the preferred new leader isn’t yet ready. Professional advisors may also have the experience and skills necessary to shed an objective light on the situation.
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Making a difficult decision – Naming a guardian for your young child isn’t easy, but necessary
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 725
Abstract: It may be an unpleasant decision — but anyone who has minor children needs to decide, as soon as possible, who their child’s guardian should be if they and their spouse die unexpectedly. The process starts with creating a list of appropriate candidates. Who has the same values, and will be able to live up to the responsibilities of guardianship? As a sidebar to this article explains, it may be best to choose separate guardians in some instances, such as when there are several children in a blended family — or if one guardian is better at child care, and another at handling finances.
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Moving day – Your new home state can change your tax circumstances
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 806
Abstract: Someone who is moving out of state can find it beneficial to take a closer look at how the new home state may affect their tax liability. What are the state’s income, property, sales or estate taxes? Are there tax breaks for pension payments, retirement plan distributions and Social Security payments? What about state and local income taxes, which aren’t deductible for AMT purposes? And how do property taxes compare in the city or suburbs vs. a rural area? And, for those who own homes in multiple states, it’s important to take steps to establish domicile in one, or else possibly face unnecessary negative tax consequences.
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Fraud detection: Tools for uncovering billing schemes
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Expert / Valuation & Litigation Concepts
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 446
Abstract: Billing schemes rank among the most common types of occupational fraud, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). But fraud investigators have several tools available to ferret out billing schemes, including data mining, ledger reviews, statistical sampling, and anonymous hotlines.
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Rebuttal reports bring a third opinion to the table
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Expert / Valuation & Litigation Concepts
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 631
Abstract: If the respective valuation reports of two parties are so far apart that an agreement seems unlikely, a third appraiser can provide another opinion in the form of a rebuttal report. Rebuttal experts streamline the appraisal process and reduce overall appraisal costs. Rebuttal reports also facilitate settlement by pinpointing differences and putting technical appraisal issues in more user-friendly language. But rebuttal reports come in many forms, and court procedural rules and professional appraisal standards provide little guidance on how to prepare written rebuttals.
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It’s complicated – Goodwill in divorce proceedings provokes much conflict
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Expert / Valuation & Litigation Concepts
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 850
Abstract: When a divorce includes a private business interest, expect a fight. Value is in the eye of the beholder, and valuation discrepancies are most common when a business has intangible assets. It’s not uncommon for judges to look to other jurisdictions for guidance. This article looks at how business value can be broken down into two pieces; how U.S. courts divide goodwill three different ways; and how many jurisdictions break down intangible value into two pieces. A sidebar discusses a Kentucky Supreme Court decision to include enterprise goodwill, but exclude personal goodwill, from marital estates.
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Mirror images – Court considers plaintiff’s access to defendants’ hard drives
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Expert / Valuation & Litigation Concepts
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 615
Abstract: The extent of access that parties should have to each other’s electronically stored information (ESI) continues to roil the courts. In one recent case, a court looked into whether a plaintiff could make “mirror images” of the defendants’ hard drives. The defendants made three arguments: 1) state law prohibited this disclosure of privileged health information; 2) “broad” search terms would surely “pull up” privileged information; and 3) state regulations didn’t authorize unrestricted direct access to the drives. But the court disagreed, citing evidence that raised an inference of the defendants’ improper conduct in handling the information.
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Practice Notes – How to best manage practice risks
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 492
Abstract: When physicians consider risk management, most will immediately think of their medical malpractice insurance coverage. And rightly so. But, in addition, there are certain insurance policies that every practice should carry. Before soliciting bids, physicians should take inventory of current coverages, identify where their practice has too much or too little protection, and prepare a matrix of coverages comparing wants and needs.
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Those who take care of others … should take care of their retirement benefits, too
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 853
Abstract: Any physician getting ready to retire, or simply move to another practice, will need to decide what they want to do with their retirement account from the job they’re leaving. Options include taking a lump-sum distribution, making a direct rollover into a traditional IRA or to a new employer’s 401(k) plan, or leaving the assets where they are. But there are pros and cons involved, depending on one’s age, income and retirement goals.
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Will the medical home trend transform how you practice medicine?
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 737
Abstract: If the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) trend continues to gain ground, it will most likely involve every type of provider and require dramatic changes in health care delivery. Key to the PCMH concept is “whole-person orientation,” in which the personal physician is responsible for meeting all of the patient’s health care needs or arranging appropriate care through other qualified professionals. But transforming a medical practice to a PCMH is a major undertaking that requires a series of incremental changes. Doctors will need to tailor their conception and implementation of the PCMH model to the distinct characteristics of their practice.
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Health care reform: What you can expect from the new law
Spring 2010
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 871
Abstract: Health care reform … at last. But what does it mean to physician practices? According to one authority, it will place a huge load on physician practices by releasing pent-up demand for health care services from an additional 18 million newly insured people and new Medicaid users. With more patients, physicians in all specialties will have the opportunity to increase their revenues, although some critics maintain that it will redistribute income away from primary care providers and misalign monetary incentives for doctors. This article discusses the impact on Medicare payments, along with incentive payments and cost savings through streamlined health insurance claims processing procedures. Tort reform and the prospects for reform of the sustainable growth rate formula are also explored. A sidebar shows an upside and downside of the legislation as it affects the business side of a practice.
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Practical Perspectives: Key financial issues for you and your family – Rising exec reconsiders disability income insurance
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 521
Abstract: After a difficult period of unemployment, Sylvia scored a great job as an executive of a nonprofit. Her benefits package was decent except for one thing: Her group plan disability insurance fell short of her needs. As someone who had once been disabled following an auto accident, Sylvia couldn’t live without a good disability income insurance policy — especially in a slow-recovering economy. She visited her financial advisor to talk about what she should look for in a policy. The advisor offered several tips.
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Moneylines: News briefs for businesses
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 331
Abstract: This issue’s “Moneylines” discusses new reduced IRS mileage rates; the introduction of Generally Accepted Privacy Principles (GAPP) to help business management combat identity theft; and businesses that are physically relocating nearer to their competitors to form “business clusters.”
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Give your company some credit – It’s not easy to find, but financing is out there
April / May 2010
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1124
Abstract: Traditional banks have taken a substantial amount of heat over the last year and a half, and many continue to be hesitant about extending financing to even the most stable of businesses. There are, however, other options for borrowers to consider. These include “angel” investors, venture capital firms, and Small Business Administration loans. As a sidebar explains, banks are skittish partly due to the increased number of small business bankruptcies in 2009. However, for those who still want to approach a traditional bank, another sidebar offers some pointers.