How to Tap into the Business Benefits of Diversity It's not enough to have a diverse workforce and leadership team.  Companies also need to have leaders who recognize the value of the ideas their employees share.  Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founder and CEO of the Center for Talent Innovation and Hewlett Consulting Partners LLC, discusses when a diverse company has these types of leaders, it tends to report better ...

What is key in considering the value of customer-related intangible assets?  Lucas M. Parris, senior member of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, examines what attributes are important and their valuation. To read the full article in Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Valuation of Customer-Related Assets. This article is republished from Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting ...

Disclose Now or Later? There is no requirement to attach an appraisal for an estate of gift tax return, but having been involved with the classification of returns at the Cincinnati Service Center located across the river in Covington, Kentucky, I want to share my thoughts on when it is appropriate to attach an appraisal done for gift and estate tax purposes. ...

Improve Your LinkedIn Profile to Develop a Professional Presence and Get Inquiries How much work and/or queries can one get from LinkedIn? As lawyers say, that depends. In this article, Rod Burkert answers the above question and shares some of what he preaches through the Practice Builder Academy. ...

The Emergence of the Transitional Support Advisor Following a divorce, how does a financially naïve former spouse transition to become a financially independent former spouse? In this article, the author discusses what is a Transitional Support Expert and that professional’s role in a dissolution proceeding and following entry of the decree. ...

Help Your Small-Business Clients Create a System for Record Keeping Good record-keeping preparation and planning can give clients a better handle on their overall financial position, make tax preparation easier, and create operational efficiencies throughout their businesses.  A helpful record-keeping brochure and PowerPoint presentation can help you educate your small-business clients. To download the broc ...

Two Apps That Help You Move Cash These smartphone apps can help with mobile billing and accepting credit card payments.  Greg LaFollette, strategic adviser with CPA.com, suggests that a look at mobile apps can make the CPA’s job and life better. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: Expanding Your App-titude. ...

Offering your clients specialized services—personal financial planning, IT specialization, and fraud and forensic accounting, among others—can help set you apart in today's competitive CPA marketplace.  Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, Vice President, Firm Services & Global Alliances, American Institute of CPAs, discusses how finding your niche can help you and your clients. To read the full article in AICPA Ins ...

GIPS are a set of ethical principles intended to serve prospective and existing clients of investment firms.  However, compliance is the question.  Mary Grace McQuiston, senior financial analyst with Mercer Capital, discusses this issue and the GIPS Guidance Statement on Alternative Strategies and Structures. To read the full article in Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Are You GIPS-Complian ...

And What You Can Do About It How are prospects discovering professional service organizations? While referrals are important, the evidence suggests that more and more prospects are using other channels to retain professional services. ...

Prepare, Verify, and Excel at Trial In order to recover lost profits in a commercial damage case, three standards must be met. First, plaintiff must show proximate cause; second, the foreseeability; and third, reasonable certainty. This article will focus on the third standard, reasonable certainty. Experts seeking to provide realistic lost profit estimates must be aware of this standard. The following disc ...