For Financial Services Firms Finding ways to differentiate your firm from competitors may be one of the most vexing challenges you can face. After all, it may well be that there are more similarities than differences. But with a little focus and some self-inquiry, it is possible. In this article, Dr. Frederiksen shares seven effective differentiators for financial services firms.
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Conclusion (Part Six of a Six-Part Series) The first installment of this six-part series set forth an overview of the due diligence imperative for valuation professionals, in the context of the Four Pillars of Healthcare Value, i.e., Reimbursement, Regulatory, Technology, and Competition. The second through fifth installments reviewed the due diligence process related to the reimbursement, regulatory, competitive, and technological environments, respectively. This series conclusion will review the due diligence process generally as it relates to the healthcare industry. For more detailed information, see the September/October issue of The Value Examiner.
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The IRS proposed new rules under the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) provision (Sec. 951A) added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Sec. 951A requires U.S. shareholders of controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) to include in their gross income their GILTI income for that tax year (the inclusion amount). The new provision applies to tax years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and to the U.S. shareholders’ tax years within which the foreign corporations’ tax years end. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: IRS Issues Proposed Regs for GILTI Inclusions.
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One of my favorite mantras for support advisors is this, “Details are your responsibility.” In the financial planning field, great plans live and die in the finer points. But, most practices just don’t have the time and resources to check complex calculations. That’s where you come in. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: New to Planning? How to Add Value at Your Firm.
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I’ll get this assignment started as soon as I’ve checked Facebook. And Instagram. And Gmail. Oh, is it time for lunch already? Sound familiar? Most people arrive at work with good intentions, planning to be productive, collaborative, and successful, according to Greg Dewald, chief executive of Bright!Tax. “In the internet age, though, this can actually be a big challenge, as we are constantly bombarded with social signals and alerts that divert our attention,” he said. To read the full article in Financial Management, click: Apps to Help You Focus Online.
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Bargain Purchase Transactions This article summarizes the fair value measurement guidance and financial accounting considerations in business combinations—and specifically, in bargain purchase transactions. This discussion also describes the principles of acquisition accounting as they relate to fair value measurement. And, this discussion describes many of the valuation analyst considerations regarding the fair value measurement for a bargain purchase transaction.
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Conservation Easements, Attempts to Dissolve a NY LLC, and Valuation of Law Practice The U.S. Tax Court has issued a limited number of valuation cases this past summer. In this article, one U.S. Tax Court case presented is Harbor Loft Associates v. Commissioner. The case underscores that lessees cannot claim a charitable deduction for a conservation easement. The second case discussed is Matter of Goyal v. Vintage India NYC, LLC, which serves to reiterate the importance of executing an operating agreement and shows how difficult it is to unwind and dissolve an LLC in New York State and jurisdictions that…
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Public company auditors remain the group investors trust most to protect their interests, but investors’ confidence in U.S. capital markets and U.S. public companies has dropped in the past year, according to a Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) survey report released Tuesday. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: Investors Trust Auditors, But Confidence in U.S. Markets Drops.
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Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal earlier this year. European businesses that pull out of Iran because of U.S. sanctions may end up being sued by EU states. A European Commission spokeswoman told reporters in Brussels that EU firms are banned from following U.S. demands to cut business ties with Iran, unless specifically authorized to do so. To read the full article in euobserver, click: EU Firms in Iran Caught Between U.S. and Europe.
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Philip McNeill looks at five key aspect to consider before moving to the cloud. The main points to consider are: a cyber attack on cloud services is a top risk in 2018; ensure extensive due diligence before joining the cloud; taking care of the obvious, like password security, can help protect against a cyber attack. To read the full article in ICAS, click: Cloud Security: Five Key Considerations.
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To Measure Trustee Breach of Fiduciary Duty Damages The but for investment portfolio is a tool that damages analysts utilize to estimate economic damages when there is an allegation of a breach of fiduciary duty with regard to the management of an investment. In its simplest form, the but for investment portfolio estimates the value of a portfolio but for the alleged breach of fiduciary duty. Case law precedents established the but for investment portfolio analysis as a method to estimate economic damages on a market adjusted basis. While the concept of a but for investment portfolio analysis is simple,…
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E&O Coverage Through the Expert Witness Exchange In this article, the Expert Witness Exchange discusses a relationship it has established with Lockton Affinity, LLC to develop the Expert Witness Exchange Group Insurance Program so it can provide exchange members with the option to obtain low cost, professional liability coverage.
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The proposed rules include a way that taxpayers can group or aggregate separate trades or businesses and an anti-abuse rule designed to prevent taxpayers from separating out parts of an otherwise disqualified business in an attempt to qualify those separated parts for the Sec. 199A deduction. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: Qualified Business Income Deduction Regulations Proposed.
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Clients will be better paying off their mortgage before the retirement date to get rid of the feeling of having a debt burden. Carrying no mortgage debt into retirement will also give clients guaranteed return and greater flexibility in their budget. And about that tax deduction, it is not enough of a reason to keep a mortgage. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Yes, Clients Should Pay Off Their Mortgages Before Retiring.
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Tax ramifications, smart contracts, and job security are among the issues top of mind for accountants. Given blockchain’s rapid rise into the accounting consciousness, it is no surprise CPAs have many questions about the technology. This article addresses five of the most pressing concerns I encounter regarding blockchain, smart contracts, and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: CPAs’ Top Five Questions About Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies.
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Finding Value in the Continuum of Care Under Changing Healthcare Reform
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A Member’s Perspective and Hope In this article, Professor H. Charles Johnson shares his views on CHOICE Act and Dodd-Frank Act rollback. The author summarizes some of the changes that lessen compliance costs and that may serve to incentivize smaller community-based lenders the provide capital to small enterprises.
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Employee retention and engagement is a big expense. Dick Finnegan tackles one of the biggest challenges of staff turnover head on. “One might wonder why a CFO should care about employee engagement and retention,” said Finnegan, CEO of C-Suite Analytics. “And the answer is, it’s probably their biggest expense.” To read the full article in Financial Management, click: Five Steps to Reduce Staff Turnover.
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Q. I have a large Excel workbook with many worksheets, and I’d like to summarize the key elements of this workbook into a single dashboard-type report. What’s the best way to do this? To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: Microsoft Excel: Create a Picture-Based Dashboard Report.
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Removing third-parties speeds transactions and reduces their cost. CFOs and finance departments are always looking for reductions in cost and increases in speed and efficiency in business engagements. One option that is attracting more attention is the smart contract. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: How Smart Contracts Can Create a Competitive Edge.