With 10-year yields up 22 basis points in October, economists anticipate an end to the Treasury bond sell-off.  "Now it's a good time to buy," said Hideo Shimomura, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management's chief fund investor.  Anooja Debnath and Wes Goodman explain. To read the full article in Bloomberg, click: Treasury Selloff is About to End if Consensus Forecast is Right. ...

Restaurateur Scott Richards is opening an eatery with a clear understanding that his employees will work there for no more than three years.  His goal is to use a special development program to help employees connect with mentors and achieve career objectives.  Katie Toussaint explains this innovative concept. To read the full article in CharlotteFive, click: Why a Restaurant CEO Wants His Employees to Leav ...

Boosted by solid consumer spending and improving international trade, the expansion of the U.S. economy rose to 2.9% in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said.  Nelson Schwarts reports that economists said the biggest quarterly gain in two years will probably be enough to persuade the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December. To read the full article in The New York Times, click: U.S. Ec ...

Companies might be able to deliver a bigger boost to their earnings per share by making pension contributions rather than using borrowed money to fund buybacks, according to a report by Goldman Sachs Asset Management.  Low interest rates may encourage companies to make stock buybacks, but these rates also tend to increase pension obligations. To read the full article in The Wall Street Journal, click: Pensi ...

More widespread use of videoconferencing could ease burdens on taxpayers who must meet in person with Internal Revenue Service Appeals personnel, but stringent privacy rules limit its use.  Joseph Brophy, CPA, ABV, explores what it would take to expand this service. To read the full article in The Tax Adviser, click: Will Your Next Tax Appeal be a Videoconference? ...

Switching costs for capital investment are high and do-overs are expensive.  Travis Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group lead, shares this whitepaper in order to assist directors and shareholders in evaluating proposed capital projects and contributing to capital budgeting decisions that enhance value. To read the full article in Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Capit ...

Critical feedback can help you grow in your career, but only if you use it effectively.  William Treseder shares five ways to manage your emotions and make the most of this feedback. To read the full article in Harvard Business Review, click: Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career. ...

EY looks to hire 15,200 employees by July 1, and that effort includes the use of candidate-relationship software to interact even before the application is finalized.  After a hire is made, the company uses a digital learning software for onboarding. To read the full article in Fast Company, click: Hiring Lessons from the Company Adding More Than 15,000 Employees in One Year. ...

Once a petition for Chapter 11 is filed with the bankruptcy court, the company usually undertakes a strategic review of its operations, including opportunities to shed assets or even lines of businesses.  The Chapter 11 reorganization process concludes when the bankruptcy court confirms a reorganization plan which specifies a reorganization value and which reflects the agreed upon strategic direction and ca ...

Carefully considering the user's experience helps interface designers create useful products—and can guide finance teams in data presentations.  Andrew Kenney, CGMA Magazine contributing editor, shares some tips that really deliver. To read the full article in CGMA Magazine, click: How to Deliver the Financial Data Users Need. ...

Recruiters from large firms, including the Big Four, reveal what skills and competencies they look for in new hires.  Sarah Ovaska-Few discusses these tips. To read the full article in AICPA, click: What Large Firms Expect From New Accounting Grads. ...

Over the past decade, we have been retained by several investment funds to assist them in responding to formal and informal SEC investigations regarding fair value measurement of portfolio investments.  Reflecting back on those engagements yields a couple observations and reminders for funds and fund managers as they go through the quarterly valuation process.  Travis Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Repor ...

How to Make up for Lost Time with Retirement Savings People who are behind schedule on retirement savings can take several steps to make up the difference.  These include making use of catch-up contributions, selecting funds with low investment fees, and postponing required minimum distributions, if possible.  Damian Davila offers some useful tips. To read the full article in Wise Bread, click: 7 Retirement ...

Audit quality concerns raised by a spike in unsatisfactory results from firm/engagement inspections performed by the regulator and the possibility of audit firms being sued for corporate failures warrants a fresh look at professional skepticism.  Here is Brian Monegi’s take on this. To read the full article in ASA, click: Analysis: Professional Skepticism: in the Age of Fair Value Measurements. ...

Mercer Capital started writing weekly about fair value reporting in 2013.  Looking back over more than three years and 150 posts, it seemed an opportune time for them to review their posts and compile what might, for lack of a better term, be called a “Greatest Hits” collection of their favorites.  Travis Harms, lead of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, introduces you to their new book e ...

Social media presents risks and opportunities.  Demonstrating expertise and reaching new clients are among the ways social medial can be valuable for finance professionals.  Sean Stein Smith, assistant professor at Rutgers, discusses how you can utilize this tool to your benefit. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: 4 Ways Accountants Can Get More Out of Social Media. ...

The International Monetary Fund has warned that sluggish economic growth throughout the world could bolster an anti-trade backlash that has become a feature of politics in both the United States and Europe.  “We have not done a great job in the advanced countries of paying attention to those who lose from trade,” said Maurice Obstfeld, the fund’s chief economist. To read the full article in The New York Tim ...

On October 13, 2016, RSP Permian announced the acquisition of Silver Hill Energy for approximately $2.4 billion dollars.  Based on RSPP disclosures, the assets received include: 1) wells currently producing 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day; and 2) 41,000 in net acreage throughout Loving and Winkler County Texas.  Grant Farrell, vice president, explains the details of this transaction. To read the fu ...

In fairly short order, robots have begun taking over in the corporate world.  Don’t be alarmed.  This is nothing like the feared “singularity,” that prophesied (if dubious) moment when machines become smarter than humans and then, to prove it, commence wiping us out.  David McCann delves into this change to corporate finance processes. To read the full article in CFO, click: Robots, Robots Everywhere. ...

How to Secure a Higher Salary Be willing to negotiate for a higher salary when you get a job offer, as this is an opportunity to raise your pay by a significant margin.  Alison Green offers four other tips for securing a better salary. To read the full article in U.S. News & World Report, click: 5 Things to do Differently if you Want to Earn More Money. ...