Is the degree of difficulty on the rise for fair value measurements? Travis Harms, leader of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, looks at some interesting current trends To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: Turning on the Fasten Seat Belt Sign: Fair Value Measurement in Turbulence. This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog. It is reprinted with permission. To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.
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How to Hire, Train, and Retain the Best Employees Training leaders means developing a partnership between the employer and employees. This commitment takes time and involves both bottom line and business metrics, as well as behavioral and team building skills. The issues related to soft skills, such as behavioral and team building skills are explored in depth in Mike Gregory’s book, The Servant Manager, 203 tips from the best places to work in America. This article introduces some of the concepts from this book and a corresponding video series.
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When Performing a Business Valuation Earnings are not always objective and valuations apply a multiple to earnings to determine a company’s value. The elements making up a company’s valuation involve determining normalized earnings, a decision whether income taxes would be applied, and the capitalization rate to be used to get the value. There are also other factors, but this article looks at the quality of earnings.
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Background and Objectives of the Job Aid (Part 2 of 3) In the first of this three-part series, the leading cases involving tax-affecting where analyzed; those cases discussed included: Gross, Wall, Heck, Adams, Dallas, Gallagher, Korbel, and Guistina. This second part analyzes the first two parts of the Job Aid by section, the “Executive Summary” and first three subsections of the “Discussion and Analysis”, ending with “Additional Factors for Consideration”.
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Bank for International Settlements sees global trouble brewing Several major factors are converging and posing a threat to the global economy, the Bank for International Settlements said in a report. China’s slowdown is hurting emerging markets dependent on commodity exports, the bank said, even as the rising value of the U.S. dollar adds stress in markets where much debt is dollar-denominated. Brian Blackstone, Wall Street Journal, reports on this issue. To find out more on this Dow Jones Business News article, click: BIS Highlights Trouble Spot for Global Economy.
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There are many reasons why clients need solid financial advice in these turbulent times. This article lays out four of them, starting with the observation that nobody—or almost nobody—can time the markets. Bob Clark, Editor-at-Large for Investment Advisor Magazine, explains the importance of speaking to the client’s understanding and the importance of a financial advisor’s role. To find out more on ThinkAdvisor’s article, click: 4 Reasons Clients Need You Now.
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Are you covered for data breaches? The skinny on cyber liability insurance Finding out that clients’ data was stolen or accessed would be a nightmare for any CPA. To make it worse, the recovery costs may not be entirely covered by standard insurance policies. Valrie Chambers, CPA, explores cyber liability insurance and offers key points to consider as filing season approaches. To find out more on this AICPA article, click: AICPA Insights.
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In recent years, appraisal arbitrage cases seem to be a more strategy. Karolina Grabowicz, a senior financial analyst with Mercer Capital, looks at some current cases and their outcomes. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: To (Appraisal) Arbitrage or Not? This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog. It is reprinted with permission. To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.
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Tools to Make You More Effective Enhancing effectiveness revolves around listening to employees, providing timely quality feedback, providing resources needed by the employee and giving employees a chance to shine. Several models are presented to allow an employee and the firm to enhance effectiveness including the tips from Stephen Covey’s book, management by wandering around, and the Pareto rule.
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When Using Guideline Transaction Data Income taxes play a major role in the pricing and structure of business transactions because income tax consequences associated with the sale or purchase of a business can substantially reduce the seller’s net proceeds and/or lower the net cost of a purchased ownership interest to the buyer. Because of this issue, it seems appropriate to assume that actual transactions are structured by buyers and sellers to address such income tax consequences. This article addresses the impact of federal income taxes on transaction prices and terms, and considers the impact of taxation on the selling prices…
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Background and Objectives of the Job Aid (Part 1 of 3) The release of this series of Job Aids has been hailed by many as a new era of communication and understanding between the Internal Revenue Service, taxpayers, and practitioners. However, in the opinion of this author, and others, releasing these additional documents in such a formal manner seems to be an attempt to influence practitioner behaviors in specific practice areas without statutory support. As was the case with the earlier Job Aid on Discounts for Lack of Marketability, the newest Job Aid contains little new information. Predictably, the position…
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The annual Southern Capital Forum sponsored by Mercer Capital brought to light several interesting comments. Matthew Crow, President of Mercer Capital, looks at some of these dealing with stretched valuations. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: Valuation concerns mark Southern Capital Forum: Are VC trends the canary in the RIA coal mine? This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog. It is reprinted with permission. To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.
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The IRS issues long-awaited rules on taxation of gifts and bequests from covered expatriates. Sally P. Schreiber, Journal of Accountancy senior editor, discusses the recently proposed regulations and what’s to be expected. To find out more on the AICPA’s article, click: Proposed rules govern taxation of gifts and bequests from covered expatriates.
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Push past estate planning fatigue and build a better relationship with your clients and their descendants. Many advisors find difficulty and obstacles when guiding their clients through this process. Kimberly Bernatz, Senior Vice President and Director, Wealth Management Advisory Services, First American Trust, FSB, walks you through some important steps to keep in mind when developing an estate plan. To find out more on this Wealth Management article, click: Breaking the Barriers of Estate Planning Fatigue.
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Reduce Your Stress and Those Around You This article addresses time management, avoiding time wasters, prioritizing what is important to you, setting goals and writing them down, and looking at life holistically to help bring peace to our otherwise turbulent hectic life style.
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Thoughts From the Field on Whether to Cite Legal Precedent in a Report Should a valuation analyst include legal citations in a report? Calculation engagement? In this article, Peter Agrapides, MBA, CVA, shares his thoughts on that question.
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Not all Social Networks Are Created Equal Has your firm embraced social media? Be ready! The days of ignoring social media are long gone. Professional services firms looking to accelerate their growth need to embrace social media and dedicate the resources needed to create a strategy, implement it, and track it. In this article, the author presents research on the impact and value of social media to professional service organizations.
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The SEC is casting an eye to examine public company filings. Samantha Albert, Senior financial analyst with Mercer Capital, looks at how their tools have been successful thus far. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog, click: In the Eye of the Beholder: Increasing SEC Scrutiny of Public Company Fair Value Marks. This article is republished from Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Blog. It is reprinted with permission. To subscribe to the blog, visit: http://mercercapital.com/category/financialreportingblog/.
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The AICPA’s Center for Plain English Accounting conducted an investigation into the applicability of the disclosure requirement of open tax years associated with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Robert Durak, Director- Center for Plain English Accounting, American Institute of CPAs, discusses a CPEA investigation into the matter. To find out more on AICPA’s article, click: AICPA Insights.
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The AICPA’s Accounting Inclusion Maturity Model helps organizations assess their current diversity and inclusion practices in four core areas: workforce, workplace, marketplace, and community and supplier relations. To find out more on AICPA’s tools, click: Where does your firm stand on Diversity and Inclusion?