Smart Stops on the Web

Definitions, Discussions and Downloads
www.bvresources.com
CPAs involved in business valuation (BV) can obtain free information and purchase books and software here. The forums online section features various discussion topics such as what happened at recent BV-related conferences and court case decisions. The definition of the week clarifies valuation terms, and the free downloads section offers archived issues of BV newsletters and an international glossary.

“Credibility Is Everything”
www.nacva.com
Business valuation professionals looking to recertify or professionals interested in adding a business valuation designation to their credentials can find information at the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) site. It houses resources for members, such as information on training programs, and provides enough free information to warrant a visit from curious Web surfers—including certification requirements for a new designation: certified forensic financial analyst, or CFFA.

Lengthy List of Links
http://condor.depaul.edu/~dshannon/BVsites.htm
( Note : This URL is case-sensitive.)
For CPAs in business valuation, this section of DePaul University’s Web site is worth a stop, if not a bookmark. The College of Commerce’s Professor Donald Shannon lists links to other relevant sites such as Valuation Strategies and to company information—specifically, analyst reports, financial statements and historical information. Users also can find links to economic and industry information such as the article, “14 Steps for Researching an Industry.”

Virtual Becomes Reality
www.demaio.com/vcbv
In its continuing efforts to encourage professionals to “use Internet resources effectively,” the New Jersey-based law firm DeMaio & DeMaio has created the Virtual Committee on Business Valuation. Interested professionals can network electronically with their peers and research summaries on new developments in business valuation and planning. No site registration is required.

Comment on Exposure Drafts
www.appraisalfoundation.org
Appraisers have their own home on the Web—the Appraisal Foundation, with news about the goings-on at the Appraisal Standards Board, as well as a call for public comments on the board’s latest exposure drafts. Consumers and finance professionals can find local appraisers in the site’s database, get information on how to become an appraiser, and link to related Web sites such as www.appraiseremail.com , which offers real estate appraisers e-mail services that can accommodate large appraisal files.

Business Resources Online
www.uschamber.com
CPAs can read up on the latest news about the actions of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the business resources section and retrieve data from the agency’s statistics and research center. Visitors also can learn about government regulations, international topics, small business resources and workforce development.

To Benefit Employees
www.ebri.org
First mentioned as a Smart Stop in the May 1998 issue of the JofA (page 15), the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) continues to offer nonmembers free statistical information such as the small-employer retirement survey, as well as recent congressional testimony on 401(k) plans and company stock. There still are four paid memberships to the EBRI: sustaining, full, associate and contributing—each of which allows full access to all sections of its site.

This Site Is A-O-401(k)
www.timyounkin.com
As its URL implies, this site was created, designed and is maintained by Tim Younkin—the “401(k) Advocate.” It contains links to many benefit and contribution articles, commentary and news pooled from periodicals, publications and other Web sites. Younkin also includes links to information on annuities as well as a 401(k) quiz, related calculators and his own series of Excel spreadsheets that rates retirement plan providers by fees.

For Web Surfers Over 50
www.wiredseniors.com
Users can register for free at this portal, geared toward people over 50, and tap into any of a number of free links and services such as discussion boards on retirement planning as well as a calendar and reminder feature. Seniors also can receive discounts, scam reports and newsletters via e-mail.

Mass Media Appeal
newslink.org
Not only does this Web site link to regional, national and global newspaper sites, it also provides links to the sites of radio and television stations as well as business, computing and news magazines. The top-sites section lists the sites most frequently visited by Newslink users. The resources section has links to news services, journalism organizations and search tools for e-mail addresses and general references.