Back to Basics
mutualfunds.about.com
CPAs looking for a refresher
course on mutual funds will find articles such as
“Determining Your Mutual Fund’s ‘Cost Basis’” and
“Avoiding Internet Investment Scams.” Users can
sign up for a free 10-day online course on the
basics of mutual fund investing or a mutual fund
newsletter. Other resources include links to
broker ratings of funds, financial calculators and
glossaries.
The Fund Finder
www.mutualfundsnet.com
CPAs looking for investment
information for their clients will want to
bookmark this Web site. In addition to free mutual
fund sponsor searches in categories such as
socially responsible corporate and government
mutual funds, users can find information about
investment conferences and links to breaking
industry news. CPA broker-dealers can add their
resumes to the database or check job postings from
listed companies.
For Fund Facts
www.mfea.com
Investment advisers looking to
educate their clients on mutual fund options will
find detailed information on topics including
taxes and fund risk at this stop on the Web. Users
can find explanations of the differences among
mutual funds and a glossary of investment terms or
search for funds, create model portfolios or use
calculators for college, retirement and
tax-savings plans. The Kids and College
section of this Web stop links to sites that offer
investment resources for money-minded children,
such as calculators to help them decide how much
allowance to save for major purchases and a
dictionary of basic investment terms.
Satisfy Your Need to Know
www.ici.org
Here visitors can find free
statistics on money market mutual fund assets or
reports on the latest industry developments, such
as “SEC changes SRO Procedures for Filing Rule
Changes.” Other sections include A Guide to
Understanding Mutual Funds, Frequently Asked
Questions and a news archive dating back to 1995.
Keep Track of the Market
www.123jump.com
Users can register for free to
keep tabs on their mutual funds at this e-stop,
which offers general business, current and
archived earnings news, as well as QuoteStream to
see how your picks measure up on the Nasdaq, NYSE
and S&P 500 stock index. Visitors also can get
two daily e-mail newsletters, Earnings Ticker
and Ticker AM—Business News Update.
Join an E-Community
bvfls.aicpa.org
This part of the AICPA stop on
the Web offers a section for members with the
Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) and
Forensic Litigation Services (FLS) designations.
Resources include case studies on historical and
comparative financial analysis, internal controls
and common types of computer fraud. The site also
offers a fraud survey, information on seven
investigative techniques for fraud and the
Institute’s competency assessment tool (CAT) for
users to measure their fraud prevention, detection
and investigation skill sets.
Spend Time to Save Money
www.trippon.com/main.cfm
Texas-based CPA and financial
adviser James Trippon offers a free learning
center at his Web site with articles such as “What
Are the Pitfalls of Probate?” and “What Savings
Alternatives Are Available?” Users can find
calculators to help with cash and risk management,
estate planning, and savings and investing; read
free online newsletters; and use the site’s
financial glossary.
A Family Affair
www.family-business-experts.com
If you’re a CPA in business with
your parents, siblings or other relations, this
Smart Stop offers advice on exit strategies,
financing, marketing and succession planning, to
name a few. The site also has current and archived
issues of the e-zine, Understanding Family
Business dating back to March 2002 and
answers to your questions in the Ask the Expert
section.
Tips, Tools and Webcasts
www.revenuerecognition.com
For CPAs interested in
Sarbanes-Oxley, this Web site offers survey data
on the impact of compliance on finance operations,
interviews with CFOs on revenue management and
articles such as “Voluntary Sarbox for Private
Companies.” Users also can find webcasts about
minimizing taxes and the importance of revenue
recognition in the mergers and acquisitions
process.
Worth a Second Visit
www.gilgordon.com
This telecommuting site, first
listed as a Smart Stop in the April 2003 JofA
(page 24), has added a What’s New section, a
search engine and a link to compile your own free
surveys on its home page. It also now has a
worldwide list of telecommuting centers for
executives on the move and a link to the
Telecommuting Safety and Health Benefits
Institute, which offers white papers such as “Ten
Advantages to Telecommuting.” |