Investment planning

TOPICS / PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING

February 1, 2008

High Court Bars Secondary Liability in Securities Case

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a major securities fraud case that secondary parties—essentially aiders and abettors—can’t be held liable when the companies they work with mislead investors. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC v. Scientific-Atlanta Inc., et al., docket no. 06-43, threatened to expand the reach of investor lawsuits beyond parties

January 1, 2008

Prudent Investment Practices

CPAs who provide investment advice to their clients will be held to a fiduciary’s civil standard of conduct. Thus, it is prudent to know and understand best practices for fiduciaries. Organize your practice to provide competent, objective advice to the client’s satisfaction, starting with a complete understanding and

January 1, 2008

Donor-Advised Funds: Preparing for Closer Scrutiny

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Donor-advised funds (DAFs), as an alternative to private foundations, have been a popular means of charitable giving, but fund managers, donors and their advisers must reckon with new laws and regulations stemming from the Pension Protection Act of 2006. A DAF allows the donor

August 1, 2007

Life Is Short, Art Is Long: Maximizing Estate Planning Strategies for Collectors of Art, Antiques and Collectibles

by Michael Mendelsohn Wealth Management Press, 2006, 421 pp. Accountant, financial planner and outsider art collector Michael Mendelsohn has composed a pleasant read with a purpose. His premise: Most people collect something, and over time many of those collections come to represent important client wealth that should be included in

July 1, 2007

Tune Up for High-Performance Wealth

Each year, individuals and business owners should evaluate their wealth management initiatives to make sure they have the appropriate portfolio for their age and investment goals. Practitioners should emphasize the following key points to help clients maximize their saving potential. Maximize retirement plan contributions. The 401(k)/403(b) maximum

May 1, 2007

Dirty Little Secrets of 401(k) Plan Fees

In September 2006, eight Fortune 500 companies were named in class action lawsuits alleging they failed to monitor and disclose 401(k) fees under so-called revenue-sharing arrangements. To protect your company or client, watch for these red flags when reviewing a 401(k) plan offering: Determine how expenses in

May 1, 2007

Taking Stock of ESPPs

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Employees of corporations with an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) often fail to participate fully in the plan because they don’t understand why it can be a good deal. Many plans offer a purchase discount of as much as 15%. Effectively, the discount can

January 1, 2003

Web Sites Worth a Visit

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING SITES www.ihatefinancialplanning.com Don’t let the URL fool you. Whether they love or hate financial planning, PFP professionals and clients can find useful information at this Web site. Visitors can register for free to access articles, checklists and interactive forms on topics such as annuities, asset allocation, budgeting,

January 1, 2003

It Works for Them

ersonal financial planners help clients identify financial goals, organize ways to achieve them and set timetables for implementation. Together, a planner and client look at the clients total financial picture, including income, savings, investments and debts as well as his or her personal situation. Then, they analyze where the money

January 1, 2003

Socially Responsible Investing

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL ISSUES and corporate governance increases, CPAs may find more interest among their clients in investment strategies and mutual funds that emphasize social responsibility. SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS INVESTORS MAKE DECISIONS by screening for positive and negative issues, shareholder advocacy, community investing and providing social

January 1, 2003

What’s Hot, What’s Not.

o be successful financial planners and investment advisers, CPAs must keep up with a wide range of changes in investment products, technology, economic conditions and client management techniques. While the body of required knowledge may at times seem overwhelming, much of it is in fact just common sense. Here are

January 1, 2003

A Napster for Financial Data?

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE, you may be able, with just a few mouse clicks, to access any public company’s financial reports in extraordinary detail and for any period. In addition, you may be able to perform an array of instant analyses of those data. THE UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGY is

August 1, 2002

When the SEC Knocks….

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WITH INCREASING NUMBERS OF CPAs OFFERING investment services, more are registering with the SEC as investment advisers and facing field examinations from the SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE). These investigations determine whether the adviser is complying with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, protect