Personal financial planning news and resources

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July 1, 1998

Take A Load Off

When CPAs help clients select life insurance, they should be aware that its not always necessary to pay an agents commission as part of the purchase. Just as no-load mutual funds have gained popularity in the securities arena, low-load life insurance is slowly emerging as an option in this market.

July 1, 1998

Seven Steps to Judging Life Insurance

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BECAUSE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF clients financial circumstances, CPAs are in a unique position to help clients evaluate proposed life insurance coverage. By following seven commonsense steps, a CPA can make sure the client is making the best possible business decision. EVALUATING THE INSURANCE AGENT and his or

July 1, 1998

Postmortem Estate Planning

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DEATH can create a severe cash crunch as well as other problems stemming from federal estate tax rates that reach 55%. Postmortem planning can help such clients and may save hundreds of thousands of dollars even if lifetime estate planning was inadequate, erroneous or

February 1, 1998

AICPA underwrites PBS program

CPAs Get TV Exposure What does a prominent CPA have in common with Jim Lehrer, Russell Baker and Mr. Rogers? Theyre all on PBS. The American Institute of CPAs is underwriting Finding Financial Freedom , an hour-long television program featuring Jonathan Pond, a nationally known financial planner. The Institutes personal

January 1, 1998

The Best Online Investment Sites

With the Internet, Wall Street can be anywhere you want it to be. The vast amount of online information will keep you in the loop no matter where you are located. The following list, in alphabetical order, contains some key sites with information investors—and the CPAs who work with them—should

January 1, 1998

Managing Client Assets

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A NUMBER OF CPA-FINANCIAL PLANNERS have expanded their practices to include investment management services. As the CPA profession prepares to move into the next century, more accountants are likely to realize there is a market for providing such services to their clients. CPAs WHO WANT TO BE INVESTMENT

October 1, 1997

Providing Guidance to Executors and Trustees

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, EXECUTORS AND trustees will be responsible for managing the transfer of more than $4.8 trillion in wealth from one generation to the next. With more individuals being named as executors and trustees, many are turning to CPAs for help in carrying out their

August 1, 1997

The Best Online Tax Sites

The Internet is an especially rich field for CPAs specializing in tax; even accountants with minimal online experience have probably visited the Internal Revenue Service Web site (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/). However, experienced CPA Web surfers have been accessing the many quiet but useful sites that continually pop up on the Web with

July 1, 1997

Risk and Return in Mutual Fund Selection

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INVESTORS—AND THE CPAs WHO ADVISE them—need objective criteria so they can understand the risks inherent in mutual fund investing. Understanding the fundamental relationship between risk and return will make it easier for CPAs to provide their clients with responsible and informed investment recommendations. RISK ANALYSIS IS CENTRAL TO

July 1, 1997

What Happened to Limited Partnerships?

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ONCE TOUTED AS THE INVESTMENT vehicle of the future, limited partnerships are seldom pitched to investors today. Instead, clients and the CPAs who advise them are looking back at the tax and financial factors that contributed to the downfall of LPs in areas such as oil and gas,

July 1, 1997

Top financial planner

Survey Reveals Worry, Confusion—and Opportunities I n January 1997, 1,000 people, aged 30 to 59, were interviewed by phone on a variety of financial planning concerns. Some of the results presented here are compared with earlier surveys. Barton Francis, CPA, PFS, a partner of Ernst & Young and chairman of

June 1, 1997

Are You Ready For New Assurance Services?

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW ASSURANCE services could double or even triple the CPA profession’s $7 billion accounting and auditing income. But the new opportunities will not come easily. New services must be identified, new competencies developed and barriers will have to be overcome. THE REPORT OF THE AICPA

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Making the right choice when no one is watching

The true test of one’s character is the decision made when no one is looking over your shoulder. Learn how CPAs can uphold ethical standards and take actions that help limit liability risk.