EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A growing number of companies are beginning to offer employees professionally managed accounts for 401(k) assets. In these managed accounts, an independent investment manager handles investment decisions, makes portfolio changes as needed based on each participant’s specific needs and risk tolerance, and rebalances the
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TOPICS
Firm practice management
All in the Family
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Multifamily office (MFO) services have long been offered by a variety of financial services providers. Increasingly, CPA firms have made this provision of comprehensive wealth management and personal services to select client families a major facet or even cornerstone of their practice. For many
NPO Software Measures Up
If you’re in the market for nonprofit organization (NPO) accounting software, you’re in luck. Most of the products have undergone major upgrades in recent years that have made them far more powerful, feature-rich and easier to use. In our last survey of such software (“ Sizing Up
Weaving the Web of Information
Companies are getting the message that their employees want benefits information online—62% reported they prefer this delivery method. But there’s a right and wrong way to educate and encourage responsible behavior among employees via the Internet, according to Michael Rudnick, national eCommunications and portal leader at Watson Wyatt. Rudnick offers
Delivering Difficult Messages
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY No one relishes an uncomfortable conversation. When the best interests of a company, firm, individual or the public are threatened, it’s important to “be a leader” and take on the task. A three-stage process can be relied on to broach any uncomfortable conversation: (1)
Remote Assistance
You are visiting an office in Texas and need immediate help with a computer application. Because of the problem’s complexity, you figure a phone call won’t resolve the issue. You need a live visit from an expert. The only problem is he or she is in New
Place a Bet on Gaming
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gaming has come of age and become a real discipline and a serious nationwide business. It involves a lot of different industries under one roof: gaming, lodging, entertainment, food and beverage, golf and other recreational activities. CPAs with auditing skills are in high demand
Firms Not Planning for Booming Retirements
Almost 40% of companies have made no projections about the retirement rate of their employees and more than 25% have not even analyzed their work force demographics, which might unexpectedly jeopardize employer success, according to The Center on Aging and Work/Workplace Flexibility at Boston College. The study found that, although
Stay Connected on the Road
When traveling on business, it would be great if you could receive and send e-mail and easily perform other simple office tasks, like sending and receiving faxes or scanning documents into your computer—all without lugging around a ton of equipment. It would be even better if none
Use Power Efficiently at the Office
Have a long-term goal to reduce your overhead and operating budget? Every few years firms can schedule professional energy audits, which pinpoint where your office is wasting energy and suggest how to increase efficiency. Follow these simple tips to keep your employees comfortable while cutting your summer energy bill: Install
Effective Websites for CPAs: Grow Your Practice and Profits
by Kristi Stangeland, CPA RJ Thompson Publishing, 2006, 177 pp. Shortening the client development cycle is one of the most compelling reasons for a CPA firm to develop a Web site if it does not already have one, according to author Kristi Stangeland. Keeping clients abreast of change, increasing sales
Time to Rethink Your 401(k) Plan?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The PPA has made it easier for plan sponsors to automatically enroll employees in a retirement plan by eliminating the worry over state withholding laws. It delineates a new safe harbor automatic enrollment provision that starts the automatic deferral at 3%, raising it by
Incentives for Businesses in Distressed Communities
Since the mid-1990s, Congress has tried to help businesses operating in certain low-income and economically disadvantaged areas. This has taken the form of tax credits and deductions for businesses that locate in, and hire residents from, those areas. These inducements may be of interest to companies looking
Talent-Tempting Web Sites
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CPA firms have long sought answers to problems in recruiting and staffing. Some have used their Web sites to attract and inform prospective hires by adding features and content that highlight aspects of a career there. A survey of Web sites of the 50
Structuring for Growth
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Managing partners at small CPA firms —those having four or fewer professionals on staff—face a challenge. Their chief responsibilities are to build and maintain a solid foundation of financial, technological and legal support and to take action to ensure the firm’s profitability and future.
Build, Buy (or Sell)?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In managing a practice’s lifecycle, CPAs periodically face questions of how best to grow–to build the practice from within over time or to acquire an existing firm. They also must consider how best and when to sell their practice. The decision of how or when to build,
Market Every Day (in Every Way)
Marketing is the process of educating people about the availability and value of your firm’s CPA and advisory services. It lets potential clients know how you can help them solve problems and meet financial goals. Targeted, budgeted marketing plans generally work best, but many simple strategies cost
Smart Stops on the Web
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT GOOD FOR GROWTH www.buildyourfirm.com This site is dedicated to marketing for CPA and accounting firms. You can sign up for the free newsletter or browse the advice columns. Under the Marketing Tips tab, there’s info on generating leads, marketing on the cheap and recovering
Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS With FASB affirming its implementation date for FIN 48, several organizations, including the AICPA and FASB itself, are producing educational materials or additional guidance to help issuers comply with its new requirements for recognizing and measuring tax assets and liabilities. FASB Interpretation no. 48, Accounting for
Economics of Scale
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Faced with a major piece of new business, many clients find they instantly need more equipment, space, inventory, people and working capital. They must obtain capital quickly while simultaneously managing the other, physical aspects of the total opportunity. Many entrepreneurs are accustomed to pushing
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SPONSORED REPORT
Preparing clients for new provisions next tax season
As the 2025 filing season approaches, H.R. 1 introduces significant tax reforms that CPAs must be prepared to navigate. These legislative changes represent some of the most comprehensive tax updates in recent years, affecting both individual and corporate taxpayers. This report provides in-depth analysis and guidance on H.R. 1.
From The Tax Adviser
December 31, 2025
Practical tax advice for businesses as a result of the OBBBA
November 30, 2025
Digital asset transactions: Broker reporting, amount realized, and basis
October 31, 2025
