All Articles
Showing 9313–9328 of 10245 results
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How to protect your assets in a divorce
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Auto Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 697
Abstract: Divorce, one of life’s most stressful experiences, can drain one’s emotions — and bank account. Not only must divorcing dealers’ personal assets be divvied up, but their business interests also might be at stake. Fortunately, an accounting professional can help with the financial side of divorce. He or she will evaluate whether the dealer’s interest in the dealership is part of the marital estate, and whether state laws consider goodwill includible. The professional also will choose the best valuation approach to determine the dealership’s worth.
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Parts and service lifeline – A well-run back shop can save your dealership
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Auto Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 961
Abstract: For the average dealer, parts and service accounted for all its operating profits last year, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). To help dealers maintain this lifeline through this rough economy, this article provides tips on catering to customers, exploiting technology, providing perceived value and working as a coordinated team. A sidebar discusses whether customer service index ratings or other measures provide the best gauge of customer satisfaction.
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Are you producing damaging evidence? The implications of electronic metadata
July / August 2009
Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 708
Abstract: Electronically stored information (ESI) has become one of the most prominent types of litigation evidence. Such records contain critical bits of forensic evidence — or, metadata — that aren’t found in their hard copy counterparts. When parties produce electronic documents, therefore, they also may be producing revealing, even damaging, metadata. Before it begins to gather and review potentially responsive files, the producing party must preserve requested ESI with its metadata. Forensic experts can help by imaging a company’s servers and hard drives before the files are searched and reviewed.
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How computerized testing detects journal entry fraud
July / August 2009
Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 791
Abstract: Fraudulent journal entries are extremely susceptible to management override of internal controls. And manual testing may miss evidence of fraud, since it can only examine a portion of general ledger entries. Computerized testing, however, considers the entire dataset, reducing the risk of overlooking critical evidence. Such testing also allows fraud experts to devote more time to other aspects of the investigation, such as gathering information about the business and interviewing employees.
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Shareholder damages – More class action cases, less certainty
July / August 2009
Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 732
Abstract: The number of securities class action suits has escalated in recent years. And because greater market volatility historically correlates with an increased level of securities litigation, the numbers can be expected to rise. Market instability can also complicate the already tricky process of calculating shareholder damages. This article discusses some of the steps involved in attributing price, along with the trading models that might be used in aggregating damages.
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Court ruling: Accounting for embedded taxes
July / August 2009
Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1090
Abstract: A hotly disputed business valuation issue recently was addressed in a seven-years-plus divorce case, one of first impression in New York. The appellate level court considered the extent to which the value of a holding company owned by the husband should be reduced to reflect the federal and state taxes embedded in the securities owned by the company due to unrealized appreciation. The case involved choosing between an “historical tax rate” approach to valuation vs. one in which an actual sale of the company’s assets is assumed to occur on the valuation date. A sidebar addresses the argument of the husband’s expert that the company’s value should be reduced by the nontax costs of liquidation.
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News for nonprofits – Noncash contributions: know your reporting obligations
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Nonprofit Agendas
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 553
Abstract: This issue highlights reporting requirements for noncash contributions; new IRS initiatives involving charitable spending, nonprofit governance, noncash contributions and student loan organizations; and an announcement that there are now 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations in the U.S.
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Form 990: Schedule G changes tracking of fundraising, gaming
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Nonprofit Agendas
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 407
Abstract: With new Form 990 tax requirements taking effect May 15, nonprofits will have to pay greater attention to how they track information for their tax returns. One new schedule will apply to many: Schedule G, “Supplemental Information Regarding Fundraising or Gaming Activities.” This short article explains what a nonprofit needs to do if it earns revenue of $15,000 or more from fundraising activities or events or from gaming activities.
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All eyes on governance
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Nonprofit Agendas
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 891
Abstract: More and more, “governance” crops up in discussions about the nonprofit sector. But this is a new challenge for many board members, who may be more adept at fundraising than they are at such governance issues as determining compensation levels, gift acceptance policies, or procedures for tracking the use of grants. Specific recommendations for improving governance are described, while a sidebar offers four categories of principles to provide the backbone for a board’s policies.
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Improve cash management to control budget deficits
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Nonprofit Agendas
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 977
Abstract: In an economic downturn, when most nonprofits simultaneously face revenue losses and the growing needs of their constituencies, it would be wonderful to find a simple and painless way to improve cash flow. There’s no easy solution to the cash crunch, but this article offers tips on cutting expenses, getting more cash from traditional avenues, and using cash reserves — or the investments your board has designated for future use — to support your operations. A sidebar offers an example of a simple cash flow forecasting model.
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Ask the Advisor – Q. Should my distressed company consider a debt restructuring?
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Merger & Acquisition Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 579
Abstract: Financially troubled companies facing severe cashflow problems may need to seek alternative methods to satisfy their outstanding debts. This column discusses one option: an out-of-court debt restructuring. In a debt restructuring, a company informally renegotiates outstanding debt obligations with its creditors. The resulting agreement is legally binding, and can enable the distressed company to reduce its debt, extend maturities, alter payment terms or consolidate loans. Debt restructuring is a far less extreme and burdensome — not to mention, expensive — alternative to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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In shape to sell – How fit is your business?
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Merger & Acquisition Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 692
Abstract: Even when owners aren’t planning to sell their business for years, they should use the intervening time to make it more attractive to eventual buyers. To improve a company’s value and fitness for sale, businesses likely need to firm up their balance sheet as well as subject operations and even employees to performance and productivity measures. This process involves auditing financial statements to find weak spots, and making infrastructure improvements to reduce inefficiencies. And, since buyers may be more risk-averse in the future, a risk assessment is important, as well.
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Selling a distressed company at a healthy price
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Merger & Acquisition Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 670
Abstract: Selling may be the best option for financially distressed companies. But distressed companies face obstacles healthier companies don’t — namely, finding a buyer that will accept the financial challenges and pay the seller a fair price for the opportunity to turn the business around. Sellers don’t necessarily have to settle for a fire-sale price but they do need to understand what they have and how they can market it most effectively.
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Solve your credit crisis with seller financing
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Merger & Acquisition Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 876
Abstract: With much of the credit markets in a deep freeze, M&A activity has, not surprisingly, declined. Many buyers simply can’t find the financing they need to make acquisitions. A prospective seller, however, can attract buyers or help keep a planned deal alive by agreeing to finance at least part of the acquisition by deferring a portion of the selling price. Seller financing can be accomplished through an installment plan or a seller loan. This article describes how either approach can benefit both parties.
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Estate planning pitfall – You haven’t reviewed your estate plan since your divorce
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 325
Abstract: A divorce settlement typically takes care of issues such as jointly owned real estate, bank accounts and other property. But, if you’re divorced, is your spouse still a beneficiary of any life insurance policies, retirement accounts or irrevocable trusts? Is he or she still an agent for your health care issues, or have power of attorney for financial matters? These are reasons why you may need to review your estate plan.
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Bankruptcy and your estate plan – When assets are transferred is key
June / July 2009
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 728
Abstract: Some estate planning tools, such as FLPs and FLLCs, provide some peace of mind that your assets will be there when your family needs them. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Asset protection is never absolute, particularly when bankruptcy is involved. To minimize your risk, it’s important to consider bankruptcy issues as you plan your estate. This article explains how you can set up asset protection trusts and other vehicles in a way that keeps them from being disqualified as fraudulent or preferential transfers.