2010

Showing 641–656 of 657 results

  • Would your hospital-physician arrangement pass regulatory and public scrutiny?

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Vital Signs

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 712

    Abstract: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will periodically require hospitals to provide information about compensation arrangements with physicians. The rules for physician-hospital relationships are known. What’s not known is how an arrangement with physicians may look in the local newspaper. So it’s essential to develop a well-defined, transparent policy for physician arrangements. Once the policy is in place, it will be necessary to stay organized through the use of contract management tools that monitor physician financial relationships through hospital compliance officers and other administrators.

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  • So you want to grow a hospital-owned physician network … Recognizing the 3 stages of maturation

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Vital Signs

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 829

    Abstract: The resources necessary to acquire, manage and sustain one or two practices with less than 15 physicians are different from those required for groups of 25 to 50 physicians. The complexity increases significantly with larger groups. So it’s important to recognize the three stages that groups go through as they mature. Ultimately, these phases are less about the number of physicians, and more a reflection of the management skills and systems the group has developed.

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  • Creating a reliable buy-sell agreement — A valuation provision must be at its heart

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Viewpoint on Value

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 1074

    Abstract: A buy-sell agreement can be an important tool in smoothing any business ownership transition — whether the aim is to maintain control, provide liquidity and a ready market for the stock, retain key employees, or ensure an orderly ownership transfer in the case of death, disability or divorce. And at the heart of every successful buy-sell agreement is a well-reasoned, supportable value. This article explains the various approaches a valuator might use to set the price in a buy-sell agreement and ensure the resulting valuation is objective and fair to all shareholders.

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  • Think outside the box in divorce

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Viewpoint on Value

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 651

    Abstract: The rules governing equitable marital dissolutions vary from state to state. But divorce courts often consider cases in other jurisdictions, especially when relevant legal precedent in their own jurisdictions is lacking. This article uses a recent tax case, Wechsler v. Wechsler, to illustrate the importance of considering Tax Court precedent if a marital estate includes a holding corporation with significant built-in capital gains tax obligations. Citations: Wechsler v. Wechsler, 2008 WL 4635832, Oct. 21, 2008; Estate of Dunn v. Commissioner, 301 F.3d. 339, 5th Cir., 2002; Estate of Jelke v. Commissioner, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, No. 05 15549, Nov. 15, 2007.

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  • Look for the silver lining — A volatile market translates into higher marketability discounts

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Viewpoint on Value

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 1112

    Abstract: Recent market volatility may provide an opportunity to gift private business interests at significant discounts, potentially saving a substantial amount in taxes. High volatility typically lowers marketability by making investments less attractive. This article discusses the data valuators generally use to support marketability discounts for private companies, including restricted stock and pre-initial public offering studies. It also looks at other factors that affect marketability, such as the pool of potential buyers, company size and financial performance.

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  • Managing vendor risk

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 407

    Abstract: Many banks outsource a variety of activities, but that doesn’t mean they can sign the contract and forget about it. Federal regulations require banks to develop and maintain a vendor management program designed to protect customer information. And while these requirements may seem daunting, especially for smaller community banks, a risk-based approach can minimize the burden. There are several steps a bank should take to ensure compliance; an important part of the process is a formal risk assessment.

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  • OTTI: What it is and why you should care about it

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 587

    Abstract: A crucial accounting issue for banks is the treatment of other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) for investments. Under previous rules, assets that experienced OTTI were written down to fair value, with a corresponding charge to earnings. Many banks felt that this treatment was unfair, particularly for securities they had no intention of selling. In mid-2009, FASB issued guidance that changes the way these impairments are recorded for certain securities. OTTI can have a significant impact on bank earnings and regulatory capital, so it’s important to have policies and procedures in place for classifying securities, determining fair value, assessing securities for OTTI and measuring the credit and noncredit components.

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  • Credit card overhaul – Comprehensive Reg Z and UDAP changes take effect July 1

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 573

    Abstract: Banks that issue credit cards have until July 1, 2010, to line up their compliance strategies for a massively changed set of UDAP (unfair or deceptive acts or practices) and Regulation Z (truth in lending) rules. The UDAP changes affect payment allocation, double-cycle billing, fee-based accounts and other issues, while the Regulation Z changes have an impact on credit advertising, billing error resolution, and other matters.

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  • Do you have a capital defense plan?

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 1009

    Abstract: Today, one of the biggest concerns of regulators is whether banks have adequate capital to withstand potential losses associated with high concentrations of commercial real estate loans. So it’s important that banks develop a capital defense plan as part of their preparation for regulatory exams. This article lists a number of best practices in this process, including reviewing and classifying one’s loan portfolio and reviewing and documenting the methodologies used to determine the allowance for loan and lease losses. A sidebar discusses a new FDIC rule regarding limits on deposit interest rates offered by institutions that are less than “well capitalized.”

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  • Getting cash to flow

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Auto Focus

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 715

    Abstract: With sales still lackluster at many stores, having enough cash on hand to meet obligations remains a management challenge. The first step in strong cash-flow management is maintaining an organized system for cash accounts. It’s also important to maintain a tight collection policy and to properly account for inventory.

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  • Good reasons for clean cutoffs

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Auto Focus

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 584

    Abstract: When a sale occurs near the fiscal year end, precisely when should a dealer record it? For a sale in which the dealer had completed most of the legwork and crunched the numbers just before the cutoff date — but with the dotted line being signed after that date — it might seem logical to record it at the earlier date. And the factory would likely back this decision, because it bolsters the manufacturer’s year end unit sales. But dealers shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch; it can cause problems with lenders and other stakeholders, who might claim that the dealer is exaggerating financial results.

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  • Ready, set, get audited – How your audit can be easier next time

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Auto Focus

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 994

    Abstract: With a bit of advance planning, a visit by an external audit team can be brief and predictable. Plus, many offer business improvement and tax-savings tips that could actually make a dealer’s life easier. This article discusses how to prepare for a visit, and how to benefit from ideas the auditor may have gathered throughout the audit process to help improve operations and build value. A sidebar discusses the choices dealers have when accounting for new vehicle inventory.

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  • IRS to step up UNICAP enforcement – Dealerships have until Jan. 1, 2011, to comply

    Winter 2010
    Newsletter: Auto Focus

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 670

    Abstract: Virtually all automobile dealerships report their inventories improperly, according to the IRS. A Taxpayer Advice Memorandum, TAM 200736026, suggests that most dealerships incorrectly apply Internal Revenue Code Section 263A to calculation of their inventories. Sec. 263A addresses the uniform capitalization of direct and indirect inventory costs. Currently, most dealers deduct these expenses each year by using the simplified retail method, rather than including them as part of their inventories. The agency has recently laid the groundwork to begin serious testing for noncompliance starting next January, and the revised rules affect all but the smallest dealers.

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  • Selecting guideline companies in a volatile market

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 592

    Abstract: When valuation professionals appraise a business using the market approach, they rely heavily on data from comparable or “guideline” companies. Selecting appropriate guideline companies is always important in preventing over- or undervaluation, and this selection is based on the type of business being appraised. The market approach can be effective in times of general economic stability, but when the value of companies falls dramatically and the economic future is uncertain, guideline company data can be less reliable.

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  • Personal vs. enterprise goodwill – Another state recognizes the critical difference

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 618

    Abstract: The Kentucky Supreme Court recently joined the majority of states that distinguish between personal and enterprise goodwill when valuing a business. Such a distinction can significantly affect divorce settlements when one spouse holds an interest in a closely held business or sole proprietorship — particularly a professional practice. This article looks at how the court came to its conclusion that spouses will receive no share of their partner’s personal goodwill.

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  • What makes a fraud interview effective?

    January / February 2010
    Newsletter: Advocate's Edge / Litigation Support

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 737

    Abstract: Conducting effective fraud interviews requires knowledge about everything from behavioral psychology to criminal law to accounting and auditing rules. Before they interview a suspect, experts gather documentary evidence, interview other employees, and learn about the potential perpetrator. Armed with that information, the investigator then conducts the interview in a way that minimizes a suspect’s defensiveness. Engaging a forensic expert to perform this critical task could mean the difference between recovery of stolen funds and a successful prosecution, and the perpetrator getting away with thousands — even millions — of dollars.

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