Accounting Newsletter Articles

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  Speculation of $150 Oil and What it Means for the Markets

  Over the past 30 months, the price of a barrel of oil has increased from the mid-$30s to—in recent days—as high as the mid-$70s per barrel. At almost half the historic $150 per barrel price level nearly 10 years ago, how will the market react if oil reaches $150 again, as some analysts are speculating? … Read More >

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  The Perks of Working Past Traditional Retirement Age

  A large number of Americans intend to keep working past retirement age. For many, their reasons are financial. Some have a high level of debt while others are afraid if they retire too soon, they will run out of money. Working longer offers several financial benefits. Those who put off retirement are able to: Accrue … Read More >

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  Cyberattack Prevention Planning

  Every year we experience new challenges in the world of computer hacking —as well as new solutions. Cyber hackers have become aggressive, so business owners must be more vigilant. Because clients are the source of your revenue, it is critically important to ensure their data never gets into the wrong hands. According to a recent … Read More >

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  Investment Bank Fees Indicate Strong Equity Capital Market Activity

  Investment banks can be a good predicator of the health of the market in the near future. Investment banks make the bulk of their money on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and financing activities (bond issuances and syndicated loans). As a result, we can look at investment bank fees and performance as a proxy … Read More >

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  Common Money Mistakes As We Age

  It is common knowledge that as we grow old, our bodies tend to not work as well. Some folks begin having physical challenges, some have cognitive issues and some have both. But what we don’t know is which, if any, of those challenges we will face. Worse yet, those who fall into cognitive decline often … Read More >

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  Business Ethics for Customer Data

  Many computer users are reluctant to engage in online shopping, banking or investment transactions for fear that their account information will be stolen. According to the Identity Theft Resources Center, between January 2005 and April 2018, there were 8,870 breaches and 1,078,674,491 records exposed to bad actors. A breach is defined as an incident in … Read More >

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  What the New Tax Law Means for the Home Equity Loan Interest Deduction

  Prior to the recent tax law changes, taxpayers were allowed to deduct qualifying mortgage interest on loans up to $1 million, plus the interest on an additional $100,000 in home equity debt. The new tax law clearly limits the mortgage interest deduction to $750,000 worth of debt; however, treatment of home equity loan debt was … Read More >

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  Cryptocurrency Tax Essentials

  Cryptocurrency is hot right now. As it emerges as an asset class of its own, many people are still confused about how to treat it for federal income tax purposes. In response, the IRS issued guidance back in 2014 that treats virtual currencies that are convertible to cash as a capital asset—but it’s not as … Read More >

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  Technology: Net Neutrality – What’s All the Fuss About?

  According to the pundits, the Dec. 14 move by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to repeal existing net neutrality rules is either a major blow to free communication or a storm in a teacup. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere between these polarizing viewpoints. It appears that those who supported dismantling the rules put in place … Read More >

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  Stock Market: Outlook for 2018

  Before considering what might be ahead in 2018, perhaps it’s worth looking back to acknowledge that 2017 was a banner year—both a great year for U.S. stocks, as well as the year when international markets turned a corner. In the United States, earnings for 2017 have been solid and growth expectations are on an upswing. … Read More >