Archive for January, 2012

Post 1700

by David Merkel, January 28, 2012

Every 100 posts, I breathe a deep breath and try to catch up on where we have been.  It’s not always easy for me; I write about so many different issues, and I shift in response to changes in the markets.

So, where have we been?

Discussing finding jobs in the shrinking field of finance ( one, [...]

CPAs and others working in CPA firms and accounting departments are very busy, dedicated people.

I am so fortunate to know many of you in the CPA world and although I expect you to work hard, don’t forget to play some, too. Don’t forget your dreams and the things on your bucket list.

Take a few [...]

An interesting thing happens every January. The gym is more full than normal (very frustrating for those of us who go year-round and get used to having the place to ourselves 11 months of the year). Places of worship see increases in attendance and donations. I’d imagine more blog posts are written, more journals are [...]

Both of my grandfathers were entrepreneurs, men who started and ran one or more small businesses to support their families. They didn’t create huge companies, but built lifestyle businesses that added value to themselves and the economy.

One of my grandfathers owned a butcher shop after World War II. He was a hard-working, industrious man. Every [...]

Recent Tweets

by David Merkel, January 13, 2012

@DavidSchawel Shrink the balance sheets then for true profit; sell AFS assets, & use proceeds to buy back debt. Makes BalSht cleaner also $$ Jan 13, 2012
Could protectionism, tariffs, & a VAT lead 2 inflation? RT @historysquared: $$ : Latest in the Ongoing Global Trade War http://t.co/QuwgmmxO Jan 13, 2012
The [...]

Economic and Political Outlook for 2012:

Hang Onto Your Hats!Leon C. LaBrecque, JD, CPA, CFP™, CFA

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2012. Here are a few predictions and observations that provide you with our economic and political perspectives for the New Year. You may want to sit down with a favorite beverage or even an [...]

Are you familiar with the word Paraskevidekatriaphobics?

Thank goodness for “cut & paste” because I don’t think I could even type it correctly while looking directly at it!

I don’t have it and I hope you don’t either. It’s the fear of Friday the 13th – not the movie – the day. I’m afraid of the movie.

Like [...]

Estate Portablity

by Trish McIntire, January 2, 2012

About a year ago, Congress finally caught up the work they had postponed while campaigning and extended the estate tax deductions which had expired and reverted to 2001 levels. The new law gave each taxpayer a $5 million dollar exclusion (exemption) before the estate tax would kick in. If the deceased [...]