Technology
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM
Stanley Zarowin
Are you ready for twenty-first century technology? If not, you may find yourself left in the dust as competitors, customers and even your suppliers get wired for the future. Like it or not, technology has become a way of business life.

Software
FINANCIAL REPORTS IN A SNAP
Jeff Lenning
Distributing financial reports throughout an organization is usually an onerous task. But there’s a way to do it electronically—and without using the Internet. Not only is the process easy but it also lets users uncover more information than they can obtain from paper reports.

Auditing
A NEW APPROACH TO COMPILATIONS
Diane S. Conant and J. Russell Madray
In an exposure draft that would amend SSARS no. 1, Compilation and Review of Financial Statements, the AICPA accounting and review services committee has taken a different approach from past revision attempts. Rather than create an exemption, the committee rewrote the statement to recognize changes in the accounting profession, competitive pressures and technology.

Personal Financial Planning
THE DOs AND DON’Ts OF IRA INVESTING
Robert Preston
The hundreds of investment alternatives today include some that are best kept out of an IRA. Some are prohibited outright and others can create tax problems, including jeopardizing the account’s tax-deferred status. But IRA investors still have many good investment options.

Practice Development
SOPHISTICATED WEB MARKETING
Guido L. Geerts, Barbara A. Waddington and Steven C. Dilley
Invest in a Web site that interacts with your clients, collects important data, always is up-to-date and helps you add value to your services.

Management Accounting
THE PLANNING PERIL
Lawrence B. MacGregor Serven
If you’ve been tapped to be on a team redesigning your company’s planning and budgeting process, beware: The path is a mine field. This article suggests ways to avoid the traps and get workable results.

NEWS

Auditing
The SEC issues new rules to improve audit committee disclosure and enhance the reliability of corporate financial statements.

Business Valuation
SSARS ED is issued on business valuation financial statements.

The Internet
Smart stops on the Web.

By the Numbers
Companies are snapping up executives to meet their growing management needs.

International
IFAC and accounting firms form alliance to apply international standards consistently.

FYI
News, notes and items of interest.

At a Glance: Charts and Graphics
Job market is hot.

Merger mania.

Lack of health care a problem for many.

Electronic filing gets passing grade.

AMT hitting middle class harder.

COLUMNS

Checklist
Tips on how to survive, and even prevent, a systems catastrophe.

Tax Matters
National taxpayer advocate identifies obstacles to compliance.

Tax Brief. Individual: Tax court blew the whistle on inmates who claimed earned income tax credit.

Tax Brief. Business and Industry: Ruling allows cash method of accounting for medical service provider.

Tax Cases: The Tax Court decided cases involving nonrecourse debt, insolvency and a representative’s responsibility for the unpaid taxes of an estate.

Line Items.

From the Tax Adviser
Mutual fund redemptions.

Technology Q&A
Making technology work for you.

Inside AICPA
A.A. Sommer, Jr., retires from the POB.

AICPA sounds call for CPA examination graders.

Virginia Stanley wins financial planning award.

Letters
Index funds: Criticisms and comments.

Thinks HMOs wrongfully blamed.

More about the commerce clause.

Readers find technology workshops helpful.

Golden Business Ideas
Practical ideas for improving your business.