Practice Development/Sarbanes-Oxley
SELLING TO AUDIT COMMITTEES
Gale Crosley
Post Sarbanes-Oxley, corporate boards and audit committees have taken on much of the decision-making role traditionally held by CEOs and CFOs. Here are suggestions to help CPAs win over boards of public, private and not-for-profit entities to develop engagement opportunities. For CPAs whose clients are public companies or nonissuers interested in compliance.

Practice Management
SUCCESSION-PLANNING DOS AND DON’TS
Anita Dennis
For many CPAs their firms are their most important asset. However, a recent PCPS survey showed many hadn’t made adequate plans to transfer their practices to new leaders when they retire. The survey and follow-up interviews identified succession problems and offered solutions. For CPA firm partners/owners.

Personal Financial Planning
HEDGE FUND INVESTING
Thomas G. Evans, Stan Atkinson and Charles H. Cho
Hedge funds are a hot topic, so CPA investment advisers need to understand how they work and the risks they pose. This article will address the investment opportunities and the issues. For CPAs who offer investment advice to clients or do their own financial planning.

Professional Issues
IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, PART TWO
The second of two interviews with the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC. For all CPAs.

Financial Reporting Technology
XBRL REVISITED
Neal J. Hannon and Robert J. Gold
Although the JofA has covered it extensively, XBRL remains largely unfamiliar to some CPAs. Those who master the concepts explained in this article will better understand how XBRL improves financial reporting. For CPAs in industry, public practice, education and government.

Technology Workshop
HOST A VIRTUAL MEETING
Nancy B. Nichols and Stephanie M. Bryant
Set up a remote conference, share files and dialogue with a group of colleagues—all in real time. You’ll need only Windows and the Internet. For all CPAs.

NEWS

AICPA Update
AICPA center for public company audit firms is live online.
AICPA creates community Web site for personal financial planning services.

News Digest
Accounting…Auditing…Ethics…Financial Reporting…Government Accounting…International…Personal Financial Planning…Technology…FYI.

The Internet
Smart stops on the Web.

Special Report
NASBA: Focusing state boards on revitalizing public trust.

At a Glance: Charts and Graphics
Accountants practice what they preach.
Look in your own backyard.
Director pay increasing.
What makes a leader?
Double the trouble.
Good news for business.
Your tax dollars at work.

COLUMNS

Centennial Countdown
Journal of Accountancy Table of Contents: What month and year?

Checklist
Leave no room for doubt—write it all out.

Worth Repeating
IN SUPPORT OF CPA FINANCIAL PLANNERS
Barry C. Melancon
The AICPA demonstrates its commitment to CPAs in their work as financial planners and wealth managers and puts its resources behind them as they meet the growing financial complexities of individuals in need of personal financial planning.

Tax Matters
Firm-and-fixed-plan rule reaffirmed.
Lottery winnings taxable under foreign treaties.
Are substitute payments alimony?
Is division of an IRA a taxable event?
Tax Notes.

Technology Q&A
Transfer Outlook data to a new computer…Identify airplane seats with computer power ports…View wide documents without scrolling sideways…Prepare a list of custom dates…Display and print formulas in Excel…Add a calendar tool to Word…Oops! Watermark is possible in Excel…Who says you can’t easily change Excel’s text case?…Shortcuts.