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Special Report
HOW THE AICPA HELPS MEMBERS SERVE SMALL BUSINESS
James C. Metzler
The Institute has developed numerous programs and products to benefit members working with small businesses. For CPAs serving small-business clients.

Practice Development
PAYROLL: A TIE THAT BINDS
Sarah E. Phelan and Michael Hayes
To pay its staff, every business gathers and enters payroll data, calculates wage amounts, prepares checks and pays taxes. Here’s information to help you decide whether becoming a payroll outsource provider could add business to your firm. For sole practitioners and managing partners of small to midsize firms.

Employee Benefits
IRAs AND 401(k)s: HOW TO PICK THE BEST PLAN
Cynthia Scarinci
Providing employee retirement accounts is a challenging task for the small business owner. This article offers recommendations for selecting the retirement plans that will best satisfy the unique requirements of each small business. For CPAs in public practice who advise small business owners and CPAs in industry with small business clients.

Practice Management
FRAME A TRAVEL STRATEGY
Will Tate and Cheryl Rosen
Adapting the best practices of global corporations can help CPAs at even small firms and companies find the delicate balance between holding costs down and keeping road warriors productive. For managing partners of small and midsize firms, CFOs and CPAs at small and midsize companies.

Compensation and Benefits
LTC INSURANCE FOR OWNERS AND EXECUTIVES
Paul S. Devore
Company-sponsored long-term-care insurance is an economical way to protect executives from the high cost of nursing homes. CPAs need to know about coverage. For CPAs who advise employers and clients on employee-benefit options.

Sarbanes-Oxley
TRUST SERVICES: A BETTER WAY TO EVALUATE I.T. CONTROLS
Martin J. Coe
This first-person account shows how CPAs can employ the AICPA/CICA Trust Services framework to meet Sarbanes-Oxley’s requirement that management assess internal controls over financial reporting. For CFOs, internal audit executives, financial managers and external auditors.

Technology Workshop
ADD EVEN MORE MUSCLE TO “WHAT-IF” ANALYSES
James A. Weisel
The second of two articles on using Excel to conduct powerful what-if business analyses. For all CPAs.

Financial Reporting Technology
XBRL AND DATA STANDARDIZATION: TRANSFORMING THE WAY CPAs WORK
Mike Willis
CPAs often have to manually cobble together clumps of data from disparate sources in varying formats. XBRL’s universal format can help improve efficiency and report quality. For all CPAs.

In Our Opinion
A GAP IN INSURANCE GAAP?
James H. Thompson and Gregory M. Larson
It’s time for FASB to consider allowing CPAs to account for life insurance policies in new ways.

Centennial Countdown
For protection of the public.
Top 10 reasons to become a CPA.

News Digest
Accounting…Government Accounting…International…Practice Management…Retirement Plans…Small Business…FYI.
The profession loses a trailblazer.

The Internet
Smart stops on the Web.

At a Glance: Charts and Graphics
Accountants or cops?
Communication is key to success.
What CFOs want.
Plastic and e-payments on the rise.

Letters
Ethics education for students.
Medicaid debate continues.

Checklist
Write the right business plan.

Tax Matters
Tax Case: Section 1341 clarified.
Tax Case: Note sale: Does it accelerate related-party interest deductions?
Tax Case: Tax shelter can have business purpose.
Tax Notes.

From the Tax Adviser
“Wages” and the employer-employee relationship.

Technology Q&A
Format many Excel worksheets with a single click…Program Excel to alert you to a deadline…Display a worksheet’s row and column labels…Make taskbar always show all open files…A better solution: Custom-print views in Excel…Update: Make text on your screen appear clearer…Shortcuts.

Inside AICPA
Institute honors Brezik for PFP service, enhances Web site.
Scholarship nominees sought.
Dues Reminder to Members

Golden Business Ideas
Practical ideas for improving your business.

In This Issue