Massive Estate Planning Mistakes of Celebrities

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[Marilyn Monroe]Consider the mistakes of these five celebrities when you make decisions about your estate or advise others about theirs. As Sheyna Steiner reports, problems in life may compound after death as creditors, heirs and the Internal Revenue Service come calling for their share of an estate. Questions: 1. After reading about these five celebrities,… Read more »

Just helping a friend

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On Thursday, April 4, federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission filed criminal and civil charges against fired KPMG accounting partner Scott London for conspiracy to commit securities fraud through insider trading. The accountant provided confidential information about KPMG audit clients Herbalife Ltd., Skechers USA Inc., Uggs maker Deckers Outdoor Corp., RSC Holdings and… Read more »

Read this if you are thinking about Law School

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According to Ethan Bronner at the New York Times, law school applications are headed for a 30-year low, reflecting increased concern over soaring tuition, crushing student debt and diminishing prospects of lucrative employment upon graduation. Questions: 1. Summarize the recent trend in the number of applications to law schools. 2. What are your views on… Read more »

The $10,000 degree – Innovation or Second Rate Degree?

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Texas may be experimenting with an initiative to help students and families struggling with the high costs of college: a bachelor’s degree for $10,000, including tuition fees and even textbooks. Under a plan unveiled in 2011, Republican Gov. Rick Perry is proposing a bachelor’s degree for $10,000, including tuition fees and even textbooks. The governor… Read more »

The Cost Disease

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Much of our political debate is fueled by the rise in the cost of healthcare, education, and other necessary services. Interestingly, the new book “The Cost Disease” is based on the work of William Baumol, who as a young economist in the 1960s promoted the idea tagged “Baumol’s Disease,” which explains that our current predicament… Read more »

Debt for Life?

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Here are the facts. Four-year college graduates’ pay advantage over high school grads has doubled over the past 30 years. However, in 2010, student debt exceeded credit-card debt for the first time and in 2011, it surpassed auto loans. In March 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that student debt had passed $1 trillion… Read more »

Resume Padding

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On Monday, May 7, Yahoo apologized to its employees for discrepancies about its CEO, hired in January. Apparently, Scott Thompson, does not have a computer science degree after all, even though that information was included in an SEC filing and in several public bios about him. Questions: 1. If Thompson allowed false information about his… Read more »

Student debt

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, All Articles, Auditing, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Fraud Accounting, IFRS, Intermediate Accounting, International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Uncategorized, Video Updates.

Ninety-four percent of students who earn a bachelor’s degree borrow to pay for higher education. This is up from the 1993 statistics that show only 45 percent of students borrowed money to pay for a bachelor’s degree. This borrowing includes loans from the federal government, private lenders and relatives. Questions: 1. Explain why Rajeev V…. Read more »

Bonuses, Anyone?

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Alan Johnson is among a small group of behind-the-scenes information brokers who help determine how Wall Street firms distribute billions of dollars to their workers. He operates as a compensation consultant in an obscure corner of the management consulting industry and in the shadows of high finance. Questions: 1. What was the most interesting thing… Read more »

We Did Everything Right and Still Lost Our Business: Five Failing Businesses in 2011

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It has been another tough year for small businesses. According to the National Federation of Independent Businessesm one in four believes the biggest problem is weak sales. Issues of timing, cash, and a lack of realistic estimates also add to the challenges they face. Questions: 1. After reading the article, what advice would you offer… Read more »