AT Think

IMGCAP(1)] Research is the key to developing a list of good prospects to focus your strategic pursuit efforts. The more you know about a prospect, the easier it is to determine whether that business or individual is worth going after and, if so, how best to do that.

The group of economists that keeps more-or-less official track of economic cycles has decided that the recession ended in June 2009, even though most of the country is still feeling the effects.

There needs to be a distinction made in the accounting industry. The term “managing partner” is used to describe the leader or person in-charge of the firm; however this is not always the case. Some firms have a person with the title of managing partner but in reality, function more like a coordinating partner. So which one are you? In this post, I am going to make the distinction between a managing partner and a coordinating partner, as well as offer some suggestions to further develop your leadership skills.

The Small Business Jobs Act that the Senate passed on Thursday contains a provision that the AICPA and cell phone providers have clamored for: the removal of “cellular telephones and similar telecommunications equipment” from the IRS’s set of “listed property” so their cost could be deducted or depreciated like other business property, without tiresome record-keeping requirements.

Congrats to Louisville, Ky.-based Louis T. Roth & Co. for being selected as a recipient of the 2010 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.

The Census Bureau reported Thursday that one in seven Americans now falls below the poverty line, with 4.8 million more people joining the ranks of the poor last year.

There’s a bunch of news coming out of Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz (BSSF) this month, including new hires, new CPAs and recognition that the firm was named one of the best places to work in their state of Pennsylvania.

One little publicized provision of the Small Business Jobs Act grinding its way through Congress aims to help small business owners who have been hit with huge penalties for investing in benefit plans that the IRS deemed to be tax shelters.

Cleveland-based business and advisory firm Skoda Minotti has gotten their strategy for attracting, motivating and retaining top performers down. The firm has recently been awarded a NorthCoast 99 award for the fifth consecutive year.

The New York State Society of CPAs is recommending approval of a change in New York State regulations that would establish a mandatory quality review program for public accountants.