Baby Boomers are just becoming aware that when they retire and because of greater life expectancies, they will probably need a steady income steam for at least 25 years, maybe for as long as 35 or more.

The International Federation of Accountants is proposing the first major revisions to its code of ethics for accountants since late 2001.

The President's Identity Theft Task Force announced that it is seeking public comment on various recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the federal government's efforts to reduce identity theft.

Refco Inc., which collapsed amidst the revelations of an accounting scandal just over a year ago, has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to wrap up its business.A federal bankruptcy court approved the company’s exit plan on Dec. 15 to essentially dissolve itself by selling off its remaining operations and eliminating others. Payouts won’t put much of a dent in the $16.8 billion that creditors have claimed they are owed.

To finish off the year, I thought it might be very worthwhile, as we get ready for New Year’s Resolutions, to consider certain ideals, courtesy of my friends at Buckingham Asset Management. They have adopted the following principles to help them serve as a trusted advisor. It bears repeating over and over because Buckingham is right on target:

The American Institute of CPAs has asked the Internal Revenue Service to clarify the deductibility of health insurance premiums covering S corporation shareholders.

Beleaguered health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. announced that a Securities and Exchange Commission probe of the stock-options practices has been formalized.

Canadian firms reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have as many, if not more, internal control problems than American companies, according to a new study authored by a Toronto-based academic.

Philadelphia, the city in which our Founding Fathers created the words to govern our country, this month housed the fathers of another language -- one they hope businesses in every nation will adopt to turn financial reporting from a tower of babble into a world of ubiquitous fluency. Backers of the Extensible Business Reporting Language expressed excitement over their progress in enticing companies to conduct internal reporting and regulatory filings in this format. Roughly 500 people from 27 countries attended the 14th international conference, which indicates increased interest from last fall’s showing of 300, but not necessarily increased understanding. At least conference organizers foresaw the dilemma and astutely prepared novices, even promising “compelling” demos free of technical jargon to prove that XBRL applications can make life easier for accountants, auditors, and investors looking to do everything from internal budgeting on Excel spreadsheets to quantitative analysis for investment management.

After four months, the Securities and Exchange Commission has already revisited its rule on disclosing executive compensation.In a statement issued Dec. 22, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said that the new requirements will make it easier for companies to prepare statements and for investors to understand the cost of stock options.

A CPA will take over as the Securities and Exchange Commission’s chief financial officer and associate executive director of finance.The appointee, Kristine Chadwick, had most recently served as the chief financial officer for the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Commodity Credit Corporation. She will replace Margaret Carpenter, who is retiring in January after 32 years in the federal government.

As federal regulators continue tweaking new public accounting rules, opponents of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will find more fuel for their argument in the news that Hong Kong passed over New York in 2006 to become the world's second most popular place for companies to issue new stock listings.London remained at the top of the list.

For the business community, going public has always been where the real money is.

Employers and benefit providers are coming up with some rather interesting ways of providing employee benefits in a cost effective manner.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has revoked the registration of Armando C. Ibarra PC of Chula Vista, Calif., and censured Dallas-based Turner, Stone & Co. LLP, citing violations of PCAOB guidelines and auditing standards uncovered during its inspection process.

The Internal Revenue Service is lifting a moratorium on determination letter applications for conversions from traditional defined benefit pension plans to so-called cash balance plans.

Derrick Kinney is one of the most charming people on the face of the earth. He is also recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on helping small business owners, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed succeed with the affluent. Moreover, he is the author of the bestselling "Master the Media to Attract Your Ideal Clients."

As expected, President Bush signed a massive bill that would extend expiring tax, health and trade legislation.

The Lure of Enron’s Lore

In a nod to opponents and critics who complained about the costs of internal controls audits, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board voted unanimously to circulate a proposal that would trim down the amount of testing necessary to evaluate internal controls over the financial reporting process.