Although admittedly many people look upon January 1st as the trigger-point for resolutions, an organization known as Savvy Ladies figures that April 15th is really the better date. “Tax time is often the only time of the year when a lot of people sit down and look at how much they’ve earned and how much they’ve been able to save,” says Stacy Francis, founder of Savvy Ladies and a certified financial planner,. “It’s a bit of a shock for many to see how much cash slips through their fingers every month.” Savvy Ladies is dedicated to providing financial education to women in their quest for financial independence. It has free monthly newsletters, seminars, and teleconferences that are pegged at fostering a sense of community and are specifically designed to educate, amuse, and fulfill savvy women who want to take control of their financial future. There are currently 2,100 members and growing rapidly. The founder of this organization is Stacy Francis who is the president of Francis Financial, a New York City-based firm that specializes in helping individuals create more fulfilling lives through financial freedom.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., has introduced a bill in Congress to close a legal loophole that allowed Bernard Madoff’s tiny auditing firm to avoid scrutiny.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s chief auditor and director of professional standards, Thomas Ray, has resigned and plans to return to the private sector on March 6.

Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., has written to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Douglas Shulman asking him to provide tax relief to investors who were swindled by Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

More than two-thirds of the 100-plus CPAs present at a New York State Society of CPAs breakfast indicated they had clients affected by the Bernard Madoff scheme. For investors who need funds soon, the IRS may be the best bet.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued information to help employers claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for former employees under provisions of the recently passed stimulus bill.

CaseWare IDEA and Audimation Services plan to introduce the latest version of their IDEA audit software, including a new project overview feature that presents a graphical representation of the entire audit or investigation process.

Children with investment income may have part or all of this income taxed at their parent’s tax rate rather than at the child’s rate, according to the IRS.

The next meeting of the Financial Crisis Advisory Group is scheduled for March 5 as accounting leaders and regulators sort out issues related to the recession.

Ric Rosario is stepping into some big shoes at Camico Mutual Insurance Co.

Bankers could start huffing and puffing after a few minutes on the treadmill once Tim Geithner cranks up the dial a few notches.

Talking with your clients about investment strategies may not be easy given the current economic climate, but preparation and ongoing assessment of an investor's portfolio are the keys to restoring confidence.Money managers agree that mutual funds continue to be a strong investment vehicle, offering investors a number of options for accessing the market - that is, if they stick with their investment strategy.

In today's economic climate, companies and accounting firms that give opinions on their clients' financial statements are sure to face new and significant challenges.Determining fair value, new policies regarding loan covenants and going-concern considerations are chief among them. This article takes a brief look at each of these challenges.

ACCOUNTING FIRM TARGETS MADOFF INVESTORSWestport, Conn.-Walter C. King Associates is offering tax recovery and forensic accounting services to investors who fell victim to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

A growing number of Baby Boomers, America's largest generation, are considering retirement in the midst of what many are calling the worst economic environment since the Great Depression. This year alone, Americans have seen the value of their 401(k) and other retirement plans decline by over $2 trillion.If Boomers are planning to use these assets to retire in the lifestyles they envision, advisors owe them some straight talk before they retire.

An economic triple threat - the collapse of equity markets, declining top-line revenue, and stingy banks - makes it a risky time to be in business or investing, and equally risky to be a CPA.All businesses are being squeezed hard. This creates pressure to cut corners or ignore the facts. Human nature being what it is, you must be extra-vigilant. CPAs are also expected by clients - and juries - to "advise and warn" clients who are teetering on the brink of losing their credit and their footing in business. If CPAs don't, a possible lawsuit could easily follow.

The Internal Revenue Service has published new tax-withholding tables as a result of the economic stimulus bill that should give most workers a bigger paycheck this spring.

The American Institute of CPAs’ board of directors has extended Barry Melancon’s term as president and CEO for another five years.

President Barack Obama is expected to release his budget proposal this week, and he reportedly plans to include tax increases to close the deficit.

As expected, the Senate approved Mary Schapiro by a unanimous vote as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Schapiro, who has a reputation as a tough-minded regulator, noted during the confirmation process that she planned to ramp up enforcement efforts at the SEC. She also proposed rethinking the current roadmap to U.S. adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, and expressed concerns about the resources and independence of the International Accounting Standards Board, which sets IFRS.She was formerly chief executive of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the securities industry's self-regulating body.