Category Archives: Finance

Forensic Accounting Certification

Forensic accounting. Sounds like something out of an episode of CSI meets the IRS, right? If you think so, then you’re probably not currently looking for forensic accounting certification, but if you are–or you find after this article that forensic accounting interests you–there are a few things that you need to know.

First off, “forensics” doesn’t always mean dusting for fingerprints at a crime scene. It’s actually derived from a Latin word that means “legal” or “connected to the courts.” Forensic accountants actually work at accounting firms as legal specialists.

Forensic accountants deal with civil disputes over financial losses and damages, negligence claims, breaches of contract, and breaches of warranties, to name a few. They are also responsible for business valuation when the fair market value of a business is needed for a civil suit, such as a divorce, bankruptcy, or a dispute against the owner of the company.

Forensic accountants can deal with all of the above, but they often have specialties, particularly in large accounting firms. Other forensic accounting specialties include fraud, personal injury, insurance claims, royalty audits, and construction suits.

So although forensic accountants don’t show up at murder scenes, forensic accountants have their share of the intrigue of bringing criminals to justice, albeit a different kind of criminal. Forensic accountants are often called to testify in court, either to share their findings on a specific case or to give an expert opinion on the case as an unbiased evaluator.

How does one become a forensic accountant? You need special training and forensic accounting certification before you can start practicing as a forensic accountant. Unlike with more general areas of accounting, where CPA (Certified Public Accountants) certification is recommended but not required to practice, as forensic accountants work in courts, forensic accounting certification is required. This kind of accountant should also be able o us accounting software and modern tools such as Xero cloud accounting software service. This is also another measurement how effective and reliable an accountant is.

You typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting as a starting point for forensic accounting certification. There are many specialty master’s degree programs that will help you get the educational background you need to apply for forensic accounting certification.

Your forensic accounting professors can help you navigate the CPA forensic accounting certification requirements to help you start practicing forensic accounting law! The forensic accounting certification requirements include 150 semester hours in forensic accounting education and an examination.

Ask your forensic accounting certification professors about becoming a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners (acfei.com). You’ll be able to attend lectures, read journals, and meet with other forensic accountants to discuss the latest changes in the law.

There are only a few thousand people with forensic accounting certification in the United States. There’s a big market for forensic accountants and not enough accountants with forensic accounting certification! If you’re excited by numbers and figures and you like digging through the minutest letter of the law, you should aim for forensic accounting certification!

Accountants and What They Do for You

As a person with a big heart and a desire to help others, I have searched for a long time for a career that would pay me to help others. I went through a long list of the common careers that help people and studied them thoroughly. As I went through the list, I concluded that none of them suited me. Before beginning at Ivy Tech, I had an epiphany. My career choice didn’t have to be the typical “helper career”. I could choose anything as long as I tailored it to fit my wants and needs. I plan on pursuing a career in accounting and starting a tax preparation business that is designed to help the needy. I want to do people’s taxes for a fee that is lower and based on their income so they can afford it. I finally chose to pursue a career in accounting for the following reasons: it fit my skills and talents, it pays well and has a good employment outlook, and it doesn’t require as much education as many careers do.

An Accountant is a person who is responsible in some way for the finances of an individual or organization. They file taxes, keep financial records, and do other tasks related to finances (Bureau). As a person who is strong in mathematics, I knew that I should pursue a career that dealt with mathematics (Learn). I thought about computer programming and engineering, but concluded that they didn’t fit my personality as well as I would have liked. When I really sat down and thought about it, I realized that I already possessed the qualities of an accountant. I am an ethical person and I do not like to cheat people or to see others cheat. This is a big deal for accountants because as they fill out federal tax forms, they need to be ethical (CareerOneStep). I am also skilled in problem solving and providing customer service. Accountants need to be skilled in these areas as well (CareerOneStep). Hence, if you need to hire the right accounting service for your company or small business, make sure to consider several factors. Ideally, reliable and professional accounts in Singapore accounting service always proves the best services in the industry. So make sure to make them as your standard and basis when hiring an accountant for your company.

Another aspect of this career that led me to choose it is that it pays well and has a good job outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, an average accountant in the United States earns around $54,600 (Bureau). In Indiana, the average is around $51,000 (CareerOneStep). The salary of Accountants is expected to rise in the future. Within the last 2 years, the average salary has raised approximately $2000 a year (Bureau). Since Accountants are primarily responsible for helping clients file taxes and keep financial records, the job of an Accountant is not likely to decrease in the future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, the employment rate of Accountants in the United States is expected to rise in the next 10 years (Bureau). The only foreseeable reason that Accountants may not have employment in the future is the increase in financial tools for non-professionals online.

Careers in Accounting often do not require much education. For what I want to do, for example, I would only really require the knowledge of tax filing and businesses. Many clients would probably not appreciate my lack of knowledge in Accounting; therefore, I plan on obtaining at least an Associate’s degree in Accounting and possibly a Bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most Accountants have at least a Bachelor’s degree and a CPA license (Bureau). A Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, is required in every state in order for an Accountant to work for a public corporation or for the government (Bureau). As many business careers require a Bachelor’s degree and sometimes more, I believe that Accounting careers do not require too much education for me to complete.

Financial Advisor V/S A Registered Investment Advisor

A financial advisor is an educator who has in-depth knowledge of the financial sector. Whenever a person wants to buy the land-based property, they contact a financial advisor for more information. They know about the market situations and have excellent future predictability skills. It would be best if you always searched for a financial advisor who provides accurate information. Don’t worry if you are facing any problem in finding the advisor. Now you can seek a financial advisor near me to get a list of all the financial advisers at nearest. 

Now another term is a registered investment advisor. The job of the investment advisor is to provide knowledge of the share market. Some people want to invest their money into shares, so they need a genuine investment advisor for more details. If the person is not having sufficient knowledge about the share market, they should always advise experts.

The role of investment advisor representative

An investment advisor gives all types of information regarding shares and securities. They charge a particular amount of money from the customer, which is called brokerage. It would be best if you always preferred a licensed investment advisor to provide you accurate knowledge and tips. Now let’s discuss the two major roles of an investment advisor.

• Provides knowledge-

The mean aim of an investment advisor is to advise their clients. They have studied the market fluctuations and securities to predict the future of the share market easily. If you are a newcomer, you cannot profit in the share market without seeking help. With the help of an expert, the person gets to know more about the shares. They can purchase the securities according to their budget. After a point of time, the person becomes independent and can deal at their own. So they have detailed knowledge about each type of share which is available in the market.

• Brokerage is the real income–

The amount given by the customers as a brokerage is the income of an investment advisor. They charge money from every person no matter they are interested in investing money in shares or not. If you are asking anything from the investment advisor, they will charge a fee. No one provides accurate knowledge without charging any fees. People quickly pay their brokerage money because the advice helps them to yield more profits. Some people think that they can invest on their own without taking expert help. But end up facing lots of losses. So, in the beginning, you should always seek the advice of an investment advisor as they will help you choose the right shares and securities.

To sum up with

Here, we have mentioned the detailed definition of a financial advisor and a registered investment advisor. Moreover, you can say that there is a minor difference between them both. The only difference between them both is their area of expertise. After reading the points mentioned above, you can know more about the role of investment advisor representative.

A Dollar Rally Based on Risk Trends Alone May Not Last for Long

It is difficult to forecast where the markets will be in a month or three months when volatility is as high as it is today. However, when measuring the quality of a trend; it is imperative to gauge the fundamentals that will carry the US dollar that far out to better ascertain the stability and duration of the incredible rally that the benchmark currency has carved out since the second half of January.

The Economy and the Credit Market

It is difficult to forecast where the markets will be in a month or three months when volatility is as high as it is today. However, when measuring the quality of a trend; it is imperative to gauge the fundamentals that will carry the US dollar that far out to better ascertain the stability and duration of the incredible rally that the benchmark currency has carved out since the second half of January. While there are a few fundamental signposts traders can point to when they are looking to qualify the greenback’s current bout of strength (the relief in a positive turn for NFPs or perhaps the better than expected 4Q GDP among other things); the real driver for this move is underlying risk appetite. Any doubts to this view can be cleared up by a quick review of the incredible correlation between all the major asset classes (on both sides of the risk spectrum). The US dollar is both a safe haven currency and its extraordinarily low market rates made it an ideal source of funding for the carry buildup through 2009. Both of these roles work in the benchmark’s favor now that sentiment has faltered and the effort to unwind extended yield positions is underway. Yet, the current correction in the market and underlying risk appetite will not last as long as the preceding build. The economy and rates are return are improving, just at a tempered pace. The value of dollar in euro is also improving. The foreign exchange is getting stable and the over all global economy is expected to boom in the long run. A point of equilibrium will be found within the first quarter; and valuation from there will rest with rates and economic progress. On that front, the dollar sits on a relatively strong recovery but Fed hikes look to be far off on the horizon.

A Closer Look at Financial and Consumer Conditions

The fissures that have developed in the global financial market have turned into panic-inducing cracks. Like the Dubai World reaction this past November, market participants are now fearing the potential fallout from the European Union’s financially ailing members. Greece has been at the front of the media craze; but Spain, Portugal and others are suffering just as much under the strict rules of the collective. Given how interconnected the markets are, a serious problem any one of these economies or for the Euro Zone in general could create global shocks. However, these aren’t the only threats. Japan’s credit outlook has been downgraded, the UK is facing a general election and the US is struggling to work down its record deficit.

The world’s largest economy is roaring back to life – at least that is what the casual observer would deduce from the 5.7 percent annualized pace of growth reported in last week’s advanced 4Q GDP reading. However, a critical look at the data offers a more realistic view of the United States’ recovery. The first consideration is that the annualized figure is a comparison of conditions during the same period a year ago. Considering the pain the economy was in during this time, current activity levels do seem to be running at such a breakneck pace. However, a realistic view of the economy can be found in the tempered pace of consumer spending, the Fed’s report of tighter lending conditions and the 10 percent unemployment rate.

The Financial and Capital Markets

The financial markets were shaken this past week. While the period would start off on a strong foot as the traditional benchmark assets would attempted to retrace some of the late-January losses; Thursday’s incredible plunge in sentiment and asset prices ushered in what may be the next wave of a larger bear wave. During this single day, the dollar pushed to its highest levels since July, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its biggest single-day decline since July 2nd and gold caved over 4 percent. The severity of these moves is not a reflection of short-term catalysts but rather the long-term fundamental imbalance that had developed through much of 2009. With the return of speculative capital following the financial crisis of 2008, investors were looking to put their money back to work; but there is a relative bottleneck in terms of liquidity and price reaction. The influx of funds forced prices higher without the fundamental back to support the subsequent levels. Therefore, at the first sign of instability, investors that are already comfortable with cashing out will look to preserve profits or investable capital and send the financial markets on a rollercoaster.

A Closer Look at Market Conditions

Thursday’s epic declines brought the primary capital markets a big step closer to establishing a larger bear trend. The Dow’s channel break is now threatening 10,000. Gold has cleared three-month support near $1,075. Crude is just on the other side of the rising trend going back to the first quarter of 2009 now at $72.50. There are more than a few important securities that have already crossed the line; but these benchmarks all need to make their moves to crush all doubt that the bears are in control and investors have to move in to protect their accounts. It shouldn’t take long to confirm whether Thursday’s move was the catalyst to a bigger wave.With Thursday’s plunge for capital markets and the mass withdrawal of speculative capital, it comes as no surprise that risk premiums have soared. The traditional indicators are all responding as expected. The CBOE VIX jumped over 4 percentage points to 26 percent and the DailyFX Volatility Index has itself spiked. However, these indicators are highly reactive and correct on a dime. It is the two-month high in corporate default swaps, the surge in risk reversals and the influx of capital into government debt (of those countries which are not at immediate risk of default) that offers the true reading of sentiment. Under these conditions, dramatic things can happen.

Why Keeping a Higher Interest Rate Sometimes Makes Sense

Conventional wisdom often tells us that when given the choice of paying between debts, we should apply the payments to the highest yielding (i.e.-most expensive) interest rate debt. However, I think that is an antiquated way of handling your finances. Here’s why.

Let’s assume I gave you $20,000 that had to be applied towards debt. In your personal scenario “A” you could take the money and pay off a new acquired car note of $20,000 that bears an interest rate of 3.5%. The other option, scenario “B”, would be to take the $20,000 and pay down your $200,000 mortgage that bears an interest rate of 6.5%. Furthermore, if you made that down payment, it would allow you to reduce your current mortgage rate from 6.5% to 4.5%; a full 2% reduction! What would you choose?

I can tell you many of the people I speak to would quickly jump at the chance to reduce the mortgage so they could refinance. However, let’s actually look at the numbers and see what makes sense from a cash flow standpoint. You can use any standard loan amortization calculator on the internet to run these examples.

It is also important to carefully choose the money lender that you would seek help from. Most of these businesses really offer high interest rates for the amount of money that you borrow. So make sure to choose a reliable money lender to avoid any trouble and frustration in the future.

If you take a $200,000, fixed rate mortgage at 6.5%, the principal and interest payments are $1,264.14. Likewise, if you take a $20,000 auto loan at 3.5%, the principal and interest payments are $363.83. This gives you a grand monthly total for the two debts of $1,627.97. Now, let’s see what happens when we apply my generous $20,000 gift.

Under scenario A, the car note goes away, so you are left only with the monthly mortgage payment of $1,264.14. Under scenario B, the car note stays at $363.83. However, the new mortgage is now $180,000 fixed at a rate of 4.5%. This translates to a principal and interest payment of $912.03. This time, the grand monthly total for the two debts of $1,275.86.

How is this possible? You reduced your mortgage balance by $20,000 of higher interest debt and dropped your interest rate on the remaining balance by a full 2%! Yet you are still paying more money every month under Scenario B. It seems counterintuitive to keep a mortgage loan that has a higher interest rate and pay off a low rate car loan.

The key here is the amortization period of the loans. You are, without question, going to pay less interest on the mortgage over time. However, if you are look to maximize your monthly cash flow, it will almost always make more sense to eliminate shorter amortization loans. Reductions of long amortization period loans, even when substantially reducing the interest rate, simply don’t have the same impact. When you are developing your debt reduction plan, this is an important concept to remember.