August, 2015

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Why fair value isn't always the right value

Abrigo

The debate between fair value and historical cost accounting is a hot topic for academics, regulators and investors. As noted by a University of Chicago Booth School research paper and Harvard Business Review , the debate centers on the use of fair value accounting and its impact on the economic crash of 2008, as well as its appropriateness in accounting for companies going forward.

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Succession planning: Defining and finding an ideal candidate

Abrigo

Succession planning, whether you are a sole proprietor or a top 200 firm, is a delicate topic. With such a transition there are not only financial components to consider but also the relational changes that could occur. These changes will not only affect dynamics within the company but also the firm’s relationships with its clients. Within these financial and relational contexts, one of the questions that comes to mind when deciding how the firm will transition is whether or not to develop a par

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4 Reasons to attend the 2015 Risk Management Summit

Abrigo

The 2015 Risk Management Summit is less than a month away. Executives from more than 100 banks and credit unions representing 39 states have already registered to join their peers, industry experts and Sageworks in Chicago for the premier ALLL and stress testing conference. Registration is still open, but very limited seats remain. Here’s why this is the most popular Risk Management Summit to date: 1.

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Will credit unions return to an 18-month exam cycle?

Abrigo

“… it’s not 2008.”. This is the sentiment of several high-profile executives regarding the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) stance on examination cycles for credit unions. There’s been much back and forth over the last week on this subject and the NCUA’s desire to stick to a 12-month examination cycle for the financial institutions it regulates.

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The benefits of audit technology

Abrigo

Current technology has enabled auditors to analyze extensive amounts of financial data, allowing accounting professionals to more easily identify areas of risk. These technologies have also helped streamline time per audit and produced higher quality assurance. Is your firm taking advantage of these current technologies? What might the future of audit technology look like?

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Ag lending risk increasing as result of declining incomes

Abrigo

According to recent data from the Agricultural Finance Databook , non-real estate farm loan volumes continued to rise in the second quarter of 2015, increasing by five percent over the second quarter of 2014. This growth continues the trend from the first quarter of 2015 , which saw an increase of eight percent year over year. But there is cause for concern, as 2015 farm income is expected to decrease from year-ago levels.

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VIDEO: How to prepare for valuation industry growth

Abrigo

Industry research suggests that much of the growth in the business valuation industry is due to baby boomers retiring, with the intent to sell their businesses. While growth is superficially appealing, many firms need to consider if they are prepared to meet the increased demand for those valuations. Like most things in business, preparation activities create cost to the company, and the challenge for firms becomes how to grow profitably.

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Guiding your succession planning

Abrigo

For many years leaders in the accounting profession have preached the need for firm succession planning. And there is no time like the present. The retirement of baby boomers combined with high turnover and the slow growth of new entrants to the profession all point to the inevitable passing of the torch to the CPA of the future and your firm will need a plan.

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How banks get more value out of conducting stress tests

Abrigo

Most people who exercise regularly can vouch for the side benefits of physical activity. Putting periodic, controlled physical stress on your heart, lungs and muscles often produces more than just improved fitness; people also report better moods and lower appetites, for example. In the same way, financial institutions conducting stress tests to satisfy prudential regulators’ queries on reserves and capital can generate additional benefits from this process, according to Elizabeth Williams, mana

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Could a bank’s best asset to perform stress testing be in HR?

Abrigo

It is no doubt that stress tests for the nation’s largest banks can be an anxiety-inducing experience for those institutions being reviewed. Since the passing of Dodd-Frank, more than 30 megabanks are in the hot seat annually while their ability to withstand the financial stress of dynamic shifts in the economy are assessed. The most senior risk management executives at these institutions are under the spotlight, both in the industry and in the media.

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Compliance burdens: Reducing bank products and services

Abrigo

According to a recent survey by the American Bankers Association (ABA), more than 46 percent of respondents had to reduce offerings for loan or deposit accounts, or other services, at their bank because of regulatory compliance burdens. The ABA’s 2015 Survey of Bank Compliance Officers , conducted February through March 2015, had participation from more than 450 financial institutions, with almost 80 percent being community banks.

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The Bermuda Triangle of Valuation: Bias, Uncertainty and Complexity

Abrigo

By Aswath Damodaran Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business Introduction from Sageworks: Studies have shown that sizable numbers of business owners look to transfer their ownership interests in the next decade, and a major concern for many is whether they’ll get out of the business what they expect. Gaps in the valuations of businesses are a leading cause in busted deals, which is unsurprising, given that sellers, buyers, bankers and other advisors have their own ways of valuing busin

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Is your bank or credit union struggling with inefficiencies?

Abrigo

A common problem countering workplace productivity and the ability to serve customers is inefficient processes. Many of these are inherited and accepted as “just the way we do things.” But in order to work smarter, not harder, and provide a good experience for customers, inefficiencies should be challenged in favor of fresh ideas and processes. Across the banking industry a current strategic focus is loan growth – increasing the portfolio by both acquiring new customers and expanding services of