MFA Business Insights Blog

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Welcome to the MFA Business Insights Blog

For decades, we have made it our business to connect with our clients and our community. We have also embraced strategies that add to our accessibility: little things like glass-walled conference rooms and offices, an open door policy for our professionals, and a general environment that is built around open communication. Ideas drive evolution, and we believe an open atmosphere is an important part of capturing the innovative energy that makes us who we are.

Enter the MFA Business Insights Blog. Unusual for an accounting and consulting firm? Perhaps. But we believe sharing our insights on finance, business (large and small, private and public), and the events that move us offer an even greater opportunity to connect. We encourage all to comment on our thoughts, to challenge us, to let us know where our ideas intersect with theirs.

SEC Risk Alert for RIAs: Compliance Review of the Custody Rule

March 13, 2013
Lisa Whittemore, MFA Cornerstone Consulting and Rob Busch

On March 4, 2013, the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a Risk Alert through its National Examination Program (NEP), after a detailed review and analysis of Registered [...]

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SEC Leaves Companies Wondering about Key JOBS Act Issues

September 24, 2012
Tracy Curley

Supporters of the JOBS Act hoped it would soon provide unique opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking capital for business growth. Nearly six months later, many business owners are stalled by the [...]

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SEC Begins to Make Progress on Dodd-Frank Act

February 16, 2011
Tracy Curley

In a follow-up to my October 2010 blog post, The SEC Will Be Busy This Fall Thanks to Dodd-Frank, I am back with an update [...]

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The SEC Will Be Busy This Fall Thanks to Dodd-Frank

October 26, 2010
Tracy Curley

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) has ushered in a new era of regulation focused on promoting transparency and accountability.

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The SEC Asks, “Is Proxy Plumbing in Need of a Fix?”

September 28, 2010
Tracy Curley

Back in mid- July, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a concept release to solicit comment on the United States (U.S.) proxy voting system (Release), which over the last 30 years has not changed much.

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Clawbacks Get Tough: Enhanced Requirements Equate to Compensation with Strings Attached

August 24, 2010
Tracy Curley

Buried within the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 is the requirement for public companies to develop and implement a mandatory policy to recoup excess incentive-based compensation from current and former executive officers after a material financial restatement.

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More SOX Relief in the Works?

May 18, 2010
Michelle Mackey

The SOX debate continues…. As noted in a recent Compliance Week post, the Senate is gearing up to take on financial reform, and the SOX 404 regulation discussion is emerging again; this time though it’s being debated by Congress and not by the SEC.

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Who’s Ready for IFRS? Anyone…Anyone…Hello?

March 23, 2010
Travis Drouin

If procrastination is an art, the Museum of Fine Arts should set aside a wing for IFRS.

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Proposed Revamped Accounting Standard May be the Lease of Your Worries

December 1, 2009
Mike Piessens

The FASB and IASB have been involved in a joint project on leases, with the objective of creating a common standard on lease accounting to ensure that assets and liabilities from lease contracts are properly recognized in the balance sheet.

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