Friday, August 30, 2013

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August 30, 2013

Lesson 138
 
From:   Joe
 
Last Minute Push
 
I know that the end of the July-August testing window is fast approaching.   If you are scheduled to take a section of the CPA Exam in the next week or so, I have two pieces of advice.   First, put in all the time you can.   Every minute that you study is another possible point.   Every minute that you study gets you closer to your goal of 75 points.   Picture that goal out in front of you and feel yourself pushing toward that goal.   Second, do not get too tired out.   Yes, you want to study as much as you can but, at the same time, be very aware of your own energy levels.   No matter how much you know, you are not going to pass the CPA Exam if you are exhausted.   When you need a break, take it.   Get some exercise every day if it is merely walking around the block.   We here at CPAreviewforFREE want you (yes, YOU) to pass this exam and get on with your life.  
 
--Keep pushing, work for every possible point.
--Watch your energy levels and make sure they are high.
 
 
 
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Keeping All the Balls in the Air
 
When my students here at the University start to struggle, they will often come by my office for a discussion of how they can do better.   One of the most common problems is that they are involved in more activities than seems humanly possible:   they are full-time students, they belong to a sorority or fraternity, they are involved in clubs, they have a part-time job, they are involved in personal projects, they have families and friends to keep up with.   On top of all that, they are often severely stressed out by trying to keep all of those things balanced.   
 
Our world has become one of multi-tasking.   People try to cram more into their lives by doing 4 or 5 different things at once.   I can hardly blame them because I multi-task myself.   Technology simply offers us the possibility of doing a great many things at one time.  
 
When I talk with my students, I often tell them the following story.    A circus will often have one or more jugglers.   These folks will frequently juggle balls – baseballs or tennis balls or the like.   Until they practice and improve, each of these entertainers will have a limit as to the number of balls they can juggle.   One person might be a “4-ball juggler” and another might be a “5-ball juggler” to indicate their maximum ability at the moment.   A 4-ball juggler can successfully juggle four balls.
 
I then look at the student and ask a very simple question:   “Do you know what happens when you toss a 6th ball to a five-ball juggler?”
 
Over the years, I have never yet had an incorrect answer to this question.   The student will get quiet and say in a whisper “I guess the person drops all of the balls.”  
 
Exactly.   100 percent correct.  If you try to juggle too many balls, you don’t just drop the last one, you drop them all.  
 
I wait a few seconds for dramatic effect and then ask “So, what’s the point of that story?    Am I trying to get you to run off and join the circus?”  
 
And, again, I find the students know the answer “I am trying to juggle so many things in my life that I am not doing a very job with any of them.” 
 
That is exactly the problem with multi-tasking.   Technology can be such a wonderful help and make you so much more efficient.   But, if you grab one ball too many, they all come crashing down.   One extra ball and you lose them all.  
 
The CPA Exam is a very big ball.   When you start planning to add preparation for the CPA Exam into your life, you need to consider the consequences.   If you are lucky and if you study hard, you can probably get through the CPA Exam in 6-18 months.   That is a very reasonable goal.   But during that period of time, you are adding a very big ball into your life’s juggling act.   If you are not careful with that additional ball, you will drop all of the balls.
 
What is the answer?  More...
 Self-Discipline and Getting it Done
 
On Tuesday morning, Elmore Leonard, one of my very favorite authors died.   He wrote many wonderful books such as Get ShortyRum PunchOut of SightLaBravaMaximum Bob, andThree-Ten to Yuma.   More recently, Leonard was involved with the hit TV show "Justified".  It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story Fire in the Hole The shows's creator even gave the writing staff a WWED bracelet meaning What Would Elmore Do.  He was 87 and had recently suffered a stroke so his death was not unexpected.
 
Leonard had an interesting start to his career.   He was apparently successful in the world of advertising but, instead, he wanted to be a writer.   He wanted something different than what he had.   In one of the newspaper stories about his life, the following was related:
 
“Famously, Leonard started writing Western-themed novels from 5-7 a.m. at home before going to work at the Campbell-Ewald agency, where Chevrolet trucks was one of his accounts. He developed a ferocious work ethic, writing every day in a bleak, cinder block basement office in their Lathrup Village home that son Peter described as looking like a prison cell.  After he quit advertising, he kept up the discipline in his monk-like office, writing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. without a lunch break.”
 
What caught my eye about this story?   
 
--He wanted to reach his goal so badly that he was willing to get up and work from 5 until 7 each morning before going off to a full day of work in a difficult industry.  He sacrificed sleep just for the possibility of becoming a writer.      
--He wanted to reach his goal so badly that, even after he became successful, he locked himself away in isolation for 8 hours each day and kept working.
 
Yes, Elmore Leonard became a famous writer but he would have never achieved that goal without the capacity for what I call “sitting down and getting it done.”  
 
It seems to me that if you want to become successful on the CPA Exam (or anything else), there are two truly important keys.   More...
 
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Practice time
 
Speaking of work.   Let’s do some.   Here are four questions.   If you get them right, that is nice but it does not add much to your knowledge.   But, if you get them wrong, spend some time making sure you would be able to get those questions right the next time you see them.  The answers are at the end.
FAR
 
The City of Bardot is producing a comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).   Within the CAFR, the city is preparing government-wide financial statements.   Which two statements now compose the government-wide financial statements?
a.    Balance sheet and statement of revenues and expenses
b.   Statement of net position and statement of activities
c.   Statement of financial condition and statement of revenues, expenditures and other changes
d.   Statement of financial resources and statement of changes in fund balance
 
 
 
Auditing and Attestation
 
The CPA firm of Wilson and Pickett has finished the audit of Eastern South Corporation (ESC).   ESC is not viewed as an issuer of securities.   Its stock is not publicly trade.   The company has no debts or the like that are publicly traded.   The CPA firm is now preparing an unmodified audit opinion.   Which of the following is described in the opening paragraph of that report?
a.   The auditor’s responsibility and the management’s responsibility are both described.
b.   The term “audit” is defined.
c.   The audited financial statements are identified.
d.   An indication is made of the auditing standards that were followed.
 
 
Regulation
 
James Joyce decides to create a business and is advised by his CPA to structure the business as an S corporation.   He will be the sole owner.    Joyce transfers equipment to the business to help get it started.   This equipment has been kept in excellent working condition and is worth $32,000 although it has a tax basis to Joyce of only $18,000.    The equipment is subject to a loan of $23,000, a debt which will be taken over by the S corporation.   What taxable gain must James Joyce recognize on this conveyance?
a.   Zero
b.   $5,000
c.   $9,000
d.   $23,000
 
 
BEC
 
William J. Bryan is looking at a demand curve for widgets.    In the study of economics, what does this demand curve represent?
a.    The change in the quantity of widgets produced as the price of widgets changes.
b.    The change in the quantity of widgets purchased as the price of widgets changes.
c.    The change in the quantity of widgets offered to the market as the price of widgets changes.
d.    The change in the manufacturing capacity for widgets as the price of widgets changes.
 
 
 
You are closing in on the end of the July-August testing window.  If you are getting ready to take the exam before September, put in all the time you can but don’t become exhausted.   You always want to be mentally and physically fresh when you walk in to take the CPA Exam.
 
 
Answers
 
FAR
 
Answer is B
 
GASB has recently created two new types of accounts. A deferred outflow of resources is usually a cost that does not qualify as an asset. A deferred inflow of resources is usually a monetary inflow that is neither a liability nor revenue. Previously, when only assets and liabilities were recognized, a statement of net assets (assets minus liabilities) had been reported in the government-wide financial statements. With more types of accounts, GASB decided “net assets” was no longer appropriate and changed it to “net position.” The statement of activities shows how the government’s net position changed during the reporting period.
 
Auditing and Attestation
 
Answer is C
 
Recently, the unmodified audit report for a non-public company has been changed. The opening, or introductory, paragraph simply identifies the financial statements that were examined. Other paragraphs outline the responsibilities of the parties, identify the standards that were followed, and describe the nature and scope of an audit.
 
Regulation
 
 Answer is B
 
James Joyce loses his interest in the equipment with its $18,000 tax basis. However, he also loses the $23,000 related debt. From a tax perspective, because of these conveyances, he is personally better off by $5,000. That improvement in personal financial position creates a taxable gain of $5,000.
 
BEC
 
Answer is B
 
A demand curve looks at consumer behavior by measuring how many items will be purchased as the available price goes up or down. On the other hand, production decisions are reflected in a supply curve.
 
Joe Hoyle
 
President and Co-Founder
CPA Review for FREE
 
 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Don't Let Self-Imposed Barriers Stop You; Pottery and the CPA review?

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August 6, 2013

Lesson 137
 
From:   Joe
 
Meet Joe at the AAA in Anaheim in August
 
I know that some of the readers of these email lessons are college accounting professors.   So, this first short item is for you.   If you are going to be at the annual convention of the American Accounting Association in Anaheim, I am scheduled to give a 90 minute teaching presentation from 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7, in the Laguna A room, on the 4th floor of the Hilton.   My teaching blog was named the AAA Accounting Education Innovation of the Year for 2013.   As a result, they will give me 90 minutes to talk about some of the teaching ideas I have written about recently.   If you are going to be at the convention, I hope you’ll stop by my presentation.    I would love to meet you and chat about teaching (and the CPA Exam as well as Accounting Homework Apps, smartphone apps containing mcqs to practice for accounting course tests).  
 
Aw, shucks!
 
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Don't Let Self Imposed Barriers Stop You
 
In all the years that I used to teach a live CPA Exam review course, I was always amazed by how many capable candidates showed up and immediately started telling me why they couldn’t pass the CPA Exam.   Had it not been so sad, it would have been funny.   In fact, I labeled it as the “I can’t do this because” disease.   New candidates would practically leap out of their cars on the first day telling me why they couldn’t pass the CPA Exam.
 
--I can’t do this because I didn’t learn much in college.
--I can’t do this because I am a bad test taker.
--I can’t do this because my boss won’t give me any time to study.  
--I can’t do this because my family is not supportive.  
--I can’t do this because I work so slowly.
--I can’t do this because I have failed in the past.
--I can’t do this because I didn’t make good grades in Accounting at college.
 
With all these self-imposed barriers, I used to wonder how anyone ever passed the CPA Exam.
 
My response was always “well, don’t place too many stumbling blocks in your own path.   Let’s start adding some points on a daily basis and see where we wind up.”   The CPA Exam is tough enough without you telling yourself you are going to fail.   I could never figure out how all of those excuses were of any possible help.  
 
I think the “I can’t do this because” disease must be pretty universal.   A lot of humans just seem to think that way.   Every time we start a new challenge in life, especially if it pushes us outside of our comfort zone, we seem to lose faith in ourselves.   We all do this – it is just a little more obvious in studying for the CPA Exam.  Setting low expectations makes it is easier if you do fail.  We seem to be trying to soften the possible blow by letting everyone know that we don’t really expect to do well.
 
However, setting low expectations makes it so much more difficult to succeed.   That attitude works against you.   It is hard to have the confidence to do the hard work necessary for success if you have already explained to everyone (including yourself) the many reasons you are going to fail.   Who wants to work hard if you don’t believe you can succeed?     People live up to their own high expectations but, just as importantly, they also live down to their own low expectations.  
 
Attitude is vitally important in achieving success.   People rarely succeed without a “can do” attitude.   No one wants you to walk around and brag about how well you are going to do.   But, a certain degree of “I can do this” is necessary if you are going to take on tough challenges and win.
 
Let me give you an example.    My wife has long wanted to take a pottery class.   I have always resisted because I was convinced that I could never learn how to take a lump of clay and put it on a wheel and turn it into a pot or bowl or vase that could be glazed and fired.   I always assumed that I would produce a wreck.   I didn’t want to try because I was afraid that I would be embarrassed by my failure.   I was afraid of looking stupid.   So, I created all kinds of excuses.   I found myself constantly starting sentences with “I can’t do this because.” 
 
Finally, this summer we decided to take a six-week pottery class after I ran out of excuses.   I figured that I would produce awful stuff but I’d get it over with.  
 
And, of course, you can guess what happened.   The teacher was very patient and showed me exactly how to start, how to get the clay centered, how to mold it, how to shape and trim it.   When I did something wrong, she would show me how to learn from my mistake and do better the next time.   It was a wonderful learning experience.
 
I enjoyed every second.
And, almost immediately, “I can’t do this because” was replaced by “with some help, I can make this happen.” 
 
But the key was that I stopped putting roadblocks in my path.   I stopped defeating myself.   I let the teacher help me make gradual progress.   And, eventually, I could make some pottery.
 
After 6 weeks, my wife and I had produced over 30 pieces.   Here are a few photos that we took.
 
What is the point of the previous story about pottery?   More...

Practice always gives us an opportunity to add some points...
...and get better on that CPA Exam.   Read these questions, provide your answer and then read the answers that I give.  As always, the goal is to get better.  No peaking at the answers at the end before working the questions!

FAR
The Marston Corporation recently issued 1,000 shares of its common stock to its president for $30 per share so that she can vote at stockholders’ meetings and also receive dividends.   However, in five years, when she is expected to retire, she must sell these shares back to the company for $35 per share.   On its balance sheet, at the end of this first year, how is this stock reported?
a.   As a liability
b.   It is reported through note disclosure as a contingency
c.   In stockholders’ equity as “common stock.”
d.   In stockholders’ equity as the “equivalent of preferred stock.”

Auditing and Attestation
The Harthaus Corporation is a publicly-traded corporation that is audited by the CPA firm of Hansel and Gretel.    Bob Patterson has been the audit partner in charge of this audit for the firm.   At the end of his fifth year in that role, he turned this responsibility over to a different audit partner in the firm:   Alexandra Manjal.   What is the most likely reason for this switch?
a.   It is required by U.S. GAAP.
b.  It is required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
c.   It is required by IFRS.
d.   It is not required so it must have been a personal decision or a firm decision.

Regulation
Janice Stathmore had a salary of $32,000 in the most recent year.   In filing her federal taxes, she took the standard deduction this year as well as the previous three years.   She also received unemployment compensation of $2,000.   Finally, she received a $1,300 refund on her state income tax return for the previous year.   In the current year, for federal income tax purposes, what should she report as her gross income?
a.   $32,000
b.   $33,300
c.   $34,000
d.   $35,300

BEC
A company wants to borrow $30 million for an expansion project.   Bonds with that face value are issued at 98 percent of face value.   How is the cost of this debt most likely measured for decision-making purposes?
a.    At the prime rate
b.   At the coupon (or cash) rate
c.   At the effective rate based on the issuance price of the bonds
d.   At the effective rate less tax savings

EXCLUSIVE:  REVISIONS TO REGULATION (REG)
Although not much has been happening in the U.S. Congress, CPAreviewforFREE updated the REG categories for the MCQs, Essential Content and SIMS to more accurately align with the AICPA Content Specification Outline as well a fix minor edits.  New MCQs are being added every day and will be included on our REG app for iPhone/iPad and Android smartphones shortly. For those of you who have purchased our premium subscription content, the changes are automatically updated in the Essential Content.   Here are the top level REG categories:
Business Structure
Business Law
Debtor-Creditor
Govt. Regulation of Business
Corporate Income Taxes
Individual Income Taxes
Partnerships, S Corps and Other Taxation Areas

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...HERE IS INFO ON THE AUDITING CLARITY PROJECT
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MCQ Answers
FAR
Answer is A
Any financial instrument that imposes an obligation on the issuer to transfer assets or issue equity shares is classified as a liability.

Auditing and Attestation
Answer is B
Section 204 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act makes it unlawful for an audit partner having primary responsibilities for the audit to perform that service for more than five years.

Regulation
Answer is C
The salary is obviously taxable.   The unemployment compensation is also included in gross income.   The key point here is the handling of the state income tax refund.   If that amount was taken on the previous year’s tax return as an itemized deduction, then it is taxable income when the refund is collected.   If the taxpayer takes the standard deduction (as she does in this problem), then the original payment did not reduce her taxable income.  No effect last year means no effect this year.    Consequently, the subsequent refund is not included in taxable income.   Only the salary and the unemployment compensation make up her gross taxable income.

BEC
Answer is D
Because these bonds were sold at a discount, the investors wanted (and the company gave) a higher effective rate of interest.   Apparently, the bonds were not enticing enough at their cash interest rate to get enough investing interest.   However, the effective interest rate (based on the lower price) is not the cost of the debt because interest expense is tax deductible.   Those savings must also be taken into consideration.

Joe at CPAreviewforFREE