2004

2004

   New This Week: the Core Values Fund (Mutual Fund Store owner Adam Bold of Overland Park, Kan. was fired as a stockbroker and hit with arbitration cases) (Informer), Forbes, December 27, 2004, p. 36.
   For Some Reason (No members of large accounting firms have been inducted into the profession’s Business & Industry Hall of Fame) (Informer), Forbes, December 27, 2004, p. 36.
   DePauw: Better for Students Than Investors (Table lists recent bond-rating upgrades and downgrades of colleges) (Informer), Forbes,December 27, 2004, p. 36
   Give Wisely to Charity (How to use Forbes nonprofits list), Forbes.com, December 13, 2004.
   Rating the Nonprofits (Annual efficiency evaluations of 200 large nonprofits), Forbes, December 13, 2004, p. 250.    
   Eye on the Prize (Profile of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International), Forbes, December 13, 2004, p. 248.
   On Your Dime (After request for records concerning ex-chair Harvey L. Pitt, Securities & Exchange Commission withholds recipes) (Informer), Forbes, December 13, 2004, p. 49.
   Oh, That (Table lists individuals fined by securities regulators for leaving out something important) (Informer), Forbes, December 13, 2004, p. 49.  
   Where Money Does Grow on Trees (IRS says Hallie E. Ford, ex-wife of timber baron Kenneth W. Ford, made $23 million in two years from family’s RLC Industries (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 29, 2004, p. 42
   Election? What Election? (Table lists mundane Federal Government actions in Federal Register on Election Day) (Informer), Forbes, November 29, 2004, p. 42.
   Welcome to Western Society (Xinhua Financial Network sues to block IRS summons concerning boss Loretta Fredy Bush) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 15, 2004, p. 50.
   So Much for the Lubbock Yacht Club (Judge rules ex-Ciber head Bobby G. Stevenson can keep tax refund case in federal courts of Lubbock, Texas) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 15, 2004, p. 50.
   Crime Using a Pen Instead of a Gun (Table lists eight embezzlement cases in just 25 days) (Informer), Forbes, November 15, 2004, p. 50.
   Perhaps Cancel the Search (Gannett Co. has hired a headhunter to fill the job of boss Douglas H. McCorkindale, even though his contract runs until 2006) (Informer), Forbes, November 1, 2004, p. 42.
   Hey, Who Ya Calling a Fiduciary? (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards ethics code stops short of calling all CFPs fiduciaries) (Informer), Forbes, November 1, 2004, p. 42.
   Knocking Them Dead in West Virginia (Table lists specialty license plates embracing non-automobile causes) (Informer), Forbes, November 1, 2004, p. 42.
   So Why Isn’t He No. 1? (Lawyers for self-effacing Warren E. Buffett cite his “unparalleled investment talents.”) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 18, 2004, p. 44.
   What, Insurance Agents Aren’t Credible? (Life insurance industry rule of thumb that people should be insured for seven times annual income not followed in nation’s largest markets.) (Informer), Forbes, October 18, 2004, p. 44.
   Like Her Lovely Country Estate in Danbury (Martha Stewart is to get paperwork “at her residence address most recently filed with the company.” ) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 18, 2004, p. 44.
   It’s My Money (Siblings belonging to Bancroft family controlling The Wall Street Journal wage New Mexico court fight for control of the $60 million estate of their mother, Jacqueline Spencer Morgan, against Ronnie Lee Morgan, the much younger, openly gay interior designer she married late in life. (Informer), Forbes, October 11, 2004, p. 50.
   The Fakes (Com artists impersonate members of the Forbes 400 and other prominent families), Forbes, October 11, 2004, p. 62.
   Or at Least a Blue One (New list of SuperLawyers includes San Jose, Calif. Attorney Owen G. Fiore, under indictment for tax evasion) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 4, 2004, p. 46.
   Hey, He Was an Adman—and a Lawyer (U.S. Tax Court upholds “accuracy-related penalty” against Studio City Calif.’s Mediaworks for deducting yachting expenses of owner/lawyer William Michael Roach) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 4, 2004, p. 46.
   Fund Fee Fight (12(b)-1 mutual fees are subject of battle), Forbes.com, September 29, 2004.
   The Revolving Door Spins Furiously at the SEC (Table lists Securities & Exchange Commission lawyers leaving for higher-paying jobs elsewhere) (Informer), Forbes, September 20, 2004, p. 48.
   If the Trust Yields 5%, He’s Still Ahead (Federal judge holds Dallas real estate tycoon John F. Eulich in civil contempt of court) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, September 20, 2004, p. 48.
   What’s His Credit Rating? (Ex-Fitch Investors Service head H. Russell Fraser seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy) (Informer), Forbes, September 20, 2004, p. 48.
   Next Benefit: Maps of Mongolia (Automobile Club of Southern California issues a “guaranteed arrest bond certificate” not valid in California) (Informer), Forbes, September 6, 2004, p. 46.
   No Wonder They Need to Raise Money All the Time (Table lists highly paid public television bosses and poor fundraising efficiencies) (Informer), Forbes, September 6, 2004, p. 46.
   Breaking the Buck and Passing It, Too (New report by FDIC officials say money market funds may be more risky than assumed), Forbes.com, August 18, 2004.
   A Hall of Fame for Hall of Fame Bosses (Table lists compensation of Hall of Fame directors) (Informer), Forbes, August 16, 2004, p. 38.  
   Our Newest Member: Claude Rains (Study by finance professors Hatice Uzun, Samuel H. Szewczyk and Raj Varma says the mere existence of a public company board’s compensation committee increase chance of fraud (Informer), Forbes, August 16, 2004, p. 38.
   Oh, No, More Disclosure (New rules taking effect require mutual funds to disclose proxy voting), Forbes.com, August 4, 2004.
   Absolutely Positively Nitpicking (Michigan court says W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital missed property tax appeal deadline by using Federal Express instead of the post office) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 26, 2004, p. 44.
   New from D.C.: Secret Press Releases (U.S. Justice Department unit cites privacy in refusing Freedom of Information Act request for previously issued press releases) (Informer), Forbes, July 26, 2004, p. 44.
   Show Me the Money (Table lists recently pending rewards) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 26, 2004, p. 44
   Maybe Her Favorite Nephew (Priscilla C. Gise of Tonka Bay, Minn., aunt of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, reaped $45 million in gains largely from selling off Amazon stock during two years after public offering) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 5, 2004, p. 46.
   And Don’t Expect Much Repeat Business (Chicago real estate brokers have been advised to file liens against clients to ensure payment) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 5, 2004, p. 46.
   Tax Policy Should Be This Sweet (In Iowa Chocolate Drizzle Rice Krispies Treats are exempt from the sales tax but not Fruit Roll-Ups Strawberry Sensation) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 5, 2004, p. 46.
   Unlike the Statues (U.S. Justice Department, which covered up buxom statues, allows fee survey of lactation consultants) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 5, 2004, p. 46.
   Gone and Definitely Not Forgotten (Table lists press releases issued quickly after death of Ronald Reagan) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 5, 2004, p. 46.
   What Bankruptcy Isn’t Embarrassing? (Pending legislation would allow bankruptcy judges to keep secret “embarrassing” information, which could even be the existence of the case) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 21, 2004, p. 44.
   And When They Do, They Get Very Bored (Study in Behaviour and Information Technology says bystanders are more annoyed by a nearby person on a cell phone than they are by two-person conversation) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 21, 2004, p. 44
   But His Future Taxes Should Be Low (Fallen uranium/banking tycoon Oren Benton can tap $136 million of net operating losses against taxes) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 21, 2004, p. 44.
   It’s a Racket, All Right (Table list recent civil lawsuits invoking Racketeer Influences & Corrupt Organization laws that have nothing to do with organized crime) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 21, 2004, p. 44
   Variable Sleaziness (New report details questionable practices by sellers of variable annuities), Forbes.com, June 18, 2004.
   In Plain English: Bad Buy (New rules would require sellers of variety annuities to disclose sales commissions) (Informer), Forbes, June 7, 2004, p. 52.
   History for Sale Along Route 66 (Paul Allen is selling the Albuquerque building where he and Bill Gates first officed together after forming Microsoft) (Informer), Forbes, June 7, 2004, p. 52.  
   They Also Could Go Work for the Government (Table lists public-company executive with degrees from schools the General Accounting Office calls diploma mills or unaccredited) (Informer), Forbes, June 7, 2004, p. 52.
   Bigtime Passing the Buck (Internal Revenue Service says it’s not its job to force tax preparers to tell clients work is being outsourced abroad) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 24, 2004, p. 46
   Hoist by its Own Petard? (Ann Arbor brokerage Sigma Financial Corp. and president Jerome S. Rydell face allegations it violated its own no-lawsuit agreement and frivolously pursued lawsuits against clients) (Informer), Forbes, May 24, 2004, p. 46.
   But We’re Still Gunning for the Holdouts (Academic study calls it “quite unlikely that a significant fraction of the wealthiest American” are not on the Forbes 400 List) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 24, 2004, p. 46.
   Polly Want a Lawyer (Internet is full of pitches for pet trusts) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 24, 2004, p. 46.
   Gas Up the Refund Software (With rising gas prices, taxpayers might benefit from calculating actual business car expenses instead of standard mileage rate), Forbes.com, May 20, 2004.
   They Make Henry Blodget Look Smart (Financial Analysts Journal article says analysts following large European companies are 30% too high when estimating 12-month earnings, and 41% off two 24 years) (Informer) Forbes, May 10, 2004, p. 42.
   Maybe SEC Staffers Should Be Students (Beset with its own problems, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission teaches regulators in other countries) (Informer), Forbes, May 10, 2004, p. 42.
   Enough of this Ridiculous (Felons Index devised by Brad Zigler calculates that Martha Stewart would be punished more severely than Charles Ponzi) (Informer), Forbes, May 10, 2004, p. 42.
   Another After-Burn from Bin Laden (Table lists alleged scams keyed on the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001) (Informer), Forbes, May 10, 2004, p. 42.
   Some Anxiety Might Be a Good Thing (Accountants say the IRS is causing “anxiety” by writing nonprofits that report little or no fundraising expense) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 26, 2004, p. 36.  
   This Termination Aided the Terminator (Fremont General shares have gone up 850% since dropping its workers comp insurance operation in 2001) (Informer), Forbes, April 26, 2004, p. 36.
   Verdict from Beyond the Grave (Judge Judy jurist Judith Sheindlin blasts Paul Ebeling, cohort of convicted insurance scammer Rex K. DeGeorge) (Informer), Forbes, April 26, 2004, p. 36
   Protecting an Innocent Public from Inept Flower Arrangers (Table lists callings specifically licensed in some states but not others) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 26, 2004, p. 36.
   Stiffing Uncle Same Is Easy (IRS fails to pursue back taxes from 2.25 million tax returns), Forbes.com, April 21, 2004.
   Cutting That 23% Annual Return by 0.1% (IRS and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway ask for more time to settle a lawsuit challenging a $16.3 million increase in Berkshire taxes) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 19, 2004, p. 34.
   Practicing his Testimony to Congress (Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend, by Joseph B. Treaster, says Volcker remained a tenant and wouldn’t discuss interest trends with relatives as he drove mortgage rates to record highs) (Informer), Forbes, April 19, 2004, p. 34.
   ’Til Taxes Do Us Part (Judge rules that Rutgers professor L. Thorne McCarty can’t cancel his marriage on grounds resulting taxes were too high) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 19, 2004, p. 34.
   Rhymes with Rich (Typo in press release misspells name of environmental activist Erin Brockovich as Brokobich) (Informer), Forbes, April 19, 2004, p. 34.
   Must Be Those Long Cold Nights, Eh? (Study says Canadians visit online humor sites nearly 50% more often than Americans) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 19, 2004, p. 34.
   Takes One to Know One (Denver-based Executive Recovery Partners, which offers consulting services for “indicted corporate officers,” is run by financial advisor Will Hoover, himself charged with securities fraud, theft and racketeering) (Informer), Forbes, April 12, 2004. P. 50.
   Not Performance-Based (In an apparent fee grab Transamerica IDEX lets go money manager Warren J. Isabelle, even though his IDEX Isabelle Small Cap Value Fund returned 50% in 2003) (Informer), Forbes, March 29, 2004, p. 38.
   Phishy Finance (Securities Investor Protection Corp. warns about con artists setting up phony Web sites in the name of actual brokerages) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 29, 2004, p. 38.
   Small Tends to be Beautiful (The highest-cost stock mutual funds doesn’t always outperform the lowest-cost funds), Forbes.com, March 22, 2004.
   Weapons of Mass Panic (Financial Analysts Journal article by Bruce I. Jacobs argues that financial products sold as risk-reducers could backfire) (Informer), Forbes, March 15, 2004, p. 44.  
   Hire Education (Table lists universities with most patents, plus examples) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 15, 2004, p. 44  
   How Big Debtors Are Different (Ex-Dunes Hotel & Casino boss John B. Anderson settles lawsuit in Yolo, Calif. alleging he hid assets to duck $100 million in judgment) (Informer), Forbes, March 1, 2004, p. 38.
   The k is This 401(k) Stands for Kaput (Bankrupt Mirant Corp. says it has no fiduciary duty to diversify its 401(k) plan holdings of company stock) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 1, 2004, p. 38.
   No Net from Internet (Latest Nigeria-scam on Ebay involves overpayment with bad check and then request for refund) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 1, 2004, p. 38.
   A Mere Coincidence That These Names Grace a Very Chilly Area? (Map of Antarctica lists features named for newspaper publishers) (Informer), Forbes, March 1, 2004, p. 38.
   Investor Ire (Mutual fund shareholders file arbitration claims in increasing numbers), Forbes.com, February 24, 2004.
   That’s a Lot of Nose Jobs (U.S. Tax Court disallows $4.1 million in business loss deductions for Feadship yacht owned by plastic surgeon Csaba L. Magassy, (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 16, 2004, p. 40.
   Was Your Tax Return Done in Mexico? (Certified public accountants aren’t required to tell clients work is farmed out abroad) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 16, 2004, p. 40.
   He Should Have Sent Himself a Receipt (Dieter Stussy loses deduction for charitable contribution to own family’s foundation because he didn’t get a receipt) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 16, 2004, p. 40.
   Stewart and Fastow Have Plenty of Company in the Dock (Table lists other, less-publicized criminal cases involving stocks and bonds) (Informer), Forbes, February 16, 2004, p. 40.
   More Bad News for Bad Brokers (New York court ruling says aggrieved investors can sue for lost profits) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 2, 2004, p. 34.
   So Why Isn’t He a Billionaire Himself? (winnersedgeinfo.com, web site of Bill Samagalsky of Toronto, says it can improve odds in lottery picks) (Informer), Forbes, February 2, 2004, p. 34.
   Just What Nasdaq Needs for its Image (Financial Analysts Journal article identifying trading anomolies says shorted stocks usually underperform in short term) (Informer), Forbes, February 2, 2004, p. 34
   Rite Aid, Wrong-headed again? (Rite Aid moves aside chief financial officer Christopher S. Hall, a/k/a/ Chris Hall, after he acknowledges pending settlement with regulators over accounting at Ralphs Grocery, now part of Kroger Co.), Forbes.com, January 16, 2004.
   A 275% Price Hike? Don’t Mention It (Editor & Publisher doesn’t say in some renewal pitches it is cutting back yearly publishing frequency from 45 issues to 12) (Informer), Forbes, January 12, 2004, p. 34.
   Move Over, 90210! (Table lists dozen zip codes with nation’s highest average annual family income, led by 94027, in Atherton, Calif.) (Informer), Forbes, January 12, 2004, p. 34.