education Posts
29Jul

Pizza Slices Creatively Compiled

I’m lucky enough to live in New York, where you don’t have to walk for very long in a shopping area before you find a pizza restaurant. New York is a fabulous city, and many people say its pizzas are second to none. In fact, it’s probably the first food that people associate with the city.

As a result, I’ve had the privilege of enjoying a very wide variety of slices and styles. During my time spent eating this delicious treat, I’ve come across some pretty interesting types and I’d like to share a few of them with you today.

Whether you’re cooking these yourself or seeking out a restaurant in your area that offers these, I think you’ll appreciate these types of pizza if you appreciate some creative food preparations. They all win me over every time I come across one, especially when they’re prepared properly.

The first specialty pizza I would recommend is the mac and cheese. Yes, it is unusual as far as pizzas go, but try it and you’ll agree with me that it tastes good, especially with breadcrumbs on top.

Another very popular slice at an one of the city’s top pizzerias is a spinach artichoke variety. This is like your typical spinach style slice, but it has artichokes and a creamy blend of cheese throughout. Many call it the best pizza slide they’ve ever had in their lives.

I’m a fan of buffalo chicken, and I find it tastes even better served up on a hot pizza crust. If you share my appreciation of buffalo chicken, get yourself one of these and you’ll definitely fall in love with it!

You can increase the flavor of your meal by adding blue cheese to the pizza or having a blue cheese dip on the side. Just the crust and dip are almost a meal in themselves and I always find myself wanting just a little bit more, even after I’m done eating the slice.

Hopefully one of these three creative pizza ideas ends up inspiring you. I love each of the three, and I’d love to see you enjoy them all as much as I do.

Aside from food, this author also regularly blogs about the rolling utility cart and folding utility cart.

Posted by Andy Garris in Restaurants & Food and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
29Jul

The Last Ten Years In The Financial Markets Reviewed

The stock market of the last ten years has been a wild ride. Let’s take a few moments to reflect on just how crazy things have been during this time. This has been a very memorable decade as far as the financial markets are concerned.

Just ten years ago, things were better than they had ever been in the stock market. Just about everything was at an all time high, and things showed no signs of slowing down. People were buying things blindly, despite the fact that P/E ratios were significantly higher than they had ever been.

More people were trading stocks than ever before. This was a craze that the world had never witnessed, and everyone wanted a piece of the action. New accounts were springing up left and right.

The NASDAQ’s all-time high of over 5,000 still seems surreal today, and things quickly corrected themselves. Many stocks were fractions of their previous high just months after things peaked.

To think that the indexes were as high as they were seems ludicrous in hindsight. Within the span of a few months, the markets had corrected by over 20%. Late 2001 was even worse, as the events of September 11th brought about new financial worries.

A rebuilding mode set in during the next few years, and some steady gains followed through 2006, at which point some of the indexes once again set new records. Investors were optimistic about market conditions and money was beginning to flow back in.

At the same time, oil prices hit all-time highs, and things like forex trading became extremely popular. The mania was back and everyone wanted to be a part of it.

The years of 2008 and 2009 were sour ones in the financial world. While the forex money continued to pour in, the rest of the markets experienced a downturn that crippled millions of investors. Can we rebound from here? We may very well be in the midst of that now.

If you’re interested in Forex trading, take a look at this writer’s article about the Forex No Loss Robot scam concerns.

Posted by Ryan Hanks in Business and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,
28Jul

Resume Tips Specifically For 2010, Article #3 The Powerful Resume Help You Need

You are cordially invited to utilize all of the effective resume tips packed into this third post. Do not skip out! This has the info you’ll need to develop your effective job-winning resume!

Just a quick question: How often do you think about other jobs or careers?

I am always stunned by the quantity of people who say, “Will, I think about it all the time!”

And that part is fine, however the trick is the fact that these people hardly ever take motion toward any of those other work.

To be totally direct, the reason the majority of these people think about other jobs all the time but take no action is because they never invest even one little hour to unveil a written list of their talents and skills.

Does this sound too simple? It may sound that way, but, I guarantee you this is a powerful solution to build the super strong foundation you need for your job-winning resume.

Here is why you need that revelation: When you have a clear view to your personal best talents and skills, you can then easily cross off all the jobs for which you are not qualified. That’s a HUGE relief by itself!

Next you are able to consider notes for any wish list of the abilities you are ready to discover in the close to long term. Most importantly: you are able to circle all of the jobs for which you’re qualified every time you are reading the Help Wanted ads, browsing Monster.com, or anyplace else!

To make certain we’re all talking about the same thing, let me solution two questions. .1. “What’s the difference between a skill and a talent?” and .two. “How will you realize which talent or expertise your resume ought to feature?”

Question .1. Your skills are the abilities you gained through direct training or some type of hands-on experience. In contrast, your talents are those gifts or natural abilities you realize you have even though you did not have to develop them.

To give you a more practical handle on abilities, let’s contrast un-skilled employees and skilled employees.

Un-skilled workers are the individuals with small or no formal instruction. They’ll do work like envelope stuffing, grocery bag packing, and general entry degree jobs at minimum wage.

Skilled workers usually get greater pay simply because employers spend for the abilities you created via training and via experience. Experienced workers do everything above the Un-Skilled category including back hoe operator, copier repair, computer programmer, bank president, and so on.

When we compare all that for your talents, organic abilities, and inborn qualities, we see that your talents are frequently the starting point for the abilities you develop.

For example, my older daughter is naturally social, outgoing, and able to open a conversation with just about anyone at just about any time. She also happens to have the inborn ability to relate positively with infants, toddlers, and young children in general.

Depending on those skillsets she is eagerly pursuing a career like a teacher. As you are able to appreciate, the talents alone are not sufficient to gain a role as a teacher. Individuals skillsets are the starting stage, and then her college education offers the educated and qualified expertise sets needed to obtain a having to pay job as an elementary school teacher.

It’s time to take action. This is a quick little project very similar to the one you just finished in article #2.

Grab your piece of paper, or available a brand new document on your pc, and launch into this effective set of abilities.

Tip: think of your skills as action phrases or as verbs. For example, “My skills include preparing menus, calculating food costs, developing kitchen work streams, leading efficient teams, etc.”

When you’ll need assist making a deeper set of skills, do one or much more of these: -Ask a buddy to say what they see as your best three skills -Use your preferred lookup engine to find “transferable skills” or “career skills” -Use your favorite work website to get job descriptions for roles in which you are fascinated -Visit my web site and get in touch with me, I’ll be happy to send you links

The next fast action is to list your talents. Some individuals discover this to become very simple, while other people find it difficult to arrive up with more than one or two.

If it feels like your abilities and talents overlap, then just believe with the components of every idea in which you were not qualified. What do you naturally know how you can do?

If that doesn’t function, then circle back again for your friends, relatives, school mates, etc., and ask them to list the top two points you’re naturally do well.

Be aware! If you are disappointed in your skill list for any reason, keep in mind that they are not necessarily show-stoppers. There are many ways to build new skills (read books, night school, universities, etc.), and there are many ways to gain experience using those new skills (volunteer work, part time jobs, mentors who coach you on best ways to get started, etc.).

Be sure to keep you set of abilities and expertise too as your list of strengths and weaknesses nearby. All this info will probably be a Large benefit when we compare it using the attributes listed in your preferred work descriptions. Much more to come within the subsequent two content articles!

Your resume tips summary: the better you realize your skillsets and skills the much better you can function them inside your resume.

Do not skip this chance to unveil this effective foundation to your resume!

Here is Your Motion: If you did not yet create your lists then do it now! Just consider 5-10 mins to write your talents record, after which consider 5-10 mins to create the abilities list correct now.

These workouts are easy and powerful simply because understanding your self may be the effective foundation to your resume!

BONUS NOTE: Are ready to develop your abilities right now? Do you feel very time-challenged? Then you’re prepared for that “1/96th Of 1 Day time Challenge!”

Believe it or not, “1/96th Of One Day” is just 15 minutes.

It’s truly easy. Here’s all you’ll need to complete: get a book, instruction DVD, etc. relevant to the skill you would like to develop. Now commit to using the book, DVD, or what ever for 15 minutes or more every and every single day.

You’ll be Completely Amazed at how rapidly you finish it. This “1/96th Of 1 Day Challenge!” is a great plan that leads you toward your objective in easy actions!

Get hold of the top seven secrets to Get hold of your resume noticed. Visit Will Kenderdine’s website now!

Posted by Will Kenderdine in Business and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
28Jul

Where To Visit When Vacationing In Miami Beach

South Florida is a very popular tourist destination. Miami is one of the big reasons that it is so popular with the tourists. Miami Beach, located in Dade County, is a wonderful destination for someone looking for culture, history, and relaxation.

Miami isn’t just one beach, mind you. It actually has more than 15 beaches! These are popular with both residents and tourists. Palm Island and South Beach are very highly ranked and are two of the most visited beaches in the whole United States. Each is a great location for anything from lazing on the sand to playing majorly adventurous water sports.

The people of Miami are very appreciative of and sentimental toward the area’s history and culture. This is apparent in the architectural conservation efforts that have recently been enacted, including the Art Deco National Historic District. This area, back in the 1980s, used to qualify as a slum. Now, it showcases some of the most amazing 1920s architecture in the entire country.

If nature is more your thing, check out the Cauley Square Historic Village. This area includes colonial era public walks and romantic gardens.

In Miami, the weather qualifies as sub-tropical. Generally, skies are clear and temperatures average about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The area is most popular as a winter tourism destination as a result, and it is also very popular with teens who are making spring break plans.

There is a thriving night life in Miami as well. The area features numerous clubs – comedy clubs, dance clubs, nightclubs, you name it – as well as music arenas. There are plenty of cultural events also, for the culture mavens who prefer a quieter time. You can find everything from a dance recital to an art exhibit to a film festival in Miami.

In fact, anyone thinking of coming to this area can go to the Miami Beach website and read a full itinerary of upcoming events, including dates and times and locations.

Miami Beach is a near-ideal destination for the vacationer who wants to have choices and variety. There is something for everyone in this gorgeous temperate paradise.

Access various other educational articles written by this very writer regarding subject matters including the bedside table lamp and crystal lamps.

Posted by Eman Crawford in Vacation and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28Jul

Book A Trip To Spain

I wish I had more time to see all of the great countries in this world, not to mention the budget. Still, I try to make a point to take a trip once every two years, as I do believe that seeing as many places as possible is a great thing to try to do.

I’ve tried to make it a point to visit as many countries as I can during my life, and I plan on visiting many more. Still, there’s one place that I’ve visited that stands out in my mind more than any other.

I went to Spain for the second time just last year, and I’ll never forget this memorable trip. Spain stands out to me, above and beyond everywhere else I’ve ever been.

Nestled in the southern part of Europe below France, Spain is one of the more unique European countries. The scenery is beautiful, but the way they live is what I find most intriguing.

There are mountains and beaches in Spain, with beaches lining the East and South coast of the country. In the East, you can visit some great cities on the water, like Barcelona and Valencia.

Make it a point to visit the Costa del Sol as well, which is the Southern part of Spain. There are plenty of resort cities with beaches, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, resort hotels, and more.

Out of all of the places I visited, Madrid held the most special place in my heart. This was a unique blend of a modern city and one with deep rooted traditions that typified everything you’ve ever learned about Spain.

Between great restaurants, shopping, and all kinds of exciting nightlife, there was never a shortage of stuff to do when it came to Madrid.

There’s so much more that I loved about the country, and I’ll do my best to write another article as time permits. Visit Spain if you can, you won’t regret it.

The writer of this article also writes about roof replacement cost and DIY rubber roof repair

Posted by Jonathan Peters in Travel and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28Jul

Everything You Should To Know About Private Investigator Training

There seems to be an unbelievable amount of stuff you need to know if you are thinking about becoming a private investigator. This is the reasons why many people recommend going through private investigator training. There you will learn valuable skills, how to operate equipment you will need and how to deal with the life of a PI.

There are certain skills that a private investigator is going to need. The ability to find people is one of the most important. These skills are often called skip tracing and they can be used to find a number of different people. You will also need to know how to do this legally and ethically. Linked with this skill is the ability to do background investigations and research. The key to all of this is the ability to delve deeply into the past and examine the evidence objectively.

Legal investigations are something that many PI’s will specialize in. The ability to take witness statements and being able to give professional testimonies in court are some things you will need to know. Private investigator training provided by certain institutes will teach you how to do this.

A successful PI will need to know how to use surveillance equipment. There are many different types of equipment but it will include a camera. Unmanned remote surveillance photography technology and various kinds of tracking devices are but two of them.

The life of a PI can be rather dangerous. You will need to be capable of protecting yourself and your client from possible physical harm. There are many people who will not take kindly to being investigated and when doing interviews it is possible to get hurt.

Private investigator training is actually be composed of many different elements. It will teach you to research well and how to man all the technology you are going to use.

Have you always wanted to be the top private investigator? We have the perfect inside scoop on the best Private investigator training courses.

Posted by Peter Samuels in Business and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28Jul

Your Body Desires Whole Food, Your Soul Pines For A Whole Life

As the proverb goes, health is wealth. And in this instance we are talking about the wealth of the human spirit. Good food is necessary for our health because our body is able to absorb its full nutrients – it is exactly so with our life. When we accept life in its sum total, relishing all its phenomena and sensations, our soul will be able to imbibe its entire range of ‘nutrients’, comprehending the full meaning of our existence, and letting us live our life to the utmost. Masami Sato shares the secret of living a full life in this excerpt from her latest book, ONE.

How come that many of us, (in fact, more of us) occasionally have a hollow feeling in our life? It is like the pangs of hunger. When we eat, the hunger is appeased and then we are not as much interested in food. But after a while, we become hungry again. Then, surprisingly we feel again enticed by the flavour and vision of food. We also experience some sort of a pining when we are not even actually hungry – just after we had some food. Some of us are perpetually hungry.

Constant emotional hunger is not the most pleasant thing to have. Then, how can we live our lives to the fullest? How can we be more satisfied permanently?

Maybe the answer is straightforward: just live our lives fully. The word ‘full’ holds the meaning of entirety. Then the secret to live a life in entirety is only to live it fully.

Let’s start to look at one example of this ‘wholeness’ with something awfully close to our heart-our stomach.

Whole Food VS Part Food

We are used to the usage ‘whole food.’ People say that taking whole food is the secret to the vigour and wellbeing that we require. How is whole food better than ’semi food?’

A whole grain for example has a life. So, if you soak the whole grain in water, drain the next day and leave for a few days, it sprouts. It has a life of its own. When we eat such food, our body absorbs the full live nutrients. It has all the properties to cleanse, heal and nurture different body cells.

And just like the example of a grain, most traditional eating includes eating whole animals as well. Eating whole fresh fish used to be more common than taking a part of fish and throwing the rest away. It was the same for meat and the same for vegetables.

‘Half food’ sometimes has more sweetness and flavour but not much other nutrition. We like its taste, but we could develop a long-term illness if we only ate ‘half food’ every day of our life.

So, to make up for the missing half, we began to take nutritional supplements. We have been trying and researching for pretty long to find the perfect equilibrium. It gets more and more difficult as we slice the food up, add preservatives and transport, and even try to supplement with other parts coming from various sources, places and seasons. Some of the nutrients are not even from natural resources. They are synthetically generated. After it is tested and analysed, it is approved for man’s consumption. But however hard we try, we cannot merge the ‘bits’ from different sources to make it alive.

Semi Life-’Sweetness’ of Life

So, if we perceive our life now, much of what we are doing can be similar to eating the ‘part food.’ Just enjoying the sugariness of life but jettisoning the real nutritious part. And if we put our ‘part life’ in water with other pieces and left it in the sunlight, could it germinate and grow into a beautiful complete life?

Whole food is not (as some people perceive it) poor in taste. It is actually tastier when we prepare it properly. But while the demand is low, it is more expensive. It is actually more economical in the long run though, as we have less medical expenses later on. When more people start eating it, it will naturally become cheaper because it is a simpler food with less processing and waste.

Our life is the same. When we only appreciate the ’sweetness’, and throw away the rest in rubbish bins because we don’t see its value, we may be wasting the most important part. And the part we throw away could have the greatest power for the sustainability of our life and our economy. It also takes more energy and resources to discard it. Better yet, the part we throw away is free.

So, what is it we are not seeing?

Imagine a life where we didn’t really feel we were missing anything there.

The secret is right here. The secret of a full life.

Entire Life-The Complete Life

When it is ‘entire’, it does not matter how large the entire is. It can swell concurrently. It can still hold within it all the parts to support itself as a full living being. Once it matures into a specific size, it can manage to live even without some of its components. Like plants can survive even after being consumed a bit by birds or trees can flourish even after they lose their leaves. But if we disregard the proportion for a very long time, ultimately it can begin creating a critical inequity. Then it could become too problematical to come back to normality.

We do not have to revert to Stone Age to find entirety. Entirety exists in the current. All we should do is watch intimately; watch intimately enough to actually see.

When we start seeing our life as a whole and stop throwing away what nourishes our life the most, we start feeling more and more fulfilled without looking for ‘things’ to fill holes and dents of our life. Everything finally falls into place. We now understand the mechanism of our world in a very different way.

Yes, it is now time to find out how we can create (and see) this balance, continuously and sustainably.

The actual enriching part of our life is what makes us feel fine deep inside. It is like that portion of food that makes us hale and hearty in the final tally. Sensations we experience in our daily life are the real answer to our lasting joy. And there are sensations that make us feel more full.

The happy faces we see when we give recognition to others. The pleasure we experience when we give presents to others. The affection we feel when we see our kids being happy. The encouragements we get when we feel our life is full of significance ..

Let us internalize these moments of our life totally and relish the flavour of our entire life. Then we will perceive how it is not so imperative to constantly fill our heart (and tummy!) with physical indulgences – those types of things that only increase our cravings afterwards.

We can actually sense this pleasure, gratefulness and ardour in order to be aware of life as a whole at any moment despite the conditions. It is not about what we find, what we learn or what we accomplish that finalize our life in its entirety. It is about what we ‘elect to’ experience about our life.

Yes, our life indeed is already absolute.

When we initiate taking actions based on this knowledge, we can have real control over the balance creation – enduring health, prosperity, enriching connection and delight.

Discover more about how Buy1GIVE1 (BOGO) can transform your business using Cause Marketing.

Posted by Masami Sato in Business and tagged with , ,
27Jul

The CPA Exam In January 2011

AICPA has announced numerous changes to the content, structure, and format of the CPA Exam which will be given on or after January 1, 2011. These changes include:

1. Replacing the one long simulation in the current format with several short Task-Based Simulations (TBS) in Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG); 2. Deleting the testing of written communication from AUD, FAR, and REG; 3. Adding the testing of written communication to the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section; 4. Deleting 18 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) from BEC and REG; 5. Reducing the weight of MCQ in AUD, FAR, and REG by 10%; 6. Reducing the weight of MCQ in BEC by 15%; 7. Doubling the simulations in AUD, FAR, and REG; 8. Changing Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs); 9. Adding testing content on IFRS; 10. Deleting some of the testing content on IT; 11. Adding testing content on project management.

It was previously decided to add planned authoritative literature release and to introduce a new research task format into the CBT-e schedule.

AICPA has announced numerous changes to the content, structure, and format of the CPA Exam which will be given on or after January 1, 2011. These changes include:

Time Allotment Changes:

A shift between two sections occurred but it will not effect the total time to complete all four sections. While BEC will gain 30 minutes for its allotted time, AUD will decrease by 30 minutes. Total testing time for all four sections will remain at 14 hours.

AICPA allows 14 hours to complete the exams for all four sections: * Auditing and Attestation: 4.5 hours * Financial Accounting and Reporting: 4 hours * Regulation: 3 hours * Business Environment and Concepts: 2.5 hours. In 2011, the time allotments will change: * Auditing and Attestation: 4 hours (minus 30 minutes from 2010.) * Financial Accounting and Reporting: 4 hours * Regulation: 3 hours * Business Environment and Concepts: 3.0 hours (adds 30 min.) If you complete an exam is less time than allotted, you are not allowed to move those minutes to another test. For instance, if it only takes you 4 hours to complete AUD, you may NOT move your 30 minutes to BEC.

How Questions Will Be Weighted and Scored?

New scoring has been approved as follows for multiple-choice questions (MCQs), Task-Based Simulations (TBS) and written communication tasks:

Part Questions 2010 2011 BEC MCQs 100% 85% Simulations N/A N/A Written Comm. N/A 15%

AUD/FAR/REG MCQs 70% 60% Simulations 20% 40% Written Comm. 10% N/A

Simulations are condensed case studies about which you are asked specific questions which showcase how you would apply your skill set to solve a “real-life” situation. Your answers allow you to demonstrate your writing skills because about 30% of your score in 2010 depends on your ability to write out your answers, not simply select option a, b, c or d.

BEC has no simulations, either in 2010 or 2011.

For AUD, FAR and REG, simulations double from 20% of your score in 2010 to 40% of your score in 2011.

In 2010, about 1/3 of your simulation score is based on your writing ability.

Current and 2011 Structure of the CPA Exam

Auditing and Attestation (AUD) Current Structure CBT-e Structure * 3 Multiple Choice Question Remains the same (MCQs) testlets with 30 questions each (total: 90) * 2 Simulations in long format 1 Testlet with 7 short TBS with a research question in new format * 2 written communication tasks None required Current Testing Time: 4.5 hours CBT-e Testing Time: 4 hours

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) Current Structure CBT-e Structure * 3 Multiple Choice Question 3 Multiple Choice Question (MCQs) testlets with 30 testlets with 72 questions total questions each (total: 90) 3 Written Communication tasks on BEC topics Current Testing Time: 2.5 hours CBT-e Testing Time: 3 hours

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Current Structure CBT-e Structure * 3 Multiple Choice Question Remains the same (MCQs) testlets with 30 questions each (total: 90) * 2 Simulations in long format 1 Testlet with 7 short TBS with a research question in new format * 2 written communication tasks None required Current Testing Time: 4 hours CBT-e Testing Time: 4 hours

Regulation (REG)

* 3 Multiple Choice Question 3 Multiple Choice Question (MCQs) testlets with 30 (MCQs) testlets with 72 questions each (total: 90) questions total * 2 Simulations in long format 1 Testlet with 6 short TBS with a research question in new format * 2 written communication tasks None required Current Testing Time: 4 hours CBT-e Testing Time: 4 hours

Changes in Question Distribution (Weight):

Auditing and Attestation (AUD) Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Regulation (REG)

Type of Question Current Weight CBT-e Weight

Multiple-Choice Question 70% 60% Simulations 20% 40% Written Communications 10% 0%

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)

Type of Question Current Weight CBT-e Weight

Multiple-Choice Question 100% 85% Simulations 0% 0% Written Communications 0% 15%

The greatest amount of accurate information is from the AICPA itself. For the letter from AICPA detailing the changes, click here:

The letter explores the changes to the structure and the content of the 2011 CPA Exam.

During 2010, a team at AICPA has been creating and testing new questions which will appear on the 2011 exam. For this reason, you may see a question which you have not studied. Don’t panic. In 2010, those new questions will not be added into your score or detract from your score. The writers are testing to see which questions cover the scope of the material and give an accurate picture of whether or not you have mastered the material.

In 2011, these new questions will be graded and will count, either for or against your score.

As an accountant, the career track which progresses upward at a faster rate is labeled “CPA.”

In many firms, you hit the ceiling and progress no further if you do not become a CPA. Progressing from being an accountant to becoming a CPA offers greater opportunities for promotion to management and higher salaries.

Here are three examples of career paths for an accountant and for a CPA with the same education and experience:

Scenario 1: Two people in the same situation Location: Austin, Texas Graduates of/Degree: University of Texas, BA Employer: Public Accounting in Austin Size of firm: 50 Years of work experience: 2 On average, the CPA makes $10,000 more per year than the accountant.

Scenario 2: Two people in the same situation Location: Los Angeles, CA Graduates of/Degree: UCLA, BA Employer: Public Accounting in Westwood, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA Size of firm: 50 Years of work experience: 5 On average, the CPA makes $18,000 more per year than the accountant.

Scenario 3: Two people in the same situation Location: Boston, MA Graduates of/Degree: Harvard, BA Employer: Public Accounting in Boston Managing a team of: 25 Years of work experience: 15 On average, the CPA makes $25,000 more per year than the accountant.

Difference between top salary for CPA and for accountant: $45,000+.

Each of the 54 jurisdictions (including US states and territories) which offers the CPA Exam has its own qualifications for sitting for the exam. In California, the requirements are: * A bachelor’s degree; * 24 semester units in accounting-related subjects; * 24 semester units in business-related subjects; * 150 semester units (or 225 quarter units) of education; * Passing the Uniform CPA Exam; * One year of general accounting experience supervised by a CPA with an active license; and * Passing an ethics course.- * How do you become a CPA? While you could buy books and study on your own, but you’d be missing several key learning modules featured in CPAexcel, a CPA Exam review course.

CPAexcel students pass the CPA Exam at nearly twice the national average. That power to pass can be yours when you study with CPA Exam Review materials from CPAexcel. Because CPAexcel is the only CPA Review materials that does not expire, you can order it now and prepare for the current CPA Exam. If you have not passed all four sections by the end of 2010, you will have the new 2011 features for free.

Posted by Eric Anderson in Business and tagged with , , , , , ,
27Jul

The CPA And Canadian Chartered Accountants

If you are a Canadian Chartered Accountant (CA) who was educated in Canada, you can become a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by passing IQEX.

IQEX is an acronym for the International Uniform Certified Public Accountant Qualification Examination. This test is sometimes referred to as The U.S. CPA Reciprocity Exam. The exam covers U.S. taxation and other topics specific to U.S. practice, and thus probably not taught during the Canadian college program.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) offers the IQEX to qualified international candidates each fall. If you are an internationally trained accountant, you may wish to sit for the IQEX exam and seek a reciprocal CPA designation, since the CPA is globally the most recognized accounting designation.

IQEX is designed to evaluate your professional competence as delineated by the U.S. International Qualifications Appraisal Board. The board will evaluate your education, examination scores, and experience to determine if you meet requirements which are substantially equivalent to United States CPAs. The IQEX exam will test you on your knowledge of U.S. business law, professional standards, and U.S. taxation codes.

In a later article, there is a list of the international designations eligible for reciprocity. If you do not hold one of those, you can still apply through one of the 54 U.S. jurisdictions, pass the exam, and become a CPA.

The testing window for 2010 has not yet been determined.

Applications for the 2010 IQEX will be accepted approximately 4 months prior to the examination window.

To have the best chance of scheduling on your preferred date and at your preferred testing center, schedule your examination early. Notices to Schedule (NTS) will begin to be released in July. Your application and Letter of Good Standing must be received before your NTS will be released.

Note: Testing centers fill quickly. Do not expect to be able to test at the end of the testing window. Testing space at the end of the window fills more quickly than space at the beginning of the window. Failure to schedule your examination will result in all fees being forfeited.

CPAexcel students pass the CPA Exam at nearly twice the national average. That power to pass can be yours when you study with CPA Review materials from CPAexcel. CPAexcel is the only CPA Prep materials which does not expire, you can order it now and study for the current CPA Exam. If you have not passed all four sections by the end of 2010, you will have the new 2011 features for free.

Posted by Eric Anderson in Business and tagged with , , , , , ,
27Jul

Job Hunting 101

According Merriam.com, the term “freelancer” dates back to the Middle Ages. No, that is not in the middle of the 1950’s-that is in the middle of Western European history, about AD 800-1300.

Two types of armies developed during this time: those in the employ of the king who were citizens of that nation (English soldiers working for the English king) and mercenaries who hired themselves out to fight for the king with the most coin. Because these mercenaries on horseback carried lances (no, not the handsome, chiseled chin fellow on your favorite soap opera but long straight pointy pikes), they were free to be hired by the highest bidder. They were called (wait for it):

Modern Freelancers

When we left our intrepid freelancers, they were battling for the duke with most dough in the Middle Ages. And so we continue…

Jump to 1937 when the newspaper business needs a term for those photographers who are not employed by one particular newspaper but sell their work to several. (Think of Peter Parker in the “Spider-Man” comics who sells his photos to any paper which will buy them.) Someone familiar with Medieval history decided to use the term “freelancers” to describe this new breed of photojournalist.

Now freelancers are ubiquitous. As the economic landscape changes and full-time jobs evaporate, more contracts are created to allow companies to hire the talent they need. While artists, musicians, web designers and programmers were fluent in gigonomics, what is interesting is the rise of contracts available for those who are in the high income brackets of finance, law, and human resources. According to a January 2009 article in Newsweek, about 30% of the workforce was freelancing from 1996-2005 with the capital of the freelancing world being New York City: about 2/3 of all the job opportunities created in 2008 were freelance gigs. As a result, there are big bucks available for the right accounting freelancer!

Should You Consider Freelancing?

What does the option of freelancing mean to you?

It means that you have choices. As a freelancer, you will probably get higher wage but you might not have benefits. As an employee, you get benefits but usually a lower per hour rate.

Enter the hybrid existence of working for a contracting house which assigns you projects. Like the Lone Ranger, you ride into town (OK, the company) to solve their problems and then ride out of town when your work is done. Unless they offer you another contract….

Working for a contracting house, your wage is probably not as high in comparison to negotiating the contract on your own but you didn’t spend the time seeking the contract either. As a contractor, you have the opportunity to audition in different corporate cultures. Some you may like, some you may not-but at least you get to leave.

Websites such as Guru.com, ifreelance, and allbookkeepingresource.com list accounting freelancing gigs. Freelancers enjoy the anticipation of a new project but are not overly worried about whether there will be another gig. If you are the type to worry, freelancing may not be a good avenue for you. You will probably do better as an employee, knowing that you are part of a company and assurance that brings.

How to Search for Accounting Freelancing Gigs

As mentioned previously, there are a number of accounting freelancing websites. Go to Google and enter “accounting freelance jobs” or “accounting freelance contracts.”

There are companies such as Nixon Williams Accountancy which hires and then places accountants in contracts to help client companies. Of course, you might have to move the UK to be in their employ.

On Sologig.com, there were many freelance jobs listed on February 8, 2010. The first job listed was with the United Nations as an IPSAS/IFRS Consultant If you would like to work for 3 months at the UN helping to set up their pension plan, this may be the gig for you! If not, keep opening the postings.

Everyone has different criteria for accepting a contract:

1. Do I have to move or will they pay to house me there temporarily? 2. Does the job use skills I possess and can enhance while there? 3. Will this contract allow me to learn new skills which make me even more employable? 4. Will this look good on my rsum? 5. How will this prepare me either for my next gig or to be hired by this firm as an employee?

Let Freelancing Build Your Career and Skill Set

The current economy with rampant unemployment creates many opportunities.

Why? Not only is there the opportunity to be hired by a company and become an employee, there are actually more freelancing contracts available than any time in history. Why? There are many companies which have decided that it is easier to pay the higher hourly rate of a contractor and not have to pay benefits or worry about an unemployment claim later.

Many companies want to hire a person to solve a problem: e.g., migrate a pension fund from one method of accounting to another. Once that problem is solved, the contractor can wander on down the road…unless the contractor finds the contractee so utterly marvelous that they cannot last another day without that contractee. Good: you just got hired. Companies will use contracts as a way of auditioning an employee before making an offer of permanent employment.

Read each contract posting carefully. Does this opportunity allow you to gain marketable skills you can use later? If so, you can then capitalize when you get your next contract-and get a higher hourly rate.

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categories: CPA,accounting,business,finance,test prep,college,education

Posted by Eric Anderson in Business and tagged with , , , , , ,