How Well Do You Know Your Financial Professional? If you are like many people, the answer is “not very well.” Recently I blogged about the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the gaps in their “Broker Check” system. Since writing that piece, FINRA has begun correcting some of the problems. Except for stockbrokers, it is […]
Wall Street’s Untouchables – the Accountants & Lawyers
[Ed. Note: Although this post is still valid, newer posts on accounting malpractice and legal malpractice can now be found on our sister website, U.S. Legal Malpractice. You can reach that site by clicking the link above.] By now, few are shocked when the nightly news breaks a story of a new Ponzi scheme. Not […]
IRS and Tax Identity Theft (How to Avoid Becoming a Victim)
[Updated 2020] Tax identity theft is a huge problem in this country. According to the most recent statistics, over 15 million Americans had their identities stolen last year. Just five years ago that number was 9 million per year. So who can we trust to protect us? Unfortunately, not the IRS. Stories of hackers breaking […]
Wisconsin Law Journal
Three innovative Wisconsin attorneys have three things in common. They all practice within their own small firms, and they all serve clients nationwide. But what makes them stand out as leaders, for the most part, is a third commonality: They’re all practicing in areas that didn’t exist when they…
How to Prove Fraud Using Tax Returns
Most of the posts in this blog detail current cases and trends in the law. Today we are doing something different. We are sharing some of wisdom on how to prove fraud using tax returns. If you are suing someone for fraud, it is fair to assume that the person you are suing is dishonest. […]
Revisiting the Case of Matthew Wayne Shepard
Burn a cross in the yard of a Black neighbor and you have committed a hate crime. Deface a local mosque or temple and you commit a hate crime but beat someone up solely because s/he is gay-as of today, that’s not a hate crime under federal law. That should soon change, however. The U.S. […]
Client Screwed Twice by Lawyers? (Legal Malpractice Post)
Legal Malpractice within Legal Malpractice (Or Twice Screwed) [Post updated January 2020. Ed. Note. Although this post is still relevant and current, newer information on legal malpractice can now be found on our sister legal malpractice website, US Legal Malpractice.] Talk about bad luck. Jackie Young claims her first lawyers botched her case and then […]
Bad Brokers Get Clean Record? Be Aware!
[Post updated March 2020] A feature story in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, “Keeping Bad Brokers from Fading into Background” tells the sad truth about what industry professionals already know: Information about bad brokers can disappear in as little as 2 years. Thankfully, all that changed in 2010. Currently FINRA discloses broker’s bad behavior for […]
Frequency Magazine Publication
If 2008 was the year that the economy started its tailspin, this is the year that Bernie Madoff, Sir Allen Stanford and Ponzi schemes dominated financial headlines. These events have a significant impact on accountants with tax practices and present excellent opportunities to assist…
Section165 Fraud Loss Deductions: One of IRS’ Best Kept Secrets
Mahany Law If 2008 was the year that the economy started its tailspin, this is the year that Bernie Madoff, Sir Allen Stanford and Ponzi schemes dominated financial headlines. These events have a significant impact on accountants with tax practices and present excellent opportunities to assist clients. Fraud losses are estimated to be in the tens […]