FEI Weekly

January 31, 2018

Tips for lease accounting implementation, the new healthcare company on the block.

A $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

Axios

Trump proposed a big bipartisan infrastructure plan. He said he wants $1.5 trillion in federal, state and local, and private sector spending. "The question is how are you going to pay for it?" said Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas). "You tell me how we can pay for it and I'll tell you what we can do."

A Smoother Leases Standard Implementation

Journal of Accountancy

The following tips can help make the process smoother for preparers. The first step in implementation is to gather all the leases, which may not be as simple as it sounds. Under the new standard, lease terms can have significant repercussions for an organization’s financials, so educate all the players — including procurement, real estate, IT, and legal — about the potential for negative impacts of particular lease terms. Implement a lease management system and manage international challenges (like languages and foreign exchange). Finally, when selecting a lease management system, evaluate the process for adding new leases to make sure the chosen system is not cumbersome.

Amazon, JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway Want to Start a Healthcare Company

Quartz

Amazon, JP Morgan, and Berkshire Hathaway are starting a health-care company that is “free from profit-making incentives and constraints." The venture doesn’t yet have a name and is still in the early planning stages, but investors already see a big threat to the massive, bloated U.S. healthcare sector. The vow to forsake profits is striking when coming from three of corporate America’s best-known executives, overseeing companies with a combined market capitalization of $1.6 trillion.

Protect Your Retirement Plans From These 3 'Tax Time Bombs'

The Motley Fool

Millions of Americans have tax time bombs lurking among their assets. Perhaps the largest ticking time bomb from a tax perspective comes from the money that Americans have in IRAs, 401(k) plans, and other qualified retirement plans. Another is savings bonds. Many people own savings bonds without even knowing it. Finally, your personal residence can be a ticking tax time bomb. Most homeowners get the benefit of one of the most lucrative tax breaks on the books. The potential problem is that the exclusion is available only for property that's been used as your principal residence during at least two of the five years preceding the sale.

The Big Leadership Trends of 2018

Forbes

Forbes' Coaches Council shared their insights on the biggest and most influential leadership and management trends of 2018. On the list: encouraging team members to be brand ambassadors, investing in human capital development, embracing "work-life blend," and taking workplace sexual harassment more seriously. Though no two leaders are the same, understanding these trends and adjusting your approach can help you meet the demands of your workforce.