This 2016 update of the RMA Practice Manual is the process introduction and glossary reference book to the RMA curriculum content of the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Designation. -RMA students use it during Week 1 of the RMA online education programs. -RMA graduates keep it as desktop reference. -Compliance officers use it as documentation for placing the RMA designation on their approved list. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks across the household balance sheet and master the retirement-planning advisory process. Financial professionals who take and pass the examination to earn the RMA designation are uniquely prepared to deliver retirement-income solutions and services to clients who want a secure income stream and ongoing professional management throughout their retirement years. The focus of the education is on the Household Balance Sheet and Budget in order to "First Build a Floor, then Expose to Upside." Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of Retirement Management Professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' assets, liabilities, and cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements. RIIA developed a hub-and-spoke framework to organize retirement-income solutions. The framework has seven chapters - a hub, five spokes and an integrative process. The client is the hub, and the spokes are the steps in a process of integration and monitoring. RIIA calls them "spokes" rather than "steps" for two reasons. First, they represent a cyclical process of interaction with the client that has no specific beginning or end. Secondly, each one strengthens a well-rounded relationship between advisor and client. Building a portfolio for retirement income isn't necessarily harder than building a portfolio for asset accumulation, but it does require a deeper assessment of the client's needs. The investment of more time at the beginning of the relationship can pay off, however, in the creation of satisfied clients whose assets will be "stickier" and who will also bring additional advisory opportunities.

This book is an introduction and companion manual to the curriculum presented in The Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Designation - Curriculum Book for RMA Candidates.The Practice Manual for Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Certificate Holders and Compliance Officers offers a high level overview of the scientifically-based, retirement-income planning curriculum and is a compendium of all the associated process and practice issues. It functions as a desktop summary guide and practice manual for compliance officers and practicing RMAs, and as an introduction for those interested in earning the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) designation. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and master the retirement-planning advisory process. Financial professionals who take and pass the examination to earn the RMA designation are uniquely prepared to deliver retirement-income solutions and services to clients who want a secure income stream and ongoing professional management throughout their retirement years.The focus of the education is on the Household Balance Sheet and Budget in order to "Build a Floor and Create Upside Potential." Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of Retirement Management Professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' assets, liabilities, and cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements.RIIA developed a hub-and-spoke framework to organize retirement-income solutions. The framework has seven chapters - a hub, five spokes and an integrative process. The client is the hub, and the spokes are the steps in a process of integration and monitoring. RIIA calls them "spokes" rather than "steps" for two reasons. First, they represent a cyclical process of interaction with the client that has no specific beginning or end. Secondly, each one strengthens a well-rounded relationship between advisor and client.The objective is to build a floor and create upside potential. RIIA assumes that, during retirement, clients need a sufficient level of income ("a floor") from guaranteed or low-risk sources, as well as the potential for growth through exposure to risky assets (the "upside"). Building a portfolio for retirement income isn't necessarily harder than building a portfolio for asset accumulation, but it does require a deeper assessment of the client's needs. The investment of more time at the beginning of the relationship can pay off, however, in the creation of satisfied clients whose assets will be "stickier" and who will also bring additional advisory opportunities.

This book provides an advanced education combining a scientifically-based and practitioner-developed, retirement-income planning curriculum in support of earning the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) designation. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and to master the retirement-planning advisory process.

Praise for Financial Statement Analysis A Practitioner's Guide Third Edition "This is an illuminating and insightful tour of financial statements, how they can be used to inform, how they can be used to mislead, and how they can be used to analyze the financial health of a company." -Professor Jay O. Light Harvard Business School "Financial Statement Analysis should be required reading for anyone who puts a dime to work in the securities markets or recommends that others do the same." -Jack L. Rivkin Executive Vice President (retired) Citigroup Investments "Fridson and Alvarez provide a valuable practical guide for understanding, interpreting, and critically assessing financial reports put out by firms. Their discussion of profits-'quality of earnings'-is particularly insightful given the recent spate of reporting problems encountered by firms. I highly recommend their book to anyone interested in getting behind the numbers as a means of predicting future profits and stock prices." -Paul Brown Chair-Department of Accounting Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU "Let this book assist in financial awareness and transparency and higher standards of reporting, and accountability to all stakeholders." -Patricia A. Small Treasurer Emeritus, University of California Partner, KCM Investment Advisors "This book is a polished gem covering the analysis of financial statements. It is thorough, skeptical and extremely practical in its review." -Daniel J. Fuss Vice Chairman Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP

The first book to close the perilous gaps in—and enhance the performance of—asset allocation Asset allocation is one of today’s bestknown investment approaches. Problem is, its major precept—that a magic-number, fixed-percentage asset mix will provide superior results for investors who have dramatically different goals and needs—is scientifically unproven and fundamentally flawed. Asset Dedication updates the asset allocation model, outlining a seven-step process designed to more effectively meet the real needs of real investors. Showing investors how to design low-risk portfolios that more accurately and successfully dedicate assets, this breakthrough book helps investors fill in the gaps inherent to asset allocation by demonstrating: Techniques for ascertaining the best asset mix by determining individual needs and goals How asset dedication provides superior protection against inflation and market risk Investing strategies for the three investment life phases—accumulation, distribution, and transfer

This book explains how an organization can measure and manage performance with the Balanced Scorecard methodology. It provides extensive background on performance management and the Balanced Scorecard, and focuses on guiding a team through the step-by-step development and ongoing implementation of a Balanced Scorecard system. Corporations, public sector agencies, and not for profit organizations have all reaped success from the Balanced Scorecard. This book supplies detailed implementation advice that is readily applied to any and all of these organization types. Additionally, it will benefit organizations at any stage of Balanced Scorecard development. Regardless of whether you are just contemplating a Balanced Scorecard, require assistance in linking their current Scorecard to management processes, or need a review of their past measurement efforts, Balanced Scorecard Step by Step provides detailed advice and proven solutions.

Optimizing Company Cash provides a comprehensive guide to all elements of cash management in a business including: Inflows Outflows Cash conversion cycles Short-term borrowing and investing International business How to structure a corporate treasury function In over 200 pages, the Guide explains how CPAs and financial managers can manage their company's short-term resources to sustain ongoing activities, mobilize funds and optimize liquidity. It also provides diagrams of work flows, step-by-step checklists, templates, and treasury tips for CPAs and finance managers who are responsible for making the most of working capital and short-term resources.

This report discusses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) comprising nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public.