Question: Allison Jones of Flagstaff, Arizona, is considering

> What internal control activity would you recommend to call attention to a failure to pay invoices within the discount period?

> For which documents relating to the accounts payable operation would you recommend the use of serial numbers as an internal control activity?

> Which do you consider the more significant step in establishing strong internal control over accounts payable transactions: the approval of an invoice for payment or the issuance of a check in payment of an invoice? Explain.

> In achieving adequate internal control over operations of the accounts payable department, a company should establish procedures that will ensure that extensions and footings are proved on all invoices and that the propriety of prices is reviewed. What i

> What effects will an auditor’s belief that the population’s actual deviation rate exceeds the tolerable deviation rate have on the test of controls sample size?

> If a corporation overstates its earnings, are its liabilities more likely to be overstated or understated? Explain.

> You are making your first audit of Clarke Manufacturing Company. The Plant and Equipment account represents a very substantial portion of the total assets. What verification, if any, will you make of the balances of the ledger accounts for Plant and Equi

> The auditors’ verification of current assets such as cash, securities, and inventories emphasizes observation, inspection, and confirmation to determine the physical existence of these assets. Should the auditors take a similar approach to establish the

> Does a failure to record the retirement of machinery affect net income? Explain.

> Moultrie Company discovered recently that a number of its property and equipment assets had been retired from use several years ago without any entries being made in the accounting records. The company asks you to suggest procedures that will prevent unr

> Explain the use of a system of authorizations for additions to plant and equipment.

> Identify at least three elements of strong internal control over property, plant, and equipment.

> What are the objectives of establishing internal control over plant and equipment?

> Suggest several comparisons to be made as part of the auditors’ analytical procedures for a. Plant and Equipment. b. Depreciation.

> Explain how the existence of lease agreements may result in understated plant and equipment.

> When performing attributes sampling, may auditors include several types of attributes in their definition of a deviation? Explain.

> K-J Corporation has current assets of $5 million and approximately the same amount of plant and equipment. Should the two groups of assets require about the same amount of audit time? Give reasons.

> Explain why the auditors may need to use the work of a specialist in the audit of goodwill.

> Do the auditors question the service lives adopted by the client for plant assets, or do they accept the service lives without investigation? Explain.

> List three substantive procedures the auditors could use to detect unrecorded retirements of property, plant, and equipment.

> Gibson Manufacturing Company acquired new factory machinery this year and ceased using the old machinery. The old equipment was retained, however, and is capable of being used if the demand for the company’s products warrants additional production. How s

> What is a principal objective of the auditors in analyzing a Maintenance and Repairs expense account?

> Hamlin Metals Company has sales representatives covering several states and provides automobiles for them and for its executives. Describe any substantive procedures you would consider appropriate for the company’s fleet of more than 100 automobiles, oth

> Should the independent auditors observe a physical inventory of property and equipment in every audit engagement? Discuss.

> In response to threats from a terrorist organization, Technology International installed protective measures consisting of chainlink fences, concrete road barriers, electronic gates, and underground parking at its manufacturing facilities. The costs of t

> Should the auditors examine public records to determine the legal title of property apparently owned by the client?

> When using attributes sampling, the auditors must estimate the expected population deviation rate. What sources are used to make this estimate?

> Define, and differentiate between, nonstatistical (judgmental) sampling and statistical sampling.

> Define insurance.

> Identify the components of PITI.

> When should you request that private mortgage insurance be canceled if such insurance was required at the time of purchase of a home?

> Explain why the down payment and mortgage principal and interest understate the actual up-front and monthly costs of home ownership.

> Why do lenders use points in home loans, and who is responsible for paying points?

> If you make a down payment that is lower than standard, identify the extra cost you will be required to pay.

> What is the standard down payment amount on a mortgage loan?

> How do you comparison shop between financing and leasing?

> How do you choose between a low interest rate and a rebate?

> Explain why lease payments for a new vehicle are lower than loan payments for the same vehicle.

> James Canter of Auburn, Alabama, is a good shopper. He always comparison shops and uses coupons every week. James figures he saves at least $40 a month as a result. Assuming an interest rate of 2 percent, what is the future value of this amount over ten

> Summarize what is involved in comparison shopping for a safe vehicle.

> What is the goal of comparison shopping?

> What is a service contract and what is its disadvantages?

> Explain the difference between an implied warranty and an express warranty, and how do they relate to the term as is?

> What are some pitfalls of leasing?

> What are your action steps to dispute an error on a billing statement?

> What is the liability for a lost or stolen credit card?

> How does a penalty rate work on a credit card?

> Distinguish between transaction and posting dates on a credit statement.

> Distinguish between a statement date and a payment due date on a credit statement.

> Explain what happens if you choose to retire earlier than your full retirement age, which is probably 67.

> Distinguish between the benefits provided under Social Security for a worker who is fully insured and a worker who is currently insured.

> Summarize how workers become qualified for retirement Social Security benefits.

> How do public corporations use stocks and bonds?

> Distinguish between common stocks and bonds in investments.

> What average investment returns from stocks do you anticipate in the future?

> What are the two parts of an investor’s total return?

> How does savings differ from investing?

> Offer some suggestions on where to get money to invest.

> What two factors in the process of calculating life insurance needs are likely to be the most expensive to replace?

> James Sprater of Grand Junction, Colorado, has been shopping for a loan to buy a used car. He wants to borrow $18,000 for four or five years. James’s credit union offers a declining-balance loan at 9.1 percent for 48 months, resulting in a monthly paymen

> Identify periods in a typical person’s life when the need for life insurance is low and one when it is high.

> Explain why the multiple-of-earnings approach is less accurate than a needs-based approach to life insurance planning

> List five types of needs that can be addressed through life insurance.

> Distinguish between the dying-too-soon problem and the living-too-long problem and the best ways to address each.

> If you choose a “silver” health insurance plan, how much of your out-of-pocket medical costs will be paid by the plan?

> Summarize how subsidies reduce the price of insurance premiums under the ACA.

> List three of the 10 essential benefits of all new health care plans.

> Who does the ACA impact and who does it not?

> Summarize what the Affordable Care Act is supposed to accomplish.

> What does the book say about why the USA has such an expensive health care system?

> Alexis Monroe, a biologist from Dyersburg, Tennessee, is curious about the accuracy of the interest charges shown on her most recent credit card billing statement, which appears as Figure 7-1. Use the average daily balances provided to recalculate the in

> When considering likelihood of loss and severity of loss, explain which one of these two concepts is more important when deciding whether to buy insurance and why.

> List, describe, and give an example of each of the five ways to handle risk of loss.

> Explain the distinctions between risk and odds.

> Distinguish between pure risk and speculative risk.

> When shopping for a vehicle what are three things you need to know about when conducting preshopping research?

> Distinguish between needs and wants, and explain why it may be better to act as if no needs exist.

> What is planned buying?

> Summarize the process to determine whether you can afford a particular purchase.

> Distinguish between an unsecured line of credit and a home equity credit line.

> Explain the basic features of bank credit cards..

> The Hernandezes’ older son, Jacob, has reached the age at which it is time to consider purchasing a car for him. Victor and Maria have decided to give Maria’s old car to Jacob and buy a later-model used car for Maria. Required: (a) What sources can Vict

> What is open-end credit and give three examples.

> Distinguish between capital improvements in real estate investing and repairs.

> Distinguish between the price-to-rent ratio and the rental yield as measures of current income.

> What are the two key questions to consider before investing in real estate?

> Name two things investors should consider doing before investing in real estate.

> Name five services that are unique to mutual funds.

> List five advantages of investing in mutual funds.

> Explain how net asset value is calculated and how it is used by mutual funds.

> Illustrate how housing buyers can pay less than renters when taxes and appreciation of housing values are considered.

> Identify three ways that home buyers can save on their income taxes.

> After several years of riding a bus to work, Belinda finds that she can no longer do so because her employer moved to a location that is not convenient for public transportation. Thus the Johnsons are in the market for another car. Harry and Belinda esti

> Distinguish between periodic tenancy and tenancy for a specific time when renting housing.

> Explain the purpose and value of a lease for both the renter and the landlord.

> Now that you have read the chapter on estate planning, what do you recommend to Chrisanna and Fernando on the subject of retirement and estate planning regarding: 1. How much in Social Security benefits can each expect to receive? 2. How much do they eac

> Now that you have read the chapter on real estate and high-risk investments, what do you recommend to Brittany on: 1. Investing in real estate? 2. Putting some money into collectibles or gold? 3. Investing in options and futures contracts?

> Now that you have read the chapter on mutual funds, what do you recommend to Helen and David Lilienthal in the case at the beginning of the chapter regarding: 1. Redeeming their CDs and investing their retirement money in mutual funds? 2. Investing in gr

> Now that you have read the chapter on stocks and bonds, what do you recommend to Ariya Jutanugarn in the case at the beginning of the chapter regarding: 1. Investing for retirement in 18 years? 2. Owning blue-chip common stocks and preferred stocks rathe

> Now that you have read the chapter on investment fundamentals, what do you recommend to Shanice and Sarena on the subject regarding: 1. Portfolio diversification for Sarena? 2. Dollar-cost averaging for Shanice? 3. Investment alternatives for Sarena?