December 2007 — PRINT EDITION             The last hurdle All CA students have heard war stories about the dreaded UFE. They know it involves months of meticulous preparation and several attacks of nerves. So how do individual students overcome the high anxiety of those terrifying three days in September? The independence impact The point of the new regulations regarding the relationships of CAs with their clients was to eliminate any situation that could undermine the credibility and independence of CAs. But for some in the profession, complying with the rules has been difficult     People When Katrina Merrem got the call from Hollywood, it wasn’t her agent calling. It was the Golden Globe awards people wanting an order of her top-priced truffles as gifts for award nominees. And for the Ontario-bred, Texas-based CA, and her fledgling business, things only got better     News and trends   •  Once a cheater, always a cheater?   •  News from the profession   •  Standards digest     Numbers game       Ask an expert How can I make the most of my upcoming performance review?     Bits & Bites   •  Recruiting 201: makeovers   •  Pay taxes says Pope   •  Land of the free   •  Silence is golden     Value added   •  Tag teams help wrestle down costs How do you bring your costs down below those of your competition? By taking a different approach to supplier negotiations.     Findings CA firms missing easy opportunities to build business     Going concern Denis Deschamps, FCA President, CEO and co-founder Drakkar & Partners       Taxation 1998 all over again? It seems the 1990s outcry over the SR&ED is out there again     Taxation — small business Settling accounts with Uncle Sam: if considering entering the US market, be prepared     Technology Be gone phishing: just when you think you’re too smart to get caught in the fraud net, a new generation of attacks is on its way     Personal financial planning Core and satellite: a portfolio for aging boomers that’s both tax- and cost-effective     Standards Mountain or molehill: new standards may have no effect on some private enterprises, but will be significant for others     Letters to the editor From the editor The UFE days Netwatch Act fast, or lose big Top 10 software selection mistakes For many companies, replacing a system is like going to the dentist: necessary, but potentially painful. Here are the biggest blunders to avoid in the process. Outlook The vices of virtue