Our accounting office recently adopted CaseWare RCT, a professional engagement manager and financial statement preparation tool. RCT is built hand-in-hand with CPA Canada, ensuring it is up-to-date and meets the latest standards. The crux of RCT: checklists. I’ll tell you — the quality difference between a financial statement prepared with a checklist and without a checklist is night and day.

Pin stock buybacks up there with increased dividends and CEO compensation — everyone loves to hate on them. But, like every other corporate finance issue, there’s more to the story. One day, I’m going to find someone who talks entertainingly about WACC — that’ll open a few sets of eyes.