Absolute Free CFA-Level-II Exam Practice for Comprehensive Preparation 

Mary Carr is 62 years old, in good health, and will retire in four years from her position as the CEO and chairman of the board of a large professional services firm, Appleton Professional Services, which is located in the midwestern United States. Carr has approached Tim Houlis, her financial planner, for help in preparing an investment policy statement and accompanying asset allocation. Jack Timmons is Houlis' assistant.

In a lunch meeting with Houlis and Timmons, Carr reveals that she is thinking of moving this year to be closer to Appleton's largest client. She is concerned about developing an investment plan now given that she will no longer have contact with Houlis if she does move. Houlis reassures her that this is not a problem. He states that a properly constructed investment policy statement can be readily implemented by her new financial advisor. Timmons states that the investment policy statement is a long-term document that should be changed only if the outlook for equities versus bonds and other assets changes.

Carr's parents were successful business people who owned a series of small firms. Their success, however, did not come without challenges. Twice they had to liquidate businesses in which they were the primary shareholders. As a child, Carr became accustomed to the uncertainties of the entrepreneurial world. When she graduated from college, her parents provided her with the funds to purchase Appleton Professional Services. Appleton was a small firm at that point, but Can-has grown it into one of the larger firms in its industry, even though the professional services industry is cyclical and is susceptible to economic recessions. Appleton went public eight years ago and Carr retained a majority shareholder position when it did. Over time she has sold some of the stock but still has a controlling position in the firm.

Despite the business difficulties Carr's parents experienced, they were able to amass a sizeable fortune in their later years. Including her inheritance and holdings in Appleton stock, Carr has a portfolio with a current value of $6,000,000, most of which is invested in Appleton and other domestic and international equities. Carr has instructed Houlis and Timmons to grow her portfolio over time, focusing on capital appreciation and achieving long-term return goals. She would like to leave her children a sizeable inheritance.

Carr is single with two children. Her oldest child, Mark, is 25 years old and financially independent. Her youngest son, John, is a junior in college at a prestigious liberal arts college in New England. The tuition payment for his last year of college of approximately $40,000 is due at the end of this year. She has no mortgage on her house. Carr is an avid bird watcher and gifts $50,000 a year to a local environmental group. She is concerned with the destruction of bird habitat, so she does not want to invest in highly-polluting industries or firms that are involved in real estate development.

When she retires, Carr will receive a lump-sum, after-tax distribution of approximately $500,000 from her firm. She will also begin collecting an annual pension payment equal to her current salary. The pension payment is indexed to inflation. She will be covered under Appleton's health insurance plan in retirement. Carr spends $ 170,000 a year on vacations and living expenses, which is about equal to her current salary at Appleton.

Houlis estimates that Carr is taxed at an effective marginal rate of 30% on capital gains and income. Houlis estimates an inflation rate of 3% for the rest of Carr's life expectancy, which he projects at 20 years or more, given her good health.

With regard to generating adequate liquidity for Carr's portfolio, Timmons states that she need not invest entirely in income-generating assets. Instead, Carr can generate income from stock dividends, bond coupons, and the sale of assets. By being willing to generate income through the sale of assets, Carr would be able to broaden the types of securities available to her for investment. Timmons states that the problem with most assets that produce income (e.g., dividend paying stocks) is that their expected return is usually lower. He states that the advantage of his approach is that Carr could pursue higher return assets, such as small company stocks.

Are Houlis and Timmons' statements concerning the investment policy statement made at the lunch meeting correct?

To get a better understanding of High Plains' financial situation, it is helpful to review High Plains' cash flow statement found in Exhibit 1 and selected financial footnotes found in Exhibit 2.

Exhibit 2: Selected Financial Footnotes
1. During 2008, High Plains' sales increased 27% over 2007. Its sales growth continues to significantly exceed the industry average. Sales are recognized when a firm order is received from the customer, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.
2. The cost of inventories is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Had the first-in, first-out method been used, inventories would have been $152 million and $143 million higher as of December 31,2008 and 2007, respectively.
3. Effective January 1, 2008, High Plains changed its depreciation method from the double-declining balance method to the straight-line method in order to be more comparable with the accounting practices of other firms within its industry. The change was not retroactively applied and only affects assets that were acquired on or after January 1,2008.
4. High Plains made the following discretionary expenditures for maintenance and repair of plant and equipment and for advertising and marketing:

5. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, High Plains sold $50 million of its accounts receivable, with recourse, to an unrelated entity. All of the receivables were still outstanding at year end.
6. High Plains conducts some of its operations in facilities leased under noncancelable capital leases. Certain leases include renewal options with provisions for increased lease payments during the renewal term.
7. High Plains' average net operating assets at the end of 2008 and 2007 was $977.89 million and $642.83 million, respectively.
Does High Plains' accounting treatment of its capital leases and receivable sale lower its earnings quality?