Financial analysis tools for accountants sounded like a natural hit. Give CPAs software that would help them analyze client financial statements and sell services based on the analysis.

It hasn’t quite worked that way. In May, Thomson Reuters announced after years of promoting its entry that the Financial Analysis CS module from its CS Professional Suite would be given to accountants for free. Profit Driver from CCH is off the market in the United States, as is the Sage Accpac CFO package that was built on the same Australian product as Profit Driver.

Now, Mentor Plus is making another go at financial analysis with a product called ScopeIt that follows the same basic principles as the other applications in that users can manipulate numbers in financial statements and changes will ripple through to connected data. Advisors can use scenarios to  show clients how changes, such as in the cost of goods sold, can affect financial performance.

Thomson Reuters has added 15 chapters to the 2009 Edition of PPC’s Guide to Tax Planning Strategies, many designed to help CPAs implement strategies for dealing with current economic problems.

Topics covered provide advice that will help clients recover from a real estate foreclosure; fully utilize net operating losses; survive bankruptcy; maximize the deduction for fraudulent theft losses; minimize FICA and SE tax; realize the maximum proceeds from a proprietorship disposition; survive and prosper when employment is terminated; retain key employees during economic turmoil; and properly classify workers to avoid penalties and interest.

The  guide also includes updates to executive summaries, client letters, and practice aids to help clients minimize alternative minimum tax; maximize bonus depreciation;  utilize eligible tax credits; benefit from family limited partnerships; manage investment losses to reduce taxes; re-evaluate retirement prospects; and defer compensation.