[jeff]

FAR Study Group Links and Resources:

1. NINJA Monthly – $67 FAR Course
2. Free FAR Notes
3. FAR Course Comparison
4. How to Pass FAR (with NINJA)
5. How to Pass FAR (in 20 Days)
6. How to Pass FAR (after Failing)

See Also:

• FAR Study Group
• AUD Study Group
• REG Study Group
• BEC Study Group

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Icarito]

Enough to where you should not skip it and think you can still pass. It is an important topic that they love to test on (to make sure you didn't skip it). Government too.

[inviteyou]

On the Wiley CPAExcel video on Consolidation Less than 100% Ownership, does anyone know where the instructor got the FV adjustment to come up wit the NCI Equity? If you watch the video, at the 12 minutes and 13 second mark she has NCI Calculation.
S's Net book value $200,000
+FV adjustment $100,000
-Depreciation FV adjustment (5,000)
-Goodwill impairment 0
S's adjusted Net book value $295,000
xNCI percentage .20
NCI Equity 59,000

The problem reads: P (Passing) purchased 80% of S (Score) for $200,000 on January 1, 20×8. On that date, the net book vlue of S was $150,000, which equaled the fair value of all of S's assets and liabilities except for equipment. Equipment had a FV of $100,000 and a carrying value of $80,000. Any excess price was attributed to goodwill. The remaining life of the equipment was four years. The fair value of the noncontrolling interest was $50,000.

When I re-read the question, I thought, why wouldn't the fair value adjustment in the calculation above be $20,000 rather than $100,000, presuming that's where the instructor pulled the FV adjustment of $100,000. Can someone help explain?

[Tncincy]

Taking far again early Feb. 2020. Will I need new notes for far 2020? I have 2019.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[DocJ]

“When I re-read the question, I thought, why wouldn't the fair value adjustment in the calculation above be $20,000 rather than $100,000”

Because that $20K comes from the $!00K FV minus the $80K carrying value.

When you consolidate, you buy the FV of a company's Net Assets. “Net Assets” is just a fancy way of saying “assets minus liabilities.”

(Random sidenote: Anytime you see the word NET, that always means you're subtracting something, in this case subtracting FV of liabilities from FV of assets.)

Say you wanna buy that falafel stand down the street. You got their books and are trying to figure out their Net Assets. Their books will show carrying values/book values/other term that just means the same dang thing.

See where I'm going with this? Net assets ALREADY has that $80K carrying value in there. The FV adjustment is $20K because that's not in the books, you haven't included it in Net Assets yet. You didn't just get your assets and liabilities out of thin air, those are the numbers that were in the falafel stand's books. FV is often NOT included in the books, so you gotta add that extra amount to Net Assets.

[Leo]

Hi Guys,

I need some motivation right now, I'm currently working at B4 as a senior auditor. I have been studying on and off for more than 2 years now. I have just used 3 months to go through all of the material and all Becker questions. I realized I forgot all of the stuff I learned from the beginning and buy season is about to start.I also couldn't find the exam date till April…

Can you guys advise me how to pass my first exam?

Thank you,

Leo

[DocJ]

TBH, I'd recommend NOT studying right now.

Since you haven't passed your first exam yet, you're not under any time constraint. And since we've hit busy season, you're just not gonna find the time to study. Or if you do, you're gonna be too stressed and out-of-it to care and really retain the material.

Once things cool down and you have a little more time, get a study plan together to learn the material in say 2 months or less. I've found that over 2 months is when you really start to forget everything from the beginning. Plan ahead and just get through the material best you can.

[Tncincy]

I am attempting to schedule far exam. I am starting to restudy tonight. All the other times I failed I believe is because I did not give myself enough time to study and study well. This is 2020, new attitude, new approach. So is 6 weeks for far too little time? All of the early Feb dates seem to be taken (open the 14th and after). I'll have to drive two hours away to a prometric center. Tax season begins soon and I want to schedule before my book fills up with clients. I know it's my decision, but I'm asking for a little help.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[pj2020]

Hey All,

I'm studying for Far first time and using Gleim materials. Gleim has 20 Chapters and I am still working on Chapter 7th. So nervous and worried regarding test. All topics needs more time to understand and practice than Gleim suggested ( almost double). I am studying right now 2 hours in weekdays and 8 hours a day in Weekend. Not sure how I can complete all the chapters before April ? Also I have a 15 years gap between my college and CPA exam.

Can you guys advice me on FAR study ? It will be great help for me to stay on my goal.

Thank you

[Love]

Hi, all,

Finally, I am a part of the group to prepare FAR together. To commitment of the exam is my issue. Hope I will study with our group.

Thank you.

[Tncincy]

Hi PJ and Love, Welcome to the far study group. Far is a beast….it covers a lot of material and very easy to lose focus. I'm in and changed my test date from 2/28 to 4/4 because I have not been consistent in study and there were no seats March 5-10. So maybe it's good I couldn't get a seat. I will have time to get it together. I said in 2020 I was going to get this behind me. No more stalling, no more excuses, no more wasting money on test fees. This group doesn't post much, so I don't know how much feed back will come. I'm willing to prepare together as well. Let me know what we can do to get one another over the study hump. Bty: I am studying with Surgent. I guess the study time doesn't record unless you're doing mcq's. I'm not getting too much from the videos so I am going to try learning from the mcq's and do lectures when necessary. (More money down the drain 🙁 )

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[BF98]

I would like to join in this FAR Study Group. I have Gleim and I figure I can just go through that but at the same time there's so much material I don't know where to start.

[pj2020]

Hi All,

Welcome to Far study group. I tried to follow Gleim study plan but is not working for me. I always behind the Gleim calendar and finally started my own manual study plan which taking more time to study.Trying to complete all 20 chapters till march 31st after that will review again at least 2 chapters in one day till April 15th.

Thank you.

[TINA]

Anyone using Surgent for FAR?? DO you like it?

[Tncincy]

@Tina, I am using Surgent for far. I don't really know if I like it. I was drawn in with the readiness alert, the non-expiring usage until you pass, the assessment of strengths and weaknesses, and to possibly be prepared to take the exam in 3 or 4 weeks (I forget which one). At any rate, I was sold on the advertisements. I don't like the lectures. So far they do not help me answer questions confidently. So I am back to looking else where or googling certain topics to make sure I have a solid understanding. I thought my aggravation was because far has so much to cover, but now I don't know. I lose study time and energy trying to figure out how to best use this program. I am willing to keep trying to use it, but I think I'm going to go with learning from the mcq's and use the book and lectures if necessary.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[BF98]

@PJ2020 I haven't fixed a date yet but I'm leaning towards mid April myself.

You have given me a nice recommendation to have my own study plan and not follow Gleim's.

[Author]

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