I would argue that Sarbanes-Oxley has been effective at discouraging executives from misleading investors. The fact that they are now personally accountable for any false or misleading statements to investors greatly increases the risk of penalty for any wrongdoing. When an individual is leading a publicly traded company, large or small, investors need to know they can trust that individual and what they are presenting as the truth. Proverbs 11:1 says, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” The bible reminds us that in all things, in this case business dealings, honest and integrity should take the spotlight. By holding those in charge responsibility for withholding the accurate accounting information, Sarbanes-Oxley has attempted to take away the temptation to mislead investors for personal gain. A large benefit of Sarbanes-Oxley is the requirement of a third party to verify financial information as well as testing of internal controls on a quarterly basis. This has allowed investors and creditors a reliable source for accurate information. However, these audits have increased costs for these companies. These extra costs can be a burden, especially on smaller companies who may not have the extra capital to pay for these additional costs. Even with the additional costs, I would argue that it is still in the best interest in investors and creditors alike to have these assurances that the financial data they are being presented is accurate. With the knowledge I have of Sarbanes-Oxley I would say it is currently doing its job and is good where it is at. It does not need to be strengthened or repealed at this time. I would argue that it is legitimate and can be appropriate for executives to present adjusted earnings. There are times when circumstances have caused balance sheets to be skewed in a way that is not typical from year to year. An example would be a large acquisition or an unforeseen, one time, cost of the same nature. This allows the company to show more accurate trends and gives investors a better idea of year to year earning/loses in a simplified manner. With that being said, it is extremely important that this companies report how and why they made these adjusted earnings so their investors/creditors can understand how these financial statements are prepared. Ahrenstorff, R (2017, June 8) The 4 Biggest Pros and Cons of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act KT Connections https://ktconnections.com/blog/the-4-biggest-pros-and-cons-of-the-sarbanes-oxley-act