First, regardlessof theamounts, passing through obvious personalexpensesasabusinessexpenseisdisingenuous and acompetent auditor will call yourethics and judgment into question.
The changes that will have to occur to bring the audit firms, and their clients, in line may mean not only consolidation of audit firms that can not deliver audit-only services cost effectively and per the standards, but also consolidation of broker-dealers who do not want hire competent accounting and systems professionals in-house or pay for it separately from a firm other than their auditor.