Select Your Conference Courses

Course Description

Combining the real-life experience of a practicing CPA with essential down-to-earth tax materials in a high-tech format, this powerful presentation will enable participants to grasp recent individual tax changes. You’ll receive the most complete and up-to-date reference manual, written by renowned tax experts.  The digital PDF manual is hyperlinked to the Internal Revenue Code, tax court decisions, and other primary authorities, making it an extremely convenient resource. Join us as our world-class tax instructors share cutting-edge tax planning strategies in a high energy, often humorous presentation style using real-life experiences, which make complicated tax topics easily understandable. Specific course topics will be announced and updated through year-end.

Learning Objectives

• Increased understanding of individual and business federal tax reform developments;
• Tax savings strategies for individuals;
• Enhanced knowledge of the different types of individual and business retirement plans, assessing contribution limits, elective deferral limitations, and prohibited transactions;
• The ability to compare and contrast qualified Roth contribution plans, SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, and 401(k) plans;
• Identify top estate planning strategies; and
• Increased understanding of current IRS administration and compliance issues.

Course Description

Combining the real-life experience of a practicing CPA with essential down-to-earth tax materials in a high-tech format, this powerful presentation will enable participants to grasp recent individual tax changes. You’ll receive the most complete and up-to-date reference manual, written by renowned tax experts.  The digital PDF manual is hyperlinked to the Internal Revenue Code, tax court decisions, and other primary authorities, making it an extremely convenient resource. Join us as our world-class tax instructors share cutting-edge tax planning strategies in a high energy, often humorous presentation style using real-life experiences, which make complicated tax topics easily understandable. Specific course topics will be announced and updated through year-end.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss business tax reform developments;
• Enumerate planning ideas for business tax reform; and
• Accurately prepare returns for business taxpayers.

Course Description

Experience America’s most comprehensive California Federal Tax Update live and in action with our renowned tax expert, Karen Brosi. By combining the real-life experience of practicing CPAs with cutting-edge tax planning strategies, Western CPE provides you with essential knowledge while reviewing IRS, Congressional, and Judicial actions over the past year. Citing the latest legislative developments while clarifying which tax reforms pertain to California tax practitioners, our intensive update will enable participants to quickly understand and implement tax reform changes for their client’s Individual and Business preparations. Each tax season brings new challenges, and tax professionals in California experience more complexity. That’s why thousands of California Tax Professionals turn to Western CPE to get an update that helps them win every day of tax season. Be prepared for California’s unique tax fights, and always have the answers for your clients. Whether you’re a new Tax CPA or an Expert Tax Advisor, you’ll receive critical updates and in-depth explanations behind the changes Congress and the IRS make. You’ll receive the most complete and up-to-date reference manual written by our renowned tax experts. In addition, the digital PDF manual is hyperlinked to the Internal Revenue Code, tax court decisions, and other primary authorities, making it extremely convenient.  California has its own unique headaches, and its financial professionals still need to deal with the full weight of all the Federal Tax danger zones. Join us as our world-class tax instructors share cutting-edge, California-specific tax planning strategies.

Learning Objectives

• Identify requirements for various tax credits applicable to individual taxpayers and characteristics of new legislation passed to assist businesses. Help your clients avoid California Tax problems with FTB and be able to explain why more businesses will owe California taxes;
• Cite general rules and regulations for preparation of individual, business returns, and breeze through California Tax Basis work for LLCs and partnerships;
• Cite current thresholds and phase-outs for key provisions for 2022; limitations for contributions, distributions, and conversions; requirements for real estate rentals for both small investors and real estate professionals; as well as benefits and drawbacks of Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs);
• Identify key rules and regulations for IRAs, Roths, and qualified retirement plans; requirements and thresholds related to foreign financial asset reporting; tax issues for online rentals, vacation rentals, and like-kind exchanges; as well as capital loss v. ordinary loss on sale of property; and
• Describe new developments in IRS policies and procedures.

Course Description

Many accountants and others desire to have a quick overview of current and emerging issues and changes in accounting and financial reporting standards – to know what should be on their radar for transition and implementation.  This course will provide a “big picture” overview of the most important elements of updates in U.S. GAAP and other hot topics in accounting and financial reporting.

Course Highlights:

• The latest FASB standard-setting activity, including significant projects on the horizon
• When and why you should implement the private company GAAP alternatives
• Answering FAQ related to ASC 842 lease accounting
• Timeline for effectives dates, to enable accountants and others to prioritize implementation and transition plans

Learning Objectives

• Recall the highlights of recent accounting standards activity
• List why new accounting standards were released, and the most significant impact on financial reporting
• Identify “hot topics” in accounting and financial reporting
• Explain current trends related to accounting alternatives related to private companies

Course Description

COST SEGREGATION (2 HRS)
In this course, we go over cost segregation studies and their many benefits, how they are performed, and the frequent questions that arise when using these reports. We also cover other additional benefits of cost segregation including bonus depreciation, catch-up depreciation, reduced recapture, and partial asset dispositions.
§179D, §45L ENERGY CREDITS (1 HR)
Our presentation covers two of the most overlooked tax savings opportunities, the §179(D) energy deduction and §45L energy credit. We touch on qualifications, strategies for implementation, recent updates, and case study examples.
T.A.G. BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY ( 1HR)
This course provides an overview of best practices to consider when approaching business personal property tax administration. Throughout the session we will review critical elements to successfully maintain compliance while identifying state-by-state opportunities to mitigate excessive property valuations and capture tax savings.
INCREASING REVENUE USING SPECIALTY TAX SERVICES ( 1HR)
This course provides details on how to successfully implement different specialty tax services to generate additional income and increase your firm’s revenue. We will go over different important documents that are necessary to understand the process and take you through relevant case studies.
MARKETING YOUR CPA FIRM ( 1HR)
Our presentation covers the importance of marketing your CPA firm correctly. It can be used to attract the attention of your ideal client and generate new leads. We will also touch on your digital footprint and how social media can be a useful tool in marketing to your clientele, as well as how rebranding/refocusing can help your firm stand apart from others.

Learning Objectives

• Discern what Cost Segregation is, and understand how personal property is determined;
• Determine the 13 principal elements of a quality study;
• Understand Depreciation including:
  • Property classifications
  • Bonus & super bonus depreciation
•  Have a knowledge of Bonus benefits like:
  • Catch-up benefit
  • 1031 exchange
  • Partial Disposition

• Review the § 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction and its opportunities;
• §45L Energy Efficient Home Credits benefits and strategies;
• Inflation Reduction Act’s changes to these tax savings opportunities;

• Understand what is required to file, appeal, and protest business personal property taxes;
• Know the opportunity available to pursue business personal property tax reduction state-by-state;
• Be aware of the business personal property tax trends that can impact overall tax liability;

• Implement cost segregation strategies and know what to look for, like:
  • 8825
  • Schedule E
  • Depreciation Schedule
• Understand why New Construction projects can build revenue;
• Identify why specialization is important;

• Identify why Marketing matters;
• Learn wow to attract your ideal client;
• Implement social media strategies in your firm to build your digital visibility and footprint; and
• Understanding when to rebrand and refocus to target your chosen demographic.

Course Description

Many accountants and others desire to have a quick overview of current and emerging issues and changes in audit and other attestation standards – to know what should be on their radar for quality management and compliance purposes.  This course will provide a “big picture” overview of the most important elements of updates in hot topics relevant to performing audits and other attestation services.

Course Highlights:

• Executive summary of the most important aspects of recently released auditing and other attest standards
• Recent ethics interpretations and other hot topics impacting the CPA profession
• Getting ready to implement the new Quality Management Standards
• Fraud and cybersecurity risk management trends

Learning Objectives

• Identify any changes in the nature of services that public accountants can provide to clients, such as recent ethics interpretations
• Recall new professional standard requirements in audit and other attestation services
• Recognize current fraud and cybersecurity risk trends
• Distinguish important matters on the horizon, such as the new quality management standards

Course Description

This course will explore some of the most essential tools for measuring financial and operational success, as well as improving results. Appendices will be provided to give students hands-on applicable materials that can be utilized after completion of the course.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of conducting strategic and operational risk analysis for all facets of business;
• SOC Scope Audits of Systems of Internal Controls;
• Determining appropriate critical risk factors;
• Determining appropriate measures of effectiveness;
• Understand and utilize an ROIC Tree;
• Calculate the External Funds Needed for a business;
• Identify key elements of lean accounting and process activity mapping; and
• Understand activity based costing in combination with lean systems.

Course Description

One of the many phenomena of our post pandemic workforce is the concept of “quiet quitting’. Quiet quitting has impacted the professional service industry in a wide variety of ways such as allowing people to fulfill their normal duties with zero desire to expand the scope of their impact. Quiet quitters may take ownership of their primary responsibilities with no desire to engage as a good corporate citizen including but not limited to staying late, showing up early or on time. These professionals are also less likely to participate in nonmandatory meetings.

This program examines the various details of these concepts and the various ways it has allowed the culture to pivot. Ed will cover 9 secrets to counterattack the behavior’s as we lead this group. It is roughly estimated to be 50-68% of the workforce that participate in this quiet quitting. We’ll identify 9 secret strategies to empower this group to be more engaged and empowered.

Learning Objectives

• Proper definition of the people who fall into this phenomena;
• Strategies to retain those who are productive;
• Strategies to attract new hires;
• How to create a culture around engaging employees; and
• How to recruit great talent to your firm.

Course Description

Our financial and economic series is designed to take key topics for financial executives and explore them in detail such that the CFO/Controller/Financial Executive can take away useful and practical recommendations dealing with the topic at hand.   The program explores the current economic trends and analyze their impact on you as the financial executive in areas professional skepticism, medical care costs, social security viability, the dollar as a world currency, the national infrastructure and the “fate of the states” as well as the AICPA’s top 10 trends and technologies.  Specific recommendations and insights will be offered to you to deal with the challenges.

Course highlights: Understanding the prophetic financial issues for the CFO/Controller to include:

• Professional skepticism and the CPA
• Becoming attuned to broad based business knowledge
• Becoming a futurist to effectively lead your organization to success

Learning Objectives

• CPA becoming attuned to broad based business knowledge, professional skepticism, and subordination of judgment;
• The future of medical care in the United States in a post COVID-19 environment;
• Future of social security and impact on retirement planning and employee retention;
• Impact on financial executive if the dollar is no longer the world currency;
• “Fate of the States” – will the location of your business make you less competitive;
• Future of interest rates;
• Impact of greater reliance on technology;
• AICPA top 10 trends and technologies;
• National infrastructure; and
• ESG and DEI trends in the global economy.