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.

Highlights of key updates include:

• Latest individual federal tax reform developments
• New proposed/enacted tax legislation
• Tax savings strategies
• SECURE Act guidance and SECURE 2.0
• Advanced Child Tax Credit and IRS Letter 6419
• Virtual currency overview
• IRS administration and compliance
• Relevant tax cases and rulings

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will accomplish:

• 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.
• Increased understanding of current IRS administration and compliance issues.
• Exposure to relevant 2022 tax cases and rulings.

Course Description

Technology continues to evolve and amaze! In fact, but for technology, where would our businesses be today? It’s truly amazing to see how companies quickly embraced many forms of technology in response to the pandemic. That pace of change is likely to accelerate as newer technologies become mainstream. Tools such as robotic process automation, data analytics, collaboration tools, and artificial intelligence will affect virtually every organization over the coming five years, working alongside today’s mainstream technologies. Participate in this session so you are prepared to embrace and prosper in an ever-evolving technological world.

Highlights include:
• Developments in hardware and software
• Significant developments in emerging technologies and why many of these technologies are essential now
• Critical cybersecurity issues and potential solutions
• Determining if subscription-based software models are right for your team
• The impact of 5G technologies on virtually all aspects of communications

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Identify significant technology issues that affect accounting and financial professionals • List at least three security practices that should be in place in every organization • Evaluate software subscription models to determine if they are ideal for your team • Differentiate between various communication and collaboration platforms, such as Teams and Zoom • Estimate the impact of emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, and data analytics on businesses • Recognize technologies that will be key in a post-pandemic environment

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.

Highlights include:

• Latest federal tax reform developments
• New proposed/enacted tax legislation
• Tax savings strategies
• Cannabis Sales Taxed
• Business Interest Deductions Limited
• Business (Restaurant) Meals 100% Deducible
• Depreciation Changes and Luxury Auto Depreciation Updated
• QBI Deduction Stays the Same
• Avoid Obamacare Form 226-J Penalties

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Convey details of updated IRS changes
• Recognize opportunities to use business credits.
• Summarize the different types of business retirement plans, assessing contribution limits, elective deferral limitations, and prohibited transactions.
• Compare qualified Roth contribution plans, SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, and 401(k) plans, identifying the rules on loans to participants and hardship distribution rules to ensure compliance with tax regulations.
• Discuss income subject to self-employment tax and withholding from wages, and assess the impact of various withholding and wages issues.
• Determine the difference between an independent contractor and an employee and examine subsequent reporting requirements.
• Prepare federal tax returns for C corporations.
• Prepare federal tax returns for S corporations.
• Understand federal changes and new rulings.
• Provide tax services for clients based on IRS practice and procedure provisions.
• Describe new developments in IRS policies and procedures.
• Identify the requirements of filing an offer in compromise (OIC).

 

Course Description

It is safe to say that you use Excel to some degree, but do you and your team use it as efficiently and effectively as you could? Are you taking advantage of newer features such as Data Models, Dynamic Arrays, and the ability to collaborate in real-time with other Excel users? Do you use IDEAS, the IFS function, or the XLOOKUP function? Is Power Query part of your daily routine? Can you use Flash Fill to manipulate data?

In this session, you will learn about each of the above features, plus many others, to boost your productivity and accuracy when working with Excel. This session is a “must-see CPE” session for every accounting and financial professional who desires to use Excel better.

Highlights include:
• New features available in Excel that accounting and financial professionals should use
• How to work with larger volumes of data in Excel
• Improving efficiency through Excel’s collaboration tools
• How to link various sources of external data into Excel for reporting and analysis
• Create user-defined functions in Excel.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Identify the importance of Power Query in everyday situations. • Utilize Flash Fill to manipulate data without resorting to formulas. • List examples of when you should use Excel’s multi-condition functions. • Define “array” and identify situations when Dynamic Arrays can improve productivity. • Specify at least two ways you can Data Models and their impact on reporting processes.

Course Description

Module 1: A Deep Dive into all things SSARS covering Compilations, Preparation Services and Review Engagements.

This 4-hour module will cover:

• SSARS 21-25
• The requirements, procedures, reports, letters for all 3 engagements
• Best practices in documentation of all 3 engagements
• Quality Control and Peer Review Considerations
• Efficiency and Effectiveness Tips for all 3 engagements

Module 2: Accounting & Analytics – The Changing Paradigm.

This 2-hour module will cover:

• Changing the approach of the Accountant from a Number-Cruncher to being an Number-Analyzer
• How to design an effective analytics environment for clients and companies
• Analyzing the pros/cons of Big Data, IOT, Block Chain and its impact on analytics today
• Utilizing practical and manageable tips for usage of existing data to better manage businesses, small or large

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and apply the latest audit standards.
• Cite and apply the latest compilation, preparation, and review standards.
• Apply the provisions for firm quality management
• Identify peer review problem areas.
• Discuss the changing paradigm of accounting and analytics for CPAs today
• Cite and apply better practice skills

Course Description

Fraud continues to plague businesses at epidemic levels, and internal control weaknesses and failures contribute to fraud’s large presence in organizations today. In this session, you will learn about the pervasiveness of fraud, the control failures that contribute to fraud, and what you can do to mitigate fraud risk. Using a case study approach, you will learn using real-world examples of recent scams and identify the control weaknesses and failures that contributed to each crime.

The design and application of information technology general controls (ITGCs) and information technology application controls (ITACs) is a specific focus of this session. With strong IT controls in place, your business can reduce the risk of fraud substantially. Further, you can use IT-based controls to help overcome other control issues that your organization might face.

Participate in this session to learn how you can reduce the risk of fraud in your organization – the survival of the business might depend on it!

Highlights include:
• Detailed examination of many of the widely reported frauds of the past decade
• Examples of control failures and weaknesses that lead to fraud
• Identify critical information technology general controls and application controls that should be in place to deter and prevent fraud

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Recognize control failures and weaknesses that can lead to fraud. • Define information technology general controls and information technology application controls and distinguish between the two. • Identify examples of critical internal controls, including information technology controls. • List recommendations for improving internal controls in an organization.

Course Description

Module 3: A Nuts-and-Bolts overview of Audit Fundamentals.

This 2-hour module will cover:

• The Audit Lifecycle overview including risk assessment procedures, risk assessment fundamentals, tests of controls, analytics and tests of details
• The requirements, procedures, report and letters for audits
• Best practices in audit workpaper documentation
• Timely and practical advice for small business audits in everyday language

Module 4: Catch the Deception if you Can!

Prevention & Detection of Fraudulent Financial Reporting and Misappropriation of Assets with a fun and easy approach.

This 4-hour module will cover:

• Identifying the nature and characteristics of fraud
• Distinguishing the differences between fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets
• Investigating why fraud occurs and who commits it
• Listing the professional roles and responsibilities related to fraud detection
• Applying common procedures performed to facilitate fraud detection

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and apply the latest audit standards.
• Cite and apply the latest compilation, preparation, and review standards.
• Apply the provisions for firm quality management
• Identify peer review problem areas.
• Discuss the changing paradigm of accounting and analytics for CPAs today
• Cite and apply better practice skills

Course Description

Join us as we address the important and hot topics for tax and estate planning in 2022. This course will cover the latest in the legislation, court decisions, and IRS rulings that emerge in late 2021 and in 2022. Will the new administration succeed in changing how planning should be done? What opportunities exist to guard against higher tax rates in the future? Can new laws b made retroactively effective? Also, we’ll have an in-depth discussion of the key planning issues that most clients must consider as they look forward to their future. We will explore in greater depth areas of income tax planning and the ideal entity choice, as well as highlighting estate planning concerns.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Gain a practical and useful understanding of current hot issues announced by the legislature, the courts, and the IRS • Become familiar with income tax, entity choice, and estate planning strategies to benefit clients • Address planning, both in the near and long-term, to get ahead of the curve in dealing with both changes in laws and how to advise clients to proceed.

Course Description

CPA in Practice the Art of Mindfulness main focus is Mindfulness as a Key Tool of efficiency & effectiveness for CPAs and CPA Firms. This class will focus on bringing mindfulness in a ‘rubber meets the road’ approach with full integration with firm and client management, best practices in improving realization, utilization, quality control, documentation & more.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Define Mindfulness and its application in daily life • Describe the current state of CPA (Constant.Pressured.Anxious) • Apply ‘The Compass of Mindfulness”™ to projects on hand • Practice the 8-minute CPA Mindfulness Practice™ (Construct.Practice.Awaken) - our internal algorithm • Describe the Honesty of Mono-Tasking and the Science of Neurology • Application of Mindfulness to daily tasks • Plan a roadmap to the new state of CPA (Conscious.Present.Aware.)

Course Description

The topics of Retirement, Eldercare and Post-Mortem Planning present a constantly changing set of rules, tax thresholds and concerns about future legislation. This course will address the many planning challenges and opportunities from the perspective of tax, estate, and public benefit planning that confront individuals as they reach their senior years. This course discusses the issues of concern for an aging population. The need for a well-considered estate plan is addressed, along with some of the post-mortem planning decisions that must be considered. We examine the complexity of the social security system, particularly as it involves the various choices and planning strategies one has in taking the available benefits. The government entitlement program of Medicare is reviewed, particularly with an analysis of what is and is not covered, and how planning may increase one’s chances of securing the benefits of this program. Retirement planning issues are explored, particularly on the distribution planning changes required by the Secure Act, the impact of new life expectancy assumptions and the financial considerations of what must be saved for retirement.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: • Evaluate a number of estate planning alternatives that address a variety of personal and financial circumstances and recommend the best plan for their clients • Explain the tax consequences of an estate plan, taking into account the exemptions provided by law and the choices that can be made to minimize the tax consequences of death • Analyze estate planning issues for estates of varying sizes • Appreciate the complexities of the social security system and gain an understanding of planning techniques for maximizing the timing and enjoyment of benefits • Address what the Medicare system does and does not cover, when to apply for benefits to avoid penalties, and how planning can make a difference in what individuals may receive • Understand the impact of the Secure Act on retirement plan distribution decisions and how to avoid the traps • Advise clients as to what must be done with their retirement plans upon attaining age 72 as well as the best ways to minimize tax consequences when leaving retirement plan benefits to their heirs