CPE Catalog & Events

Explore from the history of automation to the current landscape of large language models (LLMs) and generative tools to demystify the technology Free, accessible apps to enterprise-grade solutions and specialized accounting software tailored for tax, audit, and advisory workflows Ethical obligations and professional standards that govern AI use, including data privacy, client confidentiality, and the management of "hallucinations" or inaccuracies Through specific use cases and prompting demonstrations, understand how to use AI to draft complex communications, summarize research, optimize Excel workflows, and enhance client advisory services

Establishing a system: identifying forces that support the status quo; setting milestones and goals; the role of the CMA Necessary first steps: set a framework for the project’s activities; identify needed resources; obtain support; decide on a structure; establish a team for a specific project; identify necessary team skill sets Project evaluation: analytical tools, strategic evaluation; sources of risk Maintaining focus: monitoring and measuring results; keeping to the project’s scope Avoiding frequent traps: sunk costs; financing pitfalls; project creep; tunnel vision; failure to integrate the team’s work internally and/or the final project with the remaining organization Introduction and examples of analytical tools throughout the session: mapping; CPM; Gantt charts; benchmarking; Pareto analysis; PESTLE analysis; valuation techniques; post-completion evaluations

Legislative and regulatory changes in estate and gift taxation Wealth transfer strategies under the new administration Charitable deduction planning and compliance requirements Advanced estate planning tools, including split-interest trusts Using closely held stock for charitable contributions Generation-skipping transfer tax planning Strategic use of life insurance in estate planning

SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018 SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions  SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation and review engagements Reporting and disclosure illustrations for each level of service, including attesting on personal financial statements, prescribed form, special purpose framework and other engagement variations Other communication requirements, such as sample engagement letters and management representation letters

A case study approach to financial statement fraud Cases on misrepresentation of assets, including cash, inventory, accounts receivable, fixed assets, goodwill and reserves Common methods of deceiving users of financial statements Red-flags in fraud

SAS 136 audit requirements for ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audits Update of the changes affecting 401k plans Compliance issues commonly encountered in 401k plan audits Best practices for engagement planning, internal controls, risk assessment, and detailed testing Common audit reporting and disclosure issues

Divorce and ongoing payment issues dealing with alimony and child support Documents protecting a client going forward, including pre-nuptials, cohabitation agreements, post-nuptials and many others Advanced income tax issues, including like-kind exchanges, filing status issues, credits and asset sales Advanced retirement issues, including dissecting qualified, personal retirement, and nonqualified plans, QDROs, past and defunct plans, and using retirement assets to equalize assets High-level valuation issues, including closely held business, stock redemptions, partnership redemptions and stock options

Know why successful companies focus their strategy Translate strategic initiatives into accomplishments

Definition of data analytics and big data; challenges and goals; establishing an environment for success; governance; common uses of analytics and current examples Behavioral forces that impact decisions; examples of inaccurate forecasts; identifying strategic measurements (KPIs); data sources Statistical tools, including median, mode, moving average, ratio analysis, Pareto analysis, trend analysis, regression, z-score, and simulation Software tools that are readily available and can assist in visually exploring data, expanding the scope of available data, as well as collecting, analyzing, and presenting results Specific ideas for using data analytics for accountants and financial managers, including current examples and areas for further consideration Lists of readings and next-level software for a participant’s future reference

Form W-4 Form I-9 Form W-9 End-of-year compliance Payroll tax returns Unemployment insurance

The $6,000 senior deduction The QBI deduction Changes in the estate tax Wagering losses The SALT cap Tips, overtime, and car loan interest 1099 changes Trump Accounts Investments in students and education Bonus and Section 179 changes, including depreciation for qualified production property Full expensing of domestic research and experimental expenditures Changes in the deduction of business interest and business losses Renewal of Opportunity Zones Individual and corporate charitable contribution changes Expansion of Section 1202 stock Termination of credits for environmentally clean autos and expenditures Many other individual and business income tax changes contained in the OBBBA

The key requirements, options, and best practices seen in each of the basic financial statements Today’s core accounting and reporting requirements related to contributions and how to apply them effectively and efficiently How to analyze and incorporate the needs of financial statement users into a not-for-profit’s financial statements and disclosures

Each week’s topics will change based on the most critical issues affecting financial professionals

Neurodiversity

Agent use in transfer pricing, tax compliance automation, and M&A due diligence Examples of agent deployment in global accounting firms Regulatory frameworks Governance and controls for autonomous tax tools Strategic advisory with agent-based scenario planning

Coaching Effective Communication Problem Solving Use of AI as a coaching tool

The federal transfer tax exemption  What constitutes a valid will Common trust vehicles often used to safeguard assets Consequences of intestacy How to transfer property outside of a will Legal treatment of marital property Transfer of IRAs and retirement plans Probate generally and probate for property held outside of the state of decedent’s residence When an estate tax return should be filed Portability of the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE) amount

An overview of the beginning of the process and documents for preliminary tax planning Recognizing the need for due diligence in acquisitions, including checklists of important points Deemed asset sales – §338 and §338(h)(10) The impact of the §197 amortizable intangibles regulations on the acquisition and disposition of a business Allocating purchase price for tax advantage Planning to avoid double taxation under the repeal of the General Utilities doctrine Special problems and opportunities when an S corporation is the buyer or seller Installment sale and interest issues Avoiding tax pitfalls and recognizing tax planning opportunities Unique issues in buying and selling LLC/partnership interests Impact of the net investment income tax (NIIT) and the §199A pass-through deduction on the tax due on the sale of a pass-through entity Individually owned goodwill

New bonus depreciation and §179 changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Resolved technical glitches for qualified improvement property Detailed coverage of §179 expense elections and §168(k) bonus or additional first-year depreciation – maximizing deductions, definitions, limitations, and qualified property Sales of property and the depreciation recapture rules (§1245, §1250, unrecaptured §1250 gain for real estate, §291 for corporations) MACRS depreciation – finding the proper method, convention, and recovery period Listed property and the current limitations Amortization of startup, organization, and other expenditures AMT depreciation adjustments and how to avoid them Examples, cases, and rulings of depreciation and amortization issues and how they impact clients, along with useful planning opportunities

Comprehensive coverage of the One Big Beautiful Tax Bill Act Reading a tax return for developing client-specific tax strategies Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption considering proposed regulations  The net investment income tax: planning for compliance Family income-splitting strategies that need to be considered Income tax issues: impact on timing of other income Selling a principal residence Two principal residences at the same time Use of life insurance to protect families: Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, and Variable Life Insurance Using Roth IRAs and Roth contribution programs to best advantage Conversions: do they still make sense? Taking distributions: matching timing to client requirements Qualified plan contributions to reduce current income and Social Security tax: implications for business owners and self-employed Social Security - the latest on the looming solvency crisis Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan considerations What to do about itemized deductions Trans-generational planning: conversions, income, and gain-splitting Tax benefits of HSAs and other tax-advantaged accounts Identifying tax opportunities: reviewing the prior-year return to develop a plan for the future Planning for middle-income taxpayers: financial planning for the young, the working, and those approaching or in retirement Best financial planning ideas for young people