CPE Catalog & Events

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs., including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers who are active participants in qualified retirement plans Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits, as well as tax-free qualified distributions Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 « and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments) The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner's death Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules

Legislative developments A full chapter devoted to determining the best planning options for maximizing joint Social Security benefits Retirement benefits: Amount of benefits in various circumstances; how the amounts are distributed within the family unit Qualification: Has the client retired? How business entities may be used for Social Security advantage Income taxation of Social Security: avoidance tactics Spousal benefits: Should a spouse return to work? What benefits does a spouse have and when and how do they relate to benefits decisions by the client? When can hiring the spouse increase overall benefits?  Why should both spouses qualify for survivor benefits? Disability benefits When to start Social Security benefits: Advantages and disadvantages at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70 Coordinating benefits: Should you take Social Security first and higher-balance IRA distributions later, or take IRA balances first and enhanced Social Security benefits later? Pensions: Distribution strategies; how to use the minimum distribution rules in concert with Social Security benefits IRAs: Is it time to convert to a Roth? Medicare, Part D prescription drugs: what retirees need to know

Employment at will — what this means in a practical sense Implied employment contracts What a prospective employer can ask about, and test for, during employment interviews Federal anti-discrimination rules applicable to hiring and firing How to discipline or fire an employee and not get sued FMLA/ADA/PWFA — Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act Constructive discharge — what is it and how it affects your business?

Understanding the time commitment required to start and run a business Selecting a corporate structure to protect your personal assets Building your product or service Sales and marketing in your business Establishing your owners, investors, managers, and employees Accounting, recording-keeping, and other software programs Leases, contracts, and employee agreements Protecting intellectual property Insurance Business plans Financing Market position

Active and passive investing Dividend-paying stocks, value stocks and the net investment income tax Favorable capital gain strategies and the netting process Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stock options and straddles

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs., including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers who are active participants in qualified retirement plans Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits, as well as tax-free qualified distributions Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 « and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments) The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner's death Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules

Final Rule - Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the FLSA: the multifactor “economic reality” test; What analysis guides whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under this final rule? Can a worker voluntarily waive employee status and choose to be classified as an independent contractor? Are any of the economic reality factors adopted in this rule more important than others when evaluating a worker’s employment status? How does the final rule explain “extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the employer’s business?” The Federal Trade Commission’s Decision on Non-compete Agreements: impact on new and existing non-competes; treatment and definitional terms for senior executives; definition of a non-compete clause; definition of a “worker” New Overtime Rules: exemptions from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees; increases in the standard level and the highly compensated employee total annual compensation threshold; new mechanism allowing for the timely and efficient updating of the salary and compensation thresholds

Nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) Nonqualified stock options (NQSOs) Incentive stock options (ISOs) Restricted stock/restricted stock units (RSUs) Stock appreciation rights (SARs) and phantom stock Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) Applicable tax forms and schedules Stock sale reporting Estimated taxes Filing deadlines and extensions State taxation

Key concepts of trusts, including recent trends; best practices; jurisdiction; and ways to avoid pitfalls Decanting Federal estate tax exemption and remaining relevance of trusts Irrevocable life insurance trusts The role of family dynamics Choice of trustee and other fiduciaries State trust-friendly considerations Charitable trusts Delaware Statutory Trusts Powers of attorney  Pet Trusts – the emerging necessities State, county, and local issues Portability QTIP issues Creditor considerations Potential IRA problems Problems with re-titling assets

The impact of recent tax legislation on the real estate industry Depreciation and recapture Determining the basis when acquiring real estate Passive activity losses Calculation of gain or loss on sale of real estate Rental operations Installment sales

Commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding Protections provided to debtors under the Bankruptcy Code Key procedural aspects of bankruptcy The automatic stay Differences between Chapters 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases The bankruptcy discharge Proofs of claim Plans of reorganization Litigation that can arise during bankruptcy Creditor committees Bankruptcy trustees Avoidable preferences and fraudulent transfers Special rights afforded to landlords and secured creditors

Resolved technical glitches for qualified improvement property Detailed coverage of §179 expense elections and §168(k) bonus or additional first-year depreciation – how to maximize them, definitions, limitations, qualified property, etc. Sale 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 start-up, 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

Regulatory, fiscal, and monetary policies impact on the organization Dodd-Frank Bill and impact on financial reform Health insurance reform and the impact on the employer Managing risk in an uncertain economic climate

Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including: The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, Residential Clean Energy Credit, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act, including: Expanding Enrollment in Retirement Plans, Increase in Age for Required Beginning Date for Mandatory Distributions, New Exceptions to Penalty-Free Withdrawal from Retirement Plans, and recent IRS guidance Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Form 1099-K reporting requirements Detailed analysis and examples of Sale of Passthrough Entity Interest and Net Investment Income Tax The Gig Economy -- Tax implications, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification, and the DOL Final Rule FinCEN reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act  Employee Retention Tax Credit updates Practice aids, including all the numbers applicable for the current year -- inflation-adjusted amounts, mileage rates, retirement contributions, and more Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

Communicating financial results The role of the accountant in communication The challenges accountants face in communication Creating better awareness of a company’s financials Behavioral biases of stakeholders Tips for staying on-point in communication Case study

Understanding who millennials are and what distinguishes them from other sectors of the workforce Changes millennials seek in the workplace Suggestions on engaging and developing millennials Best practices by organizations who have successfully integrated millennials Expectations as to learning, development and training Work environments and schedules School to work transitions Views on salary, benefits and corporate ethics Whether millennials’ expectations are significantly different from any other generation Strengths millennials offer which set them apart from others Common myths pertaining to millennials Definitions of success

The Differences between a Simple and Complex Trust The Use of the Tier System with Complex Trusts Review of Basic Requirements of the Charitable Contribution Deduction under IRC Sec. 642(c) Preparation of a Tax Spreadsheet for a Complex Trust Preparation of a Tax Spreadsheet for a Complex Trust with a Charitable Contribution Deduction Complex Problem Form 1041 Examples with Spreadsheets and Exhibits

Active versus passive investing Taxable, tax-exempt, and deferred-tax bonds and the net investment income tax The tax treatment of bonds purchased at a discount or premium Bond swap and U.S. Savings Bond strategies

Learn how to qualify and to make the S corporation election Determine how to calculate initial and annual stock and debt basis amounts and the three reasons why they are maintained Understand the four loss limitation rules applied on the shareholder's individual income tax return (i.e., basis, at-risk, passive and excess business loss limitations) Understand the proper tax treatment and reporting of a distribution from the S corporation to a shareholder Determine how to calculate AAA and OAA account for an S corporation as well as the 3 potential taxes Determine the impact of health insurance, the net investment income tax, qualified business income tax deduction and unreasonable compensation issues on the reporting function of the S corporation

Review the Passive Activity Rules under IRC Sec. 469 as they apply to fiduciary entities The 65-day Rule and Election Under IRC Sec. 663(b) Special Rules for Specific Bequests under IRC Sec. 663(a) Alternative Minimum Tax for Trusts & Estates AMT Bracket Rates and Exemption for Fiduciary Entities Alternative Minimum Tax Spreadsheet Approach Using AMT Problem Example with Passive Activity Loss (PAL)