CPE Catalog & Events

Becoming qualified as an expert witness Best practices for testifying at trial Understanding the different roles accountants can play in litigation Working with attorneys to prepare and present a case at trial The role of experts in commercial versus personal injury litigation Confidentiality orders Compensation for expert witnesses Preparing for and attending depositions Daubert challenges to experts Expert reports The role of experts in antitrust, securities litigation, and professional liability cases Credibility as a witness

Review of the different aspects of forensic accounting The civil litigation process as it relates to forensic accounting Litigation services provided by forensic accountants Fraud detection and prevention Various types of fraud Training and certifications in forensic accounting Forensic accounting in bankruptcy proceedings Forensic accounting in family law proceedings Calculating damages for use in litigation Valuations Ethical issues pertinent to forensic accounting

Review of the current legal and regulatory framework surrounding non-compete agreements Enforcement of non-compete agreements from the employer’s perspective Opposing enforcement of non-compete agreements from the employee’s perspective Understanding reasonable geographic scope and time limitations for non-compete agreements Understanding key issues that arise during enforcement and opposition to enforcement of non-compete agreements

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 effectively and efficiently apply them How to analyze and incorporate the needs of financial statement users into a not-for-profit’s financial statements and disclosures

Quality management standards SAS 146, SSARS No. 26, and SSAE 23 Risk assessment, which forms the basis of the SQM Monitoring and evaluating the SQM

Disclosure - Overview Disclosure - Expense Disaggregation Implementation Guidance

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

Accounting for simple business entities Income tax, modified cash basis and other alternatives to GAAP Avoiding the pitfalls and costs of GAAP reporting and disclosure requirements Documenting accounting decisions to minimize potential liability

Tax code hierarchy Organization of an Internal Revenue Code section Special rules for IRC citation  Citing other primary authority Private letter rulings  Primary vs. secondary authority  Secondary sources of authority Steps in the tax research process Research memoranda

Learn the power of flexibility and adaptability Manage daily changes and stressors Avoid burnout and achieve work-life balance

Self-awareness Self-regulation & motivation Empathy Managing relationships

Discuss how productivity strategies may improve work-life balance Understand the state tax consequences that may arise when working from home Identify and discuss challenges unique to financial professionals Review how some organizations are providing support to improve work-life balance Explore the role of alternative work arrangements  Examine challenges unique to auditors versus tax professionals A comparison of work-life balance between public and industry accountants How work-family conflict varies among financial professionals Recommendations for improving work-life balance

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

Hiring and firing issues – What questions cannot be asked in an interview; how to document employee performance; establishing an annual review system; when an employer may and may not fire an employee, and much more Employment contracts – An analysis of the legal and planning issues in structuring employment contracts; when noncompetition agreements will and will not work Employment issues in the economy – Telecommuters and other special situations Legal liability issues – Recognition of age discrimination, sex discrimination, FLSA issues, minimum wage, overtime, sexual harassment, and more Fringe benefit issues – COBRA, Family and Medical Leave Act, and new developments in health care Medical plans – Who is a full-time employee?

Key tools used by businesses and financial professionals across the globe to measure performance Detailed, real-world examples of businesses utilizing these tools

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

Review of applicable SSARS standards, including standards updates Review of AICPA professional ethics requirements In-depth discussion of non-attest services Review of independence issues for SSARS services Overview of SSARS #21 performance, documentation and other requirements Detailed analysis of preparation vs. compilation engagements Detailed analysis of review engagements

Funding options for Roth accounts 529 plans to Roth IRAs Backdoor Roth strategies The new Roth SEP and Roth SIMPLE IRAs Roth 401(k) contribution rules The tax impact of rolling a 401(k) to a Roth IRA Who can start the Roth IRA 5-year clock? The 5-year rules for Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs Direct and indirect Roth conversions Direct and indirect rollovers from Roth 401(k) plans The risky recapture of the 10% penalty How the ordering rules work and when they apply FIFO rules for Roth IRAs Case studies and cheat sheets to reinforce concepts

Discussion of the importance of financial education for the next generation Understanding a client’s financial values Determining a client’s financial literacy Helping clients develop a teaching roadmap Using knowledge to protect against entitlement Developing a knowledge base for the information, including a full list of recommended books on the topic and games for families to play Discussion of specific topics, including tips and tricks related to: Allowances Earning, work, and entrepreneurship Spending, saving, and investing Philanthropy Taxes Credit cards, crypto, and financial fraud

How to calculate a partner or S corporation shareholder’s basis Form 7203 and an S corporation shareholder’s basis The at risk basis rules and Form 6198 The passive activity loss limits The Section 461(l) loss rule The net operating loss limitation rules The Section 163(j) business interest limitation