CPE Catalog & Events

Factors business owners should take into account when choosing a retirement plan SIMPLE plans Simplified employee pension plans 401(k) plans Defined benefit plans Ensuring eligible employees are covered Employees’ impact on choice of plan Ongoing compliance requirements Establishing a plan after the tax year end Changes to safe harbor 401(k) plans Pooled employer plans

Why forecasts and budgets are frequently wrong: behavioral finance; improper goal setting, games, continuing the status quo, traditional budgeting techniques Incorporating strategy into budgets: improving measurement systems; common errors, developing strategies and appropriate measurements Expanding the budgeting framework: rolling forecasts; mission-based budgeting, zero-based budgeting, post-completion evaluations, contingency planning, black swan events, identifying improvements Big data: definition, challenges, goals, current uses/examples, sources of information Analytical tools: ration analysis, benchmarking, Pareto analysis, trend analysis, regression, simulation, dashboards

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Review the history of ChatGPTTour of the ChatGPT app and how to use itSetting up a ChatGPT account (free & premium)Variety of hands-on case study examples for accounting, finance and taxA look under the hood at how ChatGPT worksCaution - how to avoid risks in using ChatGPTA look into the future potential for AI in business

The key requirements and audit areas that peer reviewers hone in on when reviewing Yellow Book and single audit engagements Avoiding common pitfalls seen in Yellow Book and single audits How to improve your performance on Yellow Book and single audits while staying in good graces with your peer reviewer

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:New accounting standards.The impact on Financial Reporting.Hot topics in financial reporting.Current and emerging US GAAP requirements.

Why the IRS selects a tax return for audit What happens when the taxpayer disagrees with the results of the audit IRS employees who interact with taxpayers during an audit FATCA audits Types of IRS examinations Potential IRS audit outcomes Substitute for returns Large Partnership Compliance Program IRS’s shift in audit strategies Responding to IRS Notices online Audits of high income and high net-worth individuals The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) and its impact on auditing partnerships IRS Letters of Concern

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Review of the new AICPA Statement on Standards for Tax ServicesReorganization of SSTS by type of work performedDiscuss new standards on data protection, reliance on tools and representation of tax clients before taxing authorities

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 Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation, and review engagements

What is ransomware? The growing threat of ransomware — statistics Remote working and COVID-19 Ransomware infection process Incident response protocol Business considerations Legal considerations Breach notification obligations Steps to protect against malware Tabletop exercise

Technology and workstation arrangements Maximizing productivity Establishing procedures that can be implemented throughout the organization Understanding the relationship between remote work and employee retention Effective communication strategies for staying connected with colleagues and clients The productivity challenges unique to working from home Time management The importance of distinguishing between the “home office” and “home” Data privacy concerns Other ethical considerations that arise when working from home

Major topics covered in this course include:Introduction to ChatGPT and artificial intelligence chatbot technologiesAutomating frequently asked questions and the onboarding processVerifying and reviewing financial recordsProviding real-time support to clientsGenerating financial reportsAutomating tax return preparation and financial planningProviding guidance on financial decision making

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction: "Bumper Sticker Ethics" Thinking About Ethics:  Digging a Little DeeperCompare: Principles of Professional Ethics in AccountingCase Study: Frank v. Dana Corp.Conclusion: The Conceptual Framework as an Ethics Resource

How to report funeral and administrative expenses on Schedule J and/or L How to report debts, mortgages and liens on Schedule K Marital deduction and elections, QTIP, Reverse QTIP, QDOT, over-stated marital deductions Charitable deduction Schedule O and potential problems

FASB ASU with effective dates of 2024 and later SAS 149 Recent ethics interpretations

Study real-life misappropriations involving federal awards and how they were carried out The backgrounds, motivations and methodologies of the fraudsters Brainstorm where things went wrong that allowed the frauds to occur without prevention or detection

Income for seniors: retirement, earnings and investments Tax Deductions: planning, bunching, strategies Planning to help family members

New law provisions and guidance and tax form changes affecting business entities, tax-exempts and estates and trusts with emphasis on details of relevant energy and research credits, loss limitation and any federal law changes in 2025 Key cases and IRS and FTB guidance affecting partnerships, LLCs, C corporations, and S corporations Employment taxes and worker classification matters Accounting method developments Tax credits updates Federal and California The state of California and multistate significant developments, including nexus and sourcing Expired and expiring provisions Inflation-adjusted amounts for 2026

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?

Classifying receipts between “income” and “corpus” under the Uniform Principal and Income Act Calculation of DNI utilizing three different methods, a “forms” method (Schedule B), a “code” method, and a “shortcut” method, utilizing a worksheet of common income and expenses Proper W-2 preparation and procedures in the year of death Taxpayer passes before taking a required minimum distribution; what must be done?  Forgetful fiduciaries of simple trusts Fluctuating trusts – Simple one year, complex the next Dividing income in the year of death Overview of Subchapter J Form preparation issues – Filing requirements and line-by-line explanations of Form 1041 Taxable income of estates and trusts and expense allocation issues Specific deductions and miscellaneous itemized deductions Income in respect of a decedent The income distribution deduction calculation Relation of principal and income law to DNI Understanding how to handle capital gains and losses Allocating tax items to beneficiaries: another K-1 Other considerations: excess deductions on termination Comprehensive DNI case study, with principal (cost and FMV) and income reconciliation Comprehensive trust and estate case studies, with filled-in forms

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