Professional Development and Event Catalog

Many of us expect to use logic when it comes to how we allocate our investments. The adage of "buy low, sell high" is a saying that makes logical sense. So, why do we always seem to do the opposite? Every day we are faced with decisions, and we are often influenced by two seemingly opposing voices that come from two different parts of our brain. The frontal cortex processes lots of information to help us make logical and informed choices. But there's also a small part of the brain, known as the reflexive brain, that is responsible for emotions and survival instincts. Often, this reflexive brain can have a detrimental effect on the way we handle our investments. This course will discuss some behavioral biases that affect our financial decisions. As humans, we need to be aware of how our reflexive behavior impacts our investment decision-making ability. By uncovering and understanding these biases, we may have a better chance of meeting our long-term financial goals.

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How debt is allocated to the partners in a partnership is important. It dictates how much money may be taken tax-free as a distribution, the losses that flow down to the partners, and the gain or loss on the sale of a partnership interest. However, the allocation of debt can differ depending on the type of debt it is and the type of partner we are talking about. Furthermore, 704(c) can complicate things. And what in the world is a constructive liquidation scenario? In this course, we will tackle the concept of debt allocations - how you do it, what it means, and why you do it.

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This comprehensive annual update brings together key accounting and auditing developments affecting accountants and auditors across industries. The course combines recent standard-setting activity issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board with major audit and attestation updates from the AICPA, providing a well-rounded view of changes impacting financial reporting and engagement performance. Participants will begin with an overview of recently issued and upcoming Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs), including standards effective for December 31, 2026 year-ends for public companies, private entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The course also highlights issued ASUs with future effective dates and provides high-level insight into recent exposure drafts to support implementation planning. The course then shifts to auditing and attestation developments, including the next phase of quality management with a focus on monitoring and remediation requirements. Participants will also review recent and proposed standards affecting audit, attestation, and consulting engagements, including SSAE No. 24, SSARS No. 26, exposure drafts related to confirmations and fraud, and SAS No. 149 addressing group audits. Designed for preparers, auditors, and firm professionals, this course helps participants understand how recent accounting and auditing changes intersect-and what to watch for as standards and expectations continue to evolve. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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This comprehensive session is a must-attend event for accountants who prepare financial statements and want to explore best practices for discerning the stories told by financial statements. We discuss salient requirements for presenting financial information while considering the critical role of disclosure for lending relevance to financial statements. We also explore techniques that will allow participants to perform meaningful financial statement analysis and effectively communicate conclusions to decision-makers and other stakeholders. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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Part one of a five-course series, address common issues new staff members face. Focus on strategies to improve efficiency and quality control, build technical skills, and make valuable contributions to a company. Dive into the fundamentals: workpaper techniques, analytical procedures, compilation and review services, tax recognition and research techniques, understanding audit objectives, and auditing and reviewing selected accounts. Per NASBA's rules effective January 1, 2024, participants are required to be on camera and participate in the full and small group discussions to earn CPE credits for this Group Live - Virtual course. As such, please make sure you are set up properly with reliable internet (hard wired is best), a working camera, and a working microphone.

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You may be surprised to learn how artificial intelligence is transforming the music you love. For example, what happens when AI creates songs based on other people's work without credit or payment? How should musicians disclose the role of AI in their recordings? The challenges that AI poses for music, such as threats to intellectual property, confidentiality, fairness, and professional reputations, are also front and center in accounting. This one-hour ethics course invites you to explore one of your favorite subjects outside of work. You'll discover how the five principles of ethical intelligence can help you listen to music in ways you never considered before. You'll also see how these same principles guide you in making the best decisions in your accounting practice. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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If there is a potential error, the IRS will assess a tax and add a hefty penalty, without even knowing the facts. As a tax professional, you will be exposed to the IRS and their methods of penalizing taxpayers for the smallest of violations. This presentation will focus on the rules and regulations that create the penalty, and the reasons that exist that the IRS will consider to remove those penalties. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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This comprehensive course empowers professionals to revolutionize their organization's communication and collaboration strategies using Microsoft 365's powerhouse tools: Outlook and Teams. Participants will dive deep into the major features and functions of Microsoft Teams, including chat, meetings, webinars, and seamless integration with SharePoint for storage and real-time collaboration. They'll discover how to leverage Teams effectively for in-office, hybrid, and remote work environments, maximizing productivity and streamlining communication across their organization. Beyond Teams, the course delves into Outlook's advanced capabilities, offering practical tips and tricks to enhance email management, calendar organization, and contact sharing. Attendees will also explore other essential Microsoft 365 applications, such as SharePoint, Planner, To Do, Whiteboard, and OneDrive, to create a unified and efficient digital workspace. These tools will help professionals organize tasks, visualize ideas, and securely store and share files. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the skills to transform their organization's collaboration efforts, boost productivity, and harness the full potential of Microsoft 365's communication and productivity tools.

The IRS has issued final regulations regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's (TCJA) elimination of the deduction for expenditures related to entertainment, amusement, or recreational activities and provided guidance to determine whether an activity is considered to be entertainment. The final regulations also address the 50% limitation on the deduction of food and beverage expenses and when the 50% limitation does not apply. To effectively advise clients, it is imperative for tax practitioners to understand these rules and be updated on the latest IRS guidance related to meals and entertainment.

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When a new employee is hired, there are a lot of things the employer needs to take care of. Aside from getting employment contracts signed, training lined up, and the new hire breakfast planned, employers are tasked with making sure all of the payroll forms are filled out. For many small business owners, this can be a source of anxiety. They often wonder if they have everything they need. They also hear horror stories about potential IRS penalties for not having all of the boxes checked. In this course, we will explore the payroll compliance side of hiring new employees. From the alphabet soup of forms that need to be filled out to the initial payroll tax forms, we have you covered if you are a new practitioner or new business owner. We will even discuss the surprisingly difficult-to-navigate world of unemployment insurance.

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When forensic accountants are hired to conduct an analysis and investigations, they are commonly expected to write a report. This report can be short or long, depending on the circumstances. This presentation is how to write an effective expert report that will withstand scrutiny of both parties of litigation and the court. The presentation will also include best practices, ethics, and components of an effective report. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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Cybersecurity protection of digital data continues to be a top priority for CPAs. The cyber threats continue to increase and are becoming more sophisticated with the advent of AI technology. The first step is to understand what the primary threats are, the potential damage they can inflict, and, most importantly, how to mitigate the risks. This course will prepare you have informed conversations with your IT service providers to ensure you are employing best practices in cybersecurity protection. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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Designed for accounting, auditing, and attestation practitioners at all levels in public accounting and business and industry, this course provides a detailed review of the multitude of FASB and AICPA standards and reports issued over the past few years, including a discussion of the FASB's Stage 3 PIR report on ASC 606. It also provides an overview of recent PCAOB inspection report findings and SEC rulemaking activity. Through hands-on examples and illustrations, this course will help you apply the guidance in practice. We further discuss other important A&A practice matters to be aware of, including an update on the quality management standards and soon-to-be-effective requirements for engagement quality reviews.

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Data security is a front-of-mind topic for most businesses because the risk and cost statistics are sobering. Each of us is in the crosshairs because a typical internet-connected computer faces a cyberattack every 39 seconds. Businesses of all sizes should be cognizant of the ethical issues that must be considered when planning their approach to privacy and data security. In this webinar, we will explore both the risks we have traditionally faced in the workplace personally, as well as the novel set of data privacy threats and compliance challenge issues employers face with a remote and mobile workforce.

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When asked, most people would say they are an ethical person. So why is it that every month there are reports of ethical breaches at major companies? The concept of ethics is easy to understand, easy to talk about, but incredibly hard to implement on a consistent basis. In this course, we will discuss current ethical issues, and walk-through a nine-step ethical decision-making model. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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With over 40 percent of Americans owning digital assets and a single bitcoin now valued at over $100K, cryptocurrency is no longer a niche subject, yet few tax professionals understand how to help individuals and businesses who are dealing with digital assets. This session walks you through the tax implications of common cryptocurrency-related transactions and how to successfully service clients dealing in digital assets. We will also cover current developments surrounding this topic, such as Form 1099-DAs, the updated version of the digital assets question on Form 1040, and a series of chief counsel memorandums related to digital assets and tax planning opportunities.

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Most financial leaders would agree that budgeting is easy when business and the economy are stable. When revenues and expenses are expected to remain the same, the process becomes merely an exercise in carrying over what was done before to the current year. However, what happens when we are not sure about how the market will react to our product? What happens when the competitive landscape changes? In this course, we will discuss budgeting techniques and considerations when business lacks stability. Through a combination of theory and real-world examples, we will explore how to build flexibility into our budget - so that it can inform and drive decision-making when we don't quite know what is ahead. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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Difficult conversations tend to be avoided because professionals shy away from the uncomfortable, and the fear of polarizing their relationships. Participants will learn strategies and tactics to engage in productive conversations which address challenges and deepen relationships. They will understand where and why they are avoiding having difficult conversations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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This course will provide an overview of the work and impact of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on the US tax system, regulatory ethics, and accounting profession. TIGTA is an independent organization that provides oversight of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and conducts audits, investigations, and inspections and evaluations to promote integrity, economy, and efficiency in the administration of the nation's tax system. The course will explore the role of TIGTA in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS, identifying opportunities to improve the administration of tax laws, and upholding ethical standards in the accounting profession. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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When we leave our jobs, we also leave the protection our employer provides us with regards to internet and Wi-Fi security. Hired people may be able to help with the newest applications, but they may not understand the security risks posed. This session will cover some basic information about cybersecurity weaknesses and some of the scams that target older, retired people. Many times, the perpetrator is someone close and someone who we think we can trust. In this course, you will learn some basic tools to protect against those who wish to perpetrate fraud.

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