Sessions from 2022 - Day One

9:00 am ET

Your Key to Successfully Providing Tax Advisory Services

Field of study: Taxes
Sponsored by: Intuit
Panelists: Jim Buffington, Sean Duncan, Jackie Meyer

In this session you will learn how to proactively provide your tax clients with strategies, quantitative tax savings, and forward-looking planning that will align with their goals. Topics include:

Gaining insights from the numbers on the tax return
Future-focused decisions you can make together with your clients
Tax planning discussions to have year-round with your clients
New legislation that impacts the 2022 and 2023 tax returns

Watch Archived Format

10:00 am ET

Starting a Technology-Focused Practice

Field of study: Specialized knowledge
Panelists: Donny Shimamoto, Sharrin Fuller, David Cieslak

We all know that technology is a part of our lives, our work, and our client relationships. What decisions can you make today that will carry you into the future with streamlined, practical, effective line-up of technology tools to handle all of your needs. Topics include:

Determining your technology needs
Choosing software vendors
Coordinating your products so they work cohesively
Aligning your external (client-focused) needs with your internal (workplace-focused) needs
Staying on top of updates/changes in the tools you use

Watch Archived Format

11:00 am ET

Finding Your Niche

Field of study: Business Management & Organization
Sponsored by: Xero
Panelists: Liz Mason, Claire Van Holland, Paul Lewis

Our panel will provide information on how to choose, create, and master a niche practice within your existing tax or accounting practice. Panel members will share the pros and cons, the questions you should be asking, and the steps you'll want to take to make your niche practice a reality. Topics include:

Benefits of focusing on a niche
Choosing a niche
Ongoing training
Staffing issues
What can go wrong?
Software requirements
How to reach clients

Watch Archived Format

12:00 pm ET

Multi-State and Remote Worker Tax Issues Post-Covid

Field of Study: Taxes
Sponsored by: ADP
Panelists: Michael Smith, Darren Root, Shayna Chapman

You've likely added a remote contingent to your own staff, or you have clients who are doing the same, and you may have noticed there are many related tax issues coming into play. In addition, other post-COVID-related tax credits are making the tax scene way more interesting. In the session we'll look at the tax credits and how they are impacting the changing workplace. Topics will include:

The R&D Credit
State taxes and credits for multi-state workers
Temporary presence rules
Status of Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act
Disaster credits

Watch Archived Format

2:00 pm ET

Your Firm's Employee Improvement Plan

Field of study: Personnel/Human Resources
Sponsored by: Botkeeper
Panelists: Enrico Palmerino, Jeff Phillips. Garrett Wagner

Every survey addressing the challenges faced by accounting firms lists employee's retention as one of the top items. When we think about why employees leave a job, we often assume they're leaving because they've gotten a better offer, shorter hours, opportunities for growth, and so on. In this session, we'd like to address the issue from another perspective - why are they leaving your firm, and what can you do about it? Topics will include:

Identifying the elements that your staff want to leave behind
Setting out opportunities for growth and a path to get there
Getting staff members excited about remaining at their current job
Building confidence
Addressing "quiet quitting"
Make work meaningful

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3:00 pm ET

Reenvisioning Client Accounting/Advisory Services (CAS)

Field of study: Accounting
Sponsored by: CPA.com
Panelists: Kalil Merhib, Aaron Berson, Sharrin Fuller

One of the fastest growing areas in accounting firms is the area of Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAS). From the Big Four to the smallest accounting practice, firms are finding that clients are asking for more than the traditional tax/audit accounting services, and successful firms are breaking new ground wiht the ways in which they are presenting CAS services Topics include:

Defining CAS
Client demands
Methodology
Delivering the services
Adjusting your pricing methods

Watch Archived Format

4:00 pm ET

Child Tax Credit/Education Credits

Field of knowledge: Taxes
Sponsored by: TaxFyle
Panelists: Kelly Welter, Justin Watkins, Nadia Rodriguez

If you or your clients have children, it's likely you've encountered questions about the tax benefits that are currently available. The rules from 2021 have changed and 2022 tax returns are impacted. Learn all you need to know in order to serve your clients properly in the tax season and year ahead. Topics will include:

Changes to the Child Tax Credit
Changes to the Child and Dependent Care Credit
Changes to the education tax credits

Watch Archived Format

Sessions from 2022 - Day Two

9:00 am ET

Marketing Your Accounting Firm

Field of study: Communications and Marketing
Panelists: Kelly Welter, Becky Livingston, Garrett Wagner

Learn the value of marketing your accounting firm and gain insights into a variety of marketing techniques that will transform your practice and allow you to grow (if that is your goal) or customize your practice so that you are focusing on your strengths. You'll learn how to use marketing tools that will keep you front and center with your existing clients and cement your relationships with them as you move forward together. Topics include:

Determining your marketing goals
How to develop your marketing strategy
What does your website say about you and your firm?
Social media and its impact on your business

Watch Archived Format

10:00 am ET

Succession Planning: Don't Leave (your firm) Without It!

Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Panelists: Sharrin Fuller, Sandra Wiley, Jackie Meyer

What does your future look like? Will you leave your firm? Take on a new role? Are others in your firm considering moving? Will you firm continue to exist when you are gone? What will happen to your clients? Who will perform the services you have been doing? No matter the size of your firm or your client base, and no matter when you plan to make a transition, these questions you need to answer. But you don't' need to answer them alone! Our panelists will show you the way. Topics include:

Protecting your legacy
Choosing your successor(s)
Creating a formal plan
Transitioning your clients

Watch Archived Format

11:00 am ET

Surviving the Sales Tax Audit

Field of study: Taxes
Sponsored by: Avalara
Panelists: Sona Akmakjian, Mark Koziel, Colleen Duczynski

The combination of the South Dakota vs. Wayfair ruling, and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many businesses doing more of their sales online and across state lines. New rules, new methods of doing business, and new sales tax responsibilities. If you or your clients are transacting multi-state business, you're likely playing close attention to the related sales tax obligations, and you may be a target for a sales tax audit. In this session, you'll learn what you need to know to protect yourself from such an audit, and how to prepare and respond to an audit of one occurs. Topics will include:

Why sales tax are (or are likely to be) increasing
Sales tax audit triggers
Protecting your business from a sales tax audit
Responding to an audit notice
Preparing for the audit
What to do after the sales tax audit

Watch Archived Format

12:00 pm ET

Using Technology to Help Solve Staffing Issues

Field of study: Information Technology
Sponsored by: SafeSend
Panelists: Scott Fleszar, Jennifer Scott, Sandra Wiley

The struggle to find qualified staff is real. The current lack of candidates in the tax and accounting profession makes the option of adding seasonal of full-time employees challenging and less appealing. To stay ahead of the busy season, itis more important than ever to assess current processes, make necessary improvements, and consider technology tools that help staff and empower your firm to do more with less. Hear from a panel of experts as they discuss practical tips and technology solution to make the 2023 busy season, and those in the future, easier and more productive. Topics will include:

Current staffing concerns and why they are here to stay
Rethinking workflow and work processes
Secrets of an efficiently run home office
Firm culture

Watch Archived Format

2:00 pm ET

Time Management for Accountants

Field of study: Personal Development
Panelists: Liz Farr, Gail Perry, Alexandra DeFelice, Jim Bourke

Accountants know that time is money – and there rarely seems to be enough time. In this session you will learn proven steps to actually improve the way you manage time and improve your workflow practices for maximum value. You will learn the theory of goal-based time management; short-term and long-term scheduling tactics; and time management hacks that make managing your time fun and successful. You will leave this session with a priceless gift – the gift of time.

Topics include:

Learn how to set time management goals and incorporate them into your schedule
Discover how to make the best use of your available time
Learn how to stay focused in the face of interruptions
Change the way you regard time - for the rest of your life

Watch Archived Format

3:00 pm ET

Security Trends for Accounting Firms

Field of study: Information Technology
Sponsored by: Right Networks
Panelists: Roman Kepczyk, David Cieslak, James Bourke

Technology has been with us long enough that we all have knowledge and a grasp of what is available, what is impacting our own business, how are clients and colleagues are using technology, and the potential risks. We really can't take advantage of technology without considering the risks, which can be enormous, and which are ever-present. Topics will include: