Sessions for 2024 - Day One
Session 1:
9:00 am ET
Firm Culture: What Is It and Why Do You Need It?
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Presenters: Randy Crabtree, Al-Nesha Jones, Andy Root
There’s a lot of conversation around the need for a positive, vibrant, identifiable firm culture as a means for attracting and retaining firm members. But what does this really mean? In this session we’ll unpack the meaning of firm culture, determine how this concept applies to accounting firms, and discuss the true value of a meaningful firm culture. You’ll learn:
- How the concept of culture applies to accounting firms
- The importance of defining, refining, and respecting the firm’s culture
- The impact of firm culture on firm members
- The impact of firm culture on both current and potential clients
- The role of firm leaders in developing firm culture
- Risks and challenges associated with firm culture
- Coordination of a clearly defined firm culture with automation, AI, and remote work
Session 2:
10:00 am ET
Qualifies for CE Credit!
Think Like a Hacker!
Field of study: Information Technology
Sponsor: Rightworks
Presenters: Roman Kepczyk, David Cieslak, Eric McMillen
Think you haven’t been hacked? Think again. In this session you’ll learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your firm from being breached. Topics include:
- What it means to be hacked
- Why hacking is so lucrative and what hackers do with the data they collect
- The latest security threats and how you can protect yourself against them
- How AI is making hackers’ jobs easier
- How AI is making hackers’ jobs more difficult
- How to protect yourself, your company, your data
Session 3:
11:00 am ET
Providing an Ideal Client Experience
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: Botkeeper
Presenters: Enrico Palmerino, Michael Hsu, Terrell Turner
Client expectations are changing, and your firm needs to amend and modernize its strategies and services in order to continue providing an excellent client experience. In this session, we’ll discuss:
- How and why traditional accounting services are evolving
- What today’s clients expect from their accountants
- Skills you can add to your toolbox
- Modern pricing models
Session 4:
12:00 pm ET
Tax to Financial Planning and Recurring Revenue
Field of study: Specialized Knowledge - Technical
Sponsor: Xero
Presenters: Caron Mitchell, Nicole Davis, Sean Duncan
As tax preparation becomes more commoditized, successful tax accountants are leaning into offering more financial-friendly year-round services to their clients. Not only does this take some of the pressure off of busy season, but the client relationships become more sticky, valuable, and everlasting due to a more ongoing presence in the financial lives of your clients. In this session you’ll learn about:
- The future of tax preparation services
- How tax preparation opens the door to numerous other financial services
- Your role as your client’s financial ringmaster
- Types of services you can offer and the clients best suited for additional services
- Partnering with other professionals to meet all of your clients’ needs
- Moving to a year-round relationship with your clients
Session 5:
2:00 pm ET
New Year’s Resolutions: Developing Capacity and a Plan for the Life You Want
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: CPA.com
Presenters: Todd Cooper, Amy Vetter, Geni Whitehouse
It sounds like a cliché, but we only have one life to live, so why not make sure it’s the life you want? In this session we will put you front and center with your vision for the ideal work/life arrangement you need to have in order to achieve personal success. Our discussion will include:
- Instructions for creating a life plan
- Identifying your strengths along with achievable goals
- Your role in the accounting profession and understanding your ideal clients
- Adding to your skillset
- Time management skills
- Overcoming challenges you might encounter
Session 6:
3:00 pm ET
Accounting Practice Management – All Things Tech
Field of study: Information Technology
Sponsor: Canopy
Presenters: Davis Bell, Randy Johnston, Brian Tankersley
It’s time to get organized! Accountants are masters at organizing the financial affairs of our clients, but when it comes to our own practices, some of us could use some guidance. In this session we’ll learn that there are ways to coordinate the operations of an accounting firm in order to optimize efficiency, improve client satisfaction, and achieve all of your goals. Topics include:
- Best practices for client communication
- Creating workflows
- Staying on top of latest developments and improving skills
- Choosing technology products that like each other
- Measuring profitability and success
- Improving business development
Session 7:
4:00 pm ET
Generative AI and Your Accounting Firm
Field of study: Information Technology
Presenters: TJ Lewis, John Higgins, Blake Oliver
You’ve no doubt heard of at least some of these terms: Generative AI, ChatGPT, CoPilot, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, DALL-E – the list goes on and on and will keep getting longer. But what do any of these tools and their counterparts have to do with accountants, accounting services, accounting firms, accounting clients? We’re about to enlighten you and may show you a bit about what you’ve been missing and what you can look forward to as generative AI becomes part of the fabric of our lives. Some topics we’ll discuss include (and yes, we used generative AI to develop this list):
- Some definitions of generative AI
- Examples of various generative AI platforms
- Practical applications and benefits of using generative AI tools
- Ethical concerns when using these tools
- How to stay abreast of new options
- When (and when not) to trust generative AI output
- What accountants can expect from generative AI in the future
Sessions for 2024 - Day Two
Session 8:
9:00 am ET
Qualifies for CE Credit!
Secure Act 2.0 and its Impact on Retirement Planning
Field of study: Taxes
Sponsor: ADP
Presenters: Ron Ulrich, Sean Duncan, Vaughan Long
A LOT of changes relating to retirement plans have occurred with the implementation of the Consolidated Appropriates Act of 2023, aka SECURE 2.0. How will these changes affect you, your firm, and your clients? Topics in this session will include:
- Changes, final and proposed regulations relating to required minimum distributions
- Auto enrollment will go into effect for plan years beginning in 2025
- Rothification of retirement
- Tax credits for small business
- Simple IRA plan changes
- Student loan employer matching program
- State mandates for retirement programs
- Secure 3.0? What we can expect in the future
Session 9:
10:00 am ET
CAS: What’s Your “A”?
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Presenters: Ed Kless, Jackie Meyer, Kane Polakoff
We’ve heard about CAS for a decade or so, and we’ve been talking about “Advisory” for even longer, but what do these two things have to do with each other, and what the heck does the “A” in CAS stand for? In this session we’d like to help you decide what your “A” stands for, how put that “A” into practical service, and how you can actually define that concept to yourself, your team, and your clients. In addition we’ll discuss pricing strategies and where this is all headed. Topics will include:
- Redefining your client services
- Educating your team and your clients
- Establishing goals
- Implementing services
- Pricing options and modifications
Session 10:
11:00 am ET
Your Newest Service Line: Business License Management
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: Avalara
Presenters: Diana DiBello, Chris Vignone, Ken Taylor
Business licenses come in many forms and even the best-organized, most efficient companies struggle with the burden of managing business licenses. Accounting firms that specialize in helping their clients manage the morass of business licenses do more than help their clients sleep well at night – they manage a service line that attracts new business clients. In this session you’ll learn about:
- Identifying business license needs
- Understanding the lifecycle of business license compliance
- Managing legal implications resulting from noncompliance
Session 11:
12:00 pm ET
Modern Firms: What’s Changing?
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: Wolters Kluwer
Presenters: Cathy Rowe, Garrett Wagner, Aaron Clayton
Do you consider your firm to be a modern firm? Are you ready for the next 5-10 years? Or are you concerned about how the profession and technology will evolve and whether you’ll be reach for change? In this session we’ll address the issue of flexibility and how to make sure you are ready to handle an unknown future with confidence. Topics will include:
- Identifying and offering the services your clients need most
- Helping clients make data-driven decisions
- Modernizing your online presence
- Being adaptable and accepting of change
- Technology considerations of a modern firm
Session 12:
2:00 pm ET
Qualifies for CE Credit!
Tax Resolution: Appeals, Offers in Compromise, Payment Plans
Field of study: Taxes
Presenters: Vaughan Long, Tanya Baber
If you have tax clients, it’s likely you’ve had tax clients who have received notices from taxing authorities. Topics in this session will include:
- Trends in collection issues
- Probability of and preparation for audits
- Pulling tax return transcripts
- Tips on contacting the Taxpayer Advocate
- Offers in compromise
- Penalty abatement options
- Pricing for representation
Session 13:
3:00 pm ET
CPA Staffing Crisis: AI to the Rescue!
Field of study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: SafeSend
Presenters: Adrian Johnson, Kane Polakoff, Byron Patrick
You’ve heard of the staffing crisis in the accounting profession. It’s happening at both ends of the spectrum – fewer students are entering the field, while aging accountants are considering retirement. In this session we’ll discuss:
- Reasons for a decrease in students studying accounting
- Other causes for a staffing crunch
- How AI can ease your burden
- AI’s ability to enhance work-life balance
- Real-world benefits
Session 14:
4:00 pm ET
Building Your Practice through Outreach and Marketing
Field of study: Marketing
Presenters: Kelly Welter, Gaynor Meilke
If you have a desire to grow, change, update, or enhance your accounting practice, you will benefit from learning useful skills that will attract new clients and cement through outreach and marketing techniques. Our panel of experts will provide new ideas that you can implement as you plan for the year ahead. Topics include:
- Determining your marketing goals
- Setting and measuring marketing KPIs
- Strategies for online marketing
- Developing name recognition
- Providing useful resources
- Utilizing networking techniques
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