It used to be sufficient to check beneficiary designations and titling of assets were consistent with the estate planning documents. With longer lives and the demand for more open communication from younger generations, communicating the estate plan is now essential. We will provide tips for having a successful meeting, what to disclose and how best to communicate the plan.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the importance of communicating the estate plan for family harmony.
   
2. Learn some ideas for effectively communicating the plan.

This session will provide attendees with an update on recent changes to the Code of Professional Conduct and also refresher on other ethical topics that the hotline staff are frequently asked about. In addition to understanding changes to your ethical responsibilities an emphasis will be made on understanding responsibilities related to hosting services.

Learning objectives:

1. Get an overview of hosting services changes to ethical responsibilities.

Business combinations and the application of FASB ASC 805 is one of the more challenging and complicated areas of accounting and financial reporting. This session highlights some common and trickier issues that can arise when accounting for a business combination. In addition, the presenters will offer audit considerations for those issues and other key aspects of such transactions.

Learning objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of the application of the accounting literature to certain elements of a business combination.
   
2. Comprehend certain common and challenging issues that arise during a business combination and how to properly account for them.
   
3. Expand knowledge and skills related to business combinations.

This session is Part 1 of a two-part session series. These sessions, which qualify for the ongoing Team/Review Captain training requirement, will cover recent changes to peer review guidance, peer review resources and other related developments.

Learning objectives:

1. Obtain an understanding of recent and upcoming changes in the peer review program guidance.
   
2. Obtain an understanding of the current enhancing audit quality initiative areas of focus.

More and more firms are engaging in mergers and acquisitions as a strategy for growth and entry into new markets. Mergers can be a powerful strategy but they can also be an invitation for disaster. We will review the practical experience of the industry in identifying the right merger partners and facilitating integration.

1. Determine if engaging in a merger is the right strategy for your firm or practice.

2. Developing criteria for the right merger candidates. 

3. Creating a strategy for successful integration.

With a federal basic exclusion amount of $11,400,000 per person, and further inflation adjustments coming every January 1, the uninformed might wonder whether trusts are still relevant in planning. For the thoughtful and informed advisor, however, there is no question but that trusts remain the vehicle of choice for most clients. Consider, for example, that even beyond the scheduled sunset of this generous exclusion on January 1, 2026 (as well as the fact that a significant minority of states still impose estate taxes at much lower thresholds), trusts can protect against creditors, ensure professional investment management, limit overspending by immature beneficiaries, and allow the grantor to designate who might benefit from his or her largess. These points, as well as a number of other benefits to the continuing use of trusts in planning will be explored in detail in this session. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Attendees will learn how trusts can be beneficial in furthering clients' planning objectives, beyond simply saving estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

2. Attendees will learn the various alternative ways of structuring clients' trusts to achieve these planning objectives, including the positive and negative considerations for each such alternative.

There have been many developments over the past decade in how private client investment portfolios are structured and how investments should be managed. These changes include an increase in the availability of asset classes that were previously only available to institutional investors.

This session will provide a theoretical framework for analyzing and structuring investments for private clients. It will include an update on a number of the developments and advances that have occurred, review the practical usage of some of the additional asset classes and discuss how, from a practitioner's perspective, these advances and asset classes can be implemented in advising private clients and managing their assets and investment portfolios.

This will be an intermediate to advanced session that will be of interest to asset allocators, investment managers and private client and family offices advisors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Update on developments and changes in the theory and practice of asset management for private clients.

2. Update on the availability and the practical usage of non-traditional asset clients for private clients.

As a financial planner, one of the many important aspects of a portfolio that needs to be addressed with care is making sure clients and their families are properly insured to protect their homes, cars, most prized possessions, and overall current lifestyle. During this session, Patti Clement, Senior Vice President of leading global insurance brokerage, HUB International, will review the latest trends in the personal insurance property and casualty market; how to work with your clients to ensure they have the right coverage to fit their unique needs; uncovering any hidden or commonly overlooked exposures; adapting to today’s current landscape including erratic weather patterns, the Me Too movement and much more. 

Learning Objectives:

1. A detailed overview of commonly purchased lines of insurance coverage for individuals.

2. Current state of the insurance marketplace for personal lines.

3. Insight on commonly overlooked exposures. - Case study examples of how working with the right insurance broker can greatly benefit a financial planner and in turn their clients.

With the passage of the TCJA, Roth IRA conversions have once again become popular. While many professional advisors know about the basic rules of Roth IRAs, they do not understand the economic/tax intricacies associated with them. Unfortunately, failure to understand the mathematical fundamentals of Roth IRA conversions can lead to making disastrous decisions. However, with a good working knowledge of the quantitative “forces” which impact Roth IRA conversions, professional advisors will be able to give cogent, straightforward advice to their clients.

Learning Objectives:

1. Reasons to convert to a Roth IRA

2. Taxation of Roth IRA conversions

3. Taxation of Roth IRA distributions

4. Mathematics of Roth IRA conversions

5. Recharacterizations

6. Estate tax considerations

7. “Stretch” Roth IRAs • Using insurance to preserve post-death “stretch-out”

8. Tax-sensitive withdrawal strategies

The Association (unified voice of AICPA & CIMA) and CPA.com launched a shark-tank style startup accelerator two years ago with a focus on FinTech and EdTech. Its purpose is to foster innovation in the profession and provide members, the Association, and CPA.com more visibility into disruptive trends and emerging technologies. In this session, you will hear from the 2019 cohort – 3 startup companies that have a leading role in client workspace solutions, cash flow management and accounting task automation.

During this session you will:

1. Discover trends in FinTech that are impacting the profession and your role.

2. Hear from the front lines of disruption.

3. Learn about the 3 startups that are members of the second cohort of the Association and CPA.com Startup Accelerator - https://www.aicpa-cima.com/accelerator.

4. Get inspired to rethink how you can leverage financial and educational technology.