AICPA works hard for its members. This session will show what projects the TRP is advocating for in the estate and trust area. Contacts with IRS and tax writing groups are emphasized.

Insurance products such as life insurance and annuities can provide tax advantaged investment returns. This presentation will explain the basics of insurance taxation, understanding basic annuity and life product structures, and the mathematics of net returns on assets subject to taxes on growth above basis. Topics include optimal location of financial assets within insurance products and assessing the value of mature insurance policies.

Topics included in this discussion will be a macro fixed income overview, along with the implications for interest rates and where we are seeing opportunities in a low rate environment.

A truth has emerged: growth begins with behavior. The idea that growth begins with behavior should be no stranger to leaders of professional service, including advisory firm owners. While a focus on behavior has always been present, today there is a major trend within wealth management to help investors focus on their behavior and to shed light on how their actions and attitudes affect their retirement and financial goals. And yet, focusing on behavior is often the last place firm owners think to look when analyzing their own revenue and profit growth. In this session, you will learn the behaviors that are holding back growth, how to look at them differently, and how to overcome them to grow exponentially.

In this session, we will explore what it looks like to work with the ever growing segment of clients experiencing diminished capacity.  We will discuss how our current regulatory environment impacts the way we do business, and what tools and best practices we can implement not only to protect our businesses but to best serve our clients and families.

The Association (unified voice of AICPA & CIMA) and CPA.com launched a shark-tank style startup accelerator four years ago with a focus on FinTech and EdTech solutions. Its purpose is to foster innovation and bring emerging technologies to the accounting profession. Investment into new technologies and solutions is critical for not only staying ahead of the curve, but providing client-centric service. In this session, you will hear about trends in FinTech developments and see the  startup companies that make up the 2021 cohort. These solutions have a leading role in a diverse range of categories including: crypto-asset management, financial impacts of climate change, accounting task automation and cash flow management.

This discussion will address current issues and trends in the transfer tax controversy arena at the audit level, appeals and in litigation. It will include issues related to the valuation and transfer of interests in closely-held entities, the use of formula clauses, recent caselaw, positions taken by the IRS and ways to address them at the planning level.

Gift tax returns when filed with "adequate disclosure" provide a golden opportunity reduce audit issues and exposure on a federal estate tax return and most likely avoid later-life surprises for increases in gift tax liability. The session provides examples for effective gift tax reporting in addition to review of the applicable law and rules. After reviewing the demands and importance of adequate disclosure, this session will review practical return preparation preliminary actions; how Schedule A of the Form 709 integrates with GST reporting; fixed-dollar formula gift disclosures;  engagement agreements with appraisers; informing the appraiser what to value; reporting GRATs; reporting transfers subject to ETIPs and when the ETIP ends; and reporting with Crummey gifts, among other topics. 

Session is intended to provide education on structuring and implementing public equity portfolios, including a case study with considerations and outcomes.