Study after study has shown that soft skills are vital in helping individuals and businesses succeed. According to a recent report from Boston College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan, training in soft skills such as communication and problem solving can raise productivity and retention by 12 percent and deliver a 250 percent return on investment. But how can you develop your soft skills, and use them to your advantage? Adapting to the change in leadership skills starts with the culture of the company. During this session, you will hear about how soft skills can help set you apart and give you a competitive edge in the workplace while also discovering the seven essential qualities of leadership that are so important in our daily lives.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discovering ways to see the soft skills from a different vantage point. 
   
2. Understanding the characteristics of effective leadership How to redefine the climate if you can't change the culture.

For firm owners and partners ready to get a strong understanding of the 2018 MAP Survey results and how to use the survey to your advantage. This session will highlight results as well as drill deep into the analytics that can be done using the survey platform. Walk through a case study using real firm data from the survey, analyzing your firm against other firms in the survey based on firm size, area of practice and other key analytics every firm should consider as you strategize for the future.

Upon completing this session you will:

1. Have knowledge of key performance statistics from over 1,900 firms that participated in the 2018 MAP Survey.
   
2. Understand how to use the survey platform to filter data and measure your firm against the competition.

Join Gerry as he takes us on a guided tour of the lessor known applications included in your Office 365 Business and Enterprise licenses. He’ll speak to what these applications are about and how they can be deployed in your firm. They will include: Bing; Delve; Flow; Forms; Planner; Stream; Sway; Teams and Video.

Upon leaving Gerry’s session you will have:

1. A clear understanding and focused objectives of each of the applications covered.
   
2. You will also be able to make a clear distinction on how and why your firm might further investigate their deployment and use.

Seventy-six percent of hiring decision makers say attracting quality candidates is their number-one* challenge. Having a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy in today’s competitive job market is imperative for employer’s looking to find, hire, engage, and retain the workers needed to maintain and grow their business. This session will identify ways to successfully position your business – and those of your clients - as an “employer of choice” with job seekers, as well as their current employees.

*Aptitude Research Partners, August 2017

Learning objectives:

1. Review current state of finding and securing top talent in today’s tight labor market.
   
2. Identify essential steps and best practices for effective recruitment, selection and screening strategies/techniques.
   
3. Discuss impactful strategies for keeping employees engaged, and helping them learn and grow professionally.
   
4. Highlight the opportunity for accountants to successfully advise their clients on HR solutions.

This presentation will focus on changes to the like-kind exchange rules as a result of tax reform, compare deferral of gain under Section 1031 vs. 1400Z (Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund) investments and problem areas frequently encountered in like-kind exchange transactions.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be:

1. Better prepared to evaluate investments in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds as an alternative to like-kind exchanges.
2. Participants will also be better prepared to address common problem areas encountered in like-kind exchange transactions.

The TCJA drop in the corporate tax rate to a flat 21% makes the C corporate form of doing business sound attractive. But Congress offered temporary rate relief for other entities with a new qualified business income (QBI) deduction of 20%, but not all business activities and owners qualify for it. Pre-TCJA changes to capital gains incentive Section 1202 makes C corporations useful for attracting capital, but not all types of businesses qualify. And some TCJA changes limiting deductions for employees might lead some employees to consider a 'loan-out' entity. This session will explore the pros and cons of C corporations after the TCJA and due diligence and planning tips in considering converting to or forming this type of entity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the TCJA changes that make C corporations a favored or perhaps unfavored entity choice.
   
2. Understand the due diligence and planning considerations relevant to converting to or forming as a C corporation.

This session will focus on partnership tax principles and options related to contributions, allocations and distributions involving a family investment partnership.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a better understand partnership tax principles governing contributions and distributions in the family investment partnership context.
   
2. Gain a better understand common partnership allocation and distribution principles involving family investment partnerships.

As federal legislators adjust tax rules surrounding ownership and sales of real estate, it is important that CPAs stay up-to-date on real estate laws that may impact your clients. This course provides an update of real estate-related topics, including common areas of concern. You will learn what's new for rental real estate and passive activity rules; Sec. 1031 exchanges; online rental activities, Sec. 199A and more. Plus, you will take home valuable planning strategies for you and your realty clients.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize how to treat vacation homes and second residences.
   
2. Determine what happens to suspended losses when a taxpayer dies, gifts or converts rental property.
   
3. Identify techniques for Sec.1031 exchanges.
   
4. Bring multiple Code sections together to pr

Whether it is deliberate or not, you have a brand. Your brand is how your coworkers perceive you. It is developed from how you look, talk, and act. Your brand affects everything from how people respond to you, whether people want to work with you, whether you get the plum assignments, and whether you get that desired promotion. Discover what your current brand message is and how you can deliberately change or strengthen your brand.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of the components of a personal brand. 
   
2. Identify the current components of your current brand.

To act more boldly as a leader, you must increase your capacity to bring energy and full engagement to the things you value most. We will explore how well-being and mindfulness contribute to your overall performance and leadership of others. Once you learn how to access your peak performance levels, you will be unstoppable!

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore how well-being and mindfulness contribute to your overall performance.
   
2. Explore how well-being and mindfulness contribute to your leadership of others.
   
3. Create a personal plan to access your peak performance.