This session will cover the best 2021 retirement tax planning strategies, following a year that upended even the best-laid plans. The program will show CPAs how to react to the most recent tax changes, including the SECURE and CARES Act and more. Most clients will need to have their current retirement tax and estate plans revised based on the recent tax rule changes. 

This session will cover the adaptation of change and establishing a new normal.

We will learn how to maintain relationships, teamwork and networking in a new virtual workspace. Learn how to implement virtualization of staff management, client management, and selling. Also, learn to tailor hiring criteria and offering dynamic incentives to retain staff and appeal to incoming talent in today's competitive market. Learn how to take responsibility as a leader to create a people-first culture with emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

While human factors are critically important for finance transformation, all too often the lion’s share of time and investment is spent on technology and implementation rather than people. To achieve their transformation goals, organizations must invest in their people, addressing the digital skills gap, embracing lifelong learning, and instilling a growth mindset in preparation for a new, and as yet undefined, future. HP Inc. has had an exceptional focus on people in their transformation Journey. Claire Bramley, Global Controller of HP Inc. will present the People Experience Program (PEP) that she designed and sponsors and share how they successfully procured business support, the challenges along the journey, and how the program drove a successful transformation journey.

How many times have you interviewed and hired candidates who just didn’t work out? They looked good on paper and interviewed well. They were smart and likable. What happened? Did you ask the right questions? Were they truthful with you? Or is it really only luck or a guess?

There is a more predictable way to hire. You could hire to your firm’s culture.

Every firm has its own unique culture that is perfect for some candidates. Conversely, there are some people who would not fare so well. In order to interview for ideal employees, firm leaders must be clear about their firm culture to determine the right candidates.

Once you know the kind of candidate who will do well in your firm, it is easier to interview.

This session will take a deep dive into SOC 1 reports, visiting their basics and how they can be used in an audit. Understand from both the service auditor view as well as the financial statement auditor's view. 

Innovative technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence are changing the game in the accounting and auditing industry, but the challenge of evaluating and validating new software tools for use on assurance engagements can keep even the boldest auditor awake at night. This session will prepare you to evaluate these new software tools, including what to do with a SOC report if it is available, key considerations when no SOC report is available, and best practices for holding meaningful discussions with venders and other relevant parties.

Implementation of Topic 606 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) was a big effort for our profession the past couple of years. However, our journey through revenue recognition is not over. Join Candy Wright, a leader in the profession, as she shares her best tips on auditing revenue recognition. Mike Cheng, a former FASB staff member, will share his thoughts on common pitfalls when applying Topic 606.

Your new client just received a significant sum of money! (either from Lottery winnings, inheritance, divorce, legal settlements, sale of a business, athletes, etc.). Chances are your client is feeling both excited and overwhelmed. This session will provide techniques to create a plan that will help preserve, grow and protect new wealth while avoiding irrational decisions. The panel will also include examples of real-life successes and failures to help guide both financial and psychological decisions.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify cash flow, tax, investment, and legal planning necessary to protect your client
• Discuss acting as the value added advisor by providing financial, and just as critical, non-financial help

The undeniable impacts of super trends, governmental intervention and geopolitical volatility have move the markets into unchartered territory. The panel will discuss best practices in strategic investment management, including navigating a low yield environment, passive versus active, international versus domestic, product innovations, client communications and more. We'll look at how the lines between investing and gaming/gambling can become blurred in investments like derivatives, SPACs, Bitcoin and Options Trading, accentuating their inherent benefits and pitfalls. Join AICPA thought leaders in a discussion of what’s working now and, more importantly, what’s likely to work going forward in investment management.

With the advent of technology over the years, RIAs are constantly looking for an edge; a way to build a better mouse trap in an effort to help clients to more comprehensively meet their tax and financial planning objectives. In this session we will discuss the RIA of the future from both the small firm and large firm perspective. We will address the future integration of tax and financial planning, technology and the ever-changing demands of clients and increased customization of investment management. In addition, we will look at the pros and cons of various types of firm structure, delving into ways to find and retain top talent, and explore resources available to RIAs to help you focus more on working on the business. Finally, we'll discuss the evolution of fees (for investments as well as planning).