Practitioners Symposium and TECH+ Conference (as part of AICPA ENGAGE 2018)

For small firm owners and sole practitioners, this roundtable is the perfect opportunity to share insights about fundamental issues concerning all small firms. Develop your own network of public accounting colleagues, who are ready to offer professional support and advice.

Upon completing this session, you will:
• Have a better understanding of practice management issues firms are facing and will have suggestions on how to tackle some of those issues

This year during the IMTA Town Hall, Steve Ursillo will discuss current cyber threats as they relate to small/medium size firms and the impact. As it is a town hall format, there will be lots of time for questions and answers.

• Find out what cyber issues pose a threat to your small/medium firm/business

• Strategize what you can do to prevent these threats

• Ask our expert your questions

Responding to pushback—whether its on investment questions, fees or other client experience issues--can occasionally trip up even the most seasoned advisor, and mean the difference between landing and losing that next prospect! Hear from Ernest Clark on key ways to keep the conversation focused and build confidence.

Firms that currently serve the Baby Boomers and Silent Generation clients know they will need to attract the younger generations to maintain the longevity of their firm. Forging a relationship with their clients' children is great for both the parents and their children. Yet most struggle to figure out how to connect with and provide planning services for younger generations. This session will provide you with specific recommendations for how to successfully and profitably serve NexGen clients by leveraging technology and workflow automation. Deborah Fox will share how she and her team built this service tier in their firm and what specific components made it a resounding success.

Learning Objectives:

- Provide ideas for successfully serving NexGen clients, especially the children of their existing clients
- Discuss examples of how Deborah structured this service in her own firm (what to do, but more importantly, what NOT to do

Navigating the tax law changes can be tricky; it can be even harder to explain to clients how they are impacted. Whether your clients need help changing their estate structure, modifying their charitable giving strategy, considering new choices for funding college education or just navigating the complexities of retirement, you can be the primary point of contact to help them through tax (and life’s) changes. In this session, you’ll learn how to take what you know about the tax code and apply it to your individual clients in a proactive way with planning as the center of everything.

- Learning Objectives:

o How to capitalize on tax reform as a conversation to dive deeper with clients

o Understand planning opportunities that arise from the new tax law and client life transitions

o Explore options and best practices for proactively deepening client relationships

o Learn how maximize your complimentary membership with Broadridge Advisor (this tools is included with PFP Section membership)

Today, a staggering number of Americans do not have access to a workplace retirement savings program, and many have little or nothing saved for their golden years. As your business clients’ most trusted advisor, you are well positioned to help address this issue. Join our session to uncover critical retirement strategies and opportunities to further assist your clients in achieving their financial goals.

Objectives:

• Review current state of retirement readiness and the regulatory environment

• Compare features and options to maximize savings potential

• Highlight the exclusive benefits provided by the AICPA to help you and your clients prepare for retirement security

In this session we will discuss how cloud technology adoption is paving a way to a cultural shift in the accounting profession.

Learning objectives:

• How to champion the right skills and hire for the future of Accounting

• Where to start when it comes to embracing automation and new technology

• What pace of technology adoption is right for your organization?

Is AI best described as artificial intelligence or augmented intelligence? When surveying how AI is employed in accounting firms, augmented intelligence is more accurate. AI is enabling professionals in many ways to offer more services to clients. Join this panel in discussing how AI is being put to work in the profession today by firms of all sizes.

Learning objectives:

• Gain awareness of ways you may be using AI already

• Gaither ideas on how AI can augment your team’s skills and expertise