7 Steps to Make Bookkeeping a Profit Center in 2021
Client Accounting Services is one of the fastest-growing service lines for accounting firms. The #1 reason: value-add opportunities that come from bookkeeping, and from being in the numbers, are massive.
 Join us to understand how and why bookkeeping has become a must-have service for accounting firms. We'll walk you through the 7 key steps to make sure it is efficient, automated, tech-enabled, and ultimately profitable for your accounting firm.
Keith Bateman - Marketing Manager, Dext, Washington, D.C.

EQ: Where the Rubber Meets the Road!
Did you know that emotional intelligence (EQ) is the largest predictor of job success no matter your field? To truly excel as a leader and gain a competitive edge for you and your company, you need to understand your EQ and take small steps every day to constantly evolve.  Join me to explore the world of EQ and learn how you can elevate your day-to-day interactions to go the extra MILE.
Jaclyn Badeau, CPA, CGMA, MBA, EQ Certified – President, Badeau Consulting, LLC, Richmond, KY

FASB Update
Discuss all FASB Accounting Standards Updates issued up to date, including those which have recently become effective. This session is not to be missed!
Joann Cross, CPA, CMA, CGFM, CGMA – Emerti Professor, Oshkosh, WI

Michigan Specific Ethics 2019-21 Edition - The Impact of State Statute & Administrative Rules on Your CPA License
Changes to CPE, licensure expiration and more. We guide you on a deep dive into Michigan’s accountancy law and administrative rules to help you steer clear of any violations. Explore case studies and ask the experts your questions about licensure and compliance with Michigan’s accountancy act.
Christopher J. Harper, CPA, MBA – Director of Education, Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, and Instructor, Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, Grand Rapids

Income Tax Deferral for Taxpayers Who Anticipate Selling Appreciated Assets While Living
Individuals who anticipate selling appreciated assets while living cannot take advantage of the step-up in basis at death. Several income tax techniques allow the gain realized upon the sale of an asset for cash to be deferred if the income tax rules in the Code are followed. Examine how related party installment sales to a non-grantor trust, contributing appreciated assets to a charitable remainder trust, and charitable gift annuities can be used to defer the reporting of realized gains. Learn which of these deferral techniques can be used for marketable securities, closely-held business interest and encumbered real estate. These planning techniques are illustrated using accounting balance sheets that enable the accountant to describe the technique to their clients in an understandable manner.
Jerry Hesch, JD, MBA– Director Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute, University of Norte Dame Law School

Transition Planning (or the lack thereof)
As you know, the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic ripple effect on privately held middle market companies with reduced customer demands, strained supply chains and general market disruption. Their company's future viability or sustainability may be in jeopardy. PPP monies have helped minimize some of these issues, but most of these company owners have invested most of their personal wealth in their business. This has placed a heavy burden on their companies and their personal balance sheets. Thus, many privately held middle market companies find themselves facing a difficult situation of hoping for a speedy recovery and having to personally reinvest in the company or take on more debt. This is where we can help!
Joseph Bione – President/Owner, Whitehall Group, LLC, Troy

Virtual Leadership: Engaging Fully and Onboarding Effectively
For employees to be thoroughly engaged and performing at their best, they need to find purpose in their work, trust in their leaders, and a connection to the team. Learn how you can embed these attributes into your virtual onboarding process and work environment to maximize productivity and professional fulfillment.
Kristen Schmitt – President, Thrive to Lead, LLC, New Albany, OH

Bye-Bye Bias: The Principles of Creating a Bias Free Workspace
The best leaders and organizations aren’t just diverse – their value systems are intentionally free of bias. Walk away with strategies to identify implicit bias, recognize micro-aggressions within your leadership style, team, and culture. Receive a strategy to develop a diversity driven mission and discover resources to become an expert-level ally who champions professional equity.
Jamar Cobb-Dennard, J.D. – Business Broker, Indiana Business Advisors, Indianapolis, IN

Interactive Virtual Lab: How to Unleash Your Employees’ Creativity Using Lessons from the Most Creative People in History
What do the Beatles, Frida Kahlo and Jim Henson have in common? They weren’t afraid to create new things that had never been built before. In fact, they discovered that this "intentional fearlessness" made the creative process even easier! In this highly interactive virtual session, learn a step-by-step process for applying this intentional creative process at work, inspiring employees to create small and big masterpieces each and every day. By the end of the session, participants will learn how to build a workplace culture that is fearless in its creativity and can deliver innovative solutions to any problem.
Ralph Gaillard, M.Ed. – CEO and Chief Learning Architect, The Adel Learning Lab, LLC, Chicago, IL

NFTs and Digital Blockchain Assets
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital assets have been making headlines throughout 2021, with hundreds of millions of dollars being transacted and invested in NFTs already in 2021. As such, it is becoming more likely that clients may be looking for advice or potential implications of transacting with such digital assets. Examine what NFTs are within the broader context of digital assets and blockchain systems, and why there is such interest in these assets.
Greg Soule, CPA, CISA, CISSP, CFE – Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, Auburn Hills

Practical Implementation of Lease Accounting
It's finally here. After many postponements, many organizations will implement the new lease accounting standard starting with calendar year 2022. This will have some effect on most organizations. This session guides you through practical steps to help your clients record and disclose their leases. Materials will include sample journal entries and sample footnote disclosures.
Duane M. Reyhl, CPA, CGMA - Partner, AHP, Midland

Added Value: Clients Want Accountants Who Add Value to Their Organization!
Hear how to ensure that we, as CPAs, are providing clients with added value… not just presenting them with financials but guiding their organization in a fiscally sound manner. Clients are no longer settling for hands off autonomous client relationships.
JaJuan Williams, CPA, MBA – The Lady CFO, Longwood, FL

BYOB: Build Your Own Budget
Like it or not, budgeting season rolls around every year. A budget shouldn’t be a document that is prepared once and set aside. It should be a living document that is integral to running your business or organization. Whether this is your first time through, or you are a seasoned pro, kick off the cobwebs and revisit some fundamental approaches to budgeting.
Lucas LaChance, CPA, CIA – Partner, Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC, Dallas TX

Reducing Risk and Exposure to Employee Claims
This enlightening and entertaining presentation provides CPAs with the information they need to reduce employee claims. The information is useful for not only CPAs but their clients as well. Topics covered include sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and role of proper discipline…much needed information as we manage our employees in today’s climate.
Mark R. Filipp, JD - Shareholder and Director, Kemp Klein Law Firm, Troy

Telecommuter Tax Implications in the Time of COVID (CNTW1-U-00353-21-O)
State and local guidelines or company initiatives throughout the pandemic reshaped the work dynamic over the last year creating telework arrangements, and, even as businesses reopen, many organizations are considering the benefits of continuing these provisions in limited or significant capacities. A shift in an employee’s work location can have broad tax implications for both businesses and employees, however, so as we look at the potential benefits of extended telework, we also consider the state and local tax perspectives from income tax withholding to COVID-19 tax relief and it’s limitations.
Nikolaos Arhos, Esq., LL.M. – Senior Manager, Employment Tax Advisory Practice, EY, Chicago, IL

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - The New Subchapter V Option - A Valuable Tool for Small Businesses
Recently, a new section was added to the Bankruptcy Code that allows small businesses to file a unique form of bankruptcy known as a Subchapter V case. It provides a number of advantages to businesses and business owners that were not previously possible and allows a case to be completed in much less time, and at less expense than a traditional chapter 11. In many instances, a business can quickly streamline, restructure or shed untenable debt, while allowing the equity owners to remain in place. This is intended to give a CPA an understanding of this new law and how it might be a valuable tool for certain clients.
Todd Almassian – Partner, Keller & Almassian, PLC, Grand Rapids
Greg Ekdahl, JD – Partner, Keller & Almassian, PLC, Grand Rapids

Cryptocurrency Fraud & Forensics
Cryptocurrency has more recently achieved a level of mainstream appeal as an investment vehicle, regardless of its limited current application in retail transactions. As cryptocurrency usage increases, more fraudsters will use this new asset class as a means of committing fraud. Hear an introduction to cryptocurrency, how it works, the current regulatory environment, types of frauds committed using cryptocurrency, U.S. tax rules, and how cryptocurrency can be traced using publicly available Blockchain data.
Mark DiMichael, CPA/CFF/ABV, CFE, CCFI – Partner, Citrin Cooperman, New York, NY

Ethical Resilience in Times of Chaos and Change
Webster’s defines ethics as, "…the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation…" but why is ethics important to your workforce and workplace culture, especially during times of chaos and change? Employees need to not only define and apply ethical standards but to understand the WHY behind them, in order to shift their thinking to the personal importance of ethics and the growth benefits of being an ethical leader.
Clare Levison, CPA, CGMA – Owner, Inspired Responsibility, Blacksburg, VA

Mindset Matters
Do you sometimes struggle with trying something new? Do you believe you were born with certain limitations, like not being good at math? If so, you might have a fixed mindset. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, is well known for her work on "the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset." By understanding the difference between these two mindsets, you can positively impact your performance at school, work, and home.
Lisa Roach, MM, PMP, DTM – President, Wisdom Consulting, Farmington Hills

Shawshank Redemption: A Case Study in Stress Management
This session reviews habits of effectiveness and a classic movie, The Shawshank Redemption, to manage the stress of 2020 and beyond. Explore how the main character, Andy Dufresne, demonstrated values/principle driven behavior despite extreme circumstances.
Liz Wiggins, MS, LLP, CPC – Principal, Transitions Training LLC, Farmington

The New Normal: Unpacking Changes to Audit Risk
From remote auditing and emerging technologies to supply chain shortages and increased government aid compliance requirements, both auditors and auditees have faced increasing challenges. Address the many ways that auditing has changed and how that affects audit risk assessments. This fast-paced session discusses areas including risks from increased government funding, changes to internal controls due to remote work, recent emerging technologies, performing remote audit procedures, and new auditing standards.
Kate Farwell, CPA, CFE – Manager, Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, Auburn Hills
Greg Soule, CPA, CISA, CISSP, CFE – Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, Auburn Hills

Using the "F" Words - Final Wishes, Funerals and Finances
In many ways, these are words that we, or clients, shy away from the same as expletives. So why is it important for your clients to document and prepare for their (or their loved ones) final wishes? Why do they need to understand the costs, options and advantages? We take you through the most significant reason for pre-planning and so much more.
Mike Smela, MA – Financial Educator, NFI Hunters, Inc, Bloomfield Hills

Leadership Tests and Triumphs: Leading in a Pandemic and Beyond
Erin’s work as a coach provided a front-row seat to the challenges, triumphs and tough decisions that faced accounting leaders in 2020. Discover the biggest lessons learned and explore what the last year has shown us about what it really takes to successfully lead in today’s fast-moving accounting world. How did your leadership hold up under pressure? Explore your next steps in developing leadership skills that will stand the test of time.
Erin Daiber, CPA, PCC – Founder, Well Balanced Accountants, LLC, Oceanside, CA

Nuts & Bolts of Cryptocurrency Taxation (CNTW1-U-00356-21-O)
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether are two trending topics in the fintech world. Yet, few business professionals can grasp the intricacies, opportunities, and challenges posed by this new technology. Gain a high-level, non-technological understanding of the history of cryptocurrencies and the taxation of common cryptocurrency-related transactions. Hear current developments surrounding this topic, such as the inclusion of the virtual currency question on the front of Form 1040, how to successfully navigate through tax notices (CP2000, Letter 6173, Letter 6174 & Letter 6174-A) and tax planning opportunities.  
Shehan Chandrasekera – CoinTracker, Humble, TX