- Apply automation and artificial intelligence tools to accounting and auditing scenarios and boost the efficacy of your practice.
- Identify creative and trending strategies that firms are using to fill the talent gap.
- Collect insights from the Michigan Dept. of Treasury on flow-through entity tax, cannabis sales and more.
Conversations. Camaraderie. Career-Building.
Small firms, big ideas. Get ready to brainstorm with your professional peers, friends and colleagues about how to overcome today’s biggest challenges. Our objective: to facilitate a meaningful exchange of ideas that address real world problems, surprises and paths to success, while attendees forge new connections vital to their profession.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
The room
block deadline expired on July 26th, but special room rates may still be
available. Please call the MICPA at 855.594.4273 to inquire.
PRICING DETAILS
Register early to
take advantage of the best price! Please note, discounted pricing is already
reflected in the online price. No promo code is needed.
Through July 19: $204
MICPA Members/ $279 Non-Members
July 20 - August 1: $214 MICPA Members/ $289
Non-Members
August 2 - August 15: $224 MICPA Members/ $299
Non-Members
Thank You to our Premier Sponsor:
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Thank You to Our Program Sponsors:
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Thank You to our Supporting Sponsor:
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Thank You to our Photo Booth Sponsor:
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CPAs that are sole proprietors through firms with 15 CPAs.
- Multiple Speakers
After registering for this event, you can customize your sessions via 'My Registrations'
SBA Loans 101: A CPA’s Guide to Small Business
Financing
Learn about the
basics and advantages of the various SBA loans and how they can benefit you The
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides several programs which CPAs
and their clients can leverage. Determine the key characteristics of the SBA
504, SBA 7(a) and Community Advantage loan programs, including who qualifies,
their pros and cons and how to apply for each.
Coty Gould – Senior Loan Officer, Michigan Certified
Development Corporation, East Lansing
Steve Pricco – Director
of Government Lending (SBA), Michigan Certified Development Corporation, East Lansing
Leadershift Ethics: Things Must Change!
Change can sometimes feel as if it is everywhere all at once, especially in
the business world as new technologies, circumstances and processes are
introduced. Amid this rapid pace of change, professionals are confronted with
the challenge of implementing decisions with an eye on long-term impact to
business, community and people. Determine strategies for measuring ethics
through change by filtering actions through a simple litmus test and by learning
from the lessons of other organizations and their ethical
mistakes.
Tammy Daugherty – People Matter Consulting
LTD, Cincinnati, OH
09:40 AM - 10:30 AM
Staying informed of financial reporting updates is critical to positioning your clients’ private companies for success. Review why there is a need for this framework and discuss the intended use by privately held small- to medium-sized entities (SMEs) in preparing their financial statements.
James R. Sullivan, CPA – CFO, ATS Advisors, A CPA Firm, Plymouth
Losing a spouse is devastating enough, but when recently widowed clients are unprepared for the taxes and expenses that follow, it can make it even more difficult. Discuss the proactive ways your clients can help mitigate the consequences of the widow’s penalty – potentially saving them thousands each year in tax and lower Medicare premiums.
Bob Ingram, CFP – Certified Financial Planner, Center for Financial Planning, Inc., Southfield
10:50 AM - 11:40 AM
Amid the ongoing CPA talent shortage, firms are finding creative ways to meet the moment. Our panelists discuss their insight into trending strategies firms are using to fill the talent gap, from third-party staffing companies to campus career services and more.
Gary Blanck, CPA – Partner, Swad & Company, Livonia
Christine Peters, CPA – Shareholder, Partyka & Company PC, Warren
Michelle Randall, CPA, CGMA – Professor of Accounting, Schoolcraft College, Livonia
Moderator: Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Association of CPAs, Troy
Gaining an Understanding of the Client’s
Industry
Understanding your clients is absolutely essential to
offering the most effective guidance. We explore practitioner best practices and
resources for onboarding and getting to know new clients including how to do
your research.
James R. Sullivan, CPA – CFO, ATS Advisors,
A CPA Firm, Plymouth
11:50 AM - 12:40 PM
Insider Insights: State of Michigan Department
of Treasury Panel Discussion
Gather updates and insights from the
Michigan Department of Treasury regarding the flow-through entity tax, taxation
of retirement income, and non-traditional tax situations like cannabis
sales.
Jesse Kirchner – Administrative Law Specialist, State
of Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing
Angela Matelski
– Income Tax Specialist, State of Michigan Department of Treasury,
Lansing
Moderator: Sam Hodges, CPA, CGMA – Partner, Sam
Hodges & Associates, Troy
Determining how Social Security benefits will factor into a client’s retirement plan is largely dependent on individual circumstances. Develop strategies for discussing Social Security benefits with clients, including the type of information needed for effective planning, how recent Social Security updates could impact individual retirement plans and more.
Lara Mazek, CFP – Financial Advisor, Advanced Capital Management, Southfield
Daniel D. McHugh, CFP, CPA – Financial Advisor, Advanced Capital Management, Southfield
01:30 PM - 02:20 PM
02:30 PM - 03:20 PM
ESG at Scale: The Small Firm
Perspective
Economic, social and governance (ESG) issues are a huge
concern among large organizations, but are they scalable? Determine the value of
ESG initiatives at the small firm level with a frank discussion about scope,
incentives and impacts.
Laurie Hoose, PMP – Senior Manager,
ESG Practice Lead, Plante Moran, Southfield
Trevor Kuenz,
CPA – Audit Senior Manager, Deloitte, Detroit
Moderator: Bob
Wexler, CPA – CPA, PLW CPA, PLLC, Sterling Heights
Planning for the 2026 Sunset of Gift and Estate
Tax Exemptions
The scheduled reduction of the Federal Estate
Exemption amount by one half on January 1, 2026, is causing a great many
affluent taxpayers to consider what actions to take with respect to large gifts
and other strategies. These clients will be best served by consideration of what
planning techniques or series of techniques can be used to maximize estate tax
reduction while allowing the client to maintain as much control as possible and
remaining assets and/or access thereto to assure that the clients do not run out
of assets during their lifetimes.
John Giarmarco, JD, LL.M.
– Trusts and Estates Practice Group, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.,
Troy
03:30 PM - 04:20 PM
Ask the Experts Panel: Investing in a World of
Uncertainty
Investing amid economic uncertainty can feel a lot like
rolling the dice. Avoid missteps by investigating strategies for identifying
strong investment opportunities and contingencies when economic markets throw
mixed signals.
Jeff Manzella, CFP, AIF– President,
30,000 FT Wealth Management, Sterling Heights
Mark J.
Rogers, CIMA®
– Managing Director, Institutional Consultant,
Family Wealth Director with Graystone Consulting – Farmington Hills from Morgan
Stanley
Moderator: Matthew S. Kidd, CPA – Partner, Blunden &
Kidd Accounting & Consulting PC, Livonia
Analytics and Metrics – Building a Client
Financial Dashboard
Want to see how a financial dashboard can be
used to help clients track, visualize and make more informed decisions?
Determine the necessary information for building a client financial dashboard as
well as which tools are best for data analysis and how to import financial data
from multiple sources.
Wesley G. Salisbury, CMA – Senior
Consultant, Maner Costerisan, P.C., Lansing
04:30 PM - 05:20 PM
Qualified Retirement Plans: A Study and
Review
Open discussion on different plan design strategies, such as
SEP’s and SIMPLE’s vs 401(k) and Cash Balance. Discuss the different types
of Safe Harbor plans and the four methodologies for Profit Sharing calculations.
Identify what is the “gold standard” formula so you can help your clients by
optimizing these tax mitigation strategies, succession planning and more.
Use case studies to examine these different types of Qualified Retirement Plans
so you can help your clients.
Tricia Bailey – VP-Sales
Consultant, Future Plan by Ascensus, Waterford
Using Microsoft Automate in Accounting
Robotic process automation (RPA) is easier and more attainable than
many realize as software as a service (SaaS) options become more widespread.
Explore Microsoft Power Automate’s capabilities while learning how to automate
recurring processes, from creating engagement letters to importing financial
data, to reclaim time and grow your business.
Greg Frazier,
CPA – Owner, Greg Frazier, CPA, PLLC - Detroit
Member
Non-Member