Fall CPE Conference

The FASB has stayed busy the last few years with more than a dozen ASUs issued since the start of 2023. This session will review those newly issued ASUs and the items on the FASB’s technical agenda, and previously issued ASUs which will be effective for 2025 annual reporting.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

Major tax changes are coming in 2025 - and the time to prepare is now. This session will break down the most critical provisions affecting business tax, highlighting what’s new (including OBBBA), what’s likely to change, and what it all means for the next filing season. Explore practical implications of proposed legislation and planning strategies CPAs should be considering today.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

Only 10% of people feel confident in their communication skills. As Jerry Seinfeld once joked, more people fear public speaking than death. And it’s no wonder, public speaking is a vulnerable act that exposes you to rejection, judgment, and ridicule - three things our brains are wired to avoid. But public speaking is also a learnable skill. While there are no shortcuts to mastery, there is a way to turn fear into fuel, and use that energy to deliver clear, confident and influential presentations.

In this session learn to:

• Structure your thoughts, arguments and presentations for maximum impact
• Use both verbal and non-verbal communication to captivate and connect with your audience
• Apply practical tools and techniques to manage anxiety and speak with greater confidence

Whether you’re presenting in the boardroom, at a conference, or on camera, this session will help you level up your communication skills and own the room.

Speaker: Erik Dominguez | Speak Up Stories

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

Auditing and attestation standards are updated to respond to a changing environment, recent technological advancements, emerging trends, and feedback from peer reviews. This session will review new and previously issued SASs and SSAEs which will need to be considered on 2025 engagements. Also discuss what you need to know to perform financial statement preparations, compilations, and review engagements this year. And focus on managing SSARS No. 21-27 services in compliance with professional, ethical, and technical requirements and discuss recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

Aside from OBBBA, there are plenty of other new items to talk about for individuals. This session will discuss the implications of final regs on RMDs, the SALT cap, overtime deductions, Trump accounts and more.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

Leadership confidence isn't just about what you know - it's about how well you understand and manage emotions, both your own and those around you. Here's a startling reality: 95% of people believe they are self-aware, but only 10-15% actually are, according to organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich. This awareness gap is costing leaders credibility, teams trust and organizations results. The truth is, emotional intelligence is the secret weapon of confident leaders. Research shows that 90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence, yet most leaders struggle to develop these critical skills that directly impact team trust, engagement and performance. When you understand the five core components of emotional intelligence - self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills - you unlock the ability to lead with authentic confidence that inspires others.

Speaker: Erik Dominguez | Speak Up Stories

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

Engagement quality is the ultimate benchmark that auditors should be judged against. As leaders at your firms, you have primary responsibility for ensuring that all engagement work is performed on time, within budget and in accordance with professional standards. Unfortunately, recent peer review results have shown that engagement quality is not always what it should be. This session will review the current status of the AICPA’s Enhancing Audit Quality initiative by reviewing recent results from peer reviews and points of focus for upcoming peer reviews. Review common sources of identified peer review deficiencies, relevant guidance related to these deficiencies and suggestions for how to improve engagement quality.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

In an increasingly online world where geography is less important, some companies are looking both inside and outside of the United States for talent.  However, foreign contractors have many unique tax attributes - and their filing requirements can differ depending on if they are classified as a resident or nonresident alien. This session discusses tax requirements related to both domestic and foreign contractors. Using discussion and examples, identify situations to watch out for and when certain forms may be required.  Also discuss what to do in the case of worker misclassification.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

Our brains are wired for stories. Science proves it: Rich narratives engage several areas in the brain, stimulating emotions, sensory experiences and social cognition. That’s what makes stories more memorable than dry facts. And the good news is, it’s usually more fun to present a story than list a bunch of statistics. Whether you’re delivering a presentation, pitching an idea, or enhancing your personal brand, mastering the craft of storytelling is crucial for capturing attention, influencing others, and inspiring action. Through interactive activities, real-world examples, and expert guidance, learn to harness your unique experiences to communicate authentically and powerfully. Walk away with applicable skills you can use right away to elevate your presentations, sales conversations, internal events and daily interaction.

Speaker: Erik Dominguez | Speak Up Stories

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

In November 2024 the FASB completed their post-implementation (PIR) process for ASC 606, Revenue. As revenue remains one of the more complex financial statement line items to audit and prepare, this session will discuss the results of the FASB’s final report on revenue recognition and review best practices and key provisions within the standard to best prepare you and your clients to tackle revenue recognition.  

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

Financial professionals are constantly inundated with new information about the Internal Revenue Code. While it’s easy to dismiss content from unreliable social media accounts or obscure websites, the challenge lies in evaluating information from trusted sources.

For example:

• Is a court decision more authoritative than guidance from the IRS?
• What should you do if IRS-issued information conflicts with the law?
• Can you rely on IRS guidance that was provided to a different taxpayer?

This session dives deep into secondary sources of tax information, examining their authority, relevance and potential conflicts. Explore real-world scenarios where these conflicts arise and discuss strategies for evaluating and resolving them. Clarify the distinctions between giving tax advice, preparing a tax return, and taking a position on a return - key areas that impact compliance and professional judgment.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

Leadership confidence is becoming one of the biggest problems in the modern workplace. Research suggests that a majority of leaders, up to the C-suite level, lack confidence in their ability to handle challenges and lead their teams through major changes. This can be summed up as a strong fear of failure and an inability to step outside the comfort zone. These confidence issues trickle down to the team dynamic as a whole. In fact, a recent Gallup poll shows that only 21 percent of employees strongly agree that they trust their organization's leadership team. Here's the good news: Confidence can be developed! By digging into "The Three T's of Confidence" learn to get comfortable stretching beyond your comfort zone, clarify your story about yourself, transform your fear of failure into fuel for the future. Because the truth is, the greatest moments in your life happen outside your comfort zone.

Speaker: Erik Dominguez | Speak Up Stories

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

When partnerships make distributions to their partners, the rules are relatively straightforward. However, what happens when they make distributions of both cash and property? What happens if the distribute inventory or cash basis receivables? And when would more than one Form 7217 for the same distribution be required?  Discuss these issues and many more for those more complex scenarios.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

This session focuses not simply on theory but on HOW to perform the steps involved in implementing the AICPA’s Statement on Quality Management Standards 1, 2, and 3 (SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3, respectively), SSARS No. 26, SAS 146, and SSAE 23.

The Quality Management Suite of Standards must be implemented by December 15, 2025. The standards modernize the firm’s approach to quality to reflect an increased focus on risk assessment, technology use, and the presence of outside experts on many engagements. Beginning with performing a risk-based approach, the standards provide accounting firms with the ability to enhance their quality control by shifting their focus to a proactive approach (management) from a reactive approach (control). This session covers how to perform a risk assessment, including the key provisions of the standards, and how to effectively implement a monitoring plan. Also review how the firm will evaluate its System of Quality Management beginning in 2026.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

We’re living and working in a time of constant disruption and accelerated change - professionally, personally and globally. Yet few of us are ever taught how to navigate these transitions with clarity, resilience and intention. This interactive and reflective session explores practical strategies for staying grounded in the midst of uncertainty and tools to help build emotional resilience through career changes, life pivots or unexpected challenges. Whether you’re facing a professional shift, personal transition, or just feeling the impact of change fatigue, this session will offer a framework to help you respond - not just react.

Speaker: Jann Freed, MBA, Ph.D.

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

Multiple new ethics updates and interpretations have become effective recently or will be effective over the next year. These updates can significantly impact independence assessments and update professional responsibilities in several key areas. We cover staff interpretations for 529 plans and changes to independence rules surrounding recruiting services for clients. And review the changes, their impact and the effective dates of the changes.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session qualfies for 2 hours of Regulatory Ethics credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

People who live with a strong sense of purpose don’t just feel more fulfilled - they actually live longer. Research shows that those with a clear purpose live, on average, 7.5 years longer, and enjoy better health along the way. But purpose isn’t something you find once and forget. It evolves with each season of life, and staying connected to it requires intentional reflection and action. This engaging session explores what “living on purpose” really means and why it matters, how to identify (or rediscover) your unique sense of meaning at any age or career stage and practical strategies and daily habits that align your actions with what matters most. Whether you're starting your career, navigating mid-life transitions, or reimagining what comes next, this session will help you reconnect with what drives you to live with more clarity, energy and meaning.

Speaker: Jann Freed, MBA, Ph.D.

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

How debt is allocated to the partners in a partnership is important. It dictates how much money may be taken tax-free as a distribution, the losses that flow down to the partners, and the gain or loss on the sale of a partnership interest. However, the allocation of debt can differ depending on the type of debt that it is and the type of partner we are talking about. Not to mention that 704(c) can complicate things. And what in the world is a constructive liquidation scenario? This session tackles the concept of debt allocations – how to do it, what it means and why.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

A common issue among small business owners is how to extract cash in the most tax advantageous way possible. This session discusses advanced distribution topics such as fringe benefits that don't need to be added back into the W-2 of an S-Corp shareholder, minimum guaranteed payments, reasonable compensation considerations, and many more.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.

Time is the most democratic resource we have - everyone gets the same 24 hours each day, no matter their title, background or to-do list. But how we choose to spend that time makes all the difference. This thought-provoking session takes a closer look at how habits align with personal and professional priorities, and how to make intentional shifts to create more meaning, focus and satisfaction in your day-to-day life. Whether you're battling burnout, juggling multiple roles or simply want to be more present and purposeful, this session will help you reclaim your time and use it in ways that serve you best.

Speaker: Jann Freed, MBA, Ph.D.

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

There has always been a lot to keep up with in the world of single auditing. However, with the 2024 revision to the Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards becoming effective, a December 2024 amendment to the Single Audit Act, and a 2024 revision to the Yellow Book, it seems there is more change than ever these days. This session provides updates on the key issues affecting single auditing in 2025 and in the years to come.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

Recent developments in the political landscape have made a complicated business, legal, accounting, and regulatory environment even more challenging to navigate. The uncertainty as to how the new federal policies will play out means that businesses must be more alert and nimbler. Needless to say the business environment is fraught with risk and uncertainty has given rise to more contingencies than in the past as well as the possibility that many entities may not be able to continue as going concerns.

Accounting and auditing literature has evolved over recent years, especially in the area of management and the auditor’s responsibilities related to the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Contingency literature has not evolved much but the elements that give rise to contingencies have expanded as has the need for fair presentation. This means that even if there is no specific disclosure related to a transaction type or activity the disclosures to reach fair presentation must be made, no matter the financial reporting framework. Simply put, fair presentation is a ““true and fair view”” which provides the user of the financial statements with a faithful representation of the economic activities of the reporting entity.

Speaker: Kerry E. Roberts, CPA

This session is available to registrants only.

We’ve all heard that "networking is key," but for many professionals, the word itself can feel transactional, uncomfortable or even inauthentic. The truth is, building a strong professional network doesn’t have to feel like forced small talk or a sales pitch. This session explores how to grow and strengthen your network in ways that feel natural, meaningful, and aligned with your personality and goals. Explore how to create authentic connections that not only support your career growth but also lead to new ideas, opportunities and long-term collaboration.

Speaker: Jann Freed, MBA, Ph.D.

Note: This session is categorized as non-technical CPE credit.

This session is available to registrants only.

Closely-held corporations are more common than the billion dollar businesses that we hear about on the news. From a tax perspective, they are often more complex too. This session discusses the nuances around nonrecognition provisions at formation, as well as how to structure redemptions. Also review deduction timing, including when to use the recurring item exception and when is economic performance met.

Speaker: David Peters, CPA, CFP, MST, CPCU, CLU | Peters Professional Education

This session is available to registrants only.