CPE + Events Catalog

Kasey Pittman of Cherry Bekaert and Mark Gallegos of Porte Brown LLC examine the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), outlining the policy context behind its passage and the tax provisions with the greatest practical impact. They discuss key business, individual, and estate tax changes, highlighting planning opportunities, risks, and areas of uncertainty. The session emphasizes holistic tax planning, state conformity considerations, and advisor judgment under the new law.

Tax practice demands more than technical calculations'it requires sound judgment under Circular 230, the AICPA Code, and the 2024 SSTS revisions. This course shows how to recognize and manage conflicts of interest (possible, potential, actual), obtain and document informed consents, and decide when withdrawal is required. You'll learn what to do when client errors or omissions surface, how SSTS 1.2 and Circular 230 §§10.21/10.22 shape your duties, and how to protect clients (and yourself) with engagement letters, scope clarity, and careful documentation. We'll translate due-diligence principles into daily practice'what you may rely on, when to probe, how to mitigate §6694 exposure, and how to organize files to preserve work product. The program also covers controversy representation (2848 vs 8821), WISP/data-security expectations, and practical checklists that elevate quality review and reduce malpractice risk.

Your health is one of your most valuable assets, and the decisions you make around it can shape both your financial future and quality of life. This course breaks down the key options for medical coverage, from workplace plans to government exchanges and health savings accounts. You'll gain a clearer view of how to protect your clients "and yourself" from financially devastating health events by analyzing the personal, tax, and financial factors that matter most.

Clients increasingly rely on your expertise to mitigate risks and secure their financial futures. This course will equip you with essential knowledge about the latest developments in virtual currency, including an in-depth exploration of Bitcoin, its underlying technology, and the evolving regulatory landscape. You will gain insights into investment strategies that can enhance your ability to advise clients effectively, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of this dynamic market. By the end of the course, you will be empowered to leverage various tools and techniques that will not only enhance your professional skill set but also significantly benefit your clients' investment decisions in the realm of virtual currency.

In a merger or acquisition, both the buyer and seller must consider numerous factors beyond just the purchase structure. These include tax implications, legal considerations, and regulatory approvals. Mark Gallegos, Tax Partner at PorteBrown, has over 20 years of experience in international tax and mergers & acquisitions. He shares his M&A and tax expertise, discussing strategies to help companies make crucial decisions about deal structure as well as both tax and non-tax issues to consider to maximize business combinations.

Minimizing estate and gift tax penalties is important for preserving wealth and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. Beth Kaufman and Melissa Wiley, Partners with Lowenstein Sandler in Washington DC, join this segment to discuss best practices and compliance strategies with respect to estate and gift taxes. This includes discussion of reasonable cause and willful neglect, building a persuasive case for reliance on tax professionals, and understanding penalties for appraisers under IRC Section 6695A. They also discuss strategies to manage late filing and payment penalties, how to leverage the Internal Revenue Manual for penalty abatement/reasonable cause statements, and considerations when applying first-time abatement (FTA).

Understanding Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET), Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), and Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) tax is important for identifying strategies to minimize tax liabilities for owners and partners of pass-through entities. David Kirk, Tax Partner and leader of the Private Tax Group of Ernst & Young LLP's National Tax Department, joins this segment to discuss key tax issues for PTEs and explains the differences between credit and corporate taxation models for PTET, state-specific rules, and the impact of default elections. This includes discussion of how pro rata allocation affects deductions and credits, potential S Corporation status issues, and the role of grantor trusts.

Stay up to date on key federal and California tax changes shaping today's family law landscape. This session highlights recent income and reporting updates, California tax considerations for alimony, and a practical refresher on Family Code § 4055, with insights into how these developments impact divorce and support matters. The topics covered include the One Big Beautiful Bill income changes, the Secure 2.0 Act, California taxes related to alimony, the 1099 threshold changes, and a refresher on Family Code § 4055. This session was recorded on February 12, 2026 for CalCPA's Tax Issues in Divorce Mini-Conference.

Explore ongoing tax issues that frequently arise during divorce, including uncooperative spouses, inconsistent income reporting, and allocation of RSUs and other compensation. This session also covers innocent spouse relief and key considerations when amending previously filed joint tax returns. Topics covered include dealing with a non-cooperative spouse during separation, inconsistent positions on income, allocating RSUs and other income during and after divorce, the concept of innocent spouse, and the process of amending previously filed joint returns - with or without a former spouse. This session was recorded on February 12, 2026 for CalCPA's Tax Issues in Divorce Mini-Conference.

Paul Mladjenovic breaks down the key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill, spotlighting permanent tax changes, new deductions, and expanded credits. This session equips professionals to quickly recognize planning opportunities and navigate OB3 - s implications for individuals and small businesses with greater confidence.

Your clients rely on your expertise to mitigate risks and secure their financial futures. This course will keep you updated on recent developments, including the impact of new tax laws on financial planning, tax management, and strategies for long-term care. You will gain insights from esteemed specialists in long-term care insurance, Natalie Karp and Rona Loshak, who will navigate you through the intricacies of the long-term care marketplace. They will emphasize the significance of long-term care planning, outline the financial and non-financial repercussions of inadequate planning, and explore various solutions to uphold your clients - independence and dignity as they age.

Your client just informed you of their terminal illness. What do you do from a tax, financial, insurance, investment, retirement, and estate planning point of view? Decisions you make before death lay the groundwork for planning choices after death. Randy Gardner discusses the strategies that will prepare you for the best post-mortem outcomes and help you put your client's mind at ease.

Learn how to navigate tax regulations and reporting requirements for private foundations. Gain knowledge about excise taxes, income distribution calculations, and how to complete Form 990-PF. Identify transactions subject to excise tax, distinguish between grantmaking and operating foundations, and calculate the average fair market value of assets. Discover reporting requirements for both foreign and domestic grants, and explore topics like excess business holdings, self-dealing, and program-related investments. Understand the basics of Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) and recent regulatory changes affecting net operating losses and alternative investments. Equip yourself with the knowledge to effectively manage private foundation tax compliance.

Tax preparer regulation is a controversial topic among policymakers, the Internal Revenue Service, and certification providers. Proponents claim that regulation protects taxpayers from incompetent preparers, while opponents assert that regulation increases costs and discourages preparers from attaining higher qualifications. Following longstanding regulations in Oregon and California, the IRS implemented the Registered Tax Return Preparer program in 2012, which was unexpectedly invalidated in just its second year. Using this quasi-experimental setting and a unique dataset of all U.S. tax preparers obtained from the IRS, we test the effect of regulation on tax preparer qualifications. We find that tax preparer regulation is positively associated with the proportion of highly qualified tax preparers. We also find that regulation increases (decreases) the likelihood that a market entrant (exiter) is highly qualified. In additional analysis, we find some evidence that tax preparer regulations are associated with increased fees and better tax return quality.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of essential topics, including tax proposals, valuation discounts, and trusts, facilitating a clear understanding of the intricate relationships between real estate and estate and trust planning. By the conclusion, you will have a solid grasp of key concepts that are vital for effective planning in these areas.

1099s are getting messier'are you ready - With multiple 1099 forms now merged into one mega-report for clients and the IRS, it's no wonder fixed income reporting feels more confusing than ever. This course breaks it all down'how the information provided to IRS differs from the backup material in the form, and how to report it all correctly'to help you make sense of the chaos and keep your filings clean.

This course offers an in-depth look at retirement needs models, their flaws, and ways to overcome associated drawbacks. You'll explore holistic retirement planning while reviewing threats to a successful retirement. You'll also hear about recent retirement planning changes, including the elimination of the "Stretch IRA" by the SECURE Act and the new SECURE Act 2.0 changes. We'll address key questions to plan a comfortable retirement and discuss strategies to draw down retirement assets over an extended period. Last updated 2026.

Retirement accounts may be the largest financial asset your client has. Learn to provide valuable retirement planning input rather than mere RMD calculations. Congress has been changing things: witness Secure and Secure 2.0. Beneficiary rules changed in 2019 but final regulations are not effective until 2025. Retirement benefits will be paid to beneficiaries much earlier than was required for pre-2020 deaths. Improper choices and faulty distribution calculations can result in penalties or unnecessary taxes. Retirement plans may be overhauled based on recent legislative changes and IRS interpretations; this effects the self-employed and employees. Course materials contain regulations governing plan distributions and copies of appropriate IRS forms and rulings, updated with the latest cases, rulings, regulations and legislation.

Taking money from a retirement plan before age 59-1/2 or failing to withdraw funds after age 73 leads to penalties. Plan beneficiaries have a separate set of rules as well. There are penalty exceptions and waivers, but some issues have no possible resolution. A withdrawal from a retirement plan is taxable unless it's returned to a plan within 60 days. Some withdrawals cannot be returned and there are some ways to make a late rollover tax-free. Early and late distribution penalties and 60-day rollover failures are prevalent issues that tax preparers must handle despite the size of the firm or the wealth of their clients. Learn the rules of the road in this class. Note: This class presents an in-depth discussion of issues presented in the instructor's class Retirement Distributions: Planning Options.

Big changes are here for retirement plan distributions. On July 19, 2024, t he IRS dropped new Final and Proposed Regulations'and they're a major shift from what we saw in 2022. Join Michael Gray, CPA, as he breaks down what's new, what's changed under SECURE 2.0, and how it all impacts estate planning and post-death retirement account management'especially for surviving spouses and other beneficiaries.