Courses
Course content is designed to give participants a general overview of topic areas as opposed to in-depth technical information, providing material of interest to public, private, and governmental accountants and to CFP® professionals. Interaction and discussion are encouraged in all courses. Credit hours are based on AICPA/NASBA guidelines of 1 credit hour for every 50 minutes. Online conference courses can be found at: www.westerncpe.com/conferences/preconference_intro.cfm.
All courses are CFP Board accepted, with the exception of “A New Stroll Down GAAP Memory Lane” and “World’s Liveliest Accounting Update.”
Each class session begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m.
Monday, December 1
Everybody’s Federal Tax Update
Vern Hoven, CPA, MTA
(6 Taxes) Objective: To learn the latest federal individual tax law changes. This is the 2008 individual tax update course you should attend. Focusing on individual taxation and the latest tax legislation passed, our practical tax planning course is designed for both industry accountants and public tax practitioners. Level: Update
Estate Planning: Leveling the Playing Field
Matt Brodie, CPA, MTA
(6 Taxes) Objective: To learn the basics of estate planning. This course prepares you for more advanced estate planning coursework and provides the following information: an overview of federal estate tax law; the 10 most common estate planning mistakes; the 5 steps to computing federal estate tax; how to compute federal gift tax; technical definition of a gift; how to determine basis; tax implications of a gift; plus other estate tax topics. Level: Basic
A New Stroll Down GAAP Memory Lane
Rod Redding, PhD, CPA
(6 Accounting) Objective: To review major GAAP changes in the last several decades and learn how to implement them. In the past 40 years, the accounting profession has experienced significant changes, including the issuance of over 200 accounting standards and interpretations. This course takes a look back at many of them, including why certain standards were issued and the controversies, if any, around their issuance. The course features lively discussion, problem solving, and examining actual corporate financial statements. Level: Basic
Tuesday, December 2
Business & Corporate Tax Update
Matt Brodie, CPA, MTA
(6 Taxes) Objective: To learn the latest business federal tax law changes. If you attend only one business tax course in 2008, this should be it! This practical tax planning course is designed for both industry accountants and public tax practitioners. It features the latest tax legislation passed and business, corporate, partnership, and IRS auditing changes. Level: Update
Tips, Tricks, & Traps of Designing an Investment Portfolio
Jeff Rattiner, BBA, CPA, MBA, CFP®
(6 Finance) Objective: To learn a variety of tips for successful investing. Discover a turnkey approach for constructing investment portfolios from the ground up so you can competently address your clients’ long-range objectives and concerns. Learn all the essential ingredients competent professionals use, including various Nobel Prize-winning investment theories. Diagnose investment concerns that might arise, determine underlying risks, and measure your success in tackling difficult decisions head on. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of investing principles
World’s Liveliest Accounting Update
Rod Redding, PhD, CPA
(6 Accounting) Objective: To learn recent changes in accounting and auditing standards. The FASB, the PCAOB, and the Auditing Standards Board continue to issue new guidelines for CPAs. Topics discussed in this course include (1) the new FASB standard that provides for fair value in measuring certain assets and liabilities; (2) the PCAOB’s concern that auditors have the expertise necessary to issue audit reports on financial statements containing fair value measurements; (3) preliminary views on accounting for leases, revenue recognition, liabilities and equity, and new financial statement presentations; (4) AS5, which significantly modified the requirements for internal control work under SOX; and (4) several new interpretations of auditing, attestation, and compilations and reviews standards. Level: Update
Wednesday, December 3
Everybody’s Divorce Tax Crash Course
Danny Santucci, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To learn how to apply, implement, and evaluate the strategic tax aspects of marital dissolutions and living-together arrangements. Current perspectives on property transfers, asset divisions, alimony, filing status, exemptions, and child support are examined in this course, and planning considerations are emphasized. Property settlements, basis allocation, third-party transfers, and purchases between spouses are explored and analyzed. Special attention is given to the division of business interests, retirement plans (including QDROs), insurance policies, and the family residence. Level: Basic
Integrated Estate & Financial Planning: A Breakthrough Approach
Anthony Rocca, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To understand the interrelationships of estate planning, financial planning, and asset protection planning and to devise proper planning strategies to integrate them. Estate planning, financial planning, and asset protection planning cannot be conducted in a vacuum—each element has a major impact on the others. The proper sequencing of planning activities among them, and special planning circumstances (e.g., for single parents) are discussed. This novel course is one you cannot afford to miss if you offer financial planning advice. Level: Basic
Critical Personal & Business Insurance Issues Facing Financial Professionals
Jeff Rattiner, BBA, CPA, MBA, CFP®
(6 Management Advisory Services) Objective: To understand the various insurance issues financial professionals might encounter and to learn logical approaches for dealing with them. This fast-paced, exciting session alerts you to insurance exposures you might face and provides solutions to combat them and minimize risk. Topics include life, disability, health, long-term care, automobile, and umbrella insurance. Business-related topics include buy-sell arrangements, key person business overhead, split dollar, death benefit only, group insurance, and deferred compensation. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of insurance principles
Thursday, December 4
Unique & Creative Uses of Trusts
Art Werner, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To gain an understanding of a variety of trusts and how to implement them. Taxpayers create trusts for a variety of reasons. Some are created primarily for tax purposes, but others can cover the gamut of the planning spectrum. This course evaluates creative and current planning uses of the following trusts: irrevocable and revocable trusts; grantor trusts, including GRATs, GRITs, GRUTs, and PRTs; testamentary trusts, including marital deduction trusts and unified credit trusts; trusts for minors; dynasty trusts; life insurance trusts; and S corporation trusts. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of estate planning
IRA Distribution Planning
Robert Keebler, CPA, MTA
(6 Taxes) Objective: To understand the relevant issues in IRA distribution planning. Retirement distribution planning is often understood from an investment perspective, however, many do not understand the complex tax rules associated with it. Discussion focuses on critical tax aspects of retirement distribution planning and ways to avoid common mistakes. Learn how to use this high-level knowledge to become your clients’ most valued advisor. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of financial planning
Generational Estate & Financial Planning Issues
Anthony Rocca, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To understand the estate and financial planning needs of the different generations. At various stages in their lives, people’s financial and estate planning perspectives and requirements change. Learn the specific needs of each generation—Generation X, Generation Y, Baby Boomers, and the Elderly—and how to model estate and financial plans to meet those needs. The course integrates both estate and financial planning—you can’t deal with one without affecting the other. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of estate and financial planning
Friday, December 5
Hot Topics in Estate Planning
Art Werner, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To bring participants up to date on tax law changes that affect estate planning. This course addresses hot topics in estate planning and summarizes several recent developments. Issues discussed include the need for flexible planning solutions and planning techniques, state death tax issues, IRS attacks on family limited partnerships and LLCs, new penalties on taxpayers and appraisers, changes in the taxation of private annuities, and new rules that affect retirement plan distributions. Level: Update
The Mathematics of Wealth Transfer Planning
Robert Keebler, CPA, MTA
(6 Taxes) Objective: To understand the mathematical foundations of wealth transfer planning techniques. Most practitioners understand the basic advantages of transactions such as GRATs, SCINs, and private annuities. What many do not understand, however, are the quantitative “forces” that make these transactions work. Once understood from a quantitative perspective, it is easier to design a successful estate plan. Class discussion focuses on the mathematics behind the most popular estate planning transactions used today, and how to use them together to create the perfect hedge against estate and gift taxes. Level: Intermediate/ Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of financial and estate planning
Creative & Cutting-Edge Uses of Charitable Gifting Strategies
Anthony Rocca, JD
(6 Taxes) Objective: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the estate and financial planning techniques of charitable giving. This course explains the complexities of charitable giving in financial and estate planning, looks at a number of dynamic planning strategies, and highlights how to initiate a total charitable plan. Gifts and bequests, zero estate gift tax, and the tax consequences of charitable giving also are discussed. Level: Intermediate/Prerequisites: Understanding of, and familiarity with, basic giving concepts