2012 Western Regional Education Conference

Jan 20, 2012 03:30pm -
Jan 22, 2012 12:00pm
(GMT-8)

Event Type: Regional Meeting
Category: SW Regional Meeting

Speaker Information

Education Sessions and Speakers (CPE/ CLE/MCLE)

 

Friday, January 20th

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM (50)

 

 

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts—A Primer

Edward Brown, Esq., CPA, Engel & Reiman pc

This presentation covers the basic components to the ILIT, including sample language to use in the ILIT agreements and related letters to clients. The session will also touch on some of the most often encountered tax snags that arise in ILIT planning. As a bonus section of the presentation, the speaker will provide some ILIT structure concepts that can be presented to the participants’ clients as excellent vehicles that offer benefits over and above the standard “garden-variety” ILIT. This will provide additional planning opportunity ideas that the conference attendee can add to their repertoire of planning services.

4:50 PM - 5:40 PM (50)

 

Hot Topics in Charitable Giving

Brian Yacker, CPA, J.D., YH Advisors, The Exempt Org Experts

Get ready to hear the hottest news on charitable giving.  Topics to be addressed during this session include: Earmarking , Substantiation , Determination of Fair Market Value for Non-Cash Contributions, Quid Pro Quo Contributions, Conservation Easements, and IRS Revocation List.

 

Saturday, January 21st

8:30 AM - 9:20 AM (50)

 

Reporting Offshore Accounts and the Voluntary Disclosure Process

Jeff Kahn, Esq., CPA, Law Offices of Jeffrey B. Kahn, P.C.

Be aware of the new requirements and updates in reporting foreign accounts and how you can help protect your clients from the IRS in their efforts to impose penalties and seek criminal prosecution.

9:20 AM - 10:10 AM (50)

 

The Complexities of Taxing Internet Sales: Is the Active Avoidance of Nexus Good Tax Planning or Tax Evasion?

Mary Thomas, Esq., CPA, Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, PC

The session will encompass an interactive discussion of nexus issues epitomized by Amazon.com from legal, accounting, economic, and political standpoints.

10:20 AM - 12:00 PM (100)

 

How to Keep Your Money, Your Clients and Your License to Practice-The New Rules of Client Trust Accounts

Jay Foonberg, Esq., CPA

Generally accepted accounting terminology, is contrary to the terminology used in the new rules of client trust accounts and can lead an uninformed attorney-cpa to financial ruin and disciplinary problems.  With the knowledge of this course, you can make things happen rather than asking, "What Happened?"  This interactive session will provide current information on the new rules and requirements for attorney client trust accounts. Knowing the new rules will enable you to protect your own license and give you a competitive advantage in attracting and keeping attorney clients and their referrals.  This session can also help you craft appropriate fee agreements to avoid disciplinary and financial problems.   IOLTA, Electronic banking, Bank failures, FDIC coverage, required monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliation and reports will be covered.

 

Sunday, January 22nd

8:45 AM - 10:25 AM (100)

 

Tax Roundtable Discussion

John Akard, Esq., CPA, John Akard Jr., P.C.

This will be a highly interactive discussion about Federal, State, Estate, Gift and International Tax issues raised by the attendees.  Our members and attendees are some of the best and brightest professionals and this discussion will attempt to utilize the intellect and creativity of our members in a spirited conversation.  A prize will be given to the best participant!

 

Meet Our Faculty

 

John Akard, Jr. is the Immediate Past President of the AAA-CPA and previously served as President of the Texas and South Texas Chapters of AAA-CPA from 1998-2006.  He is both a Certified Public Accountant who obtained his Texas licence in March 1991 and an Attorney licensed in Texas since November 1994.  John maintains a solo practice through John Akard Jr., P.C. and is “of Counsel” to the full-service civil practice firm of Mason, Coplen & Banks, P.C. from January 1, 1999 - present focusing in the areas of bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, and corporate matters.  He has handled matters before bankruptcy courts in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Delaware.  Additionally, John serves on the Commonwealth International Series Trust from 2002 - present as an Independent Trustee, Chair and Financial Expert of the Audit Committee.  The Business Trust is comprised of the publicly traded Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Global, Japan and Real Estate Securities Funds. 

 

Edward Brown, is a principal in the Denver, Colorado-based law firm of Engel & Reiman pc, founded in 1984.  Over the past twenty-plus years, Brown has developed extensive experience and expertise in the areas of integrated estate planning and taxation. Voted as one of the Top 3 Asset Protection Attorneys in the March 2011 Denver Magazine,   Brown speaks frequently to professional organizations on a wide range of legal subjects including integrated estate planning, asset protection and related subject matters.  He has authored numerous articles on a variety of legal topics that have appeared in local and national publications such as the Estate Planning, Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Journal of Taxation, Journal of International Taxation, The Tax Adviser, Asset Protection Journal, Journal of Financial Planning and The Colorado Lawyer.  Brown co-authored with his partners an article in the March, 2011 Estate Planning magazine entitled, “Tax Compliance Tips for Integrated Estate Planning Trusts.”

 

Jay Foonberg is one of the founders of the AAA-CPA and served as association president.  A graduate of both U.C.L.A. and U.C.L.A. Law, Foonberg has pursued further education with courses at Harvard Law School, Cambridge University, England and Duke University School of Law. He is a founder of the ABA Law Practice Management Section and the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division, as well as a member of the ABA House of Delegates.  The ABA recognized him four times with lifetime achievement awards including the Prestigious Harrison Tweed Award as the Most Outstanding Continuing Legal Educator in the USA.   He is possibly the most knowledgeable person in America on the subject of lawyer trust accounts teaching Lawyer Client Trust Accounts to attorneys for more than twenty years.   Foonberg is the only person to have lectured for CLE in all US fifty states, and six territories, and on all seven continents including Antarctica.  A renowned author, his book How to Start and Build a Law Practice, is a best seller and the most stolen book from law libraries in the U.S.  He also wrote The American Bar Association Guide to Lawyer Trust Accounts.

 

Jeffrey Kahn is the principal of the Law Offices Of Jeffrey B. Kahn, P.C. headquartered in Walnut Creek and with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Fairfield, Marin County, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. He is a Member of the California and Florida Bars and is Board Certified in Tax Law by the California and Florida Bars who practices in the areas of tax and estate planning, resolution of tax controversies and general business transactions. He earned his LL.M. degree in Taxation and J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law, and his B.B.A. degree from Florida International University. He has taught classes in the areas of taxation and estate planning as an adjunct Professor for Nova Southeastern University School of Business and Entrepreneurship and he holds a Florida Certified Public Accountant license. He has been a member of the AAA-CPA since 1988.

 

Mary Thomas, Vice President of Business Development--Corporate Secretary, Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, PC is a certified public accountant and attorney whose experiences in both the accounting and legal fields bring added value to clients. Prior to joining Barbara J. Thomas, CPA in 1999, Thomas worked as a compliance auditor at an internationally known health institution and as an auditor at a Big Four accounting firm. She researched external and internal reporting requirements, audited existing systems, and presented feasible solutions to bring the client systems into compliance with internal and external guidelines. Thomas also gained diversified legal experience while working with law firms in Austin and Houston. She has volunteered her legal services at the First Court of Appeals in Houston, TX.   Thomas speaks at various professional organizations about unclaimed property and sales tax issues. She has co-authored many books including Texas Taxes for the Construction Industry and Texas Taxes for the Hospitality Industry.  She is a member of the AAA-CPA, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Houston Bar Association.  A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Houston, Thomas gained her law degree from University of Texas at Austin and became a licensed CPA in 1997.

 

Brian Yacker has over 19 years of tax, legal, and accounting experience in the exempt organizations area. He focuses exclusively in working with exempt organizations. Yacker possesses a vast amount of experience and expertise in preparing and reviewing Forms 990, 990-T, 990-PF and state tax-exempt forms and the preparation and filing of both federal and state tax exemption applications for public charities, private foundations, and other exempt organizations.  Yacker is actively involved in the AAA-CPA, serving on their Board of Directors, Finance Committee and their IRS Liaison Committee. Additionally, Brian just completed his four-tenure as the AAA-CPA’s representative on the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee (Office of Professional Responsibility Subgroup). Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors and is an Executive Committee member for BookEnds.  Yacker is member of the American Bar Association serving on the Exempt Organizations Committee. He also is a member of the California Bar Association's Tax Section. And the AICPA’s EO Tax Technical Resource Committee.   Yacker is the co-leader of the OC-LB EO Interest Group and the soon to be formed San Diego EO Interest Group.