1. Tell us about your session.

I’m excited to talk about two topics that I find endlessly interesting. First, the session will look at the pass-through entity taxes (PTET) that approximately 30 states have enacted as a response to the $10,000 SALT deduction cap that was part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We will also talk a bit about changing state tax residency—a popular topic during and after the pandemic.

2. What you are most looking forward to from the summit?

Beyond escaping January in Buffalo, I am excited to meet new people in the accounting and tax fields, who I expect will have all sorts of practical experiences and tax conundrums that can inform my own practice.

3. What’s the best work advice you have been given?

One of the best pieces of advice I have been given in my practice is to think of how a particular tax issue or a proposed settlement, for instance, impacts the client. It’s easy to get caught up in a particular tax statute or head-to-head with an auditor. But ultimately, we are problem solvers for our clients and state tax issues—whether it’s an audit of an individual’s residency or a voluntary disclosure for a small business—can be deeply personal and impactful.

4. What do you like to do outside of work?

I’d like to say that I like to do something really exciting, like tightrope walking or high-stakes poker. But I mostly enjoy cooking, puttering around in my garden when the weather permits, and hanging out with my one-eyed dog, Maisie.

1. Tell us about your session

This session is designed for CPAs working looking to get an update on standards from the FASB, SSARS, and the AICPA private company audit standards.

Highlights

• FASB updates going live this year
• Private Company Council recent developments
• SSARS Compilation and review update
• New Auditing Standards effective for private companies
• Top accounting and auditing issues for this year-end

2. What you are most looking forward to from the summit?

I am looking to share the new A&A updates with PrimeGlobal partners, managers, principals, and staff accountants. I want to have discussions on how the new updates apply to their practice.

3. What’s the best advice you have been given?

To stay focused. This is key - you need to know how to prioritize your time to get the most value from serving your clients. Otherwise, you spread yourself too thin and your clients notice the difference. Today's clients are demanding and they have high expectations.

4. What do you do outside of work?

I am an avid traveler - I have been all over the world (all 50 states, all Canadian provinces), 13 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. My seminar business takes me to a lot of places in North America where I meet so many CPAs each year at the conferences and in-house training I do. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family.

Bonus Questions

What led you to pursue a career as a CPA?

When I was in high school my initial career choice was to be a translator and work for the European common market so I studied German, Spanish, and French. Plus I loved math - calculus, and linear algebra - 2 very different career paths. I took a career test and it showed I would do equally well as a translator as well as an accountant.

I went for an accountant as I needed the numbers so in my undergraduate business degree I focused on Accounting and Finance. This was the best choice for me.

How did you get into public speaking as a full-time career?​ ​

After working as an auditor plus holding different industry positions including director of finance for a public company, I found I was doing a lot of volume but needed more challenges. When I finished my MBA degree in 1990 I took a 1-year sabbatical to see how I could put my MBA to good use plus find a career where I would be challenged and 31 years later this is where I am. Very interesting work; with lots of challenges; visiting great places like Palms Springs, California and meeting great people.

1. Tell us about your session

Would you win a game of Two Truths and a Lie? In my fast-paced keynote, you’ll learn how to use my fraud prevention system to find the liars in today’s headlines…and in your own life.

2. What are you most looking forward to from the summit?

I love engaging and laughing with my audiences and seeing them get it. Off stage, I'm most excited about going somewhere warm and playing golf.

3. What’s the best work advice you have been given?

• Not every thought you have needs to be expressed.
• Outsourcing can be one of your best tools
• Get involved with your professional association

4. What do you like to do outside of work?

I like going cycling, skiing, hiking, and playing guitar and I'm currently learning how to play the banjo.