| 8:30 – 10 a.m. |
2011 CPA Small Firm Top Issues: What Keeps You Up at Night?
William R. Pirolli, CPA, CFF, PFS - DiSanto, Priest & Co.
Hey CPA firm owners, what keeps you up at night? In 2009, the PCPS CPA Firm Top Issues Survey showed that client retention topped the list as the greatest worry among practitioners. What has changed now that it’s 2011? PCPS fielded its bi-annual Top Issues survey this spring and Bill Pirolli, CPA and chairman of the PCPS Executive Committee, will present the 2011 findings. During this session, we’ll review the most important challenges CPA firms of all sizes face today. Then we’ll explore solutions to practitioners’ greatest concerns. And finally, we’ll discuss potential resources available to you. You won’t want to miss a look into this year’s CPA firm top issues! |
| 10:15-11:05 a.m. |
A. |
Small Firm Electronic Document Management – An Implementation Road Map
Richard Wheeler, CPA - Wheeler & Associates, PC
Thinking of going paperless in your office but don’t know where to start? Local practitioner Richard Wheeler has been there and is here to offer guidance on what can be an otherwise daunting venture. He will start by explaining the preparation you’ll need take internally — from scanning to software and even how to name documents. He will then discuss the importance of staff training and the timing of implementation. Lastly he will cover internal and external security as well as the options available for data back-up. If you’re considering a paperless office, you won’t want to miss this session! |
| B. |
College Planning Beyond 529 Plans
Kurt Supe, CCPS - Indy College Funding
This presentation will focus on determining the best strategy to pay for college; how they calculate what a family is expected to contribute toward the cost of college; shat to do if your child doesn't qualify for financial aid; how college selection impacts financial aid eligibility; tax and wealth management strategies that can help reduce the overall cost of college; the best ways for grandparents to help pay for independent school and college; how to "know before you go" where your child may be able to get into college and get aid, and which ones your family can afford; and how to integrate college admissions, financial aid, tax aid and personal resources into a single best strategy. |
| C. |
Interactive Discussion Group: Succession Planning: In-Depth
William R. Pirolli, CPA, CFF, PFS - DiSanto, Priest & Co.
Join with your fellow practitioners to discuss one of the hottest topics in CPA firm management today … Succession Planning. Join Bill Pirolli, CPA, chair of the PCPS Executive Committee, as he leads this lively interactive session. Topics to be discussed may include what exactly does succession planning actually mean; internal and external succession options; preparing the next generation for success; what does the merger market currently look like; practice continuation agreements; pricing and other considerations; and getting "dressed for the dance." Bring your questions, answers and war stories! |
| 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m. |
Economic Update and Outlook
Willard Witte, Ph.D., MA - Indiana University
Three topics will be covered in this session. The first topic, the economic situation, will present an overview of the economic situation over the past three years. The second topic, the economic outlook, will present the most recent forecast for the economy from my model of the United States economy and from the Indiana Business Research Center’s model of the Indiana economy. The final topic, risks to the forecast, will discuss several areas in which events could cause the economy to deviate from my forecast path. The session will end with questions and answers. |
| 1:10 – 2 p.m. |
A. |
Key Performance Indicators … Tracking What’s Important
William R. Pirolli, CPA, CFF, PFS - DiSanto, Priest & Co.
Join seasoned firm practitioner Bill Pirolli as he leads this session designed to help you understand the key financial performance indicators for small firms and what they really mean. You will gain insight into the drivers of successful firm economics, learn the top five financial and staffing metrics and what they mean, understand benchmarking studies and improve profitability. No matter what size your firm, understand how your financial and employee metrics can help you grow, make more money and be more attractive for merger or acquisition. |
| B. |
What to Know when Using an Independent Contractor
Hannah Joseph, J.D. - Joseph and Turow, PC
In this session you will learn what the IRS guidelines on contractors and employees don’t tell you, why you need a "contract" with a contractor, and if you need to worry about contractors stealing your clients? |
| C. |
Interactive Discussion Group: Exploring Three Critical Business Development Strategies to Drive Growth
Tamera Loerzel - ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
You may be wondering where — and how much — to invest your limited sales and marketing dollars and resources. In this session, we will explore three topics to help you generate new ideas, strategies and actions that you can implement to increase your marketing and business development success. Come prepared to engage in a roundtable discussion on the following topics: bringing more "A" clients into your firm through target account selling and closing the "right" business; getting your firm’s name out by spreading your firm’s resources across networking organizations; and using a simple spreadsheet to track your prospect, networking and referral source opportunities to promote accountability and drive results
Leave this session with at least one idea you’ll go back and implement to drive growth. |
| 2:10-3 p.m. |
A. |
Creative Staffing To Address Seasonality
Tamera Loerzel - ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
While our profession is making changes, the seasonality and compressed work cycles driven by deadlines remain. Where does that leave firms struggling to have the right resources at the right time? In this session, we will explore ideas and discuss programs to help you address your seasonal staffing challenges, including: exploring "out-of-the-box" staffing ideas and strategies for finding non-traditional people; implementing flex-programs for any size team enabled by technology to "get the job done;" and taking care of your current team to ensure they are at their peak performance. You will leave this session with action you can take to prepare your team for your next "busy season!" |
| B. |
Windows 7 Tips & Tricks
Will Fleenor, CPA, CITP, Ph.D. - K2 Enterprises
You've migrated to Windows 7, but are you getting the most out of your investment? In this session, you will learn how to configure and use Windows 7 more effectively to improve your productivity, security and reliability. This session will teach you how to take full advantage of your operating system and use it to achieve maximum productivity. |
| C. |
Interactive Discussion Group: Top Five Legal Issues Facing You
Hannah Joseph, J.D. - Joseph and Turow, PC
Myths about Non-Competes and Employment Agreements
Do you own the rights to your web site? What is your process for collection of A/R? What does your engagement letter say about the recovery of attorney’s fees and costs of collection? These questions and more will be addressed in this session. |
| 3:20-5 p.m. |
Cloud Computing
Will Fleenor, CPA, CITP, Ph.D. - K2 Enterprises
You have heard about cloud computing for years, but now it is finally here. In this session, you will learn about the available alternatives and some of the potential benefits and risks associated with moving to the cloud. Included in the session are reviews of various cloud-based solutions: accounting solutions, spreadsheets, document management, tax preparation and data storage. Learn about the future of cloud computing by participating in this session.
|