The C.E. "Breakfast Series"

CPA Continuing Education

A series of four classes providing 12 hours of CE credits to qualified CPAs. Includes full breakfast at The Pacific Club, prior to each class.

Professional Conduct & Ethics

June 22nd  - 4 credits (Art Berkowitz)
The primary goal of this class is to challenge accounting professionals to recognize situations that may not always be black and white violations of rules and regulations. Accountants are encouraged to look for ethical situations which may not appear to be potential problems on the surface, and to view such ethical dilemmas from the vantage point of hindsight or as they would be perceived by third parties.  Most of the cases studies rare taken from real life situations, allowing the participants to theorize how they might handle these situations themselves, before learning what the actual outcomes were.

Accounting Fraud Prevention

July 22th - 4 credits (Art Berkowitz)
This class is designed as a practical guide to assist accountants in industry, government and public practice in dealing with the risks of fraud. The course utilizes case studies, and contains independent research on the causes of fraud and how and why people commit fraud, as well as the latest techniques in managing earnings. In addition, this class also:

• Provides practical situations to help you detect and prevent fraud in small businesses & government entities
• Answers the question, “Can SAS 99 be useful in detecting fraud?
• Present  findings of the PCAOB and the Association of Fraud Examiners

IRA-to-Roth Conversions

August 24th - 2 credits (Jon LaVine)
The Roth conversion floodgates are open! Learn how Roth conversions can trigger unintended tax traps and financial problems that are not being addressed in the mounds of 2010 Roth conversion information that currently dominates the media. Certain tax and planning details should be addressed in every Roth Conversion evaluation. Don’t let your clients or you get caught by surprise by attending this class and avoid the 15 Roth Conversion Traps.

Investment Fraud Detection

September 21st - 2 credits (Lance Hicks)
The class explores actual case studies of various investment frauds, in particular Ponzi schemes that continue to be perpetrated on unsuspecting and trusting investors year after year. Learning to identify “Red flags”, and how to perform adequate and in depth due diligence upfront and in advance, will be among the key items analyzed and discussed.  Participants will be presented with hypothetical “investment opportunities” and asked to perform an analysis of the perceived and potential risks thereof, and will also be invited to share their own encounters with fraudulent investment activities and discuss what the outcomes were.