CPE & Event Calendar

The purpose of this program is to discuss the ethical mandates that govern the conduct of tax practitioners. The program focuses on the ethical pronouncements of the IRS in Circular 230, as well as the preparer penalty provisions set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. Please note: This ethics course does not cover state-specific issues and so is not applicable in states that require ethics courses to include specific state laws and regulations. Please check with your state board prior to registering for this program if you are in doubt about whether this program satisfies your state's ethics requirements.

How much can clients contribute to a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), Roth SEP IRA, or Roth SIMPLE IRA? When do enhanced (super) catch-up contributions apply, and when must those catch-up contributions be made on a Roth basis? How does a Roth distribution qualify as tax-free? How did SECURE Act 1.0 and SECURE Act 2.0 fundamentally change Roth funding and distribution rules? These are among the core Roth questions advisors must be able to answer with confidence. As Roth accounts continue to play an increasingly central role in retirement savings strategies — and as contribution rules become more layered and complex — Roth proficiency is no longer optional. In addition, new rules governing age-based enhanced catch-up contributions and the Roth mandate for certain higher-income participants have added a new level of coordination between tax planning, payroll, and retirement plan design. In this course, Denise Appleby simplifies the critical rules that govern Roth funding and Roth distributions across Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, and related employer plans. Emphasis is placed on understanding how the rules interact, where advisors commonly make mistakes, and how recent legislative changes affect real-world planning.

This course explores the data analytics aspects of AI in accounting. Participants will develop skills in leveraging AI tools for enhanced data analytics.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept; it is a current necessity. This session provides a practical roadmap for practitioners to leverage AI safely and effectively. We move from a survey of available tools (from free apps to specialized software) to a deep dive into the ethical guardrails required to protect client data and maintain professional standards. Participants will leave with a playbook of real-world use cases that can be implemented immediately.

This comprehensive annual update brings together key accounting and auditing developments affecting governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The course integrates recent standard-setting activity, emerging global frameworks, and major compliance updates to provide a well-rounded view of changes impacting financial reporting and audit requirements. Participants will begin with an overview of recent accounting developments affecting not-for-profit organizations, including Accounting Standards Updates issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and an introduction to the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS). Emphasis is placed on understanding the purpose of INPAS and how it compares conceptually to U.S. GAAP for not-for-profit entities. The course then shifts to governmental accounting developments, covering recent pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements No. 103, 104, and 105, along with a high-level overview of active GASB exposure drafts and projects. Participants will gain insight into how these changes affect financial reporting, disclosures, and communication with governing bodies. Finally, the course addresses recent developments affecting Single Audits, including the 2024 Uniform Guidance overhaul, updates to Appendix B of the AICPA GAS/Single Audit Guide, and recent guidance issued through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Reporting changes related to SAM.gov are also discussed. Designed for auditors, preparers, and financial leaders working with governmental and not-for-profit entities, this course helps participants understand how recent accounting and auditing changes intersect-and what to monitor as requirements continue to evolve. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

As the new administration proposes changes to tax policies, estate planning strategies must adapt to evolving laws and regulations. This course equips financial professionals with advanced tools and techniques to address complex estate planning issues, including the latest legislative and regulatory updates. Participants will gain insights into tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, charitable giving techniques, and the impact of recent tax law changes on estate and gift taxation. With a focus on real-world application, this course provides practical strategies for leveraging closely held stock, split-interest trusts, and life insurance in estate planning. Attendees will explore how to maximize tax benefits while ensuring compliance with changing regulations, ultimately helping clients achieve their financial and legacy goals. *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the business valuation process, beginning with key terminology, professional standards, and the rules that guide the appraisal profession. Participants will explore the three primary approaches to value—Asset, Income, and Market—before focusing in depth on the Asset Approach. The course examines when and why this method is used, its advantages and limitations, and how to apply it effectively in real-world scenarios. Through practical examples and clear explanations of each of the three methods within the Asset Approach, learners will gain both the confidence and competence to apply valuation principles in their professional practice.

Organizations often fail not because strategy is flawed, but because performance is measured poorly. This session focuses on the critical link between strategy, measurement, and execution. Participants will explore why there is no "perfect" metric, how strategy fails due to weak measurement, and how financial and non-financial metrics work together to drive performance. The session emphasizes aligning metrics with mission, strategy, and organizational priorities using practical frameworks such as the Balanced Scorecard. Humorous videos will be incorporated to drive home some key points and keep things entertaining.

The audit landscape for 401(k) plans is shifting'fast. Recent reviews by the U.S. Department of Labor, combined with the introduction of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 136 (SAS 136), are changing how audits are conducted and what's expected of both auditors and plan sponsors. This course gives CPAs the insights and guidance they need to confidently navigate these changes. We'll explore the impact of SAS 136 and other recent updates, with a clear look at the responsibilities involved in an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit'the new standard that has replaced the old limited scope audit. You'll also learn about the most common compliance issues flagged in 401(k) audits, based on findings from the Department of Labor and peer reviewers, and walk away with practical strategies and corrections to strengthen your audit approach.

Passive Activity Loss (PAL) rules have never been more critical in Federal tax reporting. This course provides a comprehensive and complete review of the laws and regulations impacting PALs, including the rules governing rental real estate, grouping and the 3.8% net investment income tax. Learn what qualifies as a passive activity and the rules governing its application by exploring several recent court cases and the existing regulations to know how the IRS views this critical area of the tax law. The IRS is actively auditing the failure to report passive losses properly. You and your clients can't afford to be left behind.

This course provides a concise overview of how to utilize ChatGPT for advanced financial analysis in accounting. The session reveals how to combine sophisticated evaluation and interpretation of financial data with the cutting-edge AI capabilities of ChatGPT. Aimed at enhancing the understanding of an entity's performance, predicting future financial health, and aiding in informed business decision-making, this course goes beyond basic financial statement analysis to include a wide array of techniques and tools. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Appreciation isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. In today's competitive professional landscape, your ability to express appreciation effectively can be the difference between retaining top talent, building strong client relationships, and creating a thriving team culture—or not. This course introduces a powerful, research-backed framework for understanding how appreciation works—and how to use it to fuel performance, loyalty, and engagement across your firm, practice, or department. Based on the work of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White, you’ll explore the four core "languages of appreciation" and learn how to recognize and use them in a way that resonates with clients, colleagues, and team members. The truth is, everyone wants to feel valued—but not everyone receives appreciation the same way. In this hands-on session, you’ll discover your own appreciation style, learn to spot others’, and develop practical tools to build a more energized, connected, and committed workplace.  

Getting ready for busy season involves not only knowing the tax rules for 2026 but also knowing how those rules are incorporated into the IRS tax forms practitioners will be using to prepare 2026 tax returns. This course provides preparer attendees with an up-to-date review of important new tax forms, key tax developments, and tax law changes as they are reflected in IRS forms for 2026 and IRS filing issues and deadlines as they relate to 2026.

S corporation taxation has a lot of pieces. There are helpful elections you can make that can potentially save your client money, but there are also rigid rules to adhere to. For example, if there is more than one class of stock, it can terminate the S corporation election. Learning how to successfully navigate these rules can make all the difference. In this course, we will discuss some of the more common specialty areas experienced by practitioners — late filing relief for S corporation elections, disproportionate distributions, and selling S corporation shares. While these items may not come up on every single Form 1120-S, you will be able to add more value to clients when they do.

If you work with governments or not-for-profits, mastering the fundamentals of Yellow Book and single audits is essential. This beginner-friendly course breaks down the key requirements of the Yellow Book and the Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards into clear, manageable concepts. You'll learn the essentials of performing Yellow Book and single audits with confidence—building a strong foundation, boosting your understanding, and equipping you to conduct audits efficiently and effectively.

You may be surprised to learn how artificial intelligence is transforming the music you love. For example, what happens when AI creates songs based on other people's work without credit or payment? How should musicians disclose the role of AI in their recordings? The challenges that AI poses for music, such as threats to intellectual property, confidentiality, fairness, and professional reputations, are also front and center in accounting. This one-hour ethics course invites you to explore one of your favorite subjects outside of work. You'll discover how the five principles of ethical intelligence can help you listen to music in ways you never considered before. You'll also see how these same principles guide you in making the best decisions in your accounting practice. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Arguably the most discussed topics to come out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are the taxation of tips and overtime. Practitioners need to understand these provisions now, as they are effective for 2025 tax returns. This program provides practitioners with the background currently available to advise clients regarding these two important tax developments. Both employers and employees need to understand these timely changes to taxation.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were implemented to improve the lives of employees. FMLA allows eligible employees to take job-protected leave for their own serious health conditions or to care for sick family members. The ADA was intended to ensure "equality of opportunity" and "economic self-sufficiency" for individuals with disabilities. Yet both laws have proven challenging for employers. These laws are complex with rules that can be confusing and often misunderstood. This webinar is designed to provide information, guidelines, and examples of the key concepts under both laws.

Financial statements are a window into what is going on in the day-to-day operations of the company. They help us see what the company's strengths and weaknesses are. However, financial statements can often have different messages depending on the user. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

So, you've been using Power BI to create fundamental reports and dashboards, and now you're ready for even more advanced reporting & if so, this session is for you. In this session, you will learn how to extend your Power BI environment by incorporating tools such as Data Analysis Expressions, Key Performance Indicators, Hierarchies, and Apps and Content Packs, among others. By taking advantage of the tools and techniques covered in this session, you will be able to move beyond simple reports and dashboards in Power BI and truly leverage the power of this awesome reporting tool.