Stephanie S. Sommers, CPA President, AFWA Philadelphia Chapter

Transcription

1 January 2016 Philadelphia Chapter Volume 65 Number 3 PRESIDENT Stephanie Sommers St. Clair CPA s, PC 101 West Elm Street, Suite 500 Conshohocken, PA ssommers@stclaircpa.com PRESIDENT ELECT Adrienne Straccione Wouch, Maloney & Co., LLP 415 Sargon Way, Suite J Horsham, PA astraccione@wm-cpa.com VICE PRESIDENT Sara Soucie Regional Bank Private Banker Well Fargo NMLSR ID: TREASURER / FINANCIAL LITERACY Mary-Claire Corcoran, CPA 324 Woods Road Glenside, PA H C corc2chel@aol.com SECRETARY Judy Maira Germantown Cricket Club 411 W. Manheim St Philadelphia, PA ext 215 controller@germantowncricket. org DIRECTORS Theresa Copeland, MSM Jan S. Spiegel IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Pam Wenner pwenner@bki.com NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Members and Friends of the Philadelphia Chapter: Happy New Year!! Hope the holidays were filled with good times with family and friends. Here s to sticking to our New Year s resolutions. Hope 2016 is even better for all of you than 2015! Thank you so much for all the informational sessions arranged by Wells Fargo and presented by Tim Wagner, ChFC, Peter Lash, JD of Pension Quote, and Adam Schwartz of Pacific Life of planning strategies that CPAs can utilize to attract and retain quality clients in a competitive marketplace and two webinar options covering an in depth discussion of split funded defined benefit strategies. Our December social, although only three attended, was a fun and creative time. We participated in a group painting session at The Uncorked Artist in North Wales. I must say, I was not surprised at the beautiful painting of Pam and Mary-Claire! Our next meeting on Wednesday, January 20 th will be presented by Thomas Krauss, CPA, MST of St. Clair CPAs, P.C. and will provide our annual Tax Update. Based on the recent action by the House and Senate by passing the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act), it will be a discussion full of useful information and worth attending. Please do not forget to bring a guest to the meeting and enter for a chance to win the next meeting on us. As always, check out our website at for additional information on member benefits, our affiliations and scholarship opportunities. This year s scholarship applications are due in February. Check out our Scholarship page of our website. Sincerely yours, Stephanie S. Sommers, CPA President, AFWA Philadelphia Chapter

2 NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Chapter Iniatives Mary E. Duff, CPA (member of Philadelphia Chapter) m EMPLOYMENT / MEMBERSHIP Lori Lucente-McKeage, CPA Diversified Industries, Inc. 121 High Hill Rd Swedesboro, NJ W x 107 C seagem.llm@comcast.net NEWSLETTER / WEBSITE Jan Spiegel 1854 Lippincott Road Huntingdon Valley, PA H jsrspiegel@comcast.net Topic: Speaker: Location: Dates/Time: January Meeting Notice Tax Update Annual Tax Update Thomas Krauss, CPA, MST Manager, St. Clair CPAs, P.C. St. Clair CPA Solutions (Training Center - downstairs) 28 S. Centre Street Merchantville, NJ Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016, 6 pm SCHOLARSHIP Mary Feeney-Bonawitz, PhD, CPA 3102 Village Road Orwigsburg, PA H: MFBonawitz@verizon.net Judy Maira Germantown Cricket Club 411 W. Manheim St Philadelphia, PA ext 215 controller@germantowncricket. org STUDENT LIAISON Stephanie Sommers St. Clair CPA s, PC 101 West Elm Street, Suite 500 Conshohocken, PA ssommers@stclaircpa.com Theresa Copeland, MSM territess057@gmail.com PROGRAMS Adrienne Straccione, CPA 415 Sargon Way, Suite J Horsham, PA astraccione@wm-cpa.com BY LAWS/ LEGISLATION Mary Feeney-Bonawitz, PhD, CPA 3102 Village Road Orwigsburg, PA H: MFBonawitz@verizon.net CPE: 1 credit Tax Cost: Members $20 Non-members $25 Students $15 RSVP: Speaker Bio Please contact Adrienne Straccione by end of day, Mon., Jan 18, by at afwaphilly@gmail.com Tom Krauss provides a full spectrum of tax services for individuals, partnerships, and closely-held businesses. As a Certified Public Accountant and manager in the tax department of St. Clair CPAs, P.C., a subsidiary of St. Clair CPA Solutions, Tom builds and manages relationships with a range of clients representing diverse industries, and takes pride in delivering accurate, high quality tax and business advisory services. Tom applies two decades of experience to preparing and reviewing tax returns. He takes the time to fully understand each client's needs; personally supervises each engagement; researches tax issues; represents clients to taxing authorities at local, state, and federal levels; and works to help clients maximize reporting efficiencies while minimizing tax liabilities. Tom also keeps current on technical and legislative changes to tax codes, which he shares with his colleagues as an instructor for continuing professional education courses. Continued on Page 3

3 Continued from Page 2 Tom Krauss Bio Tom received his bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from LaSalle University and earned his master of science in taxation from Widener University. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Tom lives with his wife and twin sons in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Membership Challenge We are offering a challenge to all our members. Bring a guest to the meeting and enter for a chance to win the next meeting on us So, invite your colleagues, associates and friends to become a part of a great organization of fellow accountants and financial professionals. Everybody benefits! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ New Member Spotlight Cecilia Cox became a member of the Philadelphia Chapter in September. Cecilia has been with Robert Half for just about 15 years and is the Director of the permeant placement group in South Jersey. She prides herself on building lasting relationships to help connect top talent in the Accounting and Finance market with companies that are in need of help. Cecilia is a resident of Marlton, NJ and has two young children, Emma & Austin; 8 and 4 years old. You can find her on the weekends cheering at her daughter s soccer and lacrosse games. In her free time, she enjoys spending time down the shore and relaxing with her family. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

4 ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS Scholarship applications are available on our website, due in February Please apply. The application may be found at this link in the near future: AFWA Scholarship application Here s the fun you missed if you didn t go to the painting party at the Uncorked Artist in North Wales. Fun was had by all to attended

5 Greater Philadelphia Chapter 6th Annual Breakfast Q&A with Richard Furlong and Other IRS Representatives and Federal Tax Update with CPA Panel (704200) February 4, 2016, 8:00 AM to February 4, 2016, 12:30 PM Log In to Register Facility: CPE Credit Level of Knowledge Spring Mill Manor 171 Jacksonville Rd Ivyland, PA Tax Intermediate Price Member: $55.00 Nonmember: $75.00 CLE Price $50.00 Overview Join the Greater Philadelphia Federal Tax Committee for a program featuring IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Richard Furlong, and an expert panel of tax practitioners. Highlights Richard Furlong will discuss changes tax practitioners can expect from the IRS for the 2016 tax season and the IRS perspective on hot topics. The expert panel will cover new laws, IRS program priorities and recent enhancements, federal tax and collection issues, and their impact on practitioners. PICPA continued on next page

6 PICPA continued from previous page Speaker(s) Richard Furlong, Internal Revenue Service James Brower, MDG, LLC Karen Facer-Mee, Facer, Mee & Associates P.C. Matthew Melinson, Grant Thornton LLP Wilhelm Dingler, Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin William Stickney, Grant Thornton LLP Nicholas Yzzi, Calvary Baptist Ministries Afternoon Event Prerequisites Join us for the Accounting and Liability Issues for Tax Practitioners and Networking Lunch directly following None this program. Hear special guest speaker, Rep. Scott Petri give an update in PA tax changes, and earn 2- A&A CPE credits. Separate registration is required to attend both events. Notes Schedule: o 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.: Registration and Hot Breakfast Buffet o 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.: Introductions o 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.: Multi-state & PA Tax Update - Matthew Melinson & James Brower o 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: IRS Update with Richard Furlong & CPA Panel o 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Break o 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: IRS Update with Richard Furlong & CPA Panel This course qualifies for 3 substantive CLE credits. Directions: Be sure to put Warminster not Ivyland into your GPS. Some GPS devices may not have correct address so use the directions below: o FROM I-95 (North): Exit at Street Road (#132). Head (West) for 10 mi. to Jacksonville Road (#332) turn right and proceed 1.7 mi. to Spring Mill Manor on the left, (DO NOT TURN right into Spring Mill Country Clubwhich is 1.5 mi on the right). The PICPA event is at Spring Mill Manor NOT Spring Mill Country Club. o FROM TURNPIKE: Take Exit 343-Willow Grove (North). At the first light take a sharp right onto Mill Road. At the first light take a left onto York Road (#263 North). Follow to Street Road (#132) and take a right. Follow to Jacksonville Road (#332) turn left and follow for 1.7 mi. Spring Mill Manor is on the left. o FROM WESTERN SUBURBS: Take the Blue Route (#476 North) toward Plymouth Meeting. Stay to the left and follow signs to Philadelphia-Turnpike and East to get onto the Turnpike. Take Exit 343- Willow Grove (North) and follow directions FROM TURNPIKE o FROM NEW YORK & NORTH JERSEY: Take NJ Turnpike (South) to Exit 6. Follow PA Turnpike to Exit 351. Follow Route 1 (South) to Street Road (#132 West). Follow Street Road for 10 mi. to Jacksonville Road (#332) turn right and proceed 1.7 mi. to Spring Mill Manor on the left. o FROM SOUTH JERSEY: Atlantic City Area-Take A.C. Expressway (North) to Walt Whitman Bridge. Take I-95 (North) and follow directions FROM I-95 ).

7 Here is a listing of our meetings for the upcoming year. Mark your calendars now for the dates. Topics, locations and dates may be subject to change, so please refer to our website monthly for the most up to date information. Calendar of Events January Chapter Meeting Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Tax Update 1 CPE - Tax Thomas Krauss, CPA, MST St. Clair CPA Solutions, Merchantville, NJ February Chapter Meeting Wednesday, February 17 Income from IRA s 1 CPE - Tax Sponsored by Wells Fargo La Collina, Bala Cynwyd March We wish all the best to our members working many hours during tax season. We hope to see you after April 15 th. April Chapter Meeting Wednesday, April 20 Professional/Personal Development Sara Canuso Ponzio s, Cherry Hill, NJ May Chapter Meeting Wednesday, May 18 Succession Planning 1 CPE - Other St. Clair CPAs, P.C., Conshohocken, PA June Chapter Meeting Thursday, June 16 Officer Installation / Wine Tasting Ciraq Center Deadline for inclusion in the next newsletter is September 30 th Please forward all submissions to Jan Spiegel at jsrspiegel@comcast.net. Use AFWA newsletter in the subject for all submissions please. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

8 Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship Fund If you would like to make a contribution or honor someone for a great accomplishment, please think of our Scholarship fund. You may send donations to: Mary-Claire Corcoran 324 Woods Road Glenside, PA Please make checks payable to ASWA Philadelphia Scholarship. Your contributions will help further the education of a student pursuing a career in accounting or finance. We will also send acknowledgments to your honoree, just send the information. Do you know any Accounting or Financial professionals who are not members of AFWA? This is what you should share with them: By joining the Accounting and Financial Women s Alliance (AFWA), you can strengthen your professional growth. AFWA offers networking and continuing education with accounting and finance professionals at the local, regional and national levels. Our members communicate both virtually and in-person through online discussion forums, national and regional conferences and chapter meetings. Benefits of Membership The following is a list of current benefits enjoyed by members: Prestigious status of professional affiliation National contacts for networking and professional information Forum for CPE Scholarships Leadership opportunities in supportive arena Subscription to Accountability e-newsletter National and regional conferences at a discounted rate Access to Career Center Access to AFWA's LinkedIn group National online membership directory Discounted membership to the Institute for Management Accountants (IMA) Discounted products and services through affiliation agreements (CPA review courses, CCH tax & accounting books, Long Term Care insurance and Bank of America credit card.) If you know of an accountant or financial professional who is not a member, please tell them about us! Have them go to and go to MEMBERSHIP. Or click to RENEW-JOIN.