cybersecurity exemptions for orgs with less than 5,000 clients

you may be off the hook, but not out of the woods.

by donny shimamoto

management consulting company aon described an exemption for some of the ftc requirements for firms that handle the personal identifiable information (pii) of less than 5,000 consumers.[i]

the safeguards rule provides an exception from certain requirements if the covered financial institution maintains customer information concerning fewer than 5,000 consumers. a consumer is defined in section 314.2(b)(1) of the safeguards rule as “an individual who obtains or has obtained a financial product or service from the financial institution that is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, or that individual’s legal representative.”

more:  how hacker-proof is your firm? | unleashing the power of technology: transforming accountants into trusted advisors | future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firmsstaff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
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essentially if you handle less than 5,000 social security numbers, then it would appear that you can take advantage of this exemption. aon went on to report that if you fall under this exemption, then you do not need to address the following requirements:

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how to offer conflict resolution

smiling woman across the table from a couple it’s just another form of reconciliation.

by ed mendlowitz

this service puts the accountant in the role of a mediator attempting to resolve conflicts.

more on marketing: second opinions: an old service under a new label | elder care: not sexy, but vital | how to guide clients through divorce | help clients manage their investments | help heirs with tax issues | every client can use financial planning
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the accountant also serves as a facilitator to move things along to accomplish stated goals regarding financial issues.
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what clients don’t know about cost variances

you want the best information possible.

by ed mendlowitz
77 ways to wow!

when we discuss estimates – trailing amounts based on previous transactions and costs, it is important to have the amounts as accurate as possible to reduce the variances, but they will exist.

more: why and how to track payroll costs | how to account for materials purchased | ten strategies for smart a/r collections | where is your firm in its lifecycle? | six kinds of loan covenants | what’s more profitable, raising or lowering prices?insurance you might not know you need | solos need plans for death, disability | you don’t need this, but your survivors do
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the estimated costs will be measured at the end of a period, i.e., week, month, quarter or year, and the reasons should be investigated and reconciled.

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second opinions: an old service under a new label

two people sitting across from each other at a deskbonus: a sample engagement letter.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

second opinions are just that – an outside look at a client’s business or personal situation.

more on marketing: elder care: not sexy, but vital | get your clients talking about retirement | how to assist investment clubs | when clients remarry | seven questions to suggest estate planning | four reasons to perform tax projections
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we used to call them second opinions and promoted them as such. we no longer do that, but offer this as a separate and distinct service or product such as we do for performance measurement services. we feel that the difference is how the service is marketed, not how it is performed for the client.
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be the flywheel to increase revenue

“this will be the largest transfer of wealth the nation has ever seen in such a short period of time.”

by rory henry, cfp®, bfa

henry

rory henry is a director at arrowroot family office and host of the wealth management forward podcast. he can be reached to discuss ways to integrate financial planning into your practice through the cpa partnership program at (310) 566-5865 or at rory@arrowrootfamilyoffice.com.

the financial advice business is undergoing significant change, particularly in the accounting and wealth management sectors. the arrival of private equity firms, combined with the rise of m&a and rapid advancements in technology, has shifted the landscape considerably. while these changes are unsettling to some practitioners, i view them as opportunities.

more: four core principles for elite wealth management | why you need a team of experts | why a virtual family office? why now? | is your client’s umbrella big enough? | your client’s instincts are wrong | preserving wealth is a different mindset | three approaches to investment consulting
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in many ways, a cpa is a flywheel at the center of the financial advisory engine. all the other providers and advisors rotate around the cpa, and together they build momentum as the firm expands its offerings and as the advice engine gains speed and confidence.

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why and how to track payroll costs

businesswoman using calculator while reviewing something on laptop screenbonus: nine specific illustrations.

by ed mendlowitz
77 ways to wow!

most business owners look at the total payroll in dollars and go no further. but – payroll numbers are useful only if you drill down several levels to determine …

more: how to account for materials purchased | how to advise clients on allocating business resources | be wary of discounting prices | where is your firm in its lifecycle? | six kinds of loan covenants | what’s more profitable, raising or lowering prices? | insurance you might not know you need | solos need plans for death, disability | you don’t need this, but your survivors do | five ways to ward off fraud in not-for-profits
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head count

i tell clients to keep track every month of the total head count of the business – whether it’s three, 10 or 100 employees. on a year-to-year basis, the head count can be very revealing. first, it tells you whether employment is growing faster than you realized. second, by comparing head count with unit sales, you can measure worker productivity. if there is growth in units sold, your payroll is in good shape. if growth of units per employee declines, you have a problem that needs immediate attention.
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four simple game-changers to modernize your practice

focus on the client experience.

by blake oliver
with david leary

my mom is in her 70s and still gets the taxes organized for her household. she’s been using the same 10-partner firm for the past 30 years. like many small firms, hers had no succession plan, so it recently merged with a big firm – top 25. as you may imagine, her recent tax season experience was disappointing. she submitted all her documents on time and then didn’t hear anything from her new accountant for weeks. finally, she received a return to review and was shocked to see herself marked down as blind. my mom is not blind. there were other errors in her return, including a missing real estate transaction. clearly, it had not gone through a proper review process.

more: nine ways to measure client experiencehow the pandemic changed firm mindsets | twelve clues it’s time to outsource or offshore | yes, you have the staffing for cas | why firms shy away from cas | hook your firm on cascan you identify real cas prospects? | 8 ways to create your cas practice | do you value your cas value?
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my mind exploded, wondering how such a large, well-known firm didn’t have a better quality control process in place. i’m guessing they didn’t even have a workflow management solution. after sharing this story with several cpas at other large firms, i learned that my mom’s situation was not all that unusual.

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how to account for materials purchased

businessman manager using tablet check and control for workers with modern trade warehouse global business commerce concept or import-export commercial logistic.take care when choosing the method you will be using. four illustrations.

by ed mendlowitz
77 ways to wow!

materials purchased are comprised of many elements in addition to the actual product purchased. following is an illustrative cost sheet that accumulates and calculates unit cost. usually, a large unit such as a case, skid or truckload would be measured and the per unit cost determined by dividing the total by the number of units. all costs are included.

more: how to advise clients on allocating business resources | use constraints to make improvements | the role of strategy in pricing | wow clients with trend analysis | 26 ways to wreck a financial projection | three ways to run a break-even analysis | price not always the top consideration in a sale | when an owner dies without a buy-sell agreement
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cost sheets are maintained for every separate product or sku (stock keeping unit) and is a string of characters that uniquely identify a product or part with a separate sku for every item with a distinguishing difference such as size, color, material and packaging.
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unleashing the power of technology: transforming accountants into trusted advisors



the smartest route to advisory:
join the survey. get the roadmap

imagine the possibilities.

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
the center for accounting transformation

in today’s rapidly evolving world, technology is revolutionizing the way we work and live. accountants and cpas are no exception.

more donny shimamoto:  how trusted advisors transform businesses | the future of accounting: a vision of trust, clarity, and hope | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firmsstaff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

we need to embrace the power of technology to enhance our services and better serve our clients as advisors. by leveraging technology and focusing on the complicated work that bots can’t do, accountants become trusted advisors, building deeper relationships and unlocking their full potential.

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overcoming the five hurdles to advisory services

face these issues to achieve firm growth.

the smartest route to advisory:
join the survey. get the roadmap

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
the center for accounting transformation

are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stuck in the compliance workload, unable to provide valuable insights to your clients? do you feel that your firm has the potential to grow and create a lasting impact, but capacity issues hinder your progress? 

more donny shimamoto:  how trusted advisors transform businesses | the future of accounting: a vision of trust, clarity, and hope | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firmsstaff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

you’re not alone. many accounting firms are struggling with the same challenges. but what if there was a way to break through these barriers and elevate your firm to new heights? read on to discover how to overcome the challenges associated with providing advisory services and transform your firm into a thriving, client-centered business.
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elder care: not sexy, but vital

caregiver with senior woman in wheelchair outdoorsbonus: a sample engagement letter.

by ed mendlowitz
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 practice doctor

there are two distinct types of elder care assurance services.

more on marketing: get your clients talking about retirement | help clients with employment compensation | help clients with basic budgeting | questions for after tax season | 28 data points for a financial planning discussion | four additional services to suggest
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one service is the complete financial care and oversight of elderly clients. these could be relatives of the people retaining us, or the elderly person themselves. the other service is consulting on the financial planning and tax needs of the elderly person.
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how to advise clients on allocating business resources

man and woman in meetingthe best course might not be the most exciting.

by ed mendlowitz
77 ways to wow!

time, resources and money are limited assets of a business, and, actually, anyone. successful organizations and people know how to maximize each one and how to integrate and allocate them for the best benefits possible.

more: use constraints to make improvements | ten strategies for smart a/r collections | how to react to trends | trends are all around us | how to prepare business plan financial projections | the top 11 financial statement ratios | eight ways to value a family-owned business | are you ready for a co-owner to drop dead?
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these assets are called into action when opportunities arise. however, typically opportunities come in bunches and then a choice must be made. is the newest opportunity taken, the easiest or the most strategic? that is when the organization’s leadership earns its pay. here are some thoughts using a client’s specific situation.
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why compliance still matters. but it’s not enough.

resistance is futile… and silly because it’s necessary for the profession.

the smartest route to advisory:
join the survey. get the roadmap

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
the center for accounting transformation

in the world of accounting, compliance work is often seen as the unglamorous side of the profession. but what if i told you that compliance is the heart and soul of accounting, the unsung hero that makes advisory work possible?

more donny shimamoto:  how trusted advisors transform businesses | the future of accounting: a vision of trust, clarity, and hope | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firmsstaff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

let’s explore the importance of compliance work in the accounting profession and why it’s time for us to stop minimizing its significance. read more →