WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
The SECURE Act 2.0: Planning Opportunities for Individuals
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Online
1.20 Credits
Member Price: $39
The Secure Act 2.0 was passed in a flurry of year-end legislation. This one hour program will cover the important changes that individuals need to know about contributions to accounts & new ways of accessing these funds. This course will provide a concise look at these hot topics. Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab & submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.
Predictive Accounting: Driver-Based Budgeting & Rolling Financial Forecasts
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Traditional annual budgeting is often viewed as outdated, inflexible & disconnected From strategy-- quickly becoming irrelevant, easily manipulated & too cumbersome to support real decision-making. This course introduces capacity-sensitive, driver-based budgeting as a modern alternative. By linking financial projections to business drivers, organizations can create agile budgets that adapt to growth, enable rapid scenario planning & provide meaningful insights for long-term forecasting. Participants will learn how to refresh budgets into rolling forecasts & transform managerial accounting into a tool for strategic, economics-based decision-making.
Internal Control: Testing for Operating Effectiveness
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Properly designed and effectively operating internal control over financial reporting is critical for preventing, or detecting and correcting, material misstatement. This course describes how to satisfy the audit requirements related to taking a control reliance strategy by testing the operating effectiveness of internal controls, while promoting an effective and efficient financial statement audit. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Section 529 Plans: A Comprehensive Guide
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
This course provides a thorough examination of qualified tuition programs (Section 529 plans), focusing on their tax treatment, planning applications and recent legislative changes. Participants will learn how 529 plans operate, what qualifies as education expenses and how contributions, distributions and beneficiary changes are treated under federal law. The course explores practical planning strategies, including 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers, multigenerational "dynasty" 529 planning, grandparent-owned account considerations and interplay with financial aid. It also addresses state-level variations, compliance issues and common pitfalls. Using real-world scenarios, the course evaluates when 529 plans are advantageous, the limitations families may encounter and alternative approaches to education and long-term savings. Participants will gain a clear understanding of tax benefits, penalties, strategic funding approaches and planning opportunities for high-net-worth families as well as typical households.
Surgent's Where To Live in Retirement
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
Deciding where to live in retirement is a challenge that involves a multitude of factors that differ for everyone. Each person and couple should evaluate their current living situation to see where their goals and lifestyles in retirement can best be met. The program covers the various factors that most people should consider when thinking about where to spend their retirement years.
Surgent's Working Remotely: Best Practices, Challenges & Opportunities
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Working from home presents both benefits and challenges for professionals. For employees, working from home provides opportunities to be more productive and gain time that would otherwise be spent commuting to and from the office. Employers who utilize remote work enjoy fewer fixed costs, more efficiency and greater employee satisfaction. Without proper planning, professionals who work remotely may experience increased anxiety and disorganization. They may also jeopardize data privacy. However, when executed properly, working remotely can help organizations become more efficient and profitable, while at the same time improving employee morale. This course looks at how firms and companies have successfully implemented work from home programs and discusses mistakes that can be avoided through proper planning.
Ethics: Critical Thinking, Case Studies & Fraud
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
In today's fast-paced financial environment, the line between right & wrong can often seem blurred. This course serves as a beacon for financial professionals, guiding them through the complexities of ethical decision making with clarity & practicality. Designed for those with a foundational understanding of finance ethics, this program leverages real-world case studies to dissect & understand ethical dilemmas, ensuring participants can apply these insights directly to their professional lives. Engaging content & persuasive delivery make it not just an educational investment but a crucial step towards safeguarding one's professional integrity & the trust of those they serve. Why attend? The course offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of ethical behavior's critical role within the financial industry. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the professional code of ethics & conduct, including the new AICPA Ethics Codification & explore the significant impact ethical & unethical conduct has on the profession. By the end, participants will be equipped with the tools to identify & rectify critical thinking errors related to ethical dilemmas, ensuring they are not just following the rules but leading with integrity.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Project Management for Tax Preparers: Improving Workflow, Efficiency & Client Service
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
This course provides tax professionals with a framework for applying project management principles to tax preparation engagements. Participants will explore the full client lifecycle, From onboarding through workflow execution & delivery. The course emphasizes improving efficiency, reducing bottlenecks & enhancing client communication while managing risks in a deadline-driven environment.
ACPEN Signature 2026: Managing the Risk of Fraud & Artificial Intelligence
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $250
Accountability professionals are the first line of defense against fraud. Consequently, accountants, internal auditors, external auditors, fraud examiners & risk management professionals need to develop the skills needed to prevent, detect & deter fraud & need to be proactive in promoting & effecting organizational change. The fight to deter, prevent & detect fraud continues. Accountability professionals need all the help they can get. Artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to help in this fight. In fact, AI has the potential to be a fraud-prevention game-changer. When viewed against the backdrop of the COSO/ACFE Fraud Risk Management Guide, the AI applications & potential are near limitless. AI can assist in fraud risk governance by, for example, drafting policies & procedures & maintaining dashboards showing the status of the organization's fraud risk management programs. The fraud risk assessment might be where the AI light shines brightest. AI can identify an organization's risk exposures, assess the likelihood & significance of these exposures, identify & assess existing controls & determine residual risk. Better still, it can do the assessment on a continuous basis, alerting the organization to new threats as they arise. AI can identify & implement additional overt & covert fraud control activities designed to mitigate residual fraud risk. In terms of information & communication, AI can monitor & triage the hotline reporting system & assist in investigations. Finally, AI can monitor the fraud risk management process on a continuous basis. In addition to a deep dive into AI & fraud risk management, the 2026 Business Fraud Update is another fast-moving seminar that will provide a comprehensive look at the latest developments about fraud From the technical, legal & operational perspectives & update participants on the most recent legal & regulatory developments in this important area of professional responsibility.
You Don't Know What You Don't Know About Microsoft Excel
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $239
Many Excel users have received little or no formal training to help them use the ubiquitous productivity application. This session can help users that wish to improve their Excel skills to increase their productivity. The material starts by covering basic topics such as time saving tips and keyboard shortcuts and then moves to more advanced areas like conditional formatting and complex formula building. Users that find themselves looking at the spreadsheets that others design and wishing they could do as much with Excel will benefit greatly by taking this course. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Excelling at Excel: The Magic of Power Query
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Elevate your data analysis capabilities with our focused course on Power Query. Tailored for financial professionals, this training will show you how to get started using Power Query & teach you some of the ways to take advantage of its ability to handle messy data & automate repetitive tasks. Harness the efficiency of Power Query to revolutionize the way you work with data. Learn how to "program" your tasks once & set them on repeat, eliminating the need for repetitive, robotic work. This automation not only saves time but also ensures consistency & accuracy in your data processes. Whether you're dealing with complex datasets or simply looking to streamline your reporting processes, this course will equip you with the tools & knowledge to make Excel work for you like never before.
Finding Errors in Excel Spreadsheets
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This intensive two-hour course addresses the critical need for accuracy and efficiency when developing spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Recognizing that even minor errors can have significant implications, this course delves deep into strategies and skills required to detect and correct errors in Excel. By the end of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of how to efficiently identify and correct errors in Excel spreadsheets, enhancing their overall productivity and accuracy in their professional roles. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Financial Planning: Auto & Homeowners Insurance
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
While many financial services professionals advise their clients on tax, investment and life insurance issues, far fewer venture to help in the area of property and casualty insurance. Auto and homeowners policies are mandatory products that everyone generally needs - yet they are also complex products. This complexity raises questions in clients' minds: Are all my belongings covered under my policy? Do I have to adjust my policy if I want to let my neighbor borrow my car? Do I need an additional policy if I want to work as a rideshare driver? And will my premium go up when I move? In this course, we will cover the fundamentals of auto and homeowners' policies. We will touch on these questions, explore basic coverages and offer some guidance on what practitioners should cover with their clients in this area, so you can offer guidance and give them the peace of mind they need. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Controllership Series: Addressing Budgeting Uncertainty
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
With new accounting standards, the economic landscape & evolving technology, accounting, financial reporting & finance continue to grow in complexity. FASB has tried to address the growing complexity, by working towards making GAAP less convoluted. The struggle to stay on top of accounting financial reporting requirements & finance changes due to the economy continues for several reasons. Lack of in-house SMEs, managing high volumes of transactions & data & evolving information technology systems. In the future, executives must consider the challenges they will face in future years that will bring their own nuances & complexities. Budgeting is certainly one of those processes that must be evaluated & re-evaluated for efficiency. This session delves into the corporate budgeting process & discusses methods used & which methods may or may not allow for the organization's to properly plan for a volatile future.
Budget Mastery: Process, Problems & Solutions
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
The budgeting process can be a mundane one for accountants. Let's be realistic & agree that even the word "budget" does not bring excitement to you & your departmental colleagues. The constraints & pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical & human components. This session is the first part of a four part series & will cover the big picture of keeping the process fresh, pragmatic & useful. We discuss these keys in an engaging manner by discussing both our flaws & strengths, including how to build on these characteristics towards an enjoyable solutions-based method that should deliver effective results for your organization.
Form 1041 Advanced Series Part I: Why Complex Trusts are Complicated 26-27
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
The first course in a four-part series, fiduciary accounting and taxation field, has transitioned over the past several years with updated rules and the increased tax cost of accumulating income in a non-grantor trust. The changes in the income tax rate structure at the federal and state levels have pulled income tax planning forward as a prime objective for estate planners. The rules and understanding of fiduciary accounting continue to be in a state of development and challenge. It is an understatement to say that fiduciary accounting and taxation have entered a new and very different phase of complexity and change. We will explore many of these issues in Parts 1-4 of Form 1041 Advanced Series. Be sure to register for all courses in this series: Form 1041 Advanced Series Part I: Why Complex Trusts are Complicated Form 1041 Advanced Series Part II: Cash & Property Distribution Issues Form 1041 Advanced Series Part III: Sec. 199. Sec. 67(g) & Charitable Deductions Form 1041 Advanced Series Part IIII: Post Mortem Considerations
Metrics Management: Selecting the Right KPIs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Choosing the wrong metrics can create noise, confusion & unintended behavior. This session helps CPAs & CFOs identify & select meaningful KPIs that align with strategy & are understood by users. Participants will learn how to balance financial & operational metrics, tailor KPIs to responsibility centers & think like customers when designing performance measures. The session emphasizes simplicity, relevance & usability over volume & complexity. Humorous videos will be incorporated to drive home some key points & keep things entertaining
Monthly Federal Tax Updates: November 2026
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Seismic changes in tax legislation is currently taking place and the well-informed tax practitioner will want to attend this two hour monthly program in order to stay abreast of these developments! Approximately one-half of the program is devoted to individual tax issues and the remaining time is spend on business entity taxation, IRS procedure, tax legislation and other issues. Due to the changing nature of the topic, learning objectives, course descriptions and program content will vary and will be provided in more specificity closer to presentation time. This course provides a concise look at the hottest topics affecting every tax practitioner. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
26-27 FASB & AICPA Update (ASU, SAS, Ethics)
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $175
This 4-hour program addresses the latest promulgations of FASB ASU impacting privately-held entities, AICPA SAS and selected AICPA ethics interpretations.
Accounting & Tax Ethics: Standards, Issues, & Case Studies 26-27
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $175
In recent history, even the most prestigious CPA firms have had ethical lapses and oversights that have cost them both financially and, at that moment, clouded their brand. This course will review the AICPA code of ethics for both accounting and tax practitioners and encourage you to examine your firm's policies and choices relative to those standards and common sense through thought-provoking and sometimes humorous Q&A and case studies. Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.