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What happens when one overlooked detail turns a thoughtful estate plan into a multi-million-dollar tax disaster? In this episode of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Podcast, nationally recognized tax and estate planning expert Bob Keebler joins Cary Sinnett to unpack the cautionary tale of Estate of Rowland v. Commissioner.
Despite well-crafted trusts and modest estates, a simple misstep in making the portability election led to the loss of $3.7 million in estate tax exemption. The case underscores the reality that "substantial compliance is not enough" when filing Form 706—and the reputational and financial risks that follow.
You'll learn:
Listen in to protect your clients' legacies, preserve your professional reputation, and avoid the quiet traps buried in estate planning compliance.
Resources:
Guide: Guide to Financial and Estate Planning Vol. 4
Podcast: Estate Planning & Portability
Learning: Estate Planning Certificate Program
Video: Critical Income, Estate and Trust Planning for 2023 and Beyond
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
Jeff Levine joins us to break down one of the most surprising features of the new tax law: a brand-new type of deduction that could significantly change the way we think about AGI thresholds, phaseouts, and entity planning.
In this episode, we unpack how the latest changes in the tax code are opening up advanced strategies for clients, and where financial planners need to stay sharp to avoid stealth cliffs and missed opportunities.
Key Topics Covered:
Resources:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
The pipeline is aging—and the profession is feeling the pressure. But what if Gen Z isn't just the next wave of talent, but the spark that transforms your practice?
In this energizing episode, Cary Sinnett sits down with Sherron Permashwar, CPA and founder of The Modern Savvy CPA, to unpack why recruiting Gen Z isn't just important—it's essential. Sherron brings her insight as a 27-year CPA veteran with a digital-native following to explore:
· What Gen Z really wants from a career in financial planning
· How to move from a "hierarchy" mindset to a "community" culture
· Why high schools and colleges are missing the mark—and how you can fill the gap
· Content strategies CPA firms can use to build credibility and trust on TikTok, YouTube, and beyond
· How purpose, flexibility, and mentorship drive Gen Z retention
If you're ready to future-proof your firm and attract the next generation of purpose-driven professionals, this episode is for you.
Resources:
When disaster strikes—wildfire, flood, earthquake—will your clients' finances survive the storm? In this episode, host Cary Sinnett speaks with Mitch Freeman, CPA/PFS, a nationally recognized advisor with firsthand experience navigating the financial aftermath of natural disasters.
Mitch shares practical insights on:
· Proactive steps to prepare clients financially for disasters
· Insurance challenges in high-risk areas
· How private adjusters can ease post-disaster stress
· Essential documents and checklists every client should have ready
With over 60 years in the profession, Mitch offers hard-won wisdom and actionable advice to help CPA financial planners build financial resilience into every plan.
Resources:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is no longer a proposal, it's the law. That means CPA financial planners must shift gears fast.
In this special crossover episode of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Podcast and the AICPA Tax Odyssey Podcast, host Cary Sinnett is joined by nationally recognized experts Bob Keebler and Mark Gallegos to break down what the new law really means for your clients and your planning strategies.
From the permanent TCJA tax brackets and QBI deduction to enhanced SALT caps, PTET elections, and new income exclusions for tips and overtime, this episode delivers high-level insights you can act on immediately. You'll also hear forward-looking guidance on Roth conversions, entity structure decisions, estate and gifting strategies, and what Medicaid reforms mean for clients with multigenerational care responsibilities.
This is the must-listen briefing every CPA financial planner needs right now.
Resources:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
In this special crossover episode between the AICPA's Tax Section Odyssey and PFP Section podcasts, April Walker is joined by Bob Keebler and Mark Gallegos to break down the fast-moving tax legislation landscape. They walk through key provisions in both the House's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and the Senate's proposal, sharing what matters most for client conversations right now.
Topics include:
This episode is your go-to briefing for what's in motion and how to stay ahead. Tune in to hear what tax advisors need to know — and how to start client conversations before the final bill hits the President's desk.
Resource:
When markets are volatile, your clients look to you for clarity—but before they can truly hear your technical advice, they may need something deeper: to feel emotionally steady and heard. In this episode, Dr. Meghaan Lurtz, behavioral scientist and partner at Shaping Wealth, joins host Cary Sinnett to explore the power of a question-led approach for CPA financial planners.
You'll learn how leading with well-timed questions—not immediate answers—can reduce client panic, build trust, and actually enhance the effectiveness of your financial guidance.
💡 Key Takeaways for CPA Financial Planners:
🛠️ Tools & Resources:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
When the markets swing, smart estate planning can make or break your client's legacy. In this episode, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, joins Cary Sinnett to reveal the overlooked tax moves CPA financial planners need to know—from the strategic use of the Alternate Valuation Date (AVD) to avoiding costly missteps with the Kenan Doctrine.
Learn how the 645 election can shift tax treatment in your favor, why timing and valuation matter more than ever, and how to deliver sharp planning with empathy during emotional times. If you advise estates in a volatile market, these insights could reshape your postmortem playbook.
💡 Topics Covered:
🔗 Resources & More:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
As CPA financial planners, we often encounter a painful reality: adult children who are surprised, or even hurt, by their parents' estate plans—after it's too late for discussion. In this episode, Cary Sinnett speaks with Kelley Long, a respected fee-only financial wellness coach and former bank trust officer, about how proactive communication can help families preserve relationships and honor intentions.
Kelley offers practical, thoughtful strategies for advisors to help clients initiate and navigate these conversations. Topics include:
Key Insight:
Estate planning is not just a legal or financial process—it's a relational one. When clients are supported in sharing their intentions and values clearly, the outcome is not just a smoother transition of wealth, but a stronger foundation for family unity.
Resources:
Guide: The Adviser's Guide to Financial & Estate Planning – 15th Ed – Vol. 1
Podcast: Estate planning conversations all clients need to have now
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Meghaan Lurtz joins Cary Sinnett to explore a deceptively simple concept with powerful implications: financial gratitude. Discover how shifting the conversation from scarcity to sufficiency helps clients make better long-term decisions, build trust, and find meaning in their financial journey—especially in volatile times.
💡 What You'll Learn:
💬 Key Quote:
"Gratitude changes the conversation, not just the mood. It's not about ignoring tough realities—it's about helping clients find agency, perspective, and partnership in the plan."
📘 Perfect For: CPA planners who want to differentiate themselves with a human-first approach—without sacrificing technical precision.
Resources:
Dr. Lurtz has designed resources for financial advisors who want to create more emotionally intelligent and connection-rich client conversations:
(Less) Lonely Money Grandmas and Gratitude. (Less) Lonely Meetings The Kind of Gratitude that Brings Us Closer.
AICPA:
This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.
Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.
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