Join us for a half-day sponsored live stream in honor of YOU, our members, for Member Appreciation Day! Hear from four speakers on a variety of topics.
FlyFin - The Future of Tax Prep: AI, Automation, and the Modern CPA Firm - 8:30-9:20 am
A forward-looking session on how AI and automation are reshaping the CPA profession. This talk discusses where human expertise remains critical, where AI delivers leverage, and how firms can future-proof their operations using platforms like AutoTax AI.
9:20 - 9:30 am - BREAK
Anchor - The Great Compression Opportunity: Why Firms Built for Performance Break Under Stress, and How to Design for Pressure - 9:30-10:20 am
AI is compressing work value. PE is compressing pricing and scale. Staffing shortages are compressing capacity. Clients are compressing patience. Welcome to The Great Compression.
Most firms have optimized themselves for performance - tighter teams, leaner processes, and more automation. Yet performance assumes stability, and stability is gone.
In this high-impact session, we will address a hard truth: Firms built for smooth performance often break under stress. This session moves beyond tools and tactics to introduce the science of building systems that actually get stronger when things get difficult. You will leave with a practical model for redesigning your firm to bend, adapt, and benefit from pressure, instead of merely reacting to it.
Key learning:
- The Hidden Design Flaw: Understand why high-performing firms will struggle most when AI, PE, and staffing pressures collide.
- The Pressure-Ready Firm: Dive into the science and structural framework for designing a firm that truly gains strength from market volatility.
- The Monday Morning First Move: Apply the "Adaptability Index" to diagnose your firm's structural readiness and walk away with the one specific shift to ensure you thrive under stress.
10:20 - 10:30 am - BREAK
Summit - When Everything Goes Down: Business Continuity Planning for CPA Firms - 10:30-11:20 am 
A tornado knocks out power to your office. Ransomware locks your files two weeks before a filing deadline. A server crash takes your backups down with it. None of these are hypotheticals, they happen to firms every year.
This session walks through the real scenarios that take CPA firms offline and what an actual recovery plan needs to cover: backups you can trust, a way to keep working when primary systems are down, and a plan for keeping clients in the loop when things go sideways. You'll leave with a practical framework for building continuity into your firm, whatever its size.
CPE Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Identify the most common causes of business disruption for CPA firms, including natural disasters, cyberattacks, hardware failure, and vendor outages
2. Evaluate their firm's current continuity gaps around data backup reliability, failover access, and client communication
3. Apply a practical framework for building or strengthening a business continuity plan appropriate to their firm's size and risk profile
11:20-11:30 am - BREAK
Wolters Kluwer - Prompt Strategy for Tax: Reliable Answers Without Trial-and-Error - 11:30 am - 12:20 pm
Learning Objectives:
- Apply structured prompt frameworks for tax research and compliance tasks.
- Use verification prompts to improve accuracy and traceability.
- Determine when to use domain-specific AI models for high-risk queries.
Key Takeaways:
- Why prompt quality impacts AI reliability.
- How to build a reusable prompt library for tax workflows.
- When to escalate from general AI to specialized tools.
2.00 credits
2.00 credits
Shannon Kaiser
Shannon Kaiser is the General Manager of Summit, where he leads the strategy, delivery, and evolution of cloud solutions that help small businesses modernize and grow. Shannon began his career at Summit Hosting in technical support and advanced through roles including Network Engineer, Platform Architect, CTO, and Chief Delivery Officer. His hands-on experience across engineering, product, and operations gives him a unique perspective on solving complex technology challenges while keeping customer outcomes at the center. Today, Shannon focuses on building innovative platforms, developing high performing teams, and helping businesses leverage technology to work smarter, scale confidently, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Elad Shmilovich
Elad Shmilovich leads marketing at Anchor, the billing and collection platform trusted by thousands of accounting firm owners. For more than 18 years, he has grown service-based businesses to over $750 million in accumulated sales. A former agency owner and advisor to more than 100 businesses, Elad blends real-world experience with insights from creativity, psychology, and neuroscience. His sessions help firm leaders overcome growth challenges, lead with clarity, and build businesses that support their lives, not consume them.