Chief Insights

Does your not-for-profit conduct revenue generating activities that may trigger the unrelated business income tax, or UBIT? From advertising and fundraising to events and leases — Marie Brilmyer and Cathy Lorenz of Cohen & Company discuss how to identify potential triggers and how to minimize the resulting tax (and why UBIT may not always be such a bad thing).

HR, accounting and IT are a few of the areas that can benefit from transformative technologies like digital and robotic process automation. But it’s not just about the tools; it’s about changing the way you work to be smarter and more efficient. John Cavalier and Mary Washburn of Cohen & Company’s Management Consulting Group discuss how organizations along all points of the digital maturity scale can transform their back office. Learn what drives the decision for transformation, what tools could help and what else you need to be successful.

More than 85 million Americans have IRAs — and the SECURE Act stands to affect all of those plans and more. Scott Swain of Cohen & Company and Leon LaBrecque of Sequoia Financial Group give real-world examples of the impact of the new Required Minimum Distribution age as well as the elimination of the stretch provision, which will significantly increase the tax burden on individuals inheriting IRAs. Learn how tax bracket management, trust planning and other proactive steps may be necessary to align your retirement goals.

Listen to year-end tax planning ideas that businesses and individuals can still take advantage of before December 31, 2019. Cohen & Company Tax Partners Phil Baptiste and Scott Swain discuss how tax reform has changed the planning landscape and offer practical tips surrounding items such as entity structure, bonus depreciation, charitable contribution strategies, gifting and more.

Listen as we demystify the various types of Service Organizational Control (SOC) reports and the process to obtain one. Steve Guarini, assurance partner, and Michelle Chopper, a director of audit and advisory, also offer insights into which types of companies need a SOC report and how it can offer credibility for your organization and help retain and attract customers.

Responding to a long-awaited call for change to the traditional audit process, the AICPA has created the Dynamic Audit Solution. Audit Partner Nevin Nussbaum and Jeff Kovacs, one of the initial members of the DAS and an audit partner at Cohen & Company, discuss audit quality, new technologies and enhanced insights expected from the audit of the future — and when we can expect to experience it.

A lot has changed since the Wayfair sales tax decision was handed down by the Supreme Court in June 2018. Join Hannah Prengler and Sara Britt, leaders in the State and Local Taxation Group, as they discuss everything from sales tax liability and how states are responding to Wayfair a year later, to the impact on financial statements, M&A activities, online marketplaces, and information and reporting requirements.

The investment industry continues to experience growth and change via significant transaction activity. Chris Bellamy, Co-President of Cohen & Company's Investment Industry Services Division, and Jim Lisy, Director of M&A Advisory, talk M&A trends from this specific industry's perspective - from what's driving activity to advice for companies considering a transaction.

The SEC’s approval of the Precidian ActiveShares® ETF structure stands to change the landscape for active fund managers who have historically avoided the ETF space. Investment Industry Partners Brett Eichenberger and Jeff Haneline sit down to discuss how this new type of structure works, how it differs from traditional ETFs, and the benefits and shortfalls fund managers should evaluate closely.

What does it really take to prepare for and sell your company? From following your financial plan, finding the right buyer and navigating the sale process, to communicating with family and prioritizing what needs to be done when, Randy Myeroff of Cohen & Company and Annie McCauley of Sequoia Financial Group share how entrepreneurs can plan for and execute a successful business exit.

Josh Lefcowitz and Aaron Caya, partners in Cohen & Company’s Business Valuation Group, discuss the benefits of proactively valuing your business. Learn about the compelling information this type of valuation can produce and how it could lead to improved profits, minimized risks and a stronger plan for the future.

Are you investing in digital assets? Corey McLaughlin, co-president of the Investment Industry Services Division, and Will Coleman, director of technology services, walk investors through the key considerations when it comes to the custody of digital assets. In addition, learn about the related accounting and tax concerns associated with this unique type of investing.

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), will affect companies that lease real estate, vehicles, construction and manufacturing equipment, and other assets. The standard requires these businesses to recognize most leases on their balance sheets. Marie Brilmyer and Phil Ryan, partners in the firm’s A&A Department, dig into the new lease standard for financial reporting to reveal how it may impact important financial metrics, such as working capital and EBITDA, and ultimately how that could impact your business.

Jim Boland, Holly James and John Cavalier, leaders in the firm’s Management Consulting Group, help businesses understand how to get value from one of their most important assets — their data — and where to start. Learn how companies of all sizes can deliver the right information, to the right people, to make better-informed decisions.

Ravi Singh and Jay Laurila, partners in Cohen & Company’s tax department and dedicated to the investment industry, pull back the curtain on tax equalization — a less commonly used but highly beneficial tax strategy. They discuss how this technique works and why today’s market conditions are causing funds to take another look.

Sara Britt and Olivia Ringler of Cohen & Company’s Tax Department highlight what every business owner needs to know about the game-changing Wayfair decision — including how the decision alters the sales tax landscape for all multi-state sellers and what you should do now to protect your company from liability.

Cohen & Company CEO Randy Myeroff kicks-off the firm’s Chief Insights podcast series and gives C-level executives, board members and other top decision makers in private companies and the investment industry an overview of what they can expect from this financial and business podcast series.