Linkedin Practice Groups

Linkedin Practice  Groups

Linkedin Practice Groups – We are very excited to announce a number of developments that reflect the continued growth of our practice, and a decision to realign our resources to make better use of them. This has partially been brought about due to the hypersensitivity of some of the members of the CPA Sole Practitioner Group that seem to take great offense at the use of profanity, and tend to be somewhat thin skinned. Well, welcome to the real world, that’s the way the people I grew up doing doing business with speak with each other at times. Perhaps a quote from an opinion piece that appeared in the NY Times today would be helpful. IDIOT. Imbecile. Cretin. Feebleminded. Moron. Retarded. Giving a Name, and Dignity, to a Disability [The opening paragraph follows and it lays out a context.

IDIOT. Imbecile. Cretin. Feebleminded. Moron. Retarded.

Offensive now but once quite acceptable, these terms figured in the research for a lengthy article I wrote in 2014 about 32 men who spent decades eviscerating turkeys in a meat-processing plant in Iowa — all for $65 a month, along with food and lodging in an ancient former schoolhouse on a hill.

These were men with intellectual disability, which meant they had significant limitations in reasoning, learning and problem solving, as well as in adaptive behavior. But even though “intellectual disability” has been the preferred term for more than a decade, it gave my editors and me pause.

The existing Linkedin groups include:

• Top Tier Tax Practitioner Forum [Merged with Regulation of Tax Professionals – which is just that a group [Linkedin Practice Groups] intended for experienced tax practitioners who would like to share their thoughts and experiences and discuss them with similarly skilled professionals. Any Circular 230 tax practitioners are welcome. Non-US professionals with similar credentials are also invited. 

• Pass-Thru Entity Tax Issues – an advanced level group [Linkedin Practice Groups] that with a focus limited to pass-thru entities – partnerships, limited liability companies and S Corporations, REITS and similar.

• Technology For Professional Accountants & Tax Practitioners – a group  [Linkedin Practice Groups]that is focused on the deployment of technology by CPA firms that are also technology consultants. There may be a slant towards the technologies that my firm uses, but we are certainly open to suggestions. 

• Practice Management Discussion Group – we have also created a practice management discussion group that is going to focus on practice risk management and regulatory compliance. This group will initially meet once a month at lunchtime on Wednesdays. Participation in this group is going to require advance approval, and will target small to mid-sized practices with an emphasis on Tax Practice.

This isn’t going to work if I have to carry all of the organizational and operational burdens myself. We are seeking people that would like to be involved in shaping the direction that the groups [Linkedin Practice Groups] take, and will add a limited number of individuals to the administration and moderation of the first three groups [the Practice Management Group is going to be a bit more restricted, and I am going seek to hand pick its leadership at the beginning. 

Diana Halenz CPA who has become an integral part of our Professional Services practice is going to be the lead for the Technology Group and assist with oversight of the Tax Practice Group. I am going to reach deep into my network of contacts and connections to build out the membership of all three groups. If you have an interest in being involved in the leadership and management of one of these groups [Linkedin Practice Groups] you can contact me here. 

This isn’t about either/or choices, rather it is intended to be an incremental option. Professional growth comes from exposure to diverse sources of information. If are you are a member of CPA Sole Practitioners, Trendlines, an AICPA or state society group REMAIN A MEMBER and be ACTIVE in that group. This is an additional resource that is going to have a different take on some of the issues. The technology group is going to include vendor representation, and we are looking for diverse membership and participation. We will certainly observe Linkedin TOS, though the pristine, puritanical and sanitized polite environment [Linkedin Practice Groups] isn’t going to be a requirement, it will not become “asshole island” either. It’s going to be a place where what is acceptable and normal among Wall St. transactional professionals is the norm, not a church function in Utah…though there is nothing improper about that, it isn’t going to be the top of the list. Highly competitive professionals can get into heated exchanges on issues, that is reality, and a necessary part of healthy exchange.