Establishing an emergency fund is the tactic that CPA financial planners most recommend Americans take to help prepare for a downturn.
Advertisement
TOPICS
Personal financial planning
Preparing for future health needs
As trusted advisers in their clients’ lives, CPAs can play an important role in long-term health planning.
Why Roth conversions still make sense after the SECURE Act
Changes brought on by the SECURE act have added new wrinkles to the planning process that must be considered by IRA owners and CPA financial planners.
Financial planning strategies for depressed asset values
Consider these financial planning strategies in a period of low interest rates and high volatility.
Look before you leap into a 529 plan
Circumspection is called for in funding students’ higher education.
Forensic accountants team up to fight elder abuse
Forensic accountants play a key role in an innovative approach to combating elder financial exploitation in a program that is spreading nationally.
When planning for a natural disaster, don’t forget about your finances
Margaret Poster, CPA, shares advice for making sure your finances are in shape in the event of a disaster.
What to do with your stimulus check
Many Americans will receive stimulus money to help them weather the pandemic, but what they do with that money will depend on whether they need it right away or can afford to set some aside. CPA financial planners offer advice on how to make the best use of stimulus funds.
HSA contribution limits increase for 2021
The IRS issued its annual inflation-adjusted contribution limits for contributions to health savings accounts permitted to participants in high-deductible health plans. Most of the amounts increased slightly over the 2020 amounts.
Essential documents clients must update during COVID-19
Now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure clients’ wills, health care powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents are current.
Options for clients with student loans during the pandemic
Here’s a rundown of the relief the CARES Act offers for student loan borrowers, who is eligible for it and what clients can do if they’re not covered by the CARES Act or if they’ve become unemployed or had their hours reduced.
Financial satisfaction takes biggest dive since Great Recession
Economic woes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic triggered the steepest quarterly decline in Americans’ personal financial satisfaction since the recession that began in 2008.
Social Security recipients will automatically receive stimulus payments
The IRS announced that Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefit recipients will not have to file a tax return to receive the $1,200 stimulus payment provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Talk to tax clients about what’s really on their minds
A CPA discusses how best to present additional services to tax clients without coming off as pushy or aggressive.
Calming clients’ fears during the coronavirus outbreak
How can CPAs deal with client anxieties during a time of uncertainty? The best steps include preparing them for unexpected events before they happen and acknowledging their concerns.
Emotional impact of elder abuse outweighs the financial toll
Fraud and financial abuse harm clients psychologically more than they do financially, according to the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Trends Survey.
How to identify and report health care fraud
Health care fraud is an important and complicated challenge for clients. CPAs can be instrumental in helping clients detect, report, and prevent health care fraud.
Financial planning: Remember to plan for risk
CPA financial planners must carefully document for clients all risks associated with recommended investments.
CPAs need to watch these health care pricing rules
New rules are designed to make health care pricing more transparent, and CPA financial planners could use that information to help clients make more informed decisions.
Americans’ financial satisfaction at all-time high
Americans’ financial satisfaction hit an all-time high in the fourth quarter of 2019. Stock market gains coupled with declines in underemployment and loan delinquencies helped lift the index to new heights.
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Building a better CPA firm: Stepping up service offerings
A key step in business model modernization is determining how to implement services that satisfy clients and employees.
From The Tax Adviser
August 30, 2025
2025 tax software survey
July 31, 2025
