You have requested my input on your goals for 2012. I  offer the following input that you may want to consider:

 Consider the year 2012 as the year to reinvent yourself

A. Personal-

     a. Freshen up – shake things up a bit, perhaps change your work hours, new wardrobe, new car, new hairstyle, etc.

     b. Exercise more to gain energy and break free of inertia. I feel there is a direct relationship between exercise and energy and your financial success and attitude.

          1. As weight drops, confidence and energy increase. You are more focused and creative. You naturally feel better about yourself. When these things happen you tend to work at your best. Earnings result.

          2. Increase your productivity to increase your income.

B. Business – consider putting out a new product or modifying your existing product or service lines. Challenge yourself to think more. Be creative. Focus on design…which sells.  You must stay in motion at all times. Don’t let the force of inertia get to you.

Take risks…don’t play it totally safe

1. Do some investing in 2012. Personally, I believe the timing is right to invest in property and stocks. We should have low interest rates to at least 2014. Low current values and low interest costs could spell opportunities.  Take the time to find them.
2. Say “yes” more often. Being spontaneous is to live a fuller life, I feel.

Appreciate the value of “me time”. Take some time to go “off to the side” for a few hours or an entire day and think it all through….alone.

 Let your principals at the office know the following:

1. What best energizes you…what do you enjoy doing the most?
2. You are ambitious and that you can do more…and want to,
3. Go the extra mile…it will show. People DO notice.

Practice random acts of kindness daily. I believe this is critical to mankind. Offer something to someone each day. Remember that communication is very good and powerful medicine. And it does not take much to bring out smiles from others. Show that you care. We are all being watched.

Be healthy….by all means do not neglect your health. When was your last physical?

Read a book this year. Maybe read two. Do not rush through them. Read SLOWLY…. Really get the messages being presented.

Daily inspirational reading material can be highly motivating and I recommend it….I have been following Seth Godin’s daily BLOG…. And getting a lot from it!

Be connected through social media

1. Linkedin for expanding your business network
2. Facebook profile pertaining to your business

Protect your confidence and self-esteem, they are very valuable assets.

Finally, remind yourself that you have to practice DISCIPLINE…..when you set your goals, stick to them. When you resolve to get something done, stay with it. Don’t quit….your achievements await you and are closer to realization than you think. You must hang in.

 Reading Recommendations

These are books I can recommend to you

1. 5: Where Will You Be in Five Years….by Dan Zadra
2. Paleo Diet
3. Drive by Daniel Pink
4. Spontaneous Happiness by Dr. Andrew Weil
5. Launching The Innovation Renaissance by Alex Tabarrok
6. Leading an Accounting Firm by Troy Waugh, CPA, MBA

Daily Inspirational Reading and Viewing

1. Seth Godin’s daily blog postings that come to you via emails are both interesting and pertinent (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/) and cost you nothing.
2. Ted.com….many interesting topics.

By John T. Iacopi, CPA

Accountants do so much more than “count beans” and wear “green visors”….the old stereotype picture people think of when the term “accountant” is used.

I have been reflective on the many services our firm provides to its clients and thought I would prepare a listing of “things that we do” that quickly come to mind. I am sure there are more but for a solid description of what a CPA can do for you and your company, this is a fairly comprehensive list developed from the services our firm can provide. Here we go:

1. We provide business planning services and analysis to all types of clients and family businesses,
2. We cheer on our clients in good times and encourage and support them when times are no quite so good,
3. We offer solid business advice to the entrepreneur and we think as entrepreneurs think,
4. Business goal setting and client mentoring,
5. Crisis management,
6. Incentive compensation arrangements and deferred compensation planning and payouts – non-qualified plans, past service compensation planning,
7. Reasonable compensation analysis for tax deduction and shareholder related purposes,
8. “C” to “S” corporation conversions and consultations,
9. Personal coaching and consultation for executives,
10. Estate planning and consultation on the use of various tools such as SCINS, GRATS, Defective Trusts and the like,
11. Tax preparation services – individual, corporation, partnerships – all prepared in-house and timely,
12. Audits of financial statements,
13. Financial statement review engagements,
14. Compilations of financial statements,
15. Divorce related accounting services,
16. Settlement conferences conducted and attended,
17. Depositions including preparations,
18. Trial preparation services and testimony review,
19. We listen well,
20. We act as your “sounding board”,
21. Planning, planning and more planning,
22. Restructuring plans,
23. We work with clients to find ways to grow their businesses,
24. We think…..way, way outside the box,
25. Succession planning services,
26. Tax audit avoidance and support,
27. Family business disputes and resolution assistance,
28. We help clients market and sell their business,
29. We help clients locate and buy businesses,
30. We act as trusted advisors with privacy assured,
31. Assist clients with changing banks and relocating their business and loans,
32. Purchase and sale price allocations to component parts to maximize tax savings via depreciation and capital gains versus ordinary income recognition,
33. We assist with client finances and locate lenders and assist in refinancing of business loans and preparing loan applications,
34. We assist in evaluating opportunities for our clients,
35. We offer tax audit representation services – income, sales tax, estate and gift tax audits,
36. Expert witness testimony at trial,
37. Loan proposal evaluations and loan document reviews,
38. Cost segregation studies to allocate purchase costs to depreciable components to maximize legitimate depreciation related deductions (shorter life assets),
39. We dig for legal tax deductions,
40. IC Disc planning,
41. Cash flow analysis,
42. Human relations (HR) assistance,
43. Pre-marital agreement planning,
44. Business breakups,
45. Joint venture formations,
46. Tax free exchanges and planning, IRC 1031,
47. We speak to client staff members and assist them in their positions to better serve our clients, their superiors,
48. We offer fringe benefit planning and speak to your employees,
49. Board of director meeting attendance and participation,
50. Strategic and creative thinking and planning at all times and implementation on a “hands on” basis,
51. Gift tax planning and decision making assistance,
52. Creative solutions to your business and tax related issues,
53. Think and planning and brainstorming sessions including “think tanks” offsite,
54. Review of tax returns for taxpayers who are not our clients…i.e.: Second opinions,
55. Computer processing and support,
56. Depreciation schedules – both clean ups and set ups,
57. Business appraisal services – what’s your business worth?
58. Dispute resolution and litigation settlement assistance,
59. Structured settlements to maximize, clarify and support tax filing positions,
60. Use of Trusts in business and estate and insurance planning,
61. Limited legal liability evaluation,
62. Capitalization of businesses – thinly capitalized and exposure planning (pierce the corporation veil),
63. California Code Section 500 related values and services,
64. California Code Section 2000 related values and services,
65. IRC 529 plans and related educational planning to set aside funds for future education purposes,
66. Purchase or lease analysis – equipment and real estate,
67. Shareholder/business partner redemptions and special meeting minutes,
68. IRC 754 elections and its applications – partner buyouts and tax related allocations upon the death of a partner or LLC member,
69. Partner and shareholder admissions to businesses,
70. Buy-sell agreement preparation assistance,
71. Input on loans and promissory notes – loan terms and security,
72. Fractional interest gifts and appraisal discounts – lack of control and lack of marketability discounts and support, USPAP compliant reports,
73. Charitable foundation consultations,
74. Charitable donation deductions for appreciated property,
75. Farmer accounting services and planning,
76. Tax loss carry backs and refund applications,
77. Offers in compromise with taxing authorities,
78. Business budgeting and cost cutting planning,
79. Sales growth planning,
80. Family law consultations and planning for community property divisions,
81. Separate property agreements,
82. Planning for active/passive tax losses and offsets,
83. Trust and estate accounting,
84. Court accounting,
85. Trust tax returns – forms 1041,
86. We bug our clients for their own good and establish as sense of teamwork,
87. Estate tax returns – forms 706,
88. We help clients make the “tough calls”,
89. Employer – employee liaisons and dispute resolution,
90. ESOP consultations – pro and con, etc.,
91. Non-profit accounting and tax filings and establishment,
92. Enterprise zone, R & D and other tax credit consulting,
93. We offer “in the home appointments” and after hour and weekend appointments,
94. We travel for your business and “go where the project takes us”,
95. Insurance evaluations – we evaluate your needs for insurance, which has its place in any business setting and planning process,
96. Insurance claims – damages assessments,
97. Investment counseling and investment opportunity evaluations,
98. Budgeting and Forecasts and present value analysis,
99. Year end tax planning,
100. Fiscal vs. calendar year reporting evaluations,
101. Tax projections and planning….so that very few “surprises” pop up on “tax day”,
102. No “last minute” or crammed “here’s your return, now file it” tax filings,
103. Tracing of funds in litigation settings,
104. Charts and graphs for your presentations,
105. Account management staff consistency….low turnover of CPAs at our firm…you don’t have to work with a new CPA each year!
106. Forensic accounting services,
107. Legal counsel trial preparation assistance on accounting matters,
108. Second opinions on accounting matters,
109. Arbitration and mediation of accounting and tax issues,
110. Inventory observations,
111. Lifestyle analysis,
112. Family budgets and savings planning,
113. Financial planning – personal and corporate,
114. Personal financial statements prepared,
115. Retirement planning – setting funds aside for the future,
116. We will serve as a Trustee for Trusts,
117. We will serve as a Court Appointed Receiver,
118. Bookkeeping services,
119. QuickBooks consultations and instruction on its use,
120. Alimony and temporary support computations in divorce related settings,
121. Property settlement agreements and memorandums of settlement for legal counsel to follow with tax related input,
122. Interviewing attorneys for client needs and related referrals,
123. Fee related evaluations,
124. Fairness opinions,
125. Financial planning – we do not sell products – hourly charges only,
126. Board of director meeting minutes to document tax sensitive business actions,
127. Shareholder loan work outs and resolutions,
128. Consultation on releases,
129. Roth conversions/IRA account planning and projections,
130. Video presentations/absentee presentations and analysis,
131. Consultations regarding innovation for your business ,
132. Social networking and planning,
133. Professional writing/authorship/ghost writing,
134. Business commentaries and sales brochure presentations,
135. Field trips and photography of your business for valuation and documentation purposes,
136. Business real estate purchase consultations and financing options and evaluations,
137. Product pricing assistance and cost accounting, gross margin analysis,
138. Compensation studies and compensation planning,
139. Present value analysis and computations including Monte Carlo variations,
140. Corporation governance compliance,
141. Intangible asset appraisal services – i.e.: What is the value of your goodwill?
142. Decision trees/pros and cons to actions being considered, shaping decisions,
143. Maximizing your travel and entertainment deductions,
144. Entity planning and evaluations – “S” corporation, “C” corporation, Limited Liability Company, Partnerships, etc.
145. Business capitalization options – common stock, debt, paid in capital, etc.
146. Amazing service with a smile and positive attitude,
147. Rate of return analysis….justification of purchase price tests and presentations,
148. Investment evaluation – pros and cons with thought out reasoning/risk-reward commentary, etc.,
149. Planning for the purchase of a second home,
150. In house presentations for our clients and their staff on topics such as employee motivation, goal setting, attitudes, new tax law changes, other educational topics,
151. Family Limited Partnerships (or LLC’s) – set up and administration, advisability and valuations, checklists, reasoning and support, consultations on an ongoing after set up,
152. Employee policy manuals – input and evaluations,
153. Planning for gifts of separate property via gift splitting with a spouse where non-community property is being gifted,
154. Planning and consulting on corporation tax balances due that will be extinguished via loss carrybacks and getting the balance due NOW stayed via form 1138,
155. Planning for cancellation of indebtedness income and ways to defer immediate tax and reduce basis in assets,
156. Tax credits – energy credits, jobs credits, enterprise zone, etc.
157. We help clients “connect the dots”,
158. Bankruptcy consultations,
159. “S” corporation conversions from “C” corporations with long range analysis presentations,
160. Change in accounting methods and form 3115 preparation,
161. Life insurance trusts – Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust consults,
162. On Campus staff recruitment,
163. Trial preparation and testimony input,
164. Multi-State taxation matters,
165. Computation of damages and analysis,
166. Employee motivation and evaluations,
167. Golden rule practices discussed with clients,
168. Health care planning and use of HSA’s,
169. Cafeteria plans consulting,
170. Business ethics reviews and audits, corporation culture input,
171. Business formations,
172. Offers in compromise on your tax debts,
173. Estate planning/tax elections for pre-2010 tax relief for estates of decedents – $5.0 million estates,
174. Compensation settlements and payouts,
175. Capital gains vs. ordinary income analysis and structure,

(Covering Business Appraisal, Consulting, Litigation Services Only) Prepared as of January 1, 2011

     Educational Background, License and Certifications

Bachelor of Science, Major in Accounting, Armstrong University, Berkeley, California; Cum Laude Honors, May, 1972

Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, December, 1974, State of California, License No. 20823E, license renewals met and current

Certified as a Certified Business Appraiser, January, 1988 (IBA) – Recertification requirements met and current

Certified as a Certified Valuation Analyst, June, 1993 (NACVA) – Recertification requirements met and current

Completion of AICPA’s Certificate in Education Achievement Program – Business Valuation – December, 1996

Accredited as “Accredited in Business Valuation” by the AICPA – February, 1999 (ABV) – Recertification requirements met and current

Controlling Shareholder in the Accountancy Corporation of Iacopi, Lenz & Company

Business Appraisal, Consulting and

Litigation Support Services

Mr. Iacopi has been rendering business valuation services since 1978. Businesses appraised have included a variety of closely held businesses and professional practices. A list of the types of businesses appraised is available upon request. Over 700 business appraisals have been performed which included all types of assets and liabilities including tangible and intangible properties including goodwill and intellectual property values.

Mr. Iacopi has expressed professional opinions on the valuation of minority interest ownership positions in both operating businesses and passive real property ownership holding entities.

Litigation support services have been rendered in cases involving the measurement of lost profits, damages, tax costs and other forensic matters. Jury trial testimony has been provided on numerous occasions.

Mr. Iacopi has had first hand experience in assisting clients in the sales of 34 closely held businesses ranging in value from $1.2 million to $34,000,000 in sales price consideration and is familiar with what buyers want, how they price businesses, required rates of return and other data useful to your pending assignments. He is also mindful of what sellers want when they sell their businesses and how buyers and sellers negotiate and sometimes “meet in the middle” or try to. References are available. This degree of experience is valuable to your assignment.

Mr. Iacopi is an experienced real estate buyer and seller and has properties for sale at the present time. He is mindful of the current market conditions, lending requirements and financing availability, qualified buyers and what they are looking for, cash flows, management and other critical matters (such as advertising) needed to connect buyers and sellers. He is experienced with Internet and Website advertising vehicles to use in marketing.

Mr. Iacopi is an experienced loan placement professional and knows the lending environment conditions, what lenders require, rates and terms, turnaround time, lender willingness to finance and other critical components related to financing, changing banks and lender accommodations. He can provide references to lending institutions to assist with your financing requirements.

Extensive consulting services are offered ranging from strategic planning, marital dissolution/divorce and related business and tax issues, business and family law settlement assistance and mediation services, financing consultations, structured settlements, property sales, financing, employee evaluations and administrative employee motivation.

Three authored self-published books are available from Mr. Iacopi.

Expert Witness Qualifications

Mr. Iacopi has qualified as an expert witness in San Joaquin, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tuolumne, Monterey and Stanislaus Counties and has testified in Superior Court on numerous occasions involving business valuation, forensic accounting and tax related matters. He has been appointed by Superior Court Judges to serve as referee in domestic relations matters to value businesses and verify amounts shown in income/expense declarations. He is experienced in Agricultural accounting and farming practices.

Professional Affiliations

Mr. Iacopi is a member of the following professional organizations:

•   American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

•   California Society of Certified Public Accountants

•   Institute of Business Appraisers, Inc.

•   National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

Attorney References

Available to you upon request. (Attorneys located in Los Angeles, Merced, Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton, Roseville, San Francisco, Chico, other Bay Area Cities)

Professional Services Offered

•   Business valuation services/professional practice valuation

•   Forensic accounting and litigation support – all phases

•   Marital dissolution accounting, consulting and related tax advice, Pereira/Van Camp analysis, Income and Expense Declarations prepared/reviewed, FC 2640 credits, PDD and FDD disclosures, tracing of funds into asset ownership, settlements, depositions

•   Litigation settlement services with advice on structuring business and divorce related settlement allocations, tax consultations, spousal support computations, etc.

•   Discovery depositions

•   Buy-sell agreement reviews and critiques

•   Damage assessment and computations

•   Critiques of opposing expert reports

•   Tax and finance consultations concerning business sales and acquisitions including allocations of price, stock versus asset sales, other consultative services including family stock transfers (gifts, sales between family members, etc.)

•   Strategic planning and business consulting services including settlement conference and deposition planning and preparations, legal counsel assistance, agreement reviews and long range business planning, management interviews onsite are always conducted

•   Valuation of fractional interests in closely held businesses for sale, gift, buy-sell agreement values, estate tax appraisals and defense, Section 2000 (a) fair value in liquidation appraisals, related litigation, etc.

Court of Appeals case citations –

IN RE Marriage of Economou, 223 C.A. 3d 76, 91 (Aug. 1990) – tracing/finance case, extensive testimony and schedules – Court comment after testimony concluded is still cited.

IN RE Marriage of Teunissen – Fifth Appellate District – (Unpublished –) F029692 – (Super. Ct. No. 28002). Copy available with permission – tracing/finance and appraisal case – apportionment. Iacopi schedules accepted by Superior Court in all respects. Upheld on appeal. Affirmed on all six points.

Our firm brand:

“Iacopi and Lenz. We do more.”

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John T. Iacopi, CPA

” The package I offer to my clients goes like this: I am driven, focused and dedicated. I stay current in the profession. I am creative and committed… goal oriented and optimistic. I work hard with smart people to accomplish your goals on any detail-oriented project assigned to me. I am committed to client service. I am a compulsive, detail-oriented project manager/editor on business projects such as valuation, estate planning and business sale projects. I perform competently and with a personality… not with an attitude. I make each day count. I have fun. I will go the extra mile for you… no 8-5 hours for me.”

“Make your services each and every day a masterpiece… rendering perfect service and the very best advice to your clients.Get in there and flood the clients with service… make them know you are there for them.”
John T. Iacopi