We have the most revered speakers in the industry - bar none, we have the best!
Frank R. Acuña is a California State Bar certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. His practice includes estate planning, business and real estate succession planning, special needs trusts, inheritance litigation, and general business and real estate advice. He is also a nationally recognized expert in real estate wealth transfers and in succession planning for farms, ranches, and vineyards. With more than 29 years of front-line legal experience, Frank has taught tax seminars for the National Tax Practice Institute, the California Society of Enrolled Agents, the California Society of Tax Consultants, and a number of national, state and local chapters of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He advises tax, fiduciary, and financial professionals throughout California and was honored by the California Society of Enrolled Agents as its 2010-2011 Booster of the Year.
Karen Brosi, EA, CFP® has an extensive California tax practice, advising clients in individual tax and family wealth planning, specializing in complex individual income tax matters and all types of securities transactions. Her background as a CFP and as a tax preparer for the wealthy makes her particularly effective in the tax and financial planning arenas. Karen teaches tax professionals how to avoid tax minefields with her extensive planning checklists and practical tips. Besides being one of the most prominent California tax update instructors, she’s a favorite interviewee on radio, television, and in print media, such as Bloomberg Businessweek. Karen’s powerful real-life presentations pinpoint critical federal and state tax areas, teaching tax professionals what they need to know to optimally assist their clients. Karen was the recipient of the California CPA Education Foundation 2012-2013 Outstanding Webcast Instructor award.
Thomas A. Gorczynski, EA, USTCP is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on federal tax law matters. He is the author of the Tom Talks Taxes online newsletter, the co-author of the PassKey Learning Systems EA Review Series, and co-owner of Compass Tax Educators. He is an Enrolled Agent, a Certified Tax Planner, a National Tax Practice InstituteTM Fellow, and admitted to the bar of the United States Tax Court as a non-attorney. Tom earned a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University and a Certificate in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He received the 2019 Excellence in Education Award from the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the 2018 Member of the Year Award from the American Institute of Certified Tax Planners. Tom’s tax practice in Phoenix, Arizona focuses on implementing advanced tax reduction strategies and representing taxpayers with complex tax problems before the IRS and in the United States Tax Court.
David Hilliard, EA graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2001 with a degree in Animal Health Science. After 20 years as a knight at Medieval Times, he entered the tax industry in 2009, where he now defends taxpayer rights with over 25 years of management and customer service experience. He represents clients before the IRS and other government agencies while also teaching continuing education and sharing practice improvement strategies with fellow tax professionals. David has served in numerous leadership roles within the California Society of Enrolled Agents at both state and local levels. At Chatterton and Associates, Inc., he organizes and mentors a team of EAs, CPAs, and CTEC registered tax preparers. When not riding to the rescue of clients in distress, David enjoys time with his wife Patricia, their three children - Ella, Melody, and Wyatt - and their golden retriever, Montana.
Natalie Kolodij is an Enrolled Agent, a Real Estate Tax Strategist, founder of the Certified Real Estate Tax Strategist (CRETS™) credentials, and CEO of Kolodij Tax & Consulting LLC in Everett, Washington. She has worked exclusively with real estate investors since 2017 with a heavy focus on tax planning and strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from Central Washington University, is now a national tax educator who teaches on all things connected to real estate taxation.
Matt Metras, EA, is the founder of MDM Financial Services in Irondequoit, NY and specializes in boutique accounting services, with an intense focus on taxation for cryptocurrency clients. Matt’s a frequent guest on the Bitcoin Taxes podcast, and has been a featured speaker at several national and state conferences, including the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals, The American Institute of Certified Tax Planners, and many other organizations. Additionally, he is a contributing writer for thinkoutsidethetaxbox.com.Matt is a founding member of the Blockchain Accountants Association, an administrator of the "Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Tax Info" Facebook group, and a moderator of the r/cryptotaxation subreddit. A passionate community advocate, Matt recently served two terms as the President of his local Board of Education. When not knee-deep in taxes, he and his family enjoy adventuring around the world and playing board games.
Nichole C. Ralls, EA has been in the tax and accounting business for over 25 years, beginning her career at a family trust company before dedicating the last 22 years to running a successful tax firm in Citrus Heights, CA. Nikki an active member of both the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and the California Society of Enrolled Agents (CSEA); over her 19 years of particiation, she has held various leadership roles at local chapter, state, and national levels. She attributes much of her success to her CSEA mentors and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the tax community. When not immersed in tax work or volunteering, Nichole finds joy at the ocean away from the daily hustle, or at home with her husband, child, and three cats.
Anita Monrroy, CPA, EA, MST is a driven and accomplished accounting professional with a BS in Accountancy from California State University, Northridge and an MS in Taxation. After building a strong foundation at Ernst & Young, she expanded her expertise with various small to mid-sized accounting firms, focusing on audits and tax returns for diverse clients. As both a CPA and Enrolled Agent, she brings a wealth of experience to her successful small business, MBSI, and her Real Estate investments. Her professional insight is uniquely enhanced by her perspective as a small business owner. When not focused on numbers, Anita enjoys social dancing and lives with passion and dedication in Reseda, California, where she resides with her two beloved chihuahuas.
Lawrence K. Pon, EA, CPA, USTCP, CFP, CPA/PFS, CFP, EA, USTCP, AEP is a Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist, Certified Financial Planner, Enrolled Agent, United States Tax Court Practitioner, and Accredited Estate Planner in Redwood Shores, CA. Mr. Pon has been in practice since 1986 and enjoys helping his clients reach their financial goals. He is a national speaker to tax professionals and financial advisors on the latest tax updates and tax planning techniques. Mr. Pon teaches Income Tax at the College of San Mateo. Mr. Pon is a long time member of NAEA, CSEA, and GGEA. Mr. Pon received his BS in Business Administration with emphases in Accounting and Finance from the University of California, Berkeley and MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Ryan Reichert, EA, CFP®, is a practicing tax professional from San Diego, California. His financial planning and business ownership background makes him specially equipped to handle new and often complex tax laws. Ryan has a knack for breaking tax topics into presentations that keep attendees engaged and learning throughout the day. He is also the owner of Brass Tax Presentations and the client-facing publication, Tax News and Tips.
Jane Ryder, EA, CPA writes and speaks nationwide on many tax, compliance, representation and accounting topics. She runs her full-service CPA firm in San Diego, California and has been providing tax, accounting, representation and tax collection services since 1980.
Mark F. Seid is an enrolled agent, certified public accountant and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. He was an Internal Revenue Agent with the IRS in San Jose and San Luis Obispo, California. Mark is an NTPI graduate. He has served as a state director for the California Society of Enrolled Agents (CSEA) and chaired the CSEA Finance and Budget committee. Mark has focused his tax practice on small businesses and tax controversy. He regularly presents courses to tax professionals on issues impacting small businesses. For the last several years Mark has been presenting federal and state tax update courses throughout the United States and internationally.
Chester, New York based John Sheeley, EA began his career in the tax industry in 1987, passing the IRS special enrollment exam in 1995. His career includes 13 years as a multi-unit franchisee of a national tax firm and 5 years as a tax manager at a regional CPA firm in New York. A National Tax Practice Institute fellow, John completed his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Oswego. John formed his current tax services firm in 2008, with a focus on the tax and representation needs of U.S. citizens living abroad, and non-resident alien entrepreneurs and entertainers living and working in the United States. The Firm prepares the occasional cannabis industry and crypto currency tax return. John is also the founder of Tax Practice Pro, Inc, a national continuing education provider. His current teaching focus centers on taxation of legal marijuana businesses, problems of S corps, and taxation of non-resident aliens and those living abroad.
David M. Woods, EA, USTCP has been in the field of taxation and financial planning for over twenty-five years and is the owner of Woods Financial Services in San Diego, California. He specializes in individual, partnership, corporate, and fiduciary taxation, as well as tax controversy. Additional specialties include foreign reporting for US taxpayers, as well as determining income and sales tax nexus for individual and business taxpayers. David received his master’s degree in taxation from Northeastern University, Boston, MA and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as an Enrolled Agent (EA), he’s named a Fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute (NTPI) by the National Association of Enrolled Agents, and designated a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers. Among his accomplishments, David has also been awarded the financial planning designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) a by The American College for demonstrating knowledge and ability in several different disciplines of financial planning. Some of the work he’s done in the past include serving on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts EA Society and San Diego Mensa Society. In his spare time, David enjoys competing in track and field