CPA vs. EA vs. CFP: Which Credential Fits Your Career?
Three respected credentials, three different paths. Here is how the CPA, Enrolled Agent, and CFP compare on scope, exams, and continuing education.
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HSA Changes: Expanded Eligibility and What It Means for 2026
Health Savings Accounts got more useful. Alongside the usual inflation adjustments to contribution limits, recent legislation expanded who can contribute to an HSA — a change worth flagging for clients during open enrollment. The basics still apply To contribute to an HSA, an individual generally must be covered by a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP)…
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Professional Ethics for Accountants: AICPA Code, Circular 230 & CFP Standards
If you hold more than one credential—or advise clients who do—you quickly discover that “professional ethics” doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere. A CPA, an Enrolled Agent, and a CFP® professional each answer to a different ethics framework, and each must complete ethics continuing education that fits their credential. This overview explains the three main…
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The New $40,000 SALT Cap: What Changed and Who Benefits
The 2025 tax law quadrupled the state and local tax deduction cap for most taxpayers — but with a high-income phase-down and a scheduled reversion. Here is how it works.
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Pass-Through Entity Taxes (PTET) After the Higher SALT Cap: Still Worth It?
When the federal cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions arrived, most states responded with a pass-through entity tax (PTET) — an elective workaround that has saved owners of S corporations and partnerships real money. Now that the federal SALT cap has been raised, advisers are asking whether the PTET election is still worth…
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Estimated Taxes and Safe Harbors: A Plain-English Guide
Who has to pay quarterly, how the safe harbors work, and how to help clients avoid underpayment penalties.
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Opportunity Zones Made Permanent: New Rules for Qualified Opportunity Funds
The Opportunity Zone (OZ) incentive — created to spur investment in designated communities — was set to wind down. Recent legislation instead made the program permanent and reshaped how it works, giving advisers a durable planning tool for clients with capital gains. A quick refresher Investors who roll eligible capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity…
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How Many CPE Hours Does a CPA Need? (By State, 2026)
One of the most common questions new and experienced CPAs ask is deceptively simple: how many CPE hours do I actually need? The honest answer is that it depends on where you are licensed. There is no single national CPE requirement for CPAs. Instead, each state Board of Accountancy sets its own rules for the…
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529 Plans Just Got More Flexible: New Qualified Expenses to Know
529 education savings plans have quietly become one of the most flexible tools in the planning toolbox — and recent legislation expanded them further. If you advise families, it’s worth a refresher on what 529 money can now cover. Beyond college tuition 529 plans were built for higher education, but qualified uses have grown over…
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TCJA Sunset Averted: The 2017 Tax Cuts Are Now Permanent
For years, planners worked around a December 31, 2025 cliff. The 2025 law removed it. Here is what became permanent — and what it means for multi-year planning.
