Concierge CPAs June 2019
June 2019
8221 Brecksville Rd., STE. 205 Brecksville, OH 44141
Borbala@ConciergeCPAs.com
(440) 340-1030
ConciergeCPAs.com
Our Way Through Rough Waters Ended in a Trip to Acadia National Park
The “once in a generation” tax season is behind us, and it left many of us with mixed feelings.
The government shutdown back in January led to the late release of tax forms, further increasing the pressure on us to learn, apply, and explain the effects of the new tax law. By the end of the tax season, I felt exhausted and found myself asking, “Why am I doing this?” Burnout … It’s a touchy subject many are reluctant to talk about, but, statistically, most of us experience it at some point in our careers. For now, burnout is a vaguely defined term, but according to the World Health Organization’s new definition, there are three signs to look out for: 1) energy depletion, 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, and 3) reduced professional efficacy. This year, I wanted to visit the Northeast. I’ve seen a lot of great pictures of Acadia National Park, and it seemed like the perfect road trip destination. I started preparing for the trip by buying two photography guide books about the region. The rugged coast line and the iconic lighthouses offered plenty of subjects for taking pictures. I had to make a decision: drive or fly? I decided to drive this time. The 1,000-mile trip was just long enough for me to catch up on the long list of audio books I had saved during tax season. On the second day, I decided to leave the monotonous highway and drive through the hills of upstate New York instead. By the afternoon, I was somewhere near the border of Vermont and New Hampshire when my GPS quit working. I didn’t plan on taking the scenic route, so for about half an hour, I was driving blind. Finally, I got closer to a town where I was able to download the map for the remainder of the trip. I guess it wouldn’t be a real road trip without getting lost at least once. It was late afternoon when I arrived in Portland, Maine. It started raining, which is not ideal for taking pictures, but I quickly drove to one of the most iconic lighthouses to scout the location for a sunrise picture. I’m really not a morning person, so waking up before dawn took real effort on my part. I wasn’t disappointed though; the Portland Head Lighthouse looked stunning in the early morning light. By mid-April, my energy was definitely depleted, so an early vacation was in order.
Portland Head Lighthouse Photo by Laszlo Szilagyi
After spending a few days in Portland, I finally made my way up to Acadia National Park. I arrived before Memorial Day weekend, so the park was fairly quiet. Honestly, I didn’t plan on hiking too much, but the rugged coastal trails were so beautiful and inviting that I couldn’t stay away. I met some dedicated people on the trail. One afternoon, I was making my way up Cadillac Mountain when it started raining. I gave up and headed back to the parking lot when I met a couple that was actually happy about the weather. They wanted to experience the environment in its “rawest form.” I, however, took the easy way out, drove to town, and went to see a movie instead. I was told that early May is not the best time to visit Maine. That might be true, but for my objective, it was perfect! I wanted to step away from the office for a few days to take some pictures, relax, and come back with my batteries recharged. Ultimately, I got everything out of the trip that I wanted.
–Laszlo Szilagyi, CPA
1 (440) 340-1030
BORBALA’S SCHEDULE
Client Advising and Coaching Days
To schedule a time with Borbala for after July 4, go to: Borbala.AcuityScheduling.com
Borbala will be working remotely from Europe until July 4, so Laszlo will take in-person or GoToMeeting appointments in June. To schedule a time, email Laszlo directly: laszlo@conciergecpas.com
Prospective client inquiries: Borbala@ConciergeCPAs.com
See What We’ve Been Up To!
We had fun at the fourth Annual “In the Company of Women” event on May 18! We’re so thankful to be part of this organization, whose mission is to increase the number of successful women entrepreneurs by providing resources and tools to create sustainable women-owned businesses. We’re pictured with some of our clients who attended the event.
We were platinum exhibitors and sponsors at the first B2B Summit organized by the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce in Independence, Ohio, on May 22, 2019. We had a great time presenting a seminar titled, “How Does the New Tax Law Affect Your Business?” to the audience, followed by a Q&A. Thank you, Nicky Sulandari, for inviting us!
Borbala Banto and Lora Lyden representing Concierge CPAs at the WBC Annual event. In less than 4 years, the WBC has engaged with over 400 members, provided over 3,000 hours of coaching and training, and helped women access over $3.5 million in capital for their businesses.
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‘Influence’
A Road Map to Closing Deals
Business majors and longtime entrepreneurs will be very familiar with this work. And in an age when many shiny new theories on leadership and personal development come out every year, it’s refreshing to revisit a classic that has stood the test of time. Thirty- five years after its original publication, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” should still be required reading for marketers, small-business owners, and anyone else looking to improve their negotiation skills.
Dr. Cialdini lays out six “universal principles” of the human psyche. These include “Reciprocity,” our tendency to want to return perceived kindness or concessions; “Commitment and Consistency,” our tendency to cling to past decisions; and “Scarcity,” our tendency to assign value to things based on their rarity. While these may sound like surface level business concepts, the way Dr. Cialdini uses these principles as a launching point gives “Influence” value. With each principle, the author dives into examples of how these psychological elements can be used by you or against you in any negotiation. Take “Commitment and Consistency” for example. If you are able to get a person to agree with you on several small points, you lay the groundwork for them to agree with you in the future. Conversely, you can be more alert when people try to use this tactic on you. One of the most powerful results of reading “Influence” is that it helps you recognize behaviors you yourself were unaware of. Indeed, that’s the whole underlying thesis of Dr. Cialdini’s work: As social creatures, we all have habitual behaviors geared towards finding common ground with others. Once you are aware of these behaviors, you’ll begin to see conversations and negotiations in a whole new light.
Written by Dr. Robert Cialdini, “Influence” explores why people say yes. A professor of business and psychology, Dr. Cialdini is uniquely qualified to tackle this question, combining scientific data with practical applications. “Influence” is still a subject of praise, with marketing research groups and journals of psychology lauding the book as a “proverbial gold mine.”You don’t have to get too far into “Influence” to see why.
Zucchini Salad With Toasted Hazelnuts
With raw zucchini, toasted hazelnuts, and a robust Parmigiano-Reggiano, this early summer salad is a delight of different textures and flavors that will make a great side at your next cookout.
INGREDIENTS •
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1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
3 small zucchini (3/4 lb.)
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1/2 tsp lemon zest, grated
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Mint leaves, for garnish
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3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano- Reggiano, for garnish
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3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
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Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS 1. Using a mandolin or very sharp knife, slice zucchini lengthwise into extremely thin, wide ribbons. 2. Arrange zucchini ribbons on a plate, sprinkle with lemon zest, and drizzle with juice. 3. Drizzle oil over zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and toss. 4. Scatter hazelnuts over the top, garnish with mint and cheese, and serve.
Inspired by Food &Wine magazine
3 (440) 340-1030
INSIDE
See What We’ve Been Up To Page 2 ‘Influence’ and the Psychology of Yes Page 3 Zucchini Salad With Toasted Hazelnuts Page 3
8221 Brecksville Rd., STE. 205 Brecksville, OH 44141 (440) 340-1030 Our Way Through Rough Waters Page 1 Borbala’s Schedule Page 2
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Tax-Free Smarts Robert F. Smith’s Unprecedented Graduation Gift
G raduation season is move on! High school students are looking forward to careers, college, and moving out of their parents’ nests. College graduates are looking forward to crushing student debt and moving back here, and graduates of all ages are excited to
for Smith, givers can give up to $15,000 per year to as many recipients as they like, or $30,000 for joint gifts with their spouse. And givers can pay any amount for medical or educational purposes so long as they stroke the check directly to the institution providing those services. Givers don’t owe actual tax until their total lifetime gifts above those “annual exclusion amounts” top $11.4 million per person.
into those nests. And some panicky grad students (you
know who you are) are searching desperately for one last degree to avoid joining the rest of us in the real world.
Most graduations are pretty pedestrian affairs. They include the same “Pomp and Circumstance,” the same gowns, caps, and tassels, and the same trite, inspirational speeches filled with dad jokes and lame puns. But every so often, a graduation makes real headlines. This year, it came on May 18 at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, which is a private, historically black men’s college. Robert F. Smith founded Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm investing in software companies. Smith is one of the best in that particularly challenging business; he’s built a $5-billion fortune and made himself the richest African American in the country. This year, Morehouse granted Smith an honorary degree and invited him to deliver the commencement address. Smith, who has been a generous supporter of educational causes, pledged to give $1.5 million to the school. So far, pretty typical, right? But Smith saved his real news for the ceremony itself, without even announcing it to administrators ahead of time. He told the audience of 396 graduates, “We’re going to put a little fuel in your bus ... This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans.”While the exact figure is still unknown, recent classes have graduated with roughly $10 million in debt.
But Smith shouldn’t even face those gift tax consequences. That’s because, as he announced at the ceremony, he’s making a “grant” to nuke the loans. Doing it through the school should qualify it as a deductible charitable contribution, meaning Uncle Sam will cover up to 37% of that cost. Smith is no stranger to deductible gifts. He’s given $50 million to his own alma mater, Cornell, which named their school of chemical and biomolecular engineering for him. (Who knew you could slice and dice engineering schools like that?) He’s also supported the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture. And last year, he bought two houses — one where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born and the other where he lived with his family — and donated them to the National Park Service. Smith is obviously smart as well as generous. And one thing he seems to know is that you don’t build a $5-billion fortune without minimizing interference from the IRS. Would you love to be able to make some sort of grand, generous gesture at the next graduation you attend? Call us to develop a plan to pay less tax, and let’s see how generous we can help you be!
–Liao (Amy) Xiong Staff Accountant, Concierge CPAs, Inc
The best part, as far as students are concerned, is that Smith’s extraordinary gift is tax-free. Recipients never owe tax on gifts. As
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