Valuation Basics and Building Lasting Value
Gain a practical understanding of the concepts and tools used to value a business, then explore the leadership, culture, and strategic factors that drive long-term value creation. Walk away with actionable insights that will help you strengthen your own organization while enabling your clients to build more valuable businesses.
Nicholas A. Adamy – Managing Director, Adamy Valuation Advisors, Grand Rapids

Empathy Matters: Navigating Longevity & Cognitive Impairment
Advisors with clients approaching retirement are often met with a dual planning challenge, as many pre-retirees are confronting eldercare planning for aging parents alongside their own retirements. Discuss how to help clients take a proactive approach to having difficult conversations to address future longevity challenges, including cognitive impairment, with their parents.
Sandra Adams, CFP – Lead Financial Planner/Partner, Center for Financial Planning, Inc., Southfield
Danielle B. Mayoras, JD, CPG – Shareholder, Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras, Troy

Expect the Unexpected: Strategic Value and Exit Planning
Not every exit from a business is the owner’s ideal – divorce, disagreement, disability and death are just a few examples of how a need to exit may present itself unexpectedly. Determine strategies for proving and increasing an organization’s value at any point in time, regardless of the circumstances or timing of a potential exit.
Ryan McCaslin, CPA, CIA, CEPA – Partner, Echelbarger Himebaugh Tamm & Co. PC, Ada

Bring your best ideas, experiences and questions to swap with peers and other professionals during this moderated event.

Bring your best ideas, experiences and questions to swap with peers and other professionals during this moderated event.

Fraud Indicators: Distinguish Error from High-Risk Anomaly
Analyze common fraud indicators that may be overlooked or misinterpreted as routine errors in accounting and audit environments. We evaluate how assumptions, experience and bias can lead to misdiagnosis of fraud risk using real-world cases so you can strengthen your ability to identify, and respond, to unusual patterns that may signal fraudulent activity.
Daniel Porter, CFE – Consultant/Trainer, Cape Coral, FL

Inside Michigan Treasury
From R&D updates to decoupling state tax provisions from their federal counterparts, several Michigan Treasury developments will impact small firm practitioners and their clients in 2026. Review the latest updates and discuss emerging issues including flow-through entity tax updates, decoupling guidance, Treasury web platform changes, and more. 
Ariel Applebaum-Bauch, JD – Administrative Law Specialist, State of Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing
David Foos, CPA, JD – Administrator, State of Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing
Sarah Rusnell – Outreach Manager, State of Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing
Moderator: Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA – Founder and Member, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion

Adding Personal Financial Planning to Your Practice
Demand for personal financial planning services is on the rise. Discuss practical strategies for incorporating this service into your existing practice, including various options and effective business models. 
Matthew S. Kidd, CPA, PFS – President, Kidd Advisors, Livonia

Ethical Decision-Making: Staying Between the Lines
Ethics codes provide guardrails to guide professional conduct. Explore the nuance of ethical behavior by distinguishing between interpretation and the application of values, morals and ethics. Then, use professional misconduct case studies to better understand the consequences of ignoring ethical standards.
Daniel Porter, CFE – Consultant/Trainer, Cape Coral, FL

AI: Friend or Foe...YES
The benefits of artificial intelligence are clear- enhanced analysis, stronger controls, risk reduction and accelerated decision making- but the risks are just as ubiquitous. Identify the relevant tools and approaches for harnessing the many benefits of AI confidently and responsibly, while developing a deeper awareness of the ethical challenges, limitations and real-world pitfalls associated with adoption.
Dr. Scott Dell, CPA, CMC, DBA – Assistant Professor of Accounting, Ferris State University College of Business, Big Rapids

Building a High-Value Client Base
Develop a scalable client acquisition process that helps attract, onboard, and retain high-value tax clients while strengthening long-term relationships. We employ practical strategies to streamline onboarding, leverage technology tools like customer relationship management (CRM) systems and automated outreach platforms and build sustainable retention practices that drive client satisfaction and organic referrals.
Christopher J. Piccuirro, CPA – Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Integrated CPA Group, Franklin, TN