Dear Hannah:

Think of the leaders you admire – both men and women. Great leaders can see all sides of an issue, stay calm in the midst of chaos and defuse conflicts. They bring out the best in others because they know how to build trust, encourage confidence and command respect. It’s critical that the leaders in accounting are represented by both women and men, but it’s not always the case. Women may represent more than 50% of accounting graduates, but they account for only 19% of the partners in firms nationwide. We need to change that statistic – and the Society is making strides to do just that.

Join us at the Women’s Leadership Summit: EmpowHER on October 29 at The Westin, Waltham. Dynamic speaker Denise Ryan will show you how to overcome obstacles to success and how to become the type of leader who inspires others and makes a difference while staying true to yourself. The day will end with a panel discussion featuring the 2015 Women to Watch Award winners and a celebratory cocktail reception. Come away with a renewed sense of optimism, a firmer commitment to your career and the practical knowledge to make it all happen. This is a must-attend event for women at all stages in their careers. I hope to see you there!

I’m also excited to announce that Jason Blumer will join the lineup of speakers at the 2015 New England Practice Management Conference! Jason is the founder of Thriveal CPA Network. As a speaker, writer and podcaster, Jason shakes up accounting with new ways to do things, and a renewed focus on the customer. The conference agenda will be released next week – check our website for more information and to register today.

Have a great weekend!

Amy A. Pitter
President & CEO

NETWORKING:

Committee Meetings
Academic and Career Development (9/3)

Women in Great Places: An Evening in Law and Finance (9/21)
Join the MSCPA and the Women's Bar Association for an evening of cross-industry networking at the TD Garden. Attendees will also hear from Deborah Grossman of TD Bank who will discuss why women and minority-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segments in the US. Economy.

Sip & Socialize - Boston (11/12)
Are you ready to get to the next level? Visit MC Spiedo in the Seaport District for cocktails and networking with CPAs and lawyers. Make new contacts and unlock the possibilities in your career!

MEMBERSHIP:

Speaker Request
The Boston Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals is looking for a woman CPA to participate on a panel about estate planning. The audience is primarily financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys and other financial professionals. The event will take place on January 28 at Papa Razzi in Wellesley, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The panel will be facilitated by a moderator with questions from the audience. If you are interested, contact Kara Kieran ASAP.

New Volunteer Opportunities
- Boys & Girls Club of Brockton - Board Member/Treasurer
- Newton Community Farm - Treasurer



Have a Question? Ask Amy!
CEO Amy Pitter is taking questions from MSCPA members. Want to know what changes she's planning? Her thoughts on a new standard? Her plan to bring students into the profession? What she likes to eat for lunch? Ask! Responses will be featured in SumNews. Submit your questions to Elizabeth Emanuelson.

NEWS & RESOURCES:

How to Ask for a Raise: 4 Tips for CPAs
According to a Robert Half survey, 89% of professionals feel they deserve a raise, but only 54% have actual plans to ask for one. If you're intimidated about approaching your boss, use these four ways to boost your confidence.

Top 10 Warning Signs of Fraud
While one of these warning signs may not necessarily be cause for concern, the presence of two or more should raise accountants’ suspicions and may require a more in-depth examination. 

Ten Traits of Great Accountants
It's clear that being a great accountant requires a lot of effort, but also key personality traits that make up for a level-headed, creative and detail-oriented individual – the highly successful accountant every company wants to hire.

How the Affordable Care Act Changed Medicare Taxes
The health care law added an additional Medicare tax on wages above a certain threshold for high-income taxpayers and the net investment income tax, which applies to unearned income. This article explains how these new taxes affect high-income individuals and small-business owners.

CPE:

Excel Macros: Everyday Useful Tools (9/25)
Save time in this hands-on Excel training with MSCPA member and discussion leader, Claude Boudwin. Claude will show you how to avoid the tedious, everyday Excel tasks that can be replaced with powerful macros, taking even less effort. No previous macro experience is required.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

IRS Update
- IRS Removes Automatic W-2 Extension to Fight Identity Theft
- IRS Offers Tax Break to Data Breach and ID Theft Victims

DOR WebFile for Business Users
Is your contact information, particularly your email address, up-to-date? The DOR is sending important information about the replacement of WFB with MassTaxConnect coming November 30, 2015. It's simple to check - just log on to WebFile for Business today and update your information.

One in 4 Employers Could be Subject to "Cadillac Plan" Tax
Twenty-six percent of employers offering health benefits could be subject to the Affordable Care Act’s tax on high-cost health plans, also known as the “Cadillac plan” tax, in 2018 unless they make changes to their plans, according to a new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Paychex Identifies Top Regulatory Issues of Summer 2015
Paycheck has compiled a list of the top national regulatory issues impacting businesses this summer dealing with healthcare, labor laws and same-sex marriage.