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Conference Program

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE & PROGRAM CHAIRS

Andrew B. Blackman, CPA/PFS, CFP, DABFA, MBA, is a partner with Shapiro & Lobel, LLP, a New York City CPA firm. Mr. Blackman has focused his efforts on the development of his firm’s business management expertise. While his predominant clientele have careers in screen, television, and live stage, the firm also represents established authors, photographers, and painters. Additionally, Mr. Blackman has developed a niche in representing nonresident-alien performing and creative artists, as his firm presently represents over a dozen British artists including several nominees and winners of Academy and Tony Awards. He has lectured throughout the country on the subjects of PFP and the representation of performing and creative artists, and has participated in and chaired committees for both the NYSSCPA and the NJSCPA in the areas of Entertainment and Sports and PFP. He is the coauthor of the authoritative text “Guide to Planning for Performing and Creative Artists”, published by the AICPA. Mr. Blackman was named by Worth as one of the nation’s Best Financial Advisors for three consecutive years and twice has been cited by Accounting Today as one of the “50 Names to Know in Financial Planning.”

Bernard M. Kiely, CPA/CFP, MBA, is a principal of Kiely Capital Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor. He is also owner of Bernard M. Kiely, CPA, an accounting firm where he specializes in individual taxation. Mr. Kiely has been providing fee-only financial planning, investment advisory, and income tax services for individuals for 18 years. He was recognized by Worth magazine as one of “The Best Financial Advisors” in the nation three times in a row. Accounting Today magazine called him “one of the leaders in financial services industry.” His practice was profiled in the December 2000 issue of Investment Advisor magazine. He is a member of NJSCPA, where he is chairman of the Personal Financial Planning Committee, and a member of the AICPA. Additionally, he belongs to the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Mr. Kiely has taught CPA review courses for 14 years.

Theodore J. Sarenski, CPA/PFS, CFP, is managing partner of Dermody, Burke and Brown’s wealth management division, DB & B Financial Services, LLC. He is author of numerous articles published in The CPA Journal and has lectured on tax and financial planning topics before professional groups and at Syracuse University. Mr. Sarenski is the current chair of the NYSSCPA Personal Financial Planning Committee, member of the NYSSCPA Tax Oversight Committee, and past president of the Syracuse chapter of the NYSSCPA. He is one of six members of the financial services committee of Polaris International, a global association of over 80 independent accounting firms.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Peter Bakstansky is a senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He has been in charge of the public information area since February 1976, when he joined the New York Fed as a vice president. He also is the senior officer in charge of the Office of Regional and Community Affairs and serves as the ombudsman for the bank. In addition to his responsibilities, Mr. Bakstansky is the senior administrative officer for the executive group. Prior to joining the Federal Reserve, Mr. Bakstansky was vice president and director of corporate communications of Bache & Co. Mr. Bakstansky is a member of the board of directors of the World Press Institute, a not-for-profit organization, and a member of the board of directors of the New York Economic Education Foundation.

Mitchell Freedman, CPA/PFS, is founder and president of Mitchell Freedman Accountancy Corporation and MFAC Financial Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm in Sherman Oaks, CA. He has been listed by Worth magazine as one of the “250 Best Financial Advisors in the U.S.,” and in the Accounting Today list of “50 Names to Know in Financial Planning.” Mr. Freedman has coauthored both the Guide to Planning for Performing and Creative Artists and the Guide to Planning for Divorce, for the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Library. He has edited continuing education courses for the AICPA and has appeared on CNN, Entertainment Tonight and other television, radio and video programs.

Seymour Goldberg, JD, CPA, MBA, is a senior partner in the law firm of Goldberg & Goldberg, PC, in Garden City, New York. He is a Professor Emeritus of Law and Taxation at Long Island University. Mr. Goldberg is the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Federal Estate and Gift Taxation from St. John’s University School of Law. He is an instructor of the Foundation for Accounting Education and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Goldberg has taught many CPE courses on taxation and pension planning at the state and national level and has taught CLE courses for the New York State Bar Association. He is the author of the publication, How the Income in Respect of Decedent Rules Work and Estate Planning with Retirement Assets.

Craig E. Lafferty is the president and CEO for the United Way of Greater Mercer County. Mr. Lafferty began his career with the United Way in 1982. His first professional assignment was in Richmond, Virginia, working with the volunteer citizen review process, responsible for allocating financial support to human service programs. He continued in Richmond as a senior vice president for Human Services and Community Resources until 1990. His United Way career then took him to Danbury, Connecticut where he served as the president and chief professional officer for the United Way of Northern Fairfield County. Mr. Lafferty was recruited to head up the United Way of Greater Mercer County in 1994. During his United Way career, Mr. Lafferty has helped to create programs to respond to the needs of the homeless, the hungry, children and families in crisis, persons living with AIDS, and to create economic development opportunities.

John R. Lieberman, CPA, PFS, is a partner in the firm Rosenzweig & Maffia LLP, and has dedicated his practice for almost twenty years to assisting the owners of closely-held companies with their business and tax planning and risk management. He has extensive experience in a broad range of industries with acquisition and divestiture strategies including debt restructuring and reorganizations. His clientele range from the “new media” to traditional brick and mortar companies, both private and public. Mr. Lieberman is a member of the NYSSCPA’s Sports & Entertainment Committee and is a former member of its International Tax Committee.

Eric J. Miller is president of the Miller Consulting Group, Inc. He began his insurance career in 1981 and has earned an envied reputation for the ability to measure the value of specific benefits and the cost efficiency of particular products. As a member of the prestigious Association of Advanced Life Underwriters he has been recognized as being in the forefront of the estate, qualified plan, and insurance arenas. Mr. Miller has lectured extensively to both professional and lay audiences on topics such as: pension distribution planning within the estate plan, split-dollar leverage, and how to properly structure a life insurance policy.

Barry C. Picker, CPA/PFS, CFP, is a certified public accountant with the Personal Financial Specialist designation from the AICPA. Mr. Picker is a certified financial planner licensee, and has a Masters of Science in Taxation from Pace University. He runs his own accounting and financial planning firm in Brooklyn, NY. He is a member of the NYSSCPA’s Estate Planning Committee, and has written numerous articles and taught seminars on tax and IRA related topics. He is also the technical editor of Ed Slott’s IRA Advisor; he writes and edits for Steve Leimberg’s Employee Benefits and Retirement Planning Newsletter. Mr. Picker has appeared on radio and television, and has been quoted in numerous publications, including Worth, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, Kiplingers, The New York Times, and Investment Advisor. In addition, he is the author of Barry Picker’s Guide to Retirement Distribution Planning (February 2001).

Alan J. Straus, CPA, is an attorney with an LLM in Taxation as well as being a CPA. He is active in the NYSSCPA and is the former chair of the Personal Financial Plannning Committee. Mr. Straus served as an adjunct assistant professor at New York University. Currently he is a sole practitioner practicing law in Manhattan. Mr. Straus consults on all aspects of taxation for many accounting firms and attorneys. In addition, he serves his own diverse clients who represent a broad range of financial challenges.