People
For nearly 15 years Michael Brennan has provided tax consulting and outsourced CFO services to clients in a wide range of industries, including professional services firms, hedge funds and manufacturers. He has an added focus on the complex needs of high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and families. Brennan combines his deep technical expertise with a business approach […]
For nearly ten years Spencer Solove has helped clients maximize cash flow by identifying and accessing research and development tax credits. With experience spanning federal, state and local jurisdictions, he can be a valuable resource in this often-overlooked area. In addition, Solove provides guidance and advice during IRS and state tax examinations with a goal […]
Tony Huber has more than 20 years of experience as a CPA and tax attorney. His work includes mergers, acquisitions, debt and equity issuances, liquidations, reorganizations, dispositions and distressed/ restructuring matters, as well as ongoing strategic tax planning. Huber’s client base includes sophisticated entrepreneurs, closely held companies, publicly traded corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. […]
Steven Rubin provides tax compliance and consulting services to corporations, closely held businesses and high-net-worth families. A member of the firm’s State and Local Tax (SALT) services group, he also helps clients across the country navigate complex tax issues that vary from one jurisdiction to another.
Christian Oliva provides accounting, auditing and business consulting services to companies in a wide range of industries. He has specialized experience auditing homebuilders, commercial rental real estate and distributors. Oliva has experience providing audit and accounting services to companies in the construction, manufacturing, employee benefit plans, not-for-profit and real estate sectors.
Mike Conkey has more than 25 years of experience in CFO and controller roles, primarily focusing on real estate and construction-related entities. He has strong operations acumen coupled with a deep knowledge of accounting, finance and process protocols that help clients avoid unexpected results. His design of controls and processes allow executives and decisionmakers to […]
Luke Lucas focuses his practice on state and local tax compliance and consulting services for individuals and businesses across various industries. His experience as a state and local tax (SALT) specialist helps clients across the country navigate the entire spectrum of direct and indirect taxes imposed by state and local jurisdictions.
Savannah Cabrera Snow provides federal, state and international tax consulting and compliance services to entrepreneurial business owners, corporations and their subsidiaries, and high-net-worth families in the U.S. and around the world. Cabrera Snow focuses on tax strategies for closely held businesses and families as they grow within the U.S. and abroad.
Sasha Massagardi has more than 10 years of experience auditing financial statements, reviewing internal controls and providing advisory services to businesses in a wide range of industries. Her expertise helps clients assess their financial and operational positions and make decisions to improve future performance and enhance third-party confidence in their financial statements.
Shanna Shim provides accounting, advisory, assurance and consulting services to a wide range of construction, distribution, healthcare and real estate development companies. She has experience managing accounting records and producing financial reports, including monthly closing, reconciliations and review and preparation of financial statements; as well as coordinating and overseeing the implementation of software systems and […]
Michael Vegueria has nearly 10 years of experience providing auditing, accounting and business consulting services to closely held businesses in the private sector. Vegueria serves clients in the manufacturing and distribution, real estate, construction, media and entertainment and hospitality sectors.
Mikel Gastaminsa has nearly ten years of experience providing auditing, accounting and business consulting services to private company and public company clients in a wide range of industries. In addition, he has served clients through reporting to foreign-based parent companies and converting US GAAP statements to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Cotter has deep experience leveraging technology, business practices and operational leadership to help Fortune 50 companies, mid-market and entrepreneurial companies reach their goals. He has held leadership and consulting roles in a wide range of industries. Cotter’s multi-functional expertise includes strategy, management consulting, technology, process improvement, operations and accounting.
Ina Mitskevich provides accounting, auditing and consulting services to privately held businesses. With nearly 10 years of experience in the audit and accounting field, she serves a diverse client base in a variety of industries including real estate development and management, distribution and retail. Mitskevich has worked with companies in the private and public sectors. […]
For nearly 10 years Joshua Hallett has provided audit and consulting services to private and publicly traded companies in a wide range of industries. Hallett has worked as an internal and external auditor for public companies and has experience with the new leasing accounting standards and revenue recognition standards. Throughout his career he has helped […]
Articles
The pandemic and subsequent months of economic uncertainty have proven that change is the one constant business leaders must accept and continually prepare for, not only to survive, but also to thrive over the long term. While changes may involve modifications to specific segments of a business, such as narrowing or expanding geographic distribution, products […]
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian and with Hurricane Nicole taking aim at Florida, we are reminded once again of the importance of preparing for and responding to natural disasters in order to minimize business losses and ensure long-term viability. The actions a business takes during the first few days following a loss […]
Under recent guidance issued by the IRS, retirement plans, including 401(k)s, certain 403(b) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), have additional time to adopt required amendments incorporating new legislation introduced in 2019 and 2020. The new deadline for non-governmental calendar-year plans to adopt these amendments has been postponed from December 31, 2022, to December 31, […]
The July 31 deadline for businesses to file annual employee benefit plan returns (or request a two and a half month filing extension) is right around the corner. While all employers offering defined contribution plans will find a few changes to the information reporting requirements found on IRS Form 5500, those with 100 or more […]
Time is up for private companies to comply with the new lease accounting standards (ASC 842), which require businesses to begin recording the assets and liabilities of all leases, including operating leases, on their balance sheets. For calendar-year companies, the new lease accounting standard is effective on January 1, 2022. Private companies that have already […]
Business owners already struggling with the continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic are also facing the prospect of higher taxes and a resulting negative impact on company cash flow, profitability and valuations. For some, this environment will accelerate business sales or mergers and require significant alterations to existing estate plans – all of which will require […]
The federal research and development (R&D) tax credit is one of the most valuable tax incentives while also being one of the most misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, eligibility is not limited to businesses that employ scientists, develop cutting-edge products or make groundbreaking discoveries. Rather, it may apply to businesses, large and small, in a […]
Even as New York prepares to join a growing number of U.S. states to legalize the sales of marijuana for recreational purposes, cannabis continues to be treated on the federal level as an illegal Schedule I substance. As a result, taxpayers involved in the cannabis industry, either as investors or business operators, face a landmine of […]
The Consolidations Appropriations Act of 2021, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, provides 401(k) sponsors with welcome relief from partial plan terminations that may have otherwise occurred in the wake of COVID-19-related workforce reductions. Background Under longstanding IRS rules, businesses that lay off 20 percent or more of employees covered by a defined-contribution plan in a […]
On Sept. 21, 2020, the IRS released the last set of final regulations regarding the 100 percent first-year bonus-depreciation deduction on qualifying business assets, which Congress introduced at the end of 2017 as a part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The final regulations clarify and amend previous guidance relating to the definition […]
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a profound impact on lives, businesses and commerce across the globe. As the disease continues to spread, countries have closed their borders, financial markets have fallen, supply chains have become disrupted and businesses are facing the potential of mounting losses that may continue for some time. The longer it […]
The past two years have marked significant changes in the way in which businesses and non-profit entities, including hospitals, report their financial performance. Under accounting standards codification 606 (ASC 606), these entities must adopt new methods for recognizing the timing, amount and uncertainty of revenue from and expenses related to contracts with customers. While healthcare […]
Private companies and nonprofit organization struggling to adopt the new lease accounting standard (ASC 842) are getting a reprieve from the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which voted to delay the effective date of compliance by one year to Jan. 1, 2021. Affected entities should use the additional time to consider how they can more effectively […]
On September 27, 2017, President Trump and top Republican leaders unveiled the latest round of updates to what they see as the future of the Tax Code. While it remains to be seen whether the tax reform package in its current state will become the law, it is important for taxpayers to understand what the […]
As Congress shifts its attention from healthcare to tax reform, key Republicans and the White House on July 27, 2017, issued a joint statement agreeing to “set aside” a proposed and much-hyped border adjustment tax (BAT) on imported goods. Business groups that feared a destination-based tax would drive up costs cheered this news. However, it […]
Press Releases
July 15, 2022 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced the promotion of eight professionals to associate directors within the firm’s Tax Services and Assurance and Advisory Services practices. “Our firm was founded on the principle of creating a life-long learning environment, where every firm member receives the tools to cultivate knowledge, enhance […]
BOCA RATON, FL – May 15, 2022 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced that Jeff Stamm, CPA, has joined the firm as director of the Transaction Advisory Services practice. Stamm is joined by a team that will assist business owners, entrepreneurs and private equity firms with mergers and acquisitions. They primarily focus […]
Miami, February 2022– Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced the addition of five new associate directors to the firm. The new associate directors are Oleg Beloglazov, ASA, CFA, ACCA; Gary L. Curtis, CPA; Liz McGrath, Laura Schulte, JD; and Jason Soman, CPA/ABV, CFE,ASA, CDFA®. Chief Executive Officer Joseph L. Saka commented, “The addition […]
Berkowitz Pollack Brant director promotions
MIAMI, FL, August 10, 2017 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted three firm members to the associate director level. Guillermo Campos, CPA, associate director of International Tax Services, focuses on matters involving foreign earned income exclusion, U.S. inbound and outbound investments, pre-immigration planning, and foreign and domestic trusts. Campos is a graduate […]
MIAMI, FL, July 15, 2017 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted two firm members to director. Hector Aguililla, CPA, is a director in the Audit and Attest practice and Anthony Gutierrez, CPA, is a director in the Tax Services practice. Berkowitz Pollack Brant CEO Joseph L. Saka commented, “We are proud to […]
MIAMI, FL, August 24, 2016 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted six firm members to associate director level. Angie Adames, associate director of Tax Services, provides tax and consulting services to high-net-worth individuals, pass-through entities and businesses in the real estate and manufacturing industries. Laurence Bernstein, associate director of Tax Services, spearheads […]
MIAMI – March 1, 2016 – Four new members, ranging in industry specialization from financial services to business incubation and the nonprofit sector, have been appointed to The Miami Foundation’s Board of Trustees: Richard A. Berkowitz, J.D., CPA, CEO of Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants and chairman of Provenance Wealth Advisors; Annette Franqui, co-founding […]
MIAMI, FL, Nov. 6, 2015 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted Cherry Laufenberg, CPA, to associate director in the Tax Services practice. Laufenberg has nearly 15 years of experience providing tax and consulting services to corporations, trusts and foreign entities. With diversified skills and a focus on helping her clients operate more […]
MIAMI, FL, July 15, 2015 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants CEO Richard Berkowitz today announced that David E Kolan, CPA, has been promoted to director-in-charge of the firm’s Audit and Attest Services practice. Kolan has more than 30 years of experience in audit and attest services and firm leadership. He focuses his practice […]
MIAMI, FL, Aug. 15, 2014 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted Robert C. Aldir, CPA, to associate director in the Audit and Attest Services practice. Aldir has more than 10 years of public accounting experience in the financial services, retail, casinos and gaming, manufacturing and construction industries. A Certified Public Accountant in […]
MIAMI, FL, Nov. 19, 2012 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has hired Robert Aldir CPA as a senior manager in its Audit and Attest practice. Aldir most recently served as a senior manager in the Audit and Enterprise Risk Services group of the Miami office of Deloitte. He brings more than 10 years […]