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Ethics with a Smile
Presentor: Derrin Watson Recorded Date: 12/2/2009 Duration: 100 Min.

Description

This is a recording of a live presentation on December 2, 2009.

IMPORTANT: Due to the inability to track attendance at this recorded event, a Letter of Participation for attendance verification is not provided.

If you are an ASPPA member, you now must take at least two hours of continuing education in professional ethics every two years. If you are enrolled to practice before the IRS as an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA), Enrolled Agent, or Enrolled Actuary, you need to take 2 hours of ethics annually. If you are a member of the bar, almost any state bar, the ethics requirements may be even more rigorous.

Why? Why have they imposed these rules? Why do they think busy professionals need to spend their time talking about their own duties rather than learning about the duties of their clients? Do they fear that the people most in need of regular reminders of professional obligations are the ones least likely to attend? Or perhaps is it the realization that almost nobody would take such training if it weren’t mandated?

Whatever the reason, the real challenge for the teacher of a professional ethics course is two-fold: (1) To make the course as relevant as possible for the everyday professional life of those who attend; and (2) To make the course as enjoyable as possible. After all, there’s no ethical obligation to make an ethics course boring.

Relevance and good humor. That’s what Derrin Watson will bring in our first ever ethics seminar. Yes, you’ll hear the rules. But they’ll be presented in practical situations, to show how they apply in “real life.” And they’ll be presented with the memorable, light-hearted approach the recipient of ASPPA’s 2006 Educator’s Award brings to all his teaching.

Topics include:

  • The difference between ethics and morals
  • How many rules are you pledged to follow
  • What happens if you break the rules
  • What’s “Circular 230,” and why does it matter to me?
  • What you can and can’t say in advertising
  • What you can and cannot do in fee disputes
  • Why “my client told me to do it” is little better than “the devil made me do it”
  • Obligations in completing tax returns (including 1099 forms)
  • Do you really need that annoying Circular 230 notice?
  • Who’s my client – and who really cares?

Speaker – S. Derrin Watson, J.D., APM
Recipient of ASPPA's 2006 Educator of the Year Award

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites or other advanced preparation for this program.

Level: Overview

Instructional Delivery Method
Group – Internet-Based

Objectives: After taking the course, you should be able to:

  • List the sources of professional obligations
  • List IRS enforcement mechanisms
  • Explain what Circular 230 is
  • Determine if a writing is a covered opinion
  • Determine whether potential conduct violates ethical rules
  • Prove you’ve had 2 hours of ethics education (based on a 50-minute hour)

System Requirements:

  • Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 , 2000, XP
  • Internet Explorer 4.01 or later, Netscape 4.08 or later
  • 56K modem connection or better (128K recommended)
  • Pentium 166+ MHz, 128MB RAM or more
  • 800x600 or higher display resolution
  • Soundcard, Speakers

Recorded Event Time Limitation:
This recorded event will be available for 20 days from your date of registration.

Program related requests, questions, or concerns may be e-mailed to: relius.education@sungard.com.