Steve Ghirardo to speak at upcoming Real Estate event

Steve Ghirardo will be explaining "1031 Swap & Drops" at the upcoming 2nd annual Commercial Real Estate Legal, Tax, Market & Finance Update and Networking event, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at the San Rafael Corporate Center. This event is free, but registration is required due to limited seating. See below and/or contact us for more info.

Success Story: Dealing with Required Minimum Distributions

We recently provided a creative solution to a client's complex problem, and we uncovered some unforeseen benefits along the way. The client's immediate concern was that his IRA would soon be subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) that would force him into a higher tax bracket. He had also expressed interest in making some changes in his planned charitable giving, while still maximizing the amount of inheritance that he would eventually be able to pass on to his heirs.

We crafted a comprehensive strategy that combined carefully-planned Roth IRA conversions, creation of a Charitable Remainder Trust, and revision of an existing Living Trust to account for recent changes to estate tax laws. As a result, the client's tax liability has been reduced, his charitable giving and estate planning goals are being met, he has more flexibility in satisfying cash flow needs, he has a hedge against possible future increases in income tax rates, and he will transfer increased wealth to the next generation without sacrificing his current standard of living.

Would you like to know more? Our complete case study explaining this project in greater detail was recently published in the North Bay Business Journal's 2014 Legal & Accounting Resource Guide. Just email us to request it and we'll send you the case study PDF. Do you have questions about taxes, retirement, investments, gifts or estate planning? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!

Come see us at the Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music!

Ghirardo CPA is a proud sponsor of the Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music. Every June, tens of thousands of people from Novato and the San Francisco Bay Area gather for two days to enjoy this fantastic, free multi-generational event. Always a perfect blend of unique handcrafted art, regional vintage wines, award-winning micro brews, Americana and gourmet foods, and first-rate live music, the Festival is the good-time place to be!

We'll be hosting a booth at the festival, so be sure to stop by and see us!

North Bay Business Journal's Best Places to Work - EIGHT years!

Since the very first time this award was given, Ghirardo CPA has consistently been ranked among the very best places to work in the North Bay. The winners are selected each year by North Bay Business Journal editorial staff based on several criteria, including the results of an anonymous employee survey and a company application that provided information on issues such as diversity, family-friendly workplace, community involvement and employee benefits. We are proud to report that the Business Journal has again named us in this honored group, for the eighth consecutive year!

New and improved: Ghirardo CPA Client Portal

If you have used our Client Portal in the past, you know that this free service enables you to securely exchange files with us, without the hassles, risks and limitations of sending large files as email attachments. Our new and improved portal, with easier operation and tighter integration with the rest of our internal systems, will help us serve you even better. The old portal will remain available for a limited time, and we will make a final backup of the files stored there before we remove the old portal from service. If you haven't already received instructions for your new portal account, send us an email and we'll get you set up.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Ghirardo CPA named as one of North Bay's Best Places to Work

We're pleased to report that for the seventh consecutive year, the North Bay Business Journal has listed Ghirardo CPA among the best places to work in the North Bay. Here is the NBBJ announcement. We are especially honored to be one of only seven companies that have received this award every year that it has been given.