Lawrence Katz, CPA, CFP, PFS
Tax, Personal Planning, Audit and Administrative Partner
I know I've done my job when I give more thought to my clients' financial affairs than they do. Instead of using this space for the standard list of affiliations and professional achievements, I wanted to share some of my viewpoints so you can get to know me better and determine whether I am the right CPA for you.
Thoughts on Client Service Clients don't know what they don't know. It's my responsibility to provide laser-sharp focus and to enlighten and educate them so that they have all the information they need to make smart decisions. It's also my job to provide total and long-term support to my clients once we have implemented a strategy. I'm always amazed at the substantial income and estate tax savings that can be achieved with just a little bit of focus and smart planning. The hardest part is just getting started.
Thoughts on Experience Experience is good. But it's also a commodity. There are lots of people with lots of experience out there. I can list all of the areas and industries that I have been involved with over the thirty years (accounting, tax, financial planning etc.) that I have been in practice. However, experience is much more meaningful when it's applied practically and when it prevents and solves problems. I like to think that my experience, mixed with my technical knowledge, makes me a good “counselor” to my clients.
Thoughts on Fees Fees ought to be an investment that generates tangible returns for my clients, rather than being a sunk cost. Therefore, if I'm doing my job right, my clients will end up making, rather than merely spending, money. Whatever the task, I seek to generate returns by providing revenue and financial happiness, generating advice that leads to results (quantifiable income and estate tax savings, operating efficiencies, etc.) or delivering a quality product, whatever the engagement.
Thoughts on Taxes Taxes are right up there with root canal when it comes to the pain inflicted on my clients. As I see it, preparing a tax return is merely the beginning of a process that allows me to lessen this pain, which I try to do every opportunity I get. I am never “tax complacent” because changing circumstances always requires fresh thinking and planning.
Thoughts from You? If any of this struck your interest, whether you agree or disagree, I would be glad to hear from you. Contact me at lkatz@akmcpa.com or 212.382.0404
Think you still want to read my regular bio?
We're here to help our clients prosper and do well. Essentially, it's about building comfortable relationships that also create value.
Larry sees himself as a sort of "personal CFO" dedicated to helping his clients grow their wealth and enhance their financial standing. He takes a long-term strategic view of integrated financial decision-making. As one of only about 2000 CPAs in the US also accredited as a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™), Larry is able to offer an unusual breadth and depth of knowledge to his clients. These include high net worth individuals, as well as various professional firms (law firms, medical practices, finance companies and real estate firms), manufacturers, distributors and multinational corporations. Larry is active in various professional organizations, recently serving as co-chair of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants' Annual Personal Financial Planning Conference. As administrative partner at Adelman Katz & Mond LLP, he has successfully overseen two rigorous peer reviews, which the firm passed with flying colors. Larry lives in New City, New York with his wife, two daughters and two pugs.
Years as CPA: 25
Years with AKM: 25
Specialties: Comprehensive tax and financial planning for business and individuals; Standards and compliance; Professional education.
Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants; Financial Planning Association
Licenses: CPA, NY; Life Insurance NY; Health Insurance, NY
Accreditations: Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™); Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Education: BA, Accounting, Queens College, City University of New York
Alan R. Adelman, CPA
Co-Managing Partner,
Adelman Katz & Mond LLP
Co-Managing Partner,
AKM Consulting Group
Like doctors, we work to be among the most trusted professionals our clients consult. And, like doctors, we're on call whenever we're needed.
In over 40 years as a business, financial and tax advisor, Alan has developed substantial expertise in almost every aspect of what it takes to make a business run - and what it takes to put personal finances on a secure footing. He routinely helps clients complete acquisitions, obtain financing, and structure deals to maximize value and reduce liabilities. He takes a keen interest in his clients' financial well-being and is frequently asked to help resolve disputes between business partners. Alan's client roster is varied and includes individuals as well as closely-held companies in the textile, apparel, computer consulting, printing and graphics industries. Alan serves on the Board of Directors of Reality House, a Harlem-based center which helps addicted and abused individuals rebuild their lives. Alan lives in Montville, New Jersey, with his wife, Leslie. They have two children, Jocelyn and Jeremy.
Years as CPA: 40
Years with AKM: 35
Specialties: Entrepreneurial and small business advisory services; Dispute resolution; Partnership creation and dissolution.
Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; National Conference of CPA practitioners
Licenses: CPA, NY & NJ; Life Insurance, New York State
Education: BS, Accounting, New York University
David E. Mond, CPA
Co-Managing Partner
In dealing with people's finances, you've got to make them feel comfortable. Our approach isn't stuffy or arrogant — or anything like a stereotypical 'bean-counter'. We make it easy for our clients to tell us just about anything.
For me it’s personal. Sure, my business is about creating a support structure that my clients can rely on to help them make smart financial decisions. But it goes well beyond just providing the right advice; it encompasses providing the right advice in a way that will make sense to a particular client. My clients have to feel that I am responding to them as unique individuals.
There are four foundations to every client relationship I have.
1. Trust
My clients know that I am there for them. They don’t think twice about telling me something, even if it’s confidential information; they know I am going to keep it to myself. This is critical since so many of my clients are closely-held businesses. There are often tricky situations among partners and family members, and I am usually in a good position to help resolve them. In fact, for some closely-held businesses I am almost like part of the family.
2. Responsiveness
Above all, this is a service business. People call and I make sure I get back to them right away — even without a Blackberry®. Seriously, when you’re dealing with a financial matter, you’re likely to be anxious, so you want to be able to get answers in a hurry. My cell phone number is on the bottom of every email message and my clients know they can use it 24/7. I find that most people won’t use that privilege, but there are times when you have to do something extra. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get my clients what they need.
3. Knowledge
Another thing that’s important about this business is information. People rely on us to provide the right answers to a surprisingly broad range of financial questions. After more than 20 years as a CPA, I’ve built up a pretty good personal knowledge base, but there’s no way I’m going to know the answer to everything. As my clients’ “financial quarterback,” I am the segue to the right answer – whether it comes from one of my partners or from one of the third party strategic alliances we’ve built. You don’t have to know everything about everything, but you do have to know where to find out.
4. Personality
In some ways, maybe this should be first. The most important thing my clients get from me is me. I’m a pretty laid back guy, and am always trying to make things comfortable for my clients, whether the issue is large or small. In some ways, I work like a doctor, letting my clients explain the issues before I diagnose and help them solve the underlying problems. At the end of the day, clients have to feel that there’s a good fit in terms of style and personality, so everything else can fall into place.
David's clients draw on his wide range of experience in diverse financial matters, from general tax issues to deal structuring, to increasing profitability to refinancing property. For over 20 years he has worked with high net worth individuals and both privately and publicly held companies to structure their business dealings and finances. During that time, he has been instrumental in the purchase and sale of several businesses. David's clients typically include closely held firms in real estate, high tech, new media and manufacturing, as well as law firms, medical practices and high net worth individuals. He has led seminars for the Practicing Law Institute, including one on tax matters and household employment when that was an emerging topic in the early 1990s. As co-managing partner at Adelman Katz & Mond, LLP, David has been the firm's chief visionary, charting its growth strategy and select and determining the additional resources necessary to meet clients' needs. David is on the board of directors of New York SAVE, an organization that helps to arrange reduced-fee veterinary care for pets and owners in need. He also coaches soccer and is an active member of a social organization in his community. In his spare time, David enjoys playing tennis and golf. He lives in Edgemont, New York, with his wife, Mindi, and their children, Sophia and Max.
Years as CPA: 25
Years with AKM: 25
Specialties: Immigration-related tax issues; International tax issues; Trusts and estates; Real estate.
Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Member, Personal Financial Planning Division; New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants; National Conference of CPA Practitioners
Licenses: CPA, NY; Life Insurance, NY; Health Insurance, NY
Education: BA, State University of New York at Stony Brook; MA Studies, City University of New York, Bernard M. Baruch College
Jack E. Gold, CPA
Audit & Technology Partner
What we do isn't about money so much as about satisfaction. We help our clients create the foundations they need to be happy on an ongoing basis.
Jack works with clients to manage critical business processes, such as obtaining financing, completing acquisitions and raising capital through both public offerings and private placements. He also helps them handle compliance issues more accurately and efficiently. One of his specialties is designing and implementing technology systems that save money while making it easier to track and analyze information. Jack's clients are companies in technology, manufacturing and real estate, as well as financial professionals and organizations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Outside the office he coaches baseball and soccer, and is a parent sponsor of a local high school's drama program. Jack lives in Bellmore, New York, with his wife Randi and their children Amanda, Chelsea and Evan.
Years as CPA: 12
Years with AKM: 20
Specialties: Audit and compliance; Technology systems; Corporate finance.
Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Licenses: CPA, NY
Education: BBA, Accounting, Hofstra University
Stuart J. Hammer, MBA, CPA
Business Management Partner
I work to be a mentor to and financial guide for my clients. I'm here to make life easier for them, so they don't have to worry about the financial and business aspects of their lives.
Stuart has been developing his expertise in business management ever since he ran his grandfather's variety store as an 11 year-old. His first responsibility was the toy department, where his focus was not what he wanted to play with, but what was likely to sell. Stuart has played that early business acumen into a 30+ year career as a professional business manager and accountant. Over that time he has worked with entertainers, movie producers, artists and high net worth individuals, as well as technology start ups and real estate firms. Stuart has been a lecturer for Columbia University's prestigious technical seminars, for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants' Foundation for Accounting Education, and for numerous other organizations in the greater New York region. He was a contributor to one of the pioneering books on condo/coop conversion, The Condo & Coop Book: A Game Plan for Winning the Condo/Co-op Conversion Battle (Prentice Hall, 1983). Prior to joining Adelman Katz & Mond, Stuart led his own firms, S.J. Hammer and Company, CPAs and Hammer Management Company, Ltd. Stuart plays tennis and enjoys supporting ballet and the arts. He lives in Edgewater, New Jersey with his wife, Judy.
Years as CPA: 30
Years with AKM: 6
Specialties: Business management, Entertainment business management; Taxation, Individual & Corporate; Financial planning; Estate planning.
Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member, Entertainment and Sports Committee, Past Chair, Business Managers' Committee; New Jersey State Society of Certified Public Accountants
Licenses: CPA, NY; CPA, NJ; Mortgage Brokerage, NY; Mortgage Brokerage, NJ.
Education: BS, CW Post College, Long Island University; MBA, Accounting and Taxation, Long Island University.
Warren M. Bergstein, CPA, AEP
Partner
Most people's finances are pretty complex, so they don't always stop to consider all the elements and how they work together. I'm proactive about bringing these things to my clients' attention—no matter what time of
year it is.
I’ve been a CPA for almost 40 years—and an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) for 25, working in firms of all sizes, from my own one-man operation to one of the Big Five. Despite all of the changes I’ve seen, some things remain absolutely constant: what my clients most need from me, even though they may not always be aware of it. Here are six things that I always seek to address within every client relationship.
1. Save Money
The most important thing I do for my clients is to help them save money. This often takes the form of immediate tax savings, but only when they are legal and logical. If I help you save money this year, but have not made sure that my recommendations are unlikely to result in a bite at an audit a few years down the road, I haven’t really helped you. This means that I have to be fastidious about keeping up to date with changes in the law and regulations, strategies that other professional advisors are having success with and the IRS’s ever-shifting opinions on various strategies.
2. Create Documentation Systems
An enormous part of staying on the right side of the law with regard to taxes is being able to document what you spent, when, with whom and for what purpose. The IRS is very clear about what it wants to see: you should have a diary that details your business and other deductible activities; you should keep receipts for expenses over a certain amount, etc. I spend a lot of time working with my clients to create systems that will help them keep track of this information. An added bonus is that better documentation usually results in the ability to deduct more legitimate expenses. I also always take care to document what we decided to do and why, usually citing IRS rules and regulations.
3. Develop Allocation Strategies
Saved money represents an opportunity. Sometimes it can be a straightforward opportunity to take a vacation or make some long-contemplated major purchase. Often, though, it is an opportunity to make an investment or risk management choice. Working as closely with my clients as I do, I typically understand their immediate and long-term priorities and can set up a consultation with an investment or insurance advisor. Then I review the recommendations with my client to ensure that they really make sense for the client’s particular circumstances.
4. Follow Up
Some CPAs—and their clients—are comfortable with the “see you next year” approach. That has never made sense to me. My role is to advise my clients using a level of “big picture” knowledge that I am probably in a better position to have than some of their other advisors. So I frequently call clients to check in and look for ways I can be proactive for them. I also keep good notes so I can be sure to follow up and do what I said I would do. I’ll also double-check with clients if I know they’re not good at a particular thing, like making estimated payments. Beyond accounting, my AEP designation and long affiliation with professional organization enables me to work closely with attorneys to help my clients stay on top of their estate and financial plans.
5. Educate
In addition to being a CPA, I have been on the faculty at several area universities over the years. It’s fair to say that my “teacher” mentality follows me into my practice. I’m always looking for interesting materials to share with my clients and love being called on with difficult questions. I enjoy the challenges of finding the right answers and of explaining those answers so they make sense to people without my specialized level of knowledge. It’s one of the most rewarding things I do, and it supports everything else my clients receive from me.
6. Teamwork
I became associated with Adelman Katz & Mond LLP to enhance and expand the services I am able to offer my clients. My six partners and I have a diversified practice in the areas of traditional accounting and auditing, tax services and a full range of consulting services. Our staff of 14 people adds a further dimension to our ability to be timely and hands on in all areas of our practice. What this means for my clients is that they can call on a whole team of experts. If an issue comes up that one of my partners is better qualified to address, he will address it. So our firm’s clients get to enjoy the benefits of personal attention that comes from working with a small firm, while also having access to a depth of experience more common in a larger firm. I find this balance is very important to clients and they really value it.
Biography
Thirty years of practice in tax planning, estate planning, personal financial planning and accounting has given Warren an extraordinarily deep understanding of personal finance. His clients, who include primarily high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and sole proprietors, benefit from his particular expertise in tax law, its applications and implications for individuals. Warren is an adjunct professor of accounting and taxation at Long Island University and has also taught at New York University. He has spoken at the Institute of Management Accountants, the NY Society of CPAs and at Long Island University. In addition, he is an accomplished author, and has regularly contributed to publications the experts rely on, like Marshall Loeb's Money Guide, Taxation for Accountants, and The CPA Journal. Warren has been very active in professional organizations, and has frequently been elected as president, board member or committee chair. Warren is a fan of local sports teams, including the Mets, the Giants and the Jets. He also likes to read biographies and books on current events. He and his wife, Susan, live on Staten Island. They have two children, Sam and Robin.
Years as CPA: 33
Years with AKM: 3
Specialties: Tax planning; Financial planning; Estates and trusts; Tax exempt organizations.s
Memberships: New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Immediate Past President, Brooklyn Chapter, Member & Past Chairman, Income of Estates and Trusts Committee, Member, Financial Planning Committee, Past Chairman, Taxation of Individuals Committee; Financial Planning Association, Past President, New York Chapter, Past Member, National Advisory Board; Institute of Management Accountants, Past President, New York Chapter; Tax Society of New York University, Past President, Board of Directors; Estate Planning Council of New York City, Past Director; Estate Planners Day, Past Chairman.
Licenses: CPA, NY.
Accreditations: Accredited Estate Planner, National Association of Estate Planning Councils.
Education: BS, Accounting, Baruch College, City University of New York; MS with Distinction, Taxation, Long Island University; Advanced Professional Certificate in Taxation, New York University.
Craig L. Venokur, CPA
Partner
The field of accounting has changed significantly in the past decade or so. It's not just numbers anymore; software makes it easy to get the basics. Clients look to us for the next level: what we can do to save —or make—money for them.
After twelve years in the accounting profession—and eight as a CPA— Craig Venokur has not run out of ideas. His business clients benefit from his skills in streamlining processes to save time and money, often through the savvy application of technology. His entertainment clients benefit from his ability to take a strategic view of even the most complex multi-state filings. And all his clients benefit from Craig's frank advice on a wide range of business and financial matters. Craig got his start in business early, working in his family's stores from an early age and hasn't looked back. He lives in East Brunswick, New Jersey with his wife Tammi and daughters Ashli and Corinne.
Years as CPA: 9
Years with AKM: 8
Specialties: Small and Mid-Size Businesses, Technology, Audit; Process Streamlining; Multi-State Filings
Memberships: New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants; New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Licenses: CPA, NY; CPA, NJ
Education: BA, Rider University
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Key Players, Positions and Philosophies
Did you ever wish you had access to the expertise of a big accounting firm that could offer you sound advice on your finances in today's increasingly complex environment? You could hire a big accounting firm. But then the “access” part might not be so easy. So you might consider hiring us instead. We have been delivering personal service to closely-held businesses, high net worth individuals, non-profits and estates and trusts for decades. Our approach is very hands-on; we work hard to live up to our promise to be your most trusted business advisor.
Meet Our Partners:
Join The Team:
You worked hard to earn your credentials, hone your skills and prepare for a career as your clients’ most trusted business advisor. These days, you have to work almost as hard to find a good place to practice your profession. The big firms offer career tracks, provided you are willing to spend much of your time on the road and are content to focus on one small area. Smaller firms offer a more family-oriented environment but may not be able to provide the full range of professional experience you want.
If you want to be sure to get the right balance in your work environment, consider Adelman Katz & Mond. We’re a boutique firm, so the contribution of every team member is essential—and valued. Our clients value our contributions, too, and they rely on us in a wide range of areas (check out our Business and Individual Services menus to get an overview of everything we do).
We offer:
▪ Competitive salary.
▪ Performance bonuses after tax season and year end.
▪ Full benefits (individual and family health, disability, life, etc.)
▪ Two weeks’ paid vacation after the first year.
▪ 7-9 paid holidays throughout the year.
▪ Convenient midtown location.
▪ Reasonable hours
▪ No travel requirements outside NY Metro area
We are actively looking for CPAs and pre-CPA accountants with 2 – 5 years of experience. Email Larry Katz at lkatz@akmcpa.com with your resume and career goals, or mail a resume and letter of interest to:
Lawrence Katz, CPA, CFP®, PFS
Partner
Adelman Katz & Mond LLP
230 West 41st Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Visit Our Strategic Alliances:
International CPA Firms:
Canada:
Rosenthal Zaretsky Niman & Co., LLP, Chartered Accountants
Germany/EU:
Ralf Otto, Steuerberater
UK/EU:
Beechams, LLP, Chartered Accountants
Learn more about our firm:
Download our brochure in PDF format.
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