THE BUZZ
MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGING PARTNER
Team Thank you all for your efforts so far this busy season. I'm receiving great reports of team members rising to the occasion and going above and beyond to get jobs done for our clients. Remember, it is not just important to do what is expected - but to exceed expectations. This year brings unique challenges as we adjust to the recent tax reform, and I thank you sincerely for the extra hours you have put in to get our work done on time. I believe that with change comes great opportunity to demonstrate our expertise, and opportunity to do things better than our competition. Please remember to live out our Aspirational Statement, even when times get busy. Knowledge transfer within the organization is a top priority of Sax, and should be an every day commitment of our team. On behalf of all Sax Partners, please extend our gratitude to your families and significant others for your time away and focused mindset on the tasks at hand. We truly appreciate your dedication and sacrifices to this firm and our work, and we value your time and your exceptional talents. Thank you! Joseph A. Damiano
LEADERSHIP ASPIRATIONAL STATEMENT
We will cultivate a collaborative culture by fostering knowledge transfer, defining roles and building a skillset to drive client engagement, enhance the client experience and become our client’s #1 advisor.
JASON BOROFSKY, CPA, MBA
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
TOTAL WINS YTD
TOTAL RECURRING WINS YTD
$1,287,075
$1,025,075
NEW CLIENT WINS
ENGAGEMENT TEAM
Elite Home Products (Sax Tech)
John Murphy, Josh Chananie & Freddy Delacruz
Kazmark Real Estate Partners Ngaren Inc. Freedom Boat Club
Jason Borofsky Al Traverso Chris Gaffney & John Murphy
KSI Trading Corp
Chris Gaffney
Graf Matrimonial
Megan Sartor
Dr. Tikoo Litigation
Megan Sartor
Ferraro Foods Dataram
Chris Gaffney & Jenn Moroz Ermal Luzaj
Synergy Wellness
Megan Sartor
Astoria Real Estate Corp
Mike Mongelli
Aspen Landscaping Corp
Michael Curry
Bressel Matrimonial
Megan Sartor
Mehmet Ibis Gruber Matrimonial Threat Modeler Deqser The Millers
Stu Berger Megan Sartor Josh Chananie Joe Damiano Kathleen Alexander
HUMAN RESOURCES
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest members of our Sax family. Yanery Castro Bianka Cruz Gregory Utkin
Administrative Assistant | NYC | 2.20.19 Senior Tax Associate | Clifton | 3.4.19 Associate Wealth Advisor | Clifton | 3.4.19
The following employees are no longer with the firm. We wish them the best in their future endeavors. Mykyta Kravtsov
Senior Tax Associate | Effective 2.18.19
FIRM NEWS
FEBRUARY
MARIA PLUCINSKY
Maria spent most of her career at The Hunter Group which merged with Sax in November of 2017. Since the merger, Maria says she learns something new every day from Sax and that going from a smaller firm to a big, dynamic firm, she appreciates and benefits from the tools and resources that are available. Maria has over 38 years of experience in public accounting and has accomplished many professional achievements in her career. Jack recently joined the Sax team in November of 2018 and mentions that he has felt right at home, and he enjoys the sense of community and togetherness the firm exudes. Jack has benefited the firm in many ways since he started, including addressing the needs of the VFL group’s client base, and building strong relationships with everyone that he services.
JACK TAWIL
Read on to learn more about Maria and Jack in our Q&As
Great Cards
Elena Klarberg and Lisa DiNozzi have been working really hard to complete their work and work great with team members to get everything done in a timely manner. Both are dependable and have very good attitudes.
Breana Maher is very organized when it comes to checking in ahead of time to make sure her work will be in as scheduled. She asks great questions and during projection time she worked on some very difficult projections. She is accurate and has a great attitude. She also did an excellent job preparing a partnership return with complex special allocations and transfers of partnership interest. She did the work with a high level of accuracy, and on time.
ANNOUNCEMENTS | REMINDERS
Send all portal requests to GFR.SAXLLP.COM. Do not send portal requests to individuals.
WHERE DOES IT BELONG? WHERE DOES IT BELONG? Please remember all documents or emails relating to an engagement, whether an attest or tax return, must be stored in the appropriate Caseware binder for business clients or in GFR for individuals, trusts or estates. For risk management purposes, drafts or internal client documents are not to be retained locally or elsewhere on the network. As we mentioned last month, we will be decommissioning the K: drive over the summer and now is the time to build good habitats surrounding document retention.
SERVICE CODES
When entering time, please be aware, nonchargeable service codes are not to be used with billable client codes. If you try to do this, you will receive this message. Please do not ignore this and select the correct billable service code for the client.
Post-Busy Season HAPPY HOUR
You worked hard this busy season! Join us in celebrating a job well done at our Post-Busy Season Happy Hour on April 18. Food & Drinks Open Bar Game Cards Good Company
Thursday, April 18 || 5:00 PM Dave & Buster's 310 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ To RSVP, please accept the calendar invite or email Jessica Peralta at jperalta@saxllp.com.
Dave & Buster's Dave & Buster's 310 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ 310 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ
ANNOUNCEMENTS | REMINDERS
Sax Technology Advisors held their 2019 Technology Industry Update on February 7 which included a panel of experts from the technology, insurance and legal world who addressed cyber threats that could significantly impact a business. Matthew Hahn took the audience through common cyber-attacks businesses face and proactive measures to mitigate risk and damage of a cyber incident. Panelists Mary Hildebrand, Founder & Chair of the Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice at Lowenstein Sandler and Sean O’Rouke, Cyber Liability consultant at Combs & Company lended their valuable insights and war stories on the legal and insurance side of a cyber incident, and things to consider to mitigate the risk and damage of a cyber attack on a business.
PRESS ROOM
Angelo Straface was highlighted in Construction, Accounting and Taxation with his article "The Essentials for Successful Succession Planning and Transfer of Ownership in the Construction Industry". Read more here.
Sax's Founder's Award was highlighted in Accounting Today and CIANJ Read Accounting Today here.
Read CIANJ here.
Susan Reed and Stuart Berger were invited for an interview by NJ Broadcaster, Steve Adubato, about our 8th Annual 4 Miler at Garret Mountain coming up in October, which benefits St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Stay tuned for the interview!
MARCH EVENT CALENDAR
FIRM EVENT
MONDAY MAR 18 | CLIFTON & MANHATTAN BOARDROOMS | 4:30 PM St. Patrick's Day Happy Hour Enjoy some appetizers and drinks on Sax in appreciation of all your hard work and dedication this tax season!
WEBINAR
TUESDAY MAR 19 | WEBINAR | 12:00 - 1:00 PM Post-Tax Reform: Real Estate Income Tax The sweeping tax reform brought on by The TCJA is now in effect, but many Real Estate owners and investors remain in the dark on how these changes will impact their businesses. With that, Sax’s Real Estate advisors will hold an educational webinar to run through the major changes facing the Real Estate industry overall now that tax reform has been implemented, and proposed guidance has been released.
P.O.W.E.R. EVENT
THURSDAY MAR 21 | CLIFTON BOARDROOM | 6:00 PM Mindful Yoga With a hectic busy season, stress can certainly build up. It is important to take time for ourselves to rejuvenate the mind and body. Join us for a Mindful Yoga Practice as we focus on stretching and strengthening our bodies and calming our minds.
THE END