Jason T. Kingston, CPA, CGA, EA
7-1120 Victoria St. N N2B 3T2 Kitchener, ON, Canada

In early December a colleague lost the battle with cancer and passed away. This gentleman, Tom, had been a constant in my professional career. He was president of CGA Ontario the year I graduated college, taught tax for the association, gave innumerable seminars across the country and both moderated and gave generously of his time to an email discussion list where accountants could ask their colleagues for advice. He consulted with other practitioners assisting in developing ...and implementing tax plans for their clients. He was a believer in larger practice units for CGA's and gave my partners and I much advice on best practices within a partnership which we continue to follow, to our success. He was one of the most respected professionals I've ever met, and deserved every ounce of that respect. This morning, I came to the office and as so many of us do, opened up my email. In there was a message from a colleague in Eastern Ontario who I haven't had the pleasure of meeting. She had reached out because, when he slowed down and ultimately retired a couple of years ago, Tom gave her my name as the person to get in touch with for ongoing tax assistance. She isn't the first such referral I've received but each time it happens I have the same thought: "Who, me?" Since the first time it happened to today, it is a humbling experience. Tom, thank you for your faith in me, and I will do my best to fulfill your trust.

Of importance to any small / medium business owners in Canada. Feel free to forward. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-passive-income-rules-there

Listened to podcasts on Sections 199A and 965 so far today. And working through an online PD course which has covered changes to S. 179. When people say "You must like numbers" when I say I'm a CPA, I'm sure they mean it in terms of math, not in referencing legislation sections! So continues the exciting life of a cross border tax accountant.

Late last week I was given the opportunity to meet with a prospective client. Not just myself, but myself along with one of my wealth management partners. The prospect currently works with several professionals for their accounting and tax, wealth management, insurance needs etc. And while I believe each of those professionals is doing what they feel is in the best interest of the client, there are still gaps and improvement to be made. Why is that the case? Because nobody is... taking the lead! A common misconception is that the professionals engaged by a client are that person’s team. The problem is, the professionals don’t work that way! Historically, and currently, professionals work in their own silos. The phrase stay in your lane could easily apply in most cases. And with the number of CPAs, CFPs, lawyers and insurance professionals who are in a community it isn’t reasonable to assume that we all know each other and that we work collaboratively on each client. But adherence to this silo system can result in suboptimal advice to and decisions being made by the client. I was excited to be able to meet this prospect along with my wealth management colleague, and to outline to him how we do work collaboratively to ensure that his needs are being looked after. And how we look at the whole picture; him, his family, his business and how it all ties together. While accounting & tax and wealth management aren’t the only members of the team, we take the lead in making sure the team has a captain, looking at all the plays and how they fit together, to our client’s benefit.

I haven't decided what, if anything, I'm going to use this space for. Just decided to update the picture and designations on a whim this morning. :)