In 1995, Professor Phil Harmelink, CPA, the then Chairman of the academic Department of Accounting at the University of New Orleans (UNO) asked me to replace the legendary Freddy Herzog (who worked for the IRS for over 60 years) teaching Estate and Gift Taxation in the UNO Masters in Taxation program. While I was preparing to teach the course, which I taught for five years, it occurred to me that I should address what I reasoned was a deficiency in the education of students in the business school; some liberal arts exposure to something that would broaden the tax professionals as people. So I ..read more

In this final blog on my Code of Whole-Person Professionalism, I cover the final six pledges and associated “annotations,” i.e., pertinent or supportive quotes, as well as some parting thoughts. I hope that you enjoyed it.  To order my affairs and conduct my work in a manner that minimizes the work for, and surprise to, others, and to give others reasonable notice when extra work either after hours or on weekends will be necessary, and then to work mightily to minimize that intrusion, and to make it up later. Always do right – this will gratify some and astonish the rest. Mark Twain Mak ..read more

In this blog, I continue with three more pledges in my Code of Whole-Person Professionalism and the associated “annotations,” i.e., supporting or illustrative quotes. To consider “the big picture” in my advices to clients, taking into account common sense, psychological implications, holistic concerns, the law of diminishing returns and a cost-benefit analysis, all on both a long and short term basis. We [engineers] also do not readily focus on the big picture. This is perhaps why we haven’t always seen ourselves as agents of change…We need to help them contemplate their work in the larger c ..read more

In 1995, Professor Phil Harmelink, CPA, the then Chairman of the academic Department of Accounting at the University of New Orleans (UNO) asked me to replace the legendary Freddy Herzog (who worked for the IRS for over 60 years) teaching Estate and Gift Taxation in the UNO Masters in Taxation program. While I was preparing to teach the course, which I taught for five years, it occurred to me that I should address what I reasoned was a deficiency in the education of students in the business school; some liberal arts exposure to something that would broaden the tax professionals as people. So I ..read more

I saw a meme that said: The days that break you are the days that make you. Been there. Done that. Bought the f@$king t-shirt. Immutable truth. Buckle up, buttercup. Jimmy Duggan was right: there’s no crying in baseball. I’m a Stoic in my personal philosophy in the Marcus Aurelius tradition and believe that: There are only explanations; there are no excuses. Be transparent. Vouchsafe the sanctity and inviolable nature of your word-in other words: do what you said you were going to do. Be accountable, but that comes with the concomitant obligation to hold others accountable and brook no foolish ..read more

In this blog, I continue with three more pledges in my Code of Whole-Person Professionalism and the associated “annotations,” i.e., supporting or illustrative quotes. To consider “the big picture” in my advices to clients, taking into account common sense, psychological implications, holistic concerns, the law of diminishing returns and a cost-benefit analysis, all on both a long and short term basis. We [engineers] also do not readily focus on the big picture. This is perhaps why we haven’t always seen ourselves as agents of change…We need to help them contemplate their work in the larger c ..read more

In this second blog on my Code of Whole-Person Professionalism, I begin to consider each pledge in the Code, and the associated annotations, i.e., supporting or illustrative quotes. In this blog, I’ll examine the preamble to the Code and the first pledge.  Fully cognizant that compliance with the codes of professional responsibility and professionalism does not require ethical or professional behavior in the classical sense or as it is understood by the man in the street; and further that neither code focuses upon the whole life of a lawyer that can benefit from true, classical ethical an ..read more

I noted the death of legendary former Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden over the weekend at 91. I had an interaction with Bobby Bowden when I was LSU Homecoming Chairman back in 1981 that was funny but that eventually turned out to be even funnier some 16 years later during a chance meeting. Introduction In 1981, my double alma mater, Louisiana State University (LSU) played Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles for Homecoming. Under NCAA rules in effect at that time, halftime was limited to 15 minutes. It could be extended for up to five additional minutes with the consent of the oppos ..read more

We’re hearing a lot of legislative noise lately out of our nation’s capital concerning donor advised funds (DAFs). Views vary significantly about what if anything should be done to address the perception that charities aren’t being given funds quickly enough out of DAFs. It’s undeniable that DAFs are accumulating significant money because contributions to DAFs qualify for the immediate income tax charitable contribution deduction, even though the donor’s DAF account might not distribute funds to an actual functioning charitable organization for a long time. Under current law, there are no mini ..read more

The world of estate planning is divided into two worlds: the quantitative side and the qualitative or soft or human side. Most estate planners far prefer the world of the quantitative side of estate planning, stay there and never venture into the soft or qualitative or human side.   There are two principal reasons why most estate planners shy away from the soft or human or qualitative side of estate planning. Why?   The first reason is that the tax side is easier and is easier to quantify the estate planner’s alleged value to the client, which usually is proven with what I call a Jen ..read more