(March 6, 2000) Robert Goldfarb, CPA, is the President of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners (NCCPAP), as well as a partner of the firm Schoenfeld Mendelsohn Goldfarb LLP. He is a published author with more than six books to his credit and is a nationally recognized authority on federal tax law. Goldfarb regularly lectures to CPAs and accounting students across the nation. He is also a senior adjunct professor at Adelphi University and has taught for the AICPA, state societies and national accounting organizations. In this interview, Goldfarb addresses a variety of hot topics within the accounting industry, such as personal financial planning, firm consolidation, the UAA, federal tax law and more.

	Track 1
Goldfarb discusses the increasing popularity of financial planning in the accounting industry, but warns against the lure of commissions.

	Track 2
For those CPAs who may be concerned about American Express and H & R Block inhibiting their ability to compete in the financial planning industry, Goldfarb believes they have no reason to worry.

	Track 3
Will the Big Five continue to consolidate? Goldfarb predicts that they probably will, since current trends favor mergers and acquisitions.

	Track 4
Goldfarb addresses the issue of non-CPA ownership of accounting firms, as well as steps CPAs can take to defeat the Uniform Accountancy Act as it is currently written.

	Track 5
Goldfarb discusses the major tax bills enacted in 1999, as well as how they may affect CPAs and their clients.

	Track 6
Where will the profession be in five years? Goldfarb believes financial planning and fraud examination will continue to gain popularity within the accounting industry.

	Track 7
Goldfarb talks about how the NCCPAP plans to adapt and evolve to meet the future needs of practicing CPAs.

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