Tips, Trends, and connecTions for users of Thomson reuTers ...Tips, Trends, and connecTions for users of Thomson reuTers sofTware issue 1 | 2012 How one small firm made a big name

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10SOLUTIONSTips, Trends, and connecTions for users of Thomson reuTers sofTware

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How one small firm made a big name for itself in payroll processing

ahead of THe pack

Building Brand: What does your office say about your company?+

online supersTar who calls aRNe the best fRieNd a cPa could have?

meet sPike,ReNaissaNce maN

musT-have Tool how tablet comPuteRs build busiNess

Z

VIeW pOINT

Solutions is published by the Tax & accounting business of Thomson Reuters, 7322 Newman Boulevard, Dexter, MI 48130; 800.968.8900. printed in the United States. copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters, Issue 1, 2012. cover: © ReUTeRS/paolo Whitaker; page 4: © ReUTeRS/alexander Demianchuk; page 6 and above: © Bryan Hoeft (Spike Hains); pages 8-11 and above: © Dave Moser; page 14 and back cover: © Media Bakery.

issue 1 | 2012

cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM [ 3 ]

Questions or feedback? email your thoughts to [email protected].

take this tablet12

aLSO INSIDe

SOLUTIONS

Join our online users’ forum, at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/community.

find more on the web, at cs.Thomsonreuters.com.

FeaTUReS

outlasting the Twinkie: Why even the best-loved products must adapt to survive.

i can’t remember the last time i ate a twinkie.

my kids would probably tell me that’s a good

thing given my expanding waistline. still, i’ll

admit to feeling a little sentimental when i

recently learned that the company behind the

iconic cake is in bankruptcy. i can’t say that i

was surprised though. like a lot of long-loved

products, the twinkie was doomed by its makers’

refusal to change against the backdrop of a

continually evolving market.

we can all name plenty of products and brands

that have suffered a similar fate over the years,

from kodak to encyclopedia britannica to lotus

1-2-3. often, the trouble stems from a reluctance

to migrate away from a business model that

worked well in the past, or from a desire to protect

customers from the confusion that a change might

cause. that kind of thinking has “protected” a lot

of american brands right out of existence. and i’m

focused on making sure that it never happens to

our products.

even so, i’m asked a lot about why we’re always

enhancing our software, developing new versions,

building new platforms, designing new add-ons,

and inventing new products when the old ones

work just fine. why change a good thing? because

it’s our job to be ahead of the curve. because our

products have to integrate efficiently with the

newest platforms and software. and because

even the most loved products become irrelevant if

they don’t adapt to changing customer needs and

markets. in fact, many of the changes we make

come directly from customer suggestions.

i know change can be a difficult thing, whether

it’s a new tax law, the transition to the cloud, or

just a new user interface. but one thing i like

about the software business for our profession

is that change rarely happens for its own sake.

major changes stem from real innovation, and

from new ideas about how to be more productive,

more flexible, and more efficient. and in this

business, those new ideas can go from concept to

implementation very quickly.

all that change can be unnerving to some. but it

also gives us a unique opportunity to see and shape

the future, to make every day more productive,

more efficient, and more profitable than the last.

and if that’s not a good reason to get up and come

to work every morning, i don’t know what is.

with that in mind, i hope you’ll join us in embracing

the constantly changing future of technology for tax

and accounting professionals, from smoother, more

integrated workflows to cloud-based engagements

and anytime-anywhere real-time collaboration on

myriad devices. i believe that constant change is

the only way to achieve constant improvement.

and i’ve found that old technology can be a lot like

a twinkie—we may remember it fondly, but we’re

usually better off with something fresher.

Regards,

Jon baron

President, Professional, tax & accounting,

thomson Reuters

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6 hello, sPike

a Profile in Payroll success: allied fiNaNcial PaRtNeRs 8

NewsliNeWorkpapers cS goes paperless, and our favorite accounting cS features.

buildiNg braNd Your office, as a marketing tool. plus how to win a $500 gift card.

support corNerThe latest Solutions department introduces you to aRNe Superstar Rod clarida.

4 715

NeWSLINe

SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012] cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM[ 4 ] [ 5 ]

the single-database technology we pioneered for accounting cs is now available in an engagement management application with workpapers cs. its single-database structure makes it possible to gather, manage, and process all types of workpapers and source documents in one convenient central location—whether you choose to work “in the cloud” or on your local area network.

features in the new workpapers cs include:

• anytime-anywhere workpaper management provides access to all types of workpapers and source documents anytime, anywhere by multiple employees simultaneously.

• a sophisticated binder system makes it easy to keep things organized and also simplifies routing and assignment.

• digital review, electronic signoff, comments, and notations enable you to implement a truly paperless engagement management process.

• integration with a variety of third-party software increases your productivity when you’re working with applications like microsoft® word and excel®.

the initial release of workpapers cs is available now, and we’re already working on new capabilities for future versions, including comprehensive integration with the cs Professional suite, PPc’s smaRt audit suite™, and other checkpoint® tools products.

You can take a closer look at the new software at cs.thomsonreuters.com/workpaperscs.

online Bill paY: easy Renewal/Invoice payment with our latest website update in april, you now have the ability to securely pay invoices and prorated renewals online at cs.thomsonreuters.com.

last year, we added the ability for an online account administrator to manage payment options through the My account section by adding or changing the credit card or debit account on file for support, web services, and per-return fees, electronic filing, and more. Now you can also pay invoices and prorated renewals online.

log on to cs.thomsonreuters.com and visit the My account section to access these new features. You’ll find the new invoice feature at the My orders & payments link. look for the Manage My products link to access your renewal information.

cs professional suite®

& enterprise suite®

accounTinG & audiTinG

accounting cs™

accounting cs client access

engagement cs®

workpapers cs™

documenT manaGemenT

filecabinet cs®

GofileRoom®

moBile apps

aRNe mobile

mobile cs®

myPay solutions® mobile app

paYroll

accounting cs Payroll

myPay solutions®

firm & workflow manaGemenT

Practice cs®

TaX

firmflowtm

ultratax cs®

Gosystem® tax Rs

fixed assets cs®

Planner cs®

toolbox cs®

cloud compuTinG

saas leasing

virtual office cs®

weBsiTe desiGn

web builder cs®

clienT porTals

Netclient cs®

SINgLe DaTaBaSe, so manY opTionsworkpapers cs brings engagement management into the paperless era.

accounting cs has features that can make your day-to-day work easier. here are two of our favorite features:

FileCabinet CS Documents Portlet: Your accounting cs staff dashboard can be populated with a variety of portlets, providing a snapshot of information for your firm, staff, and clients. the filecabinet cs documents portlet allows you to quickly access documents from any client dashboard and configure the display to show the

most common client indicators and information. accounting cs client access also makes it easy for your clients to print to filecabinet cs. they’ll appreciate the ability to organize their files—and the instant access to their documents.

Payroll Address Verification: accurate payroll jurisdiction information is an essential part of tax compliance. the new Payroll address verification utility offers a higher level of precision

when the standard ZiP code lookup feature can’t narrow down the results enough. it uses latitude and longitude to pinpoint an exact location for every employee address. this utility automatically assigns local tax agencies based on the employee address, and even works with partial addresses.

to learn more about accounting cs, visit cs.thomsonreuters.com/accountingcs, or email [email protected].

the new myPay solutions mobile app gives employees of myPay solutions clients mobile access to a variety of payroll information and activities. the free app, complete with sample data, is now available for download from the apple® app store and from Google Play and can be used on any ios or android device.

for the employee, the myPay solutions mobile app offers a convenient way to access personal payroll information from their apple iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, or android device. the client saves time by collecting employee payroll data in real time, and the self-service feature frees up staff time spent fielding payroll data requests.

entering and accessing important payroll information is easy with the myPay solutions

mobile app. employees can enter their time for the current pay period, view their check stubs, w-2s, and time entered for prior pay periods, and view and update their w-4 information. and coming soon, new payroll information such as earnings and leave balances will be added to the growing list of accessible payroll information for employees.

the myPay solutions mobile app responds to the needs of today’s increasingly mobile workplaces, where boundaries and geographical limitations continue to disappear. for more information, scan this QR code or call us at 800.968.8900.

MYpaY solutioNs Mobile app released:Free on-the-go access for employees

Fun with accouNtiNG cs

[ 7 ]cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM[ 6 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012]

BeHIND THe SceNeS

today’s Renaissance man

INSIde SToRY

solutions: what’s involved in being a lead software engineer?spike Hains: what i do most days is monitor production systems to ensure they’re running smoothly while working closely with my team to design and implement new features. we focus mainly on Netclient cs portals and virtual office cs, and whether we’re developing new functionality or addressing a technical challenge, a lot of it comes down to problem-solving. i pay a lot of attention to our production systems, looking for ways to make things better.

You have a master’s degree in Human-computer interaction (Hci) from the university of Michigan. what exactly is Hci?it all ties into the user experience, and how the interface and design of apps and software can impact the way we work. it’s a mix of sociology, psychology, and technology: what factors influence how people use technology and what motivates their engagement?

do other interests in your life influence your work?definitely. ever since i was a kid i’ve loved taking things apart, especially electronics with their complex cities of circuits, and i’ve always enjoyed drawing and painting. i’m taking a watercolor painting class right now, in fact. a lot of my work involves building things and creating things, which is what i love to do.

Meet spike HaiNs, lead software

engineer for Web Services Development

at Thomson Reuters in Dexter, Mich.

He joined the company in 1997 and

quickly became the organization’s first

web developer. Hains’ considerable

technological skills are balanced by an

artistic streak, with interests including

writing, painting, and playing guitar.

MORe ScOOp ON SpIkeNaMiNg rigHts: hains’ first name is actually michael, but no one calls him that. “i wish i had a great story about how i got the name spike, but it’s just something a neighborhood kid called me once and it stuck.”

cHildHood dreaMs: Growing up, spike wanted to be a cartoonist but didn’t think he was funny enough—although his co-workers laugh at him a lot. “it’s easier to be funny when you’re not trying,” says hains.

First sigHt: hains and his wife, wendy, met on a blind date before they both started working at thomson Reuters, where she’s a marketing manager.

cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM

everything you do should reflect your brand and tell clients what your business is all about. No surprise, it starts with first impressions.

for many firms, that first impression is your website, where potential clients learn who you are and what you have to offer. a well-designed, informative website is a must-have for any business today. but you also have another chance to make a meaningful impression: when clients come into your office.

do they see a cluttered array of filing cabinets and piles of paper? or do they walk into an attractive, organized space that conveys efficiency and authority? the smart money’s on the latter, which is exactly what clients see when they visit carter cPa llc in east brunswick, N.J.

“one colleague said he’d been walking in and out of accountants’ offices for 40 years and he’d never seen anything that looked even remotely like ours,” says Jodi carter, the firm’s owner. “People immediately get a sense of how on top of things we are.”

what makes the firm’s office so impressive? it’s paperless, for one thing. because they work in the cloud, carter cPa llc has reduced its number of filing cabinets from seven to three, and ordered just six cases of paper last year instead of 14.

“the minute clients walk in they’re impressed because every surface is clean,” says carter. “i have a beautiful baker’s rack in my office for my three computer monitors—i work screen-to-screen—and a french writing desk i sit at with clients.”

she also made sure the flow of the entire office is gracious and comfortable, starting when clients are greeted as they come through the front door.

“People tell us there’s a very welcoming feeling about our office,” says carter. “and the impeccable appearance of our office helps people see that our work is impeccable, too.”

take a look at carter cPa llc’s website, which bolsters the firm’s brand image: cartercpallc.com.

BuILdINg BRaNd

thiNk YouR office is a wiNNeR?take a photo of what clients see when they walk in your

door and enter it in our Rate the space contest. You could

win a $500 american express gift card if your space is rated

tops! to enter or vote, scan the QR code above or visit

cs.thomsonreuters.com/ratethespace to learn more.

among his considerable creative endeavors, spike Hains is now in a watercolor painting class.

what does your office say about your brand?

If These Walls could Talk

More Than Meets the eye

aT Your service partners (from left to right) Thomas Tette, kenneth ingersoll, and kitty Bressington lead a staff of 20.

Z basics: allied Financial partners, inc., was

established in 2009 and has a staff of 20. the

firm’s focus is on cPa and accounting services for

small businesses, as well as financial planning

and payroll services.

Z website: alliedfp.com

Z soFtware: the firm uses a full range of products

in the cs Professional suite, chosen for its excellent

integration with more than 15 different software

applications.

firm facTs

How this tax and accounting firm is wrangling more business with payroll.

From the outside, allied Financial partners, inc., looks a lot like many other businesses. but on closer inspection, it’s clear the firm’s approach to doing business is anything but ordinary.

the victor, N.Y.–based practice has three distinct divisions: tette & ingersoll cPas, Pc, which handles tax and accounting; allied financial Partners, a financial planning provider; and allied Payroll services, which offers full-service payroll processing.

launched in 2009 by three founding partners who previously worked together at another firm—thomas m. tette, cPa, kenneth e. ingersoll, cPa, and kitty P. bressington, cfP®—the practice quickly earned a reputation for exceptional client service.

[ 8 ] [ 9 ]SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012] cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM

at allied financial

Partners, inc., growth is

defined not only by the

firm’s bottom line, but

also by individual staff

development.

what’s more, the

firm offers flexibility

and a family friendly

atmosphere. “we

don’t want our staff

to miss their kids’

baseball games or

dance recitals,” says

thomas m. tette, cPa,

a founding partner.

“being efficient helps

all of us get our work

done and still have a

productive life outside

of work.”

pOWeR TO THe peOpLe

“we know business owners have many things on their minds that might even keep them up at night,” says tette. “we’re truly accessible 24/7. if we can send them something

now to give them peace of mind earlier, it goes a long way. our clients love it.”

wHere clieNt preFereNces rule accessibility is one reason the firm uses Netclient cs, to make client files available around the clock. as tette explains, it makes life easier both for the practice and its clients.

many of the firm’s clients appreciate having an entirely paperless process—though the firm is happy to work with clients who are less technically oriented. “some clients want everything on paper, and we try to address the needs of every client,” explains tette. “we’ve been transitioning clients to the portal over time, and we’re definitely seeing more usage of it.”

another aspect of the firm’s accessibility is its commitment to assigning dedicated staff members to each client. the goal is to provide highly personal service. staff members and clients are paired up based on the client’s needs and the staff member’s expertise.

“we hear time and again that clients really appreciate being able to talk to the same person whenever they call,” says tette.

tHe paYroll propositioNaccording to tette, the firm has grown substantially in recent years—by as much as 15 to 20 percent. he projects similar growth over the next couple of years, thanks, in part, to the success of the payroll department, allied Payroll services.

while many tax and accounting firms don’t even offer payroll services, for reasons ranging from potential liability to the amount of work required, this practice has embraced payroll as a significant part of its business. allied Payroll services handles payroll for about 250 clients—a noteworthy achievement given that one of the country’s largest payroll processing firms is headquartered nearby.

“we’re able to go up against them pretty easily, partly because we have lower overhead,” says tette. “there’s also an established trust factor, because about 95 percent of our payroll clients come over from the accounting side of our business.”

in fact, the firm has found itself playing david to Goliath more than once, when the bigger provider has tried to lure clients back from allied Payroll services. “they told one of our clients, ‘if you don’t bring your payroll back to us we won’t support your business again,’ and we just kind of chuckled that they felt they had to win back clients from us,” says tette.

secrets to successso how does the firm make payroll work for them? volume is one key, according to tette. when the firm first started doing payroll for a few clients, it was a value-added service that didn’t add much to the bottom line. Now that the volume of payroll accounts has grown—to the point where the department has two full-time and two part-time staff members—it’s become a profit center.

“You have to be on top of things because it keeps coming week in and week out, unlike the tax season mentality,” says tette. the steady flow of payroll transactions is good for business.

some of the firm’s clients access their payroll through the Netclient cs portal, entering their hours and receiving payment in paperless transactions. but allied Payroll services also obliges clients who would rather call or fax in their hours and receive paper checks.

Putting processes in place has helped the firm efficiently manage its many payroll clients. as is the case across the entire practice, clearly defined processes have been written out so there’s no question about how transactions will be handled.

“we put the process first before the desire of any particular person or department, because we’re looking at what the best process is for the client,” explains tette. “in the last couple of years we’ve really worked hard on documenting those processes.”

each of the firm’s three departments has weekly meetings, and one of the topics is process: what’s working well and what can be done better? this focus on continuous improvement helps the firm drill down to the root of the problem and develop solutions.

using an integrated suite of software from thomson Reuters is another contributor to the firm’s efficient processes. “i don’t know how other firms can work with more than one software company. it just doesn’t make sense to me,” says tette. “the fact that everything from thomson Reuters is intertwined just makes it easier to do our business.”

whenever a new product is introduced, the firm jumps on board, he adds. tette is an especially big fan of mobile cs, because he can track his receivables, see what the staff is doing, and connect easily with clients from wherever he is.

“the mobile app definitely makes it easier to offer our clients the accessibility they’ve come to expect,” says tette. “it’s common for new clients to say, ‘i didn’t think i’d hear back from you so soon’ when i return their call within an hour. but that’s just the kind of personal touch we provide.”

“ “

paY poinTers scan this code and be taken directly to more information about payroll solutions.

Payroll is a great practice-builder because

it provides a steady source of business.

thomson Reuters offers several tools for payroll:

accouNtiNg cs paYroll: for firms

that want to process payroll themselves,

accounting cs Payroll helps them streamline

processes and even handle internal payroll

more efficiently.

accouNtiNg cs clieNt access: lets

clients process their own payroll, check-writing,

and direct deposit through advanced, but

easy-to-use, software.

MYpaY solutioNs: this unique payroll

processing service handles payroll so firms

and their clients don’t have to. the accountant

enjoys the benefits of offering payroll services,

with none of the liability.

elements from these three options can be

combined and customized to give firms

exactly what they need. learn more at

cs.thomsonreuters.com/payroll-solutions.

— Thomas M. Tette

streNgtH iN NuMbers: payroll options

[ 10 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012] [ 11 ]cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM

a lot of people go to work and don’t fully understand what their role is. we try to communicate clearly how each staff member fits in—in terms of their individual goals, their department’s goals, and the firm’s goals.

[ 12 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012]

if you want your firm’s business to be healthier and

wealthier, consider adding a tablet or two to your tech

toolkit. tablets have become increasingly popular in the

tax and accounting industry for a number of reasons.

they’re compact, lightweight, and efficient, and can run

a variety of software programs and apps.

equally important, they amplify your firm’s image as

a tech-savvy operation. tablets can make an especially

good first impression with new clients, something

cathy Glenn, b.a., knows a lot about.

Glenn is the marketing director for Raymond J.

busch, ltd. cPa in tinley Park, ill. for the last

three years, she’s been using an apple iPad in her

sales presentations.

“it’s a way to sell the intangible by showing something

tangible,” Glenn says. “services like tax planning

and consultations are intangible, which makes them

hard to explain. with the iPad, i can walk prospective

clients through a demonstration of exactly what we

can provide.”

cS.THOMSONReUTeRS.cOM [ 13 ]

coMiNg to liFe

Glenn has everything she needs for presentations

set up through her firm’s website, including a client

demo. she typically begins her sales meetings there,

showing prospects how they would log in to the

client portal created with Netclient cs. she can also

show them the Netclient cs demo video, which is

posted on her firm’s website.

after she opens the demo client, Glenn guides

prospects through what their personalized hub

would look like. she demonstrates some of the

thomson Reuters tools her firm offers, including

file exchange, client bookkeeping solution, and

payroll processing solutions. this helps prospects

see exactly how they can access and manage

everything they need through Netclient cs.

“it gives people more of an ‘i want to buy that’

mentality instead of them feeling like i’m trying

to sell them something,” explains Glenn. “in the

past, explaining it without context would make

people’s eyes glaze over and they’d think it was too

complicated. Now they can see just how easy it is.”

the iPad helps clients visualize how everything

will work for their business, because Glenn is

demonstrating it live, sitting right next to them.

a laptop could do the trick, too, but Glenn feels

laptops put people on the defensive—something

she doesn’t sense when giving an iPad presentation.

tablets encourage a more hands-on and interactive

experience, while still letting the visuals shine.

closiNg tHe deal

walking prospects through the demo also helps

build value as Glenn reaches the part of her

presentation where she talks about her firm’s

installation fee. “it gives me the chance to show what

goes into setting up everything and customizing it

to their business,” she explains. “i meet a lot less

resistance to the installation fee than i used to.”

in fact, tablets even make signing on the dotted line

a little simpler and more appealing. Glenn uses a

program called square that can process credit card

payments right through the tablet.

since she began using the iPad for sales

presentations, Glenn has seen an improvement in

her closing ratio, which has improved from 1:5 in

2010 to 1:4 in 2011.

“it’s kind of like staging a home you’re trying to sell

so people can imagine themselves living in it,” says

Glenn. “the iPad helps prospects visualize their

business working with our services.”

Z

1:4since cathy Glenn

started using her tablet in

sales presentations, her closing ratio has improved— from 1:5 to 1:4.

the iPad may be the best-known tablet on the market, but it’s certainly not the only one. there are a number of options available for Pc devotees. some of the hottest names in Pc-based tablets include the hP® elitebook, the asus eee slate, and the Panasonic toughbook®.

cathy Glenn has had no issues using an iPad for her demos, even though her firm runs a full complement of thomson Reuters software on Pcs.

“i access everything through our firm’s website,” says Glenn, who is marketing director at Raymond J. busch, ltd. cPa in tinley Park, ill.

thomson Reuters offers mobile apps for both apple- and Pc-based devices, as well as a robust online community. to learn more, visit cs.thomsonreuters.com/Mobile and cs.thomsonreuters.com/community.

what’s iN a Name?

Prescription success

what can one tablet do? when you’re talking about a tablet computer, it can do wonders for your business.

FOR

TIPS & TaCTICS

[ 14 ] [ 15 ]SOLUTIONS [ISSue 1, 2012]

get the inside scooplearn how to get more from the software solutions you use every day.

FilecabiNet csQ: can i import pictures of receipts from a mobile device, such as an apple iPhone, into filecabinet cs?a: if the mobile device has a wia driver and you’re running filecabinet cs version 2011.1 or higher, you can import pictures from wia-compliant mobile devices into filecabinet cs. 1 . connect the mobile device to your

computer.2. open filecabinet cs and choose image >

scan. 3. in the scan Pages dialog, select

twaiN or wia from the scanner / image device field.

4. in the select device dialog, click the icon for the device from which you’ll import images.

5. choose the appropriate drawer id and image group, and then click the select button.

6. when prompted, select the images you want to include in the image group.

practice cs #tip: enter receipts quickly using the

invoice search function.You can significantly speed up entry of cash receipts when you know the numbers of the invoices that customers are paying. to enter receipts by invoice number:1 . choose setup > user preferences, and

click the receipt & adjustment entry tab.

2. in the settings and field defaults grid, verify that the Hide and skip checkboxes are not marked for the invoice search field.

3. choose actions > receipt & adjustment entry, and enter the invoice number associated with the payment in the invoice search field. You can also click the drop-down arrow in this field to view a list of all outstanding invoices, sorted in the order of your choice.

4. when you enter or choose an invoice number, Practice cs will automatically complete most of the rest of the entry. You need only enter the payment type. You can then accept the entry as is, or override any of the values entered by the program.

ultratax csultratax/5500 Q: is there a grace period for rejected returns?a: 5500 plans do not have grace periods, but you might be required to file another return with the department of labor (dol) to correct an error or warning. 5500 returns, even if rejected, are considered “filed” by the dol.

gosYsteM tax rsGosystem tax Rs 1120Q: i entered the trial balance in each of the parent and subsidiary locators, but the data does not consolidate up to the top consolidation. what am i doing wrong?a: the Gosystem tax Rs trial balance bridge does not consolidate data. if you want to consolidate trial balance bridge reports, import data from a trial balance bridge with combined amounts into the top consolidation return.

web builder cs#tip: You can enable your clients to access

your firm’s social media sites from your website. to add links to your firm’s social media sites to your website, log in to web builder cs, click the site tools icon, and then click the social Media icon.

NetclieNt csQ: can i customize the email notification messages that are automatically sent to my clients when i post items to their portals?a : Yes. log in to Netstaff cs and click the administration button. then, click the utilities button in the navigation pane, and do one of the following.• Clickthepreferences action icon to

customize settings that apply to all email messages, such as the sender name, sender email address, the message header, and the message footer.

• Clickthetemplates action icon to edit the text of email messages that are automatically sent to Netclient cs users or Netstaff cs users.

to learn more about customizing these email notifications, click the Help button from either of these screens and click the link for the appropriate help topic.

SuPPoRT CoRNeR

There’s more Read more tips and tactics at cs.thomsonreuters.com/tips. to access the knowledgebase, visit cs.thomsonreuters.com/support.

rod claridaManaging partner, clarida & Ludeke cpas Inc., Brea, calif.average number of posts per Year: 1,000+

arNe superstarYou’ve chatted with them and learned from them in the arNe community. Now get to know these arNe veterans a little better.

DID YOU

kNOW?these useful resources can save you a call to the support department:

• knowledgebase—Get information and answers to common questions in this online repository.

• arNe community—interact with your peers in an online community for accountants.

• tutorial Videos—see how to use software features and improve your workflow.

• transition services—take the stress out of transitioning to cs Professional suite programs.•

• e-File resources— be ready to e-file your clients’ 1040 returns with these helpful resources.

this list only scratches the surface of the resources available to you on our support options page. visit cs.thomsonreuters.com/support for more.

meet YouR support reprosalie eVerett, senior support Representative and st. baldrick’s day Participant

Rosalie joined thomson Reuters in 1996. she’s a member of the accounting cs transition team, a resource expert for accounting cs, and the call facilitator for cs Professional suite accounting.

Here’s something we bet you didn’t know: each year, the st. baldrick’s foundation (stbaldricks.org) holds nationwide shaving events to help defeat childhood cancers.

inspired by a friend, Rosalie spent 18 months growing her hair, then shaved it all off this year, raising $1,300. “it’s just hair,” Rosalie said. “People told me, if you ReallY do this i’ll donate. i love a dare!”

Q: what do you see as the value of a community like arNe? while it may seem like “just” a social community, aRNe is truly a partner to my practice. it’s set as my internet home page, and i read every new topic that pops up: tax, estate planning, and yes, the Rec Room. i get answers to questions i didn’t even know i had, along with tips and ideas.

i have free access to some of the best tax minds in the country. when i have a question, the first thing i do is post on aRNe, and i have an answer within a few hours. i’ve also saved thousands of dollars in support fees, and hundreds of hours of work, by aRNe members’ help with software installation problems or hardware workarounds.

the People (notice i capitalize the P, because People are what make it magical) of aRNe are so helpful.

thanks to my contacts in other states, i can handle out-of-state returns or refer clients who are moving to aRNe cPas. best of all, i’ve made dear friends all over the country through aRNe, and sometimes i even get to meet them in person at the users’ conference.

one of my favorite things about aRNe is the ability to discuss anything, from poker to politics. it’s fun to debate and argue, and it’s a great way to relieve the stress of our jobs.

if people aren’t using aRNe, they’re missing out on the best friend a cPa can have when he’s busy … and even when he’s not.

Q: tell us one thing we’d be surprised to know about you.hmm … it’s hard to imagine anything the aRNe people don’t know (well, that i can tell without going to jail!). that i’m shy and humble? ok, no one’s buying that (but i really am). how about that i’m a big fan of professional wrestling? i don’t watch it as a sport, but as a continuing drama, like a soap opera. like aRNe, it’s about the people. i guess i’m just a People person!

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