They must meet minimum requirements for education and professional work experience, and must pass rigorous examinations. By contrast, the tax preparer who does your return in the back-office of a large company may have nothing more than a college degree and one year on the job. In preparing these returns, CPAs can learn about the client's accounting systems and benefit plans, and suggest ways to make these items more tax-friendly the following year. So, while qualified tax accountants can competently complete your return, a good CPA can offer you taxation counsel. When hiring a CPA, ask whether he or she is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Members are subject to peer review and a strict code of ethics.
Setting priorities 2. Making a budget 3. Basics of banking 4. Basics of investing 5. Investing in stocks 6.