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CCH’s Roth IRA Conversion Expert Opens New Client, Service Opportunities for Practitioners

(RIVERWOODS, ILL., December 10, 2009) – CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business has introduced the Roth IRA Conversion Expert™ – a robust new tool to help professionals quickly calculate and evaluate a variety of IRA conversion scenarios with one, powerful software application. The Roth IRA Conversion Expert is a user-friendly package designed to guide practitioners to help new and existing clients take full advantage of the upcoming change in the law allowing all taxpayers to convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs.

For the first time since the 1998 introduction of the Roth IRA, the playing field will open up in 2010 and the restrictions once limiting Roth IRA conversions to taxpayers with a MAGI under $100,000 will be lifted. Clients who were previously ineligible to convert will begin looking to their trusted advisors to counsel them on the potential benefits of a Roth IRA conversion.

“The upcoming change in the law creates significant new opportunities for practitioners including accountants, lawyers and financial and tax advisors, and CCH’s Roth IRA Conversion Expert will help professionals respond,” said CCH Product Manager Emily Hartnell.

Developed by CCH with Robert S. Keebler and Stephen J. Bigge of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, the Roth IRA Conversion Expert enables users to quickly analyze a variety of conversion options based on different rates of return and various tax rates upon withdrawal; compare results of different scenarios; and compile client reports with one, easy-to-use solution.

Expert, Comprehensive and Easy to Use

The Roth IRA Conversion Expert is a locally installed and easy-to-use software tool that works with CCH’s IntelliConnect™. It includes three main components:

• The Roth IRA Conversion Evaluator™ – a mathematical analysis / conversion analyzer component;
• An educational component for practitioner guidance; and
• A practice management component.

Roth IRA Conversion Evaluator™

At the heart of the Conversion Expert is the mathematical analysis/conversion analyzer – the Roth IRA Conversion Evaluator™. The Evaluator is a user-friendly software tool that provides sophisticated Roth analysis that the professional can utilize to ascertain the optimal Roth conversion scenario for clients. The Evaluator allows up to six conversion scenarios per client and includes a Tax Rate Evaluator that compares income and deduction information “before” and “after” the Roth IRA conversion. The Evaluator analyzes the viability of conversion at different rates of return and at various tax rates upon withdrawal. It generates reports and allows for the export to Excel® and provides graphing capability.

Practitioner Guidance

The product includes a wealth of educational information and guidance that teaches about Roth conversion planning. Beginning with the basics of Roth conversion planning, the Conversion Expert provides explanations, guidance and strategies to help tax practitioners understand the factors and tactical considerations that drive Roth IRA conversion planning, the benefits of these conversions and how to effectively advise clients. Included is: Advising Clients on Roth IRA Conversions – Strategies and Tactics, a video by Robert S. Keebler.

Practice Management

Practice management aids and applications and client communications assist the practitioner with every aspect of client service from engagement letter preparation to the final memo outlining the professional’s recommendations to aid the practitioner in every step of the engagement. Included are:

• Professional Practice Management
• Roth IRA Conversion Checklist
• Client Marketing Letter: Roth IRA Conversion Planning
• Client Engagement Letter: Roth IRA Conversion Consulting Services
• Client Communication and Education
• Client Memoranda: Roth IRA Conversion Planning Issues
• An IRA Owner’s Guide to Understanding Roth IRA Conversions
• Roth IRA Conversion Client Presentation

About the Authors

Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP (Distinguished) is a partner with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP and chair of the Baker Tilly Estate and Financial Planning Group. He is a 2007 recipient of the prestigious Accredited Estate Planners (Distinguished) award from the National Association of Estate Planning Counsels. Keebler has been named by CPA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners in the United States as well as one of the Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know during a Recession. Keebler frequently represents clients before the IRS National Office in the private letter ruling process and in estate, gift and income tax examinations and appeals, and has received more than 150 favorable private letter rulings including several key rulings of “first impression.” He is a member of the CCH Financial and Estate Planning Advisory Board and is the former Editor-in-Chief of CCH’s Journal ofRetirement Planning.

Stephen J. Bigge, CPA is a tax manager with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP whose primary focus is assisting high-net worth clients with advanced estate and retirement planning strategies and designing complex, comprehensive quantitative analyses. He has also co-authored retirement planning articles for CCH and has spoken for local estate planning societies. He is a graduate (summa cum laude) from Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis. with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and received the third highest score in Wisconsin on the November 2001 Uniform CPA Examination.

For More Information

The Roth IRA Conversion Expert can be purchased as a complete package including the Evaluator, practice management material and practical guidance, or the Evaluator can be purchased separately.

For more information, visit CCHGroup.com or call a CCH Sales Representative at 1-888-224-7377.

About CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business (CCHGroup.com) is a leading provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services. It has served tax, accounting and business professionals since 1913. Among its market-leading products are The ProSystem fx® Suite, CCH® TeamMate, CorpSystem®, CCH® IntelliConnect™, Accounting Research Manager® and the U.S. Master Tax Guide®. CCH is based in Riverwoods, Ill.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal, and regulatory sectors. Wolters Kluwer had 2008 annual revenues of €3.4 billion, employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 35 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Visit www.wolterskluwer.com for information about our market positions, customers, brands, and organization.

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