How the Presidential Election Could Change the Tax Landscape for Business Owners

With almost $2.5 trillion in debt added to the U.S. balance sheet and a presidential election less than 40 days away, join us to hear how tax planning for business owners could be impacted post-election.

Brett Dearing, CEPA, CM&AA / Cerity Partners / Bio

Brett Dearing is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor® (CM&AA) and has been working closely with privately-held businesses for over 27 years. Mr. Dearing is a valued advisor that has sat alongside business owners to assist in working through the complexities of transitioning a family business, structuring comprehensive succession plans for business owners while providing a proven process for growth planning. Mr. Dearing’s passion for assisting business owners has fueled his willingness to participate in educational platforms and speaking engagements focused on driving better outcomes by preparing business owners for the sale of their business

Steve Walker / Cerity Partners / Bio

Steve is a Partner in the Orange County office. He has more than thirty years of experience in tax and accounting, providing comprehensive tax planning, tax compliance, and transactional consulting services.  He has served a variety of businesses throughout his career; however, his professional focus and technical expertise focus on entrepreneurial companies and high net worth individuals. Additionally, he has significant expertise in the real estate industry.  Steve leads the Tax Practice and is a member of the Executive Committee.  

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Steve was the founder and managing partner of The Walker Company, LLP, a full-service tax and consulting firm located in Irvine, CA. The Walker Company was frequently hired as a consultant when business owners encountered situations where creative solutions were needed.  Much of his career was spent in the Orange County offices of Kenneth Leventhal & Company. During his tenure at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, Steve functioned as a national resource in the areas of partnership taxation, troubled debt restructures and business entity structuring.  He left Kenneth Leventhal & Company in 1994 to become the partner in charge of the tax practice of Haskell & White LLP, a large Southern California regional accounting firm. Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.