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Accounting

Why free CPE may end up costing you

Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting  

· 5 minute read

Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting  

· 5 minute read

We live in a culture where free stuff is expected, especially when it comes to the internet. From finding ways to download music to sharing Netflix passwords to searching for advice, we all are guilty of taking advantage of the speed and convenience the online world brings.  

Far too often, however, search results are treated with absolute truth as most of us lack the time or skills to decipher whether information is accurate. For low-stakes answers like confirming Michael Jordan’s height or how many Oscars The Godfather has won, there is no real risk except for maybe losing a bet between friends. But when it comes to relying on search results for more serious questions, the costs are much higher.   

For tax and accounting professionals, quickly searching for free CPE can save time but the quality of the information often reflects the cost (zero). While the internet provides conveniences beyond our wildest imaginations, the opportunity to access information faster does not mean it’s better—or even correct. With the convenience of immediacy comes the potential sacrifice of information integrity.   

Searching for free CPE may make sense from a convenience standpoint, but is it worth it when it comes to staying abreast of evolving regulations, laws, and legislation that impact your work and client relationships? Think about it from your client’s perspective: Would you be comfortable hiring a professional who keeps up to date on their certification using search results that lead to free CPE? Would your clients trust and rely upon you for trusted advisory services if they knew the quality and source of your free information? Can you imagine learning your doctor or dentist uses only a general search engine to get free information on how to treat your illness?  

As a tax and accounting professional, your work can have profound impacts on your clients’ livelihoods. Your knowledge and its effect on your client relationships is what drives your reputation and long-term success. Instead of reaching for that keyboard and typing in “free CPE”, consider a CPE subscription package for CPAs and EAs that offers you high-quality CPE that can strengthen your expertise and advance your career. These subscriptions offer access to unlimited CPE courses in different online formats, including self-study courses or webinars, as well as discounts on seminars and conferences. 

From high-quality education to recognized speakers and presenters, a CPE subscription package can not only save you time but can open a world of thought leadership and access to a trusted trove of information on trending topics that help you better serve your clients. Instead of waiting for information to trickle down into the form of free CPE, you can have up-to-the-minute access to courses that reflect what’s happening in the tax world today, right at your fingertips.  

Whether you are an individual learner or a firm looking for options for staff, you can meet your CPE requirements or administer learning for your whole team. With comprehensive subscription packages that meet any budget, you’ll have access to all you need to learn and grow in your profession—and that can have a positive impact not only on your relationship with client, but also on your bottom line.  

Why choose a CPE subscription package?

  • Learn from industry-leading experts. Reliable and trusted presenters provide insightful applications of tax and accounting information. 
  • Wide range of topics. Get access to a robust selection of courses covering taxation, audit, accounting, ethics, professional development, and more. 
  • Flexible learning formats. Choose the format that best fits your learning style – from webinars and self-study courses to live, in-person conferences and seminars. 
  • Save with a CPE subscription. Get all the CPE credits you need for one low price. 
  • Easily track your CPE credits. Meet your reporting requirements with confidence using a CPE tracker. 

To learn more, visit checkpointlearning.thomsonreuters.com 

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