Spring 2010

San Diego Chapter

Inside This Issue:

Leadership Summit

My ALPFA Story Nuestro Legado

Student Highlights
NEWSLETTER
 ALPFA Page 2
San Diego Chapter Board of
Directors

Message from the Board….. ……………………..

Ed Cavallin
President
Chapter Events-JGD & Associates ……………...
Michael Zepeda
Vice President My ALPFA Story-Michael Zepeda..……………….
Sandy Johnson Chapter Events-Squar Milner..………………….…
Secretary

Luisa Carrasco
Leadership Summit.…………………………………
Treasurer
Student Summary..………………………………….
Isaac Gastelum-Munoz
Director of How to Become a Member…………………………
Communications

Future Events & Board Contact Information……..

Mark Joelson

Co-Director of Events Not a member? Join Today!

Armida Lopez

Co-Director of Events

Tony Lopez
Director of Community
Outreach

Leonel Burrola
Director of Membership

Patty In
Director of Student
Affairs
We would like to welcome our members, sponsors, and
audience to our first Quarterly Newsletter in 2010. This
newsletter is an extension of our ALPFA mission and
value statements and our Chapter’s main communication
channel to expose the ALPFA organization to the San
Diego community at large.

The San Diego Chapter has renewed its Board and fo-
cused its efforts to take the organization to the next level.
As a member of the San Diego ALPFA Chapter, we
would like you to know that our commitment and passion
towards making ALPFA an elite organization has never
been higher. We understand and embrace our responsibil-
ity towards our members, sponsors, and community and
hold ourselves accountable to reach our goals as an or-
ganization.

Inside the Newsletter, you will find a summary of the dif-

ferent events held by our Chapter during the first quarter
of the year. We are proud to communicate we held our
most successful event as a Chapter during the month of
February with our Leadership Summit. This success is
possible thanks to our members and sponsors. We will
strive to continuously offer high quality events for all of
you in which you can realize the value of being a member
of our organization.

We encourage and challenge all of you to become ac-

tively involved with our organization and continue to im-
prove our community. We ask that you spread the word
about our Chapter and bring friends and co-workers to
our social and professional events. In return, we hope you
enjoy our newsletter. We always look forward to hearing
from you.

ALPFA San Diego Board of Directors


With 2009 coming to an
end, ALPFA of San Diego
joined with one of the larg-
est providers of insurance
services, Pac Life, to offer a
presentation on Trusts.
Those in attendance in-
cluded Pablo Palomino from
Legacy apc and Michael
Zepeda from MML Investors
Services, Inc..
Amongst the various estate
planning techniques dis-
cussed, one in particular
stood out to Michael
Zepeda, a financial planner
in La Jolla. Michael dis-
cussed how he has seen the
“…use of CRT’s (Charitable
Remainder Trusts) for the
“As difficult a benefit of a client who had a
subject as it might highly appreciated piece of
be, all parents owe real estate....” This real es-
it to their children to tate property, which was
ensure that they’re purchased several years
ago, no longer served a
well cared for,
come what may. need for the client’s retire-
Parents of special ment portfolio. Thus they
were able to gift the prop-
needs children face
erty into a CRT and“… sell
an even greater
the asset without any tax
imperative to do
consequences.”
this essential
planning.” -Pablo
Gary Pence CLU®, ChFC®,
Palomino
discussed how Trusts often
work hand in hand with
Page 5
JGD & Associates Event
Wills in order to ensure that to help ensure the transfer of
the wishes of individuals are wealth to the next generation
carried out in an appropriate is done in an efficient manner.
manner. In particular, Special
Pablo Palomino an estate
Needs Trusts are developed to
protect a child with special planning attorney in San
needs. The trust will be avail- Diego, mentions “…depending
able for the child’s lifetime on the degree of their disabil-
and/or when family support is ity, they may require special-
no longer available. A concern ized treatment...” however,
for most parents is that in the “…as part of setting up your
event of their passing, they
child’s Special Needs Trust,
would like to ensure the
guardian knows what specific you will provide detailed writ-
medications are needed for ten instructions to direct your
their child as well as the childTrustees’ activities… so you
specific activities that they can rest assured your child’s
enjoy. For example, Trust may education, housing, and other
include that the child’s favor- needs are being taken care
ite movie or TV show before he
goes to bed or the time of day of.” The trust will be available
he/she enjoys playing a par- for the child’s lifetime and/or
ticular sport. In essence, all when family support is no
their concerns can be outlined longer available. It is recom-
in a Special Needs Trusts. mended you speak to a pro-
fessional before taking any
So when is time to sit down
action in your estate.
and discuss an estate plan?
Most professionals recom-
mend that families who hold Tony Lopez
at least one piece of real es- Director of Community Out-
tate should highly consider reach
sitting down an attorney and
financial planner. Financial
instruments such as life insur-
ance and annuities can also be
used along with a Will & Trust
 Spring 2010 Page 6

“I can
remember
MY ALPFA STORY thinking to
myself; this is
was encouraged to submit my ALPFA and NHBA, we are
the most
candidacy for an open board excited our outreach will now
position. In fact, much to my include students and profes- impressive
surprise, the local board of sionals of other financial and group of
directors agreed to change the business disciplines.
Hispanic
chapter by-laws to allow my
I was first introduced to non-CPA candidacy. individuals I
My encouragement to any
ALPFA (then the Association have ever
finance, accounting, or busi-
of Hispanic Certified Public witnessed. “
That same year, I attended the ness student and professional
Accountants) in the late
1998 AAHCPA National would be to get actively in-
1990’s. After 16 years in
Convention. Coincidentally, volved in a local chapter. My
banking, I decided to enter
this was the same year that involvement in the San Diego
the financial services industry
AAHCPA introduced its new Chapter has had a tremendous
and moved my family and
name, ALPFA, and expanded impact on the success of my
practice back to the San
its mission to include finance practice. I have learned a
Diego area. My goal was to
students and professionals. In great deal from the other pro-
establish a successful practice
addition to having the oppor- fessionals I have met and look
focusing on the personal and
tunity of conducting a break- forward to my continued in-
business financial planning
out session, I had the privi- volvement in such a success- “My
needs within the Hispanic
lege of meeting and network- ful organization. encouragement
community. With this goal in
mind, I chose to focus my ing with members of other
to any finance,
marketing and networking chapters. The quality, com-
Michael J. Zepeda, Jr. Vice accounting, or
efforts in the professional mitment, and professionalism
of the attendees were amaz- President, San Diego ALPFA
Hispanic community. business
ing. I can remember thinking student and
to myself; this is the most
Through my networking ef- impressive group of Hispanic professional
forts, I was introduced to the individuals I have ever wit- would be to get
local ALPFA chapter by Bob nessed. I would highly en- actively
Rosario, CPA, who was him- courage both student and pro-
involved in a
self seeking to establish a fessionals to attend the Na-
West Coast presence in the tional ALPFA Convention. local chapter.”
San Diego area. Bob, the The events, networking, and
owner of Rosario & Co., continuing education opportu-
served on the National Board nities are of the highest qual-
of AAHCPA and was founder ity.
and past president of the New
York Tri-State Chapter of
AAHCPA. After several years of inactiv-
ity, I recently chose to again
get involved in the local San
Bob encouraged me to get Diego chapter. I saw in the
involved and introduced me local leadership a desire to
to several individuals who become one of the top His-
later became great friends and panic organizations in the
business associates. I at- area. I am convinced that we
tended the monthly mixers have the right people in place
and educational meetings. As to make a difference in the
an active chapter member, I community. With merger of

ALPFA San Diego opened the
New Year teaming up with one
of San Diego’s finest CPA firm,
Squar Milner. Squar Milner spe-
cializes with middle-market,
public and private companies,
and their owners. Their services
include audit, tax, forensic/
litigation/bankruptcy support,
corporate diligence, planning and
insurance services as well as real
estate and business risk services.
Students of ALPFA chapter
president, Nicole Collazo of San
Diego State mentions Squar
Milner “… have a beautiful of-
fice and the people were so wel-
coming….” Nicole goes on to
Event at Square Milner
mention “…this was the event
we had the most students attend.
It was a great student turn out!”
Mike Shafer, one of Squar
Milner’s brightest CPA’s, pre-
sented on FIN 48. FIN 48 seeks
to clarify the accounting prac-
tices in income taxation specifi-
cally to entities. For example,
several tax methods are often
subject to the individual/CPA
firm’s interpretation for account-
ing methods. FIN 48 calls for a
more detailed approach in report-
ing. Thus, a simple depreciation
schedule may not be so simple
after all, with the development of
Page 7
FIN 48, stricter guidelines along
with the use of measurement
tools may be needed going for-
ward.
So what does all this really
mean? Essentially, with the IRS
viewing financial statements
much closely, entities are going
to be taken a more conservative
approach on their books. Being
too aggressive on accounting
methods will definitely increase
the changes of being audited.
Spring 2010 Page 8
 Page 9

Professionals Helping Build the Leaders of Tomorrow

On February 11, 2010 San Diego ALPFA successfully launched its first Leadership summit at the Mis-
sion Valley Resort. The theme for this inaugural event, “Professionals Helping Build the Leaders of To-
morrow” set the tone for the evening where over 75 professionals and students were present. A diverse
group of distinguished business leaders served as panelists answering questions that were relevant for
both students and professionals. The panelists included:

 Carmen Herrera, Director, Diverse Business Enterprises - Sempra Energy Utilities

 Paola Hernandez, Publicity Manager - ABC 10 and Azteca America San Diego 15
 Gabriel Marquez, Assurance Services Partner - Ernst and Young, Los Angeles
 Roberto Vargas, Financial Planning Specialist - Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Ms. Armida Lopez and Panelist
Mr. Roberto Vargas
Panelists provided important insight on what characteristics have been most important in achieving suc-
cess in their respective fields. Gabriel Marquez emphasized the importance of “being visible” and not
afraid of being recognized for one’s achievements. Roberto defined success as being purposeful in how
one approaches projects and said that life learning should continue. Carmen expanded on how being a
team player has led to her success and Paola brought up confidence and humility as key components to
one’s success. The momentum that was sparked on this event will continue to future events and San
Diego ALPFA thanks all who attended. We would especially like to thank our sponsors Union Bank,
“My most memorable Robert Half and PricewaterhouseCoopers for their support.
moment was the
discussion around
mentors, how much
of an impact mentors
had on each of the
panelists both as
students and in our
professional careers,
and how important it
is for us to be a
mentor for someone
else as we continue
to progress in our
careers.” – Gabriel
Marquez, Panelist

Ed Cavallin introduces our panelists

ALPFA Board and Panelists: (l to r, Paula Hernandez, Tony

Lopez, Armida Lopez, Roberto Vargas, Ed Cavallin, Susan
Pace, Carmen Herrera, Leonel Burrola, Gabriel Marquez,
Mark Joelson, Isaac Gastelum-Munoz, Michael Zepeda)
Students of ALPFA
 Page 10

Membership Information
MEMBERSHIP RATES:

Become a paid member and take advantage of the many benefits that Professional Membership
ALPFA has to offer. As ALPFA continues to grow, so do the benefits
$120/ year or $300 for 3 years
and opportunities. Membership benefits and development opportunities
include: Requirements:
Any person who shares our values, mission, and
Membership Benefits principles; and,
One-year subscription to Hispanic Business Magazine holds a minimum of a baccalaureate degree, or its
Professional & Student Career Fair & Expo international equivalent in accounting or finance
Major discounts on the ALPFA 2008 National Convention related majors; or,
in Orlando!
holds an equivalent professional certification in an
Subscription to our National Newsletter, La Cuenta
accounting or a finance related field
Local Chapter Networking Events, Receptions and
Programs
Serve on Local/Regional/National Boards and Committees
Recruitment Opportunities for Employers
Access to Job Postings
Continuing Professional Education Courses (CPE)
Scholarship, Mentorship, and Internship
Opportunities
Access to Assistance Programs for Higher
Education

Personal Development
Leadership Skills
Presentations and Public Speaking Opportunities
Team Building
Community Service

Professional Development
Management Skills
Diversity Awareness and Training

Business Development
Business Mixers
Marketing and Networking Channels
Resource Portal
 Page 11
UPCOMING EVENTS

To register for the event above or more information regarding future

events, please visit our website at http://www.alpfasandiego.org.
ALPFA is the leading professional association, consisting of 34 chapters in 34 cities in 19 states and our nations
capitol. ALPFA is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for Latinos in the accounting, finance and related profes-
sions. ALPFA is a not-for-profit entity registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Membership is open to anyone
who shares our values, mission, and principles.

ALPFA is the proud successor of the American Association of Hispanic Certified Public Account-
ants (AAHCPA), the first national Latino professional association in the United States. Established in 1972, this As-
sociation continues to build upon our proud legacy of shared values and guiding principles.

Upon this bedrock of shared values, the Association's visionary founders launched an ambitious mission that they
pursued over the course of thirty years. Committed to its shared values and to its mission, the Association flour-
ished, expanding its base of operations to fifteen chapters nation-wide with several more in formation

As heir to this rich legacy, ALPFA's current Board of Directors, with the support of the Corporate Advisory Board,
is innovatively addressing the challenges that lie ahead by promoting the highest standards of excellence for itself
and for its members. ALPFA advances into the 21st century as an experienced professional association dedicated to
enhancing opportunities for Latinos in the accounting, finance and related professions.