It’s Your Future, MACPA Wants You to Know What’s Happening
As the future of the accounting profession, the MACPA wants to make sure you know what is on the horizon for the profession. Join us May 9 at the Lansing Center in Lansing for the 2007 Spring Members Advisory Forum to hear about pressing issues affecting your prospective profession. Topics that will be discussed include the replacement of the Single Business Tax, mobility and its implications, and the latest on Michigan’s financial crisis. Plus Barry Melancon, president and CEO of the AICPA, will discuss the profession from a national prospective. You do not want to miss this informative update. As a student member, there is no charge for this event. To register, either go online, and enter in the promotional code SRACCOMP during the checkout process, or send in the registration form on this brochure and enter in the promotional code SRACCOMP where it says "Please Register Me For The". If you have a friend, who is not a member, but would like to attend the forum, please contact  David Johnson at 248.267.3700 or djohnson@michcpa.org.
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Are You Ready to Take the Uniform CPA Exam?
If you are feeling a little apprehensive, the MACPA has the resources you need to feel confident. The MACPA offers students an easy-to-follow CPA Exam and Certification Requirements brochure. This brochure highlights the major elements you will need to know when pursuing your CPA license including education, examination and experience. There are also helpful tidbits about the CPA exam and licensing requirements available on the MACPA web site. For more detailed information about the Uniform CPA Exam and Licensing Requirements, please contact the Michigan State Board of Accountancy.
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Volunteer for the MACPA Accounting Blitz
This is your chance to educate the young people in your community. For the past seven years the MACPA has partnered with Junior Achievement (JA) to host the MACPA Accounting Blitz. As a volunteer for the MACPA Accounting Blitz, you will spend a day in the classroom teaching kindergarten through ninth grade students the basics of business. JA will provide all the training and materials necessary to ensure you are a success. Volunteering for the MACPA Accounting Blitz is a great resume builder, plus you will gain real-life experience that you will not get anywhere else. Dates available to volunteer in Detroit are May 8th from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm or May 18th from 7:30 am to 1:40 pm. You can access a volunteer form on the MACPA web site. For more information contact the MACPA membership department at membership@michcpa.org or call 248.267.3700.
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Advice from a Professional
Jepharya L. Badie
Greater Michigan Diversity Leader, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Michigan State University
Seven Years in the profession, primarily as a state and local tax profession

Jepharya Badie began college wanting to become a lawyer, but decided to become an accountant out of her love for tax law. She said, “This is a very respected profession and your clients view you as a trusted and strategic advisor. Also, you have so very many career paths and doors that become open to you because of your experience as a CPA.”

Badie on Staying Committed to Becoming a CPA
“It's a goal that can be achieved through diligence and hard work. Don't let the quantity of the material ‘psych you out’. Also, take the exam BEFORE you start your career. You'll have more of an opportunity for focused study and the material you learned in school will still be fresh in your head,” said Badie.

She added, “The CPA certification is a testament to the world of your hard work, as well as your competency as a professional. It demonstrates to others that you have the tenacity and analytical acumen necessary for this arena. It also generates respect in the corporate world.”

Badie on Taking the CPA Exam
She recommends taking a review course. “It helps make you accountable and keeps you on track with your studying. Also, figure out how you study best and stick to it,” she said. Badie mentioned that flash cards are a great way to prepare for the exam because writing concepts down helps commit them to memory.
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Feed the Pig™ Podcasts Offer Money Saving Tips for Young Americans
Feed the Pig™, a national public service campaign of the AICPA, the state CPA societies and the Ad Council, is launching a free podcast series to help 25 – 34 year olds take control of their finances. The first five episodes will cover Managing Your Student Loans; Buying Your First Home; Paying Down Debt vs. Saving for the Future; Filing Your Taxes; and Compulsive Spending. The first podcast is now available online. Visit the Feed the Pig page on the MACPA web site to read more about the campaign and view the television commercials.
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Survey: Young Taxpayers in the Dark on Tax-Related Benefits
A new survey finds young taxpayers report lowest use of medical FSAs, employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. They are more likely to give their employers a failing grade in helping them become tax savvy, and they are least likely to favor President Bush’s proposed standard tax deduction for health insurance. Meanwhile, their older colleagues aren’t doing all that well either in taking advantage of tax savings. The survey of 1,290 U.S. adult taxpayers, commissioned by CCH and conducted by Harris Interactive®, found that many taxpayers are not taking full advantage of basic tax-saving strategies and those 18-24 years of age are the least likely to be doing so.
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