Category Archives: Economics

Dr. Daniel Folkinshteyn Presented on Bitcoin: Features, Security and Scams

The Philadelphia ASA would like to thank Dr. Daniel Folkinshteyn from Rowan University for an interesting and informative presentation on Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies at our January 20, 2021 General Meeting.

If you would like to see Dr. Folkinshteyn’s slides, they are attached here: Bitcoin Presentation PDF.

You may also contact Dr. Folkinshteyn directly via his Rowan University page noted below if you have questions about how to value Bitcoin.

Dr. Folkinshteyn is a professor of finance at Rowan University. The presentation consisted of the following items:

*Overview of what bitcoin is and its strengths and weaknesses

* Safety and security in using cryptocurrency: scams, frauds, thefts

* Blockchain and how it could be useful for things other than cryptocurrency

Dr. Daniel Folkinshteyn received his Ph.D. in Finance and M.B.A./M.S. in Finance from Temple University, as well as a B.A. in Molecular Biology from Yale University. His teaching interests include corporate finance, financial markets, behavioral finance, and cryptocurrency. As a member of the Department of Accounting and Finance at Rowan University, he teaches courses in the undergraduate major. He is also the faculty advisor to the award-winning Rowan Chapter of the Financial Management Association, the Rowan Student Investment Group, the Rowan Cryptocurrency Club, and the Rowan University Gaming Club. His research interests include public debt markets, investor behavior, and cryptocurrency. Prior to joining Rowan University in 2011, he had taught undergraduate finance at Temple University for 4 years.

Education
Ph.D., Finance, Temple University
M.B.A. and M.S., Finance, Temple University
B.A., Molecular Biology, Yale University

September Meeting: Research & Development Tax Credits

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Michael J. Procaccini CPA/Engineer, CEO and Managing Partner of the Algorithm Tax Group, headquartered in Warwick, RI. Mr. Procaccini will discuss “Research & Development Tax Credits.”

Michael holds a B.S. in Accounting from Bryant University and also a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. After working as a Public Accountant, including for a Regional Public Accounting Firm, he founded Algorithm Tax Group to focus on client tax benefit engagements. The firm represents clients seeking tax benefits for R&D Tax Credit, Cost Segregation and Energy Credits. Its hands-on, nuts-and-bolts approach achieves results by reviewing tax returns and performing due diligence during acquisitions, utilization, and other tax matters.

Michael’s talk will draw on his experience of over 15 years and 3000 engagements with clients, CPAs and Enrolled Agents in the USA and Canada. “Battle-tested” by numerous successfully defended IRS examinations, Michael’s understanding of R&D projects, cycles, and expenses is informed by a dual accounting and an engineering background. A business owner and strong advocate for his clients, Michael has a unique perspective to share!

Mr. Procaccini’s presentation is sure to be of value to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, where you can also take advantage of the reduced cost 5-Meeting Plan this month only. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 21, to Executive Secretary Anita Luciani by mail to ASA Philadelphia, 7201 Frankford Ave # 6, Philadelphia, PA 19135-1010 or by email.

November Meeting: The Medical Marijuana Industry in Pennsylvania

The November Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Dr. Jonathan Gusdorff, DO, Medical Director and Managing Partner of the Firefly Dispensaries in south central Pennsylvania. Dr. Gusdorff will discuss “The Medical Marijuana Industry in Pennsylvania.”

Dr. Gusdorff is the rare physician who succeeds both in medicine and in business. After a decade as a practicing neuroradiologist, clinic Director, and Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University Medical Center, he co-founded CareSTAT Urgent Care Centers, which he sold successfully after three years. Today, Dr. Gusdorff is growing Firefly Dispensaries, which serves patients in the Pennsylvania medical marijuana program.

Dr. Gusdorff followed up his B.A. in Psychology from Hofstra University with post-baccalaureate pre-med studies at Columbia University in New York. He earned his DO at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he also served an Internship. After a Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the Bryn Mawr Hospital and a Fellowship in Neuroradiology at the Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Gusdorff worked in Neuroradiology for a decade before co-founding CareSTAT Urgent Care Centers.

Dr. Gusdorff will talk about the market for medical marijuana — who can benefit from using it — about the business model and the regulatory environment, and whether the growing market for medical marijuana will provide a steppingstone to recreational legalization. Dr. Gusdorff’s presentation is sure to be of interest to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, November 9, to Executive Secretary Anita Luciani by mail to ASA Philadelphia, 1229 Chestnut St PMB 232, Philadelphia, PA 19107-4140 or by email.

September Meeting: Minor League Franchise Valuations

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Gary Loewenstern, CPA, CVA, a Principal in the Blue Bell, Pennsylvania office of HBK CPAs & Consultants, a multidisciplinary financial services firm. Mr. Loewenstern will discuss “Minor League Franchise Valuations.”

Gary earned a B.S. in Accounting from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business and was a Partner in Resnick, Amsterdam, Leshner, P.C when it merged into HBK in 2016. He has more than 30 years experience advising small business owners, including: minor league sports franchises, television broadcasters, government contractors, investment advisors, providers of information technology, food services and professionals in many fields.

Gary has represented more than 40 minor league baseball franchises since 1986. His experience with the franchises includes; financial statement preparation, federal, state and local tax services, business valuation, expert witness testimony, budgeting, due diligence services for the buying and selling of the franchises, concession consulting, lease evaluations, internal control evaluations, and more.

Mr. Loewenstern’s presentation is sure to be of value to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, where you can also take advantage of the reduced cost 5-Meeting Plan this month only. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 21, to Executive Secretary Anita Luciani by mail to ASA Philadelphia, 1229 Chestnut St PMB 232, Philadelphia, PA 19107-4140 or by email.

January Breakfast Meeting: Financial Planning in a Turbulent World

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Elijah Dornstreich, a Vice President and Financial Advisor in Bernstein Global Wealth Management’s Philadelphia office. Mr. Dornstreich will talk about “All The Right Moves: Financial Planning in a Turbulent World.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in sociology, Elijah Dornstreich came to Bernstein from Capital Business Partners, which specializes in funding solutions for small-business and retail clients. At Bernstein, Mr. Dornstreich advises individuals and institutions regarding a wide range of financial planning and investment matters, ranging from tax, retirement, and wealth planning, to planning for the sale of a small business, stock and options planning, and pension solutions.

Active in professional and civic affairs, he is a member of the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Bucks County Estate Planning Councils. He serves on the Boards of the AJC: Global Jewish Advocacy, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and Home Front Hearts, a nonprofit serving military families.

Mr. Dornstreich will discuss the factors contributing to the continuing stock market rally — and what could derail it — with a view toward investment and retirement planning. He will show how a rational and systematic approach to retirement planning built on the “right moves” can lead to success, even in adverse markets.

ASA Philadelphia Members: Free
This educational and informative Breakfast Meeting is FREE for ASA Philadelphia Members but requires Registration. Please register early for this Meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA re-accreditation.

Guests: $25
The Breakfast Meeting is $25 for Guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To Pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35.

Please Register or Pay by January 12. Send checks to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

January Breakfast Meeting: Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Samuel M. First , Esq. , Labor and Employment Chair of the Jacobs Law Group PC in Philadelphia. Mr. First will talk about “Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law, Samuel First has over 20 years experience representing private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, he works in several areas including alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, commercial litigation, and corporate and transnational law.

Active in professional and civic affairs — he is Chair of the Board of the JEVS Foundation — Samuel First has written for the Pennsylvania Employment Law Deskbook and How ADR Works, Advising Potential Defendants and lectured widely on topics ranging from “Electronic Documents in Litigation” to “Winning Retaliation Lawsuits in a Post Nassar World.”

Mr. First will “focus on the impact new [Trump era] leadership at the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board, along with the Republican-controlled Congress, will have in reversing the Obama administration’s pro-employee, pro-union agenda.”

Please register early for this educational and informative breakfast meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA re-accreditation.

The Breakfast is FREE for ASA Philadelphia members and $25 for guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by January 13 to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

September Meeting: Hacking Away — Cybersecurity for Businesses Today

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Rebecca Rakoski, Esq., co-founder and managing partner at XPAN Law Group in Philadelphia, a boutique practice focused on cybersecurity and data privacy. Ms. Rakoski will discuss the various types of “hacking” incidents and how to approach and protect your business.

Rakoski Rebecca earned a JD at Widener University School of Law and before that a BS in biology from Washington College. She worked for more than a decade in a large regional firm where she specialized in complex federal and state court litigation, developing a unique expertise in cybersecurity, privacy and electronic discovery. Her presentation will discuss the
differences between the various types of “hacking” incidents, and offer guidance on how to approach and protect against cybersecurity threats. She will emphasize the risks associated with HR data and personal identifiable information (PII), and talk about optimal network infrastructure designs for firms collecting sensitive data.

Ms. Rakoski’s presentation is sure to be of value to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, where you can also take advantage of the reduced cost 5-Meeting Plan this month only. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 15, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

March Meeting: Emerging Economic Trends

The March Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Gary A. Wagner, Regional Economic Advisor of the Corporate Affairs Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Dr. Wagner will talk about “Emerging Economic Trends.”

garywagner Dr. Wagner is responsible for conducting research on emerging regional economic issues and managing legislative outreach for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Third District, which includes eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Dr. Wagner also delivers presentations about the national and regional economy, monetary policy, and the role of the Federal Reserve System. His research interests range from regional economics to state and local public tax structures and from rainy day funds to borrowing costs and pension systems.

Dr. Wagner did his undergraduate work in economics and political science at Youngstown State University and took his Ph.D. in economics at West Virginia University. Before joining the Philadelphia Fed in 2015, he was a Professor of economics at Old Dominion University in Virginia, having previously taught at the University of Arkansas, Duquesne University, and the University of North Carolina. He is the author or coauthor of more than 40 articles and reports, many of which have appeared in leading professional journals. He received the Business Distinguished Research Award from Duquesne, as well as Public Finance Review’s Outstanding Paper Award. From 2013 to 2015, Wagner was a respondent to the Philadelphia Fed’s Survey of Professional Forecasters.

Dr. Wagner’s presentation is sure to be of interest to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, March 11, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

January Breakfast Meeting: A Case Study in Environmental Remediation

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Florin Gheorghiu, Principal of Applied Testing and Geosciences, LLC in Bridgeport, PA. Mr. Florin will present “A Case Study in Environmental Contamination and Remediation.”

FlorinG A Registered Professional Geologist in Pennsylvania, Mr. Gheorghiu holds a M.Sc. in Engineering Geology/Geophysics from the University of Bucharest, Romania. At Applied Testing and Geosciences, he leads multi-disciplinary teams in complex remedial and civil/geotechnical projects around the globe. Widely published — he has contributed to over 20 publications — he is also a frequent speaker on hydrogeology, groundwater control and site remediation.

Please register early for this educational and informative breakfast meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation..

The Breakfast is FREE for ASA Philadelphia members and $25 for guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by January 15 to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).