PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Today’s finance leaders are making critical decisions in an environment marked by economic uncertainty, evolving tax legislation, and rapidly changing domestic and global policies. From inflation and interest rates to shifting regulatory priorities and international developments, CFOs must stay ahead of the issues that can significantly impact their organizations.
Join our panel of tax professionals for a timely discussion on the latest legislative activity from Capitol Hill and the tax developments shaping business strategy. You’ll gain practical insights into federal, state and local, and international tax issues, along with key considerations for year-end planning and preparing for 2027. Whether you’re focused on managing cash flow, reducing tax exposure, or navigating an increasingly complex tax landscape, this session will provide valuable guidance for informed decision-making.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Understand the latest federal tax policy developments and legislative priorities impacting businesses.
- Identify recent federal, state, local, and international tax law changes that may affect your organization.
- Learn practical year-end and 2027 tax planning strategies to optimize cash flow, minimize tax liabilities, and manage risk.
- Stay current on emerging state and international tax trends to help your organization remain compliant and strategically positioned.
SPEAKERS
Andrew Capistrant | Partner, Tax Services | RSM US LLP
Andy has more than 32 years of experience with the firm, dividing his practice between privately held companies and their owners and private equity relationships. As a tax partner, he advises clients at every stage of the business life cycle, from formation through exit. He maintains a deep focus on evolving federal and state tax legislation and on the planning strategies that help clients preserve and build value.
His industry experience spans professional services firms—including law, architecture and engineering practices—as well as travel services, franchisors, and manufacturers. Andy’s experience includes:
- Complex partnership matters, including specialized allocations, basis step-up calculations and
allocations, and Section 704(c) allocations - Advising clients on the acquisition, sale and restructuring of their businesses
- Tax planning and compliance for ESOP-owned businesses
- Professional affiliations and credentials
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
Education - Master of Science, business taxation, University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business
- Bachelor of Science, business, University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business
Dave Kautter | Partner, Tax Advisory Services Leader, Tax Policy Leader | RSM US LLP
Dave Kautter is RSM’s Tax Advisory Services Leader and the firm’s Tax Policy Leader. In addition, he leads RSM’s Federal Tax Advisory Service Line. Dave is actively involved in thought leadership, webcasts, and strategic opportunities for business development.
Kautter returned to RSM in July 2021 after serving the U.S. Department of the Treasury as its assistant secretary for tax policy from 2017 to 2021. As the Treasury Department’s top tax policy official, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). He also served as acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from 2017 to 2018, making him the only person ever to serve simultaneously as the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for tax policy and the acting commissioner of the IRS.
During Kautter’s time at the Treasury Department, he was the senior government official responsible for implementation of the TCJA. As part of that effort, his responsibilities included updating all individual and business federal tax forms, instructions, and publications; reprograming of all IRS internal and public technology systems; and the issuance of guidance needed to implement the legislation. Over 530 pieces of administrative guidance were issued to implement the TCJA while he was assistant secretary. Kautter also served as a senior advisor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on tax policies in response to the coronavirus pandemic and was the senior government official charged with implementing tax provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including issuance of the first two rounds of economic
impact payments. For his service to the Treasury Department, he received its highest honor, the Alexander Hamilton
Award.
Kautter first came to RSM in 2014 as partner-in-charge of Washington National Tax. As that practice’s strategic and operational leader, he cultivated a proactive, client-oriented approach based on deep technical knowledge, standardized business processes and continuous sharing of technical tax
developments.
Before joining RSM the first time, Kautter was the managing director of the Kogod Tax Center at American University, a nonpartisan research institute focused on tax issues affecting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and middle-income taxpayers. In addition, he served as executive in residence in the department of accounting and taxation at the Kogod School of Business.
Prior to that, he was the director of national tax and the national director for human resource services consulting for a Big Four accounting firm, where he was also the lead specialist in the taxation of compensation and benefits for more than 20 years. He has advised a wide range of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups, on a broad range of tax matters. He also has assisted clients with monitoring, interpreting, and participating in the federal legislative and regulatory process. Kautter has testified before Congress on numerous occasions and served as tax legislative counsel to a member of the Senate Finance Committee early in his career.
Professional affiliations and credentials
-
- American Institute of Public Accountants
- District of Columbia Bar and American Bar Associations
- Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel
- Tax Analysts: Member, Board of Directors
Education - Juris Doctor, Georgetown University
- Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Notre Dame (with high honors)
Rafi Mottahedeh | Shareholder & Co-Chair of Tax Practice | Winthrop & Weinstine
Tax laws are inherently complex and nuanced, and finding the right solution for a client is often a marathon and not a sprint. As an endurance athlete, however, this complexity and the need to “dig deep” is tremendously satisfying. One aspect of my role as an advisor that I enjoy the most is being able to distill these complexities into concise and actionable steps for the clients I serve.
When connecting with my clients, I appreciate being able to draw on my time spent in-house as tax counsel at a major U.S. multinational company. I understand both sides of the coin and am intimately familiar with the impacts of tax advice on the bottom line. Tax attorneys are business partners to their clients, and they must understand their clients’ businesses in
intricate detail. This level of understanding allows me to seamlessly integrate with the businesses I serve and to provide value-added advice to help drive results.
Prior to joining Winthrop & Weinstine, I worked at a large international law firm and later worked as tax counsel at a major U.S. multinational company. I maintain an active pro bono practice. Outside of work, I am an avid marathon runner and triathlete.
Joel Peters-Fransen | Shareholder & Co-Chair of Tax Practice | Winthrop & Weinstine
For me, practicing tax law occupies a sweet spot that combines a high degree of analytical precision and substantial room for creativity and outside-the-box thinking to achieve a client’s business goals. To practice tax law well, a complete understanding of a client’s business objectives and the economic deal at the heart of a transaction are essential, so it also requires a high degree of curiosity and an ability to speak plainly (in a jargon-free manner) with clients. As with most tax lawyers, I feel very lucky to be able to work in an area that is both intellectually satisfying and also produces measurable value for clients.
Tax law also provides me with tremendous opportunities to collaborate. I regularly interact with business stakeholders, executives and leaders, as well as attorneys, accountants, and other advisors, so much so that I often feel like part of my clients’ teams. It’s a role I understand well, having previously worked as a tax counsel at a major U.S. multinational company. I’m able to leverage my past, first-hand experience advising on complex internal restructurings, tax planning projects, and a wide variety of U.S. and non-U.S. tax issues arising from complex international business transactions, to bring value and help drive decision making for my clients.
Outside the office, I am an aspiring multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, bass), very amateur marathon and triathlon competitor, and involved parent to four children.
Amy Valentine | Partner, Tax Services | RSM US LLP
Amy is a partner in the international tax services practice. She focuses on advising clients on a wide range of international tax matters. Specific services she provides include foreign tax credit planning, global structuring, treaty analysis, repatriation planning, Subpart F planning and export incentive strategies.
Amy works closely with large multinational companies to develop a global expansion strategy, ensure global compliance, streamline processes and identify global tax planning opportunities. She was the firm’s national leader for the Section 965 Transition Tax and has experience helping clients navigate the international provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Amy began her career with RSM in 2007, at which time she joined the international tax services practice. She assists multinational clients in the manufacturing, wholesale distribution, construction, real estate and services industries.
Professional affiliations and credentials
-
- Certified public accountant, Minnesota
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
Education - Master of Business Taxation, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Bachelor of Arts, accountancy and business administration, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Joe Wessbecker | Partner, Tax Services | RSM US LLP
Joe leads RSM’s Minneapolis state and local tax (SALT) practice and is the firm’s SALT leader for the industrial products industry practice. He provides clients with strategic SALT planning for various state tax matters, including income, franchise, credits and incentives, sales and use, and other transaction-based
matters.
Joe’s knowledge includes state income tax and sales and use tax audit defense and appeal representation, leading regional efforts to identify and implement refund opportunities, multistate
transaction structuring and planning, due diligence related to acquisitions and dispositions, managing the state income tax compliance process for complex multinational corporations, and individual income tax residency. He regularly advises clients on unitary issues, business and nonbusiness income determinations, nexus studies and voluntary disclosure agreements, and payroll taxes. Joe has presented on a variety of these state and local tax topics.
Prior to joining RSM, Joe was a tax manager with a Big Four accounting firm, focusing on state income and franchise taxation. In that role, he also managed the firm’s Minnesota and North Dakota help desk, serving as an internal and client reference for technical and controversy matters involving those states.
Professional affiliations and credentials
-
- Certified public accountant, Minnesota
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
- State Bar of Minnesota
Education - Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin
- Bachelor of Arts, accounting, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota
EVENT POLICIES AND RESOURCES
Please visit our Events Policies and Resources page for information about chapter leadership, support, CPE, attendance, cancelations and more.
SPONSOR PARTNERS
Thank you to our valued Sponsor Partners. This event is open to members, sponsors, and special guests.
