April/May 2021 Sax BUZZ

THE BUZZ

MESSAGE FROM JOE DAMIANO

Team, As we near the end of our extended busy season, I want to personally thank each and every one of you for all your efforts in getting our work done right for our clients. I wish to extend the firm’s gratitude to your families and support systems for their patience and sacrifices this busy season as well.

With every tax season comes its own unique set of challenges, and this year was no exception. However, having the right team in place during these obstacles makes all the difference, and you – our team – are the main components to our success.

As a small thanks for your hard work this year, we will be closing the office on Friday, May 21st to give you a much-deserved respite. This applies to all team members, and we ask that you code your time that day to #9801 – Holiday.

We look forward to seeing you at our Post-Busy Season Happy Hour on May 19th. It should be a great event and a way we can come together for some laughs.

Again, thank you for your hard work and dedication to Sax and those we serve.

All my best,

FIRM ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sax has been named to Accounting Today’s 2021 “Top 100 Firms” - coming in at #95 and moving up 3 spots since we debuted on the prestigious list last year.

Learn More Here

A Message from IT

For folks that plan on coming back to the Parsippany office, please email the IT team at support@saxtechnology.com. From there we can schedule and arrange time to assist with the setup of your workspaces.

Please bring any equipment (monitors, keyboard, mice, docking station, cables, etc.) that you may have brought home for your home setup.

Angelo Straface was named an Officer of the Surety Association of New Jersey.

Angelo will serve as Meeting Coordinator with a 5 year commitment to the Board.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RECENT WINS (April 5 - May 5)

TOTAL WINS YTD

TOTAL RECURRING WINS YTD

$2,459,750

$1,994,000

NEW CLIENT WINS

ENGAGEMENT TEAM

Asian American Sourcing Alliance Inc. Vue Health Insights

Warren Wu Elliott Koplitz

Traycon Parts and Distribution LLC

Frank Centrella

AF Bennett Spa Inc

Angelo Straface

Vertican Technologies 1700 Miami Operator, LLC The Pulmonary Group

Joshua Chananie Stephen Ehrenberg Sue Reed

HUMAN RESOURCES

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest member of our Sax family.

Jerome Fusco Managing Director Leader, Investment Banking Effective May 3, 2021

The following employees are no longer with the firm. We wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Steven Tillie

Tax Intern | Parsippany | 4.16.21

Alejandra Gracias

Tax Intern | Parsippany | 4.16.21

Allan Arce

Tax Intern | Parsippany | 4.16.21

Siobhan Morrissey

Tax Intern | Parsippany | 4.16.21

Cindy Bauer

Finance Temp | Parsippany | 4.23.21

2021 Performance Review Timeline

May 21

All Engagement Evaluations must be completed in Halogen.

May 24 - May 28

Self-Review forms and Upward feedback completed.

May 31 - June 9

Performance Managers write reviews.

June 9 June 9 - June 23

Reviews must be completed in systems.

Meetings (Managers and Above)

June 23 - July 2

Performance Review Conversations, Discuss 2021 Goals

June 23 - July 2

Compensation Planning

July 2 - July 12

Deliver compensation adjustments and bonus (eligible)

July 1

Effective Date of Salary Adjustments and/or Bonus (eligible)

New Sax Employee Directory!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Employee Directory as a key resource for team member information in one centrally located system. This includes team members’ contact information, job titles, office location, specialties and more.

As Sax continues to expand, especially while working remote, we understand how important it is to be able to easily navigate our different teams, have access to the contact information and different expertise of our team members, and put faces to our growing team.

Check out Sax’s new Employee Directory here.

A link to the Employee Directory can be found on our Sharepoint’s homepage demonstrated in red on the following screenshot:

We hope you enjoy our new Employee Directory, and that you leverage it to build better working relationships with our team members.

Great Cards Felicia Jackson did a great job helping with billing.

Anytime help was needed, Felicia immediately answered emails and trained individuals on how it should be done. She took time out of her busy day to help every time it was needed. We sincerely appreciate everything she does for Sax. Elena Klarberg stepped up and put in countless hours for the Real Estate group. She scheduled, trained, delegated and reviewed most of the tax returns in order to meet a very tight client deadline.

She really has been working hard on engagements to make sure all of the work is done timely. We thank her for her hard work and her commitment to top notch client service Margaret Henn is a true asset to the firm. She takes initiative and shows professionalism in all aspects of her work. She reaches out to individuals to ask how she might help. She helps and creates communications that are distributed internally and externally. Her response is always quick and on point. She is always a pleasure to work with and makes everyone else’s job much easier. We are so grateful to have her on our team!

Great Cards We landed a new client mid-busy season. Ella Valdes and Daniel Lubat jumped in and got the work prepared and reviewed in addition to their busy work loads. They even took the time to bring on and train first year associates to help out where needed.

Ella and Daniel stepped up and didn’t question or complain and did everything with a smile. They both showed excellent client service and commitment to Sax. We truly appreciate their hard work and results delivered. Thank you!

PRESS RELEASE Sax has officially announced the launch of Sax Capital Advisors, which adds an Investment Banking Practice to the firm’s robust portfolio of service offerings, and expands Sax’s existing Transaction Advisory Practice.

Sax Capital Advisors will specialize in assisting clients with selling or acquiring a business, preparing for sale, raising capital and/or restructuring the organization.

To lead the firm’s Investment Banking Practice, Sax has brought on Jerome Fusco as Managing Director, effective May 3, 2021. Jerome Fusco brings over 15 years of experience assisting clients in all industries and across the spectrum of financial analysis, investment banking, credit analysis, corporate financial planning, debt and equity raising and business development. In his new role at Sax, Jerome will oversee investment banking initiatives with a concentration on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and other advisory services that address the long- and short-term goals of middle market businesses.

PRESS RELEASE Sax is proud to unveil its newly redesigned website as the firm celebrates its 65th anniversary serving high-net-worth individuals and the business community within our largest vertical markets.

After more than six decades as accounting, tax and business advisors, Sax brings its website into the future to showcase its full portfolio of what the firm can offer and features a streamlined design, improved navigation, and functionality. The new Sax website features a more modern feel and is in line with the firm’s emphasis on value and sophistication, assisting as a meaningful resource to those the firm serves by providing easy-to-access, up-to-date information relevant to their states and businesses.

Sax’s new website will be updated on a regular basis with industry news, regulatory changes, essential client information, and corporate milestones.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the website to learn more about Sax and to stay informed on information relevant to them.

Check it out!

Sax's new TAKE 5 with SAX podcast, hosted by Todd Polyniak & Craig Cassano, was created so our clients can press pause on their busy work days and leverage the expertise of Sax’s resident experts who provide important things to know NOW on topics that matter to their life and business.

Topic Focus: Investing Release Date: 4.27.21 Special Guest: Marie DeCaprio, CFA®, CFP® Partner, Sax Wealth Advisors

Listen Here

Topic Focus: Technology Release Date: 4.12.21 Special Guest: Carl Van Dusen President, S2 Technology Solutions

Listen Here

Topic Focus: Paycheck Protection Program Release Date: 3.29.21 Special Guest: Stephen Ehrenberg, CPA, MBT Partner, Sax Recovery Task Force

Listen Here

Topic Focus: E-Commerce Release Date: 3.16.21 Listen Here

Special Guest: Joshua Chananie, CPA Partner, Leader of M&D

Topic Focus: Employment Law Release Date: 3.02.21 Special Guest: Randi W. Kochman Chair of Employment Group, Cole Schotz

Listen Here

Topic Focus: Estate Tax Release Date: 2.15.21 Special Guest: Joy Matak, JD, LLM Co-Leader, Trusts & Estates

Listen Here

April

New Sax Employee Directory!

Anna Malafis Anna joined the Sax team after the merger with The Hunter Group in 2017 and serves as a Manager. Her responsibilities consist of assisting clients with day to day issues, running audits & reviewing engagements, helping staff, and training them when possible - something she truly enjoys.

Alec Marceles Alec joined the Sax team as an Intern in 2017 and was hired as an A&A Associate in 2018. He was since promoted to Senior Associate. Daily, Alec completes audits and reviews work for Sax’s Construction clients.

He is currently studying for his CPA exam and plans to attend grad school once he passes.

Read more about Anna and Alec in our Q&As here.

Beginning Friday, May 28 (Memorial Day Weekend) and ending Friday, September 3 (Labor Day Weekend), team members are able to participate in Sax's Summer Fridays!

(1:00 p.m. dismissal) All work must be completed and hours must be made up Monday-Thursday. Staff is still required to complete a minimum 37.5 hours a week to be eligible.

HAPPY HOUR RAFFLE PRIZE BASKETS You have 10 virtual tickets!

Email marketing@saxllp.com by Tuesday, May 18 with the prizes you wish to take a chance on!

Raffle Prize #1: Margarita Machine

Raffle Prize #2: Snow Cone Maker

Raffle Prize #3: Cornhole Set

Raffle Prize #4: Tommy Bahama Set

Raffle Prize #5: JBL Speaker

Raffle Prize #6: Yeti Cooler

APPLICATION WINDOW NOW OPEN! Sax is thrilled to once again offer local non-profits the chance to apply for and win a $15,000 unrestricted gift to support their organization’s mission through the firm’s beloved Founders’ Award.

If you know of a non-profit that should apply, please pass the application package found below for them to submit by July 30, 2021.

2021 Founders' Award Application Package

For questions, we invite you to watch our webinar presentation that discussed this year’s Award theme, application timeline and more.

Watch it here.

April Birthdays We'd like to wish a happy birthday to the following team members who celebrated a birthday in April.

Kathleen Rutch

April 1

Massiel Rojas

April 1

Rachelle Brown

April 2

Victoria Salge

April 3

Joseph Damiano

April 4

Adam Apidopoulos

April 5

Jennifer Tosi

April 9

Amanda Malko

April 15

Nicole Sinatra

April 18

Diana Djuric

April 23

Suzanne Yang

April 25

Missy O'Shea

April 29

Peter Calicchio

April 30

May Birthdays We'd like to wish a happy birthday to the following team members who have and will celebrate a birthday in May. Matthew Bernocchi Luting Zhao Alexandra Celentano Gayle Boeckstiegel Laura Splendoria Ruki Lawal Robert Syme Adam Carcione Keysha Kennedy Ryan Alexander Barbara Pannullo Lawrence Gradzki Marqus White Zachary Adler Andrew Blahut Mathew Giordano Jennifer Moroz Sadchit Desai Schoenstani Gil Jessica Gutierrez

May 1 May 2 May 4 May 10 May 13 May 15 May 15 May 16 May 16 May 17 May 17 May 22 May 22 May 25 May 27 May 29 May 29 May 30 May 30 May 30

COVID-19 RESOURCE CENTER

Now is the time to help our clients prepare for the road to recovery. With changes constant and released guidance ongoing, lean on Sax's Resource Center to stay in the know with the most recent updates.

LOAN PROGRAMS

TAX ALERTS

BUSINESS RESOURCES

WEBINARS

NJ, NY UPDATES

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

SAX'S "WALL OF SUPPORT"

These are trying times for us all as the question of when we will resume “business as usual” is surrounded by uncertainty. In an effort to assist our clients when they need it most, we have created a “Wall of Support” which includes a number of organizations who could use our backing.

We encourage you to explore to see if there is a way you can lend a hand, whether that be by utilizing their services or donating to their cause.

If you have a client that would like to be included on our “Wall of Support,” please have them email covid19@saxllp.com with their company logo (.png, .eps, .ai, or pdf format) and the proper URL where to direct supporters.

Did you know that our Parsippany office has a TerraCycle Recycling Station?

In an effort to move towards zero waste, our Parsippany office is a site for TerraCycle's national recycling program. Instead of discarding things like light bulbs, corks, bottle caps, pens/pencils/markers, coffee capsules and oral care, we encourage you to take advantage of our office's drop off location for these items so they can be recycled appropriately. Our recycling station can be found on Floor 1.

Together we can build responsible habits and make a positive difference on our environment.

Click here for an example recycling program you can do from home!

Read more about TerraCycle here.

ANYTHING TO ADD? Email marketing@saxllp.com