Gene Marks

As President Trump marks one year into his second term, familiar challenges—tariffs, elevated costs, and ongoing labor shortages—persist, even as fresh opportunities and renewed momentum for business growth emerge. Ongoing regulatory changes continue to reshape the landscape, while tax reforms signal potential advantages for strategic, forward-thinking organizations. Higher interest rates are affecting financing and expansion, sticky inflation is pressuring margins, and our growing national debt is creating long-term challenges for the economy and for business leaders.

Meanwhile, AI continues its transformative role across industries, bringing both risks and unprecedented potential for efficiency and innovation. The “Silver Tsunami” is accelerating, making succession planning more critical than ever as experienced leaders transition to the next generation.

What are some of the smartest and most experienced business leaders doing to drive growth, sustainability, and profitability beyond 2026 amidst all of these challenges? What changes are they making in their operations and cash management? How are they attracting and retaining talent? What technologies are they investing in? How are they addressing both federal and local regulations that are impacting their businesses?

In this fast-paced, entertaining, and highly valuable session, Gene will share real-world, practical strategies and tactics that smart leaders are using to navigate an uncertain economy, a shifting and often divisive political climate, and the complexities of technological and workplace decisions—positioning their companies for sustained growth and success in the face of change.

After Gene’s presentation, audience members will be able to:

• Track the economy effectively using lesser-known but impactful economic metrics based on real-life data

• Stay informed on congressional initiatives that will directly affect your industry

• Implement proven tactics to retain top employees and attract new talent, even during these times of tight labor

• Leverage financing, market opportunities, and tax planning strategies to maximize profits and ensure sustainability

• Apply the latest estate, wealth management, and succession planning strategies for long-term business success

• Adapt to AI and emerging technologies with real-world examples of industry-specific tools transforming workforce productivity

You’ve read about ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Nvidia, Einstein and other
AI tools that will be changing the way we work, both in the short and longer term. As a
business leader you want to leverage this technology to increase both productivity and
profits. So what should you know now? Where should you be investing?

During this fast-moving, informative and entertaining presentation, Gene Marks, a
Forbes Technology columnist and CEO of The Marks Group, a technology consulting
firm, will share his thoughts on the biggest technology and AI trends that will affect your
industry in the near and long term and help you make the right investment decisions.

Gene will cover the following topics:

• An overview of artificial intelligence, what it means and how it works;
• A discussion of how ChatGPT, Gemini, Anthropic and other generative AI products can be used right now to generate sales, improve customer service and increase productivity in your workplace;
• A deep dive into both current and future specific use cases of AI technology that businesses should know about;
• A few essential (and cool) AI apps that will increase productivity for your team;
• The latest updates from Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and other technology providers that are used by sales teams and professionals;
• Advice for tightening up your company’s data to fully leverage automation tools and an update on the latest security tools and processes for protecting your data;
• Advice for preparing your team for future AI developments;
• An update on risks, policies and considerations for deploying AI tools in your business

As President Trump begins his second term, familiar challenges like rising costs and ongoing labor shortages persist, alongside fresh opportunities and renewed momentum for business growth. New regulatory policies are reshaping the landscape, while tax reforms signal potential advantages for strategic, forward-thinking organizations. National debt and deficits remain areas of concern, but businesses prepared to adapt will find unique paths to thrive.

Meanwhile, AI continues its transformative role across industries, bringing both risks and unprecedented potential for efficiency and innovation. The “Silver Tsunami” has arrived, making succession planning more critical than ever as experienced leaders prepare to transition to the next generation.

What are some of the smartest and most experienced business leaders doing to drive growth, sustainability and profitability beyond 2025?

What changes are they making in their operations and cash management? How are they attracting and retaining talent?

What technologies are they investing in? How are they addressing both federal and local regulations that are impacting their businesses?

In this fast-paced, entertaining and highly valuable session, Gene will share real-world, practical strategies and tactics that smart leaders are using to navigate an uncertain economy, a shifting and often divisive political climate, and the complexities of technological and workplace decisions to position their companies for sustained growth and success in the face of change.

During this presentation, Gene will cover some of these topics:

• Key economic trends and metrics and the strategies smart companies are using this year to navigate inflation and supply chain issues;
• An update on congressional initiatives that will impact your industry;
• Tactics that forward-thinking leaders are using to not only retain their best employees during a downturn but to attract new talent;
• Cash flow moves managers are making now to ensure they have adequate reserves for the downturn;
• The latest technologies that are attracting investments from small and mid-sized companies and which are helping to keep overhead low and profits growing.

The average age of the U.S. small business owner is about 53 years old, which means that many will be looking to transition from business owner to retirement in the years to come.

But what’s the best strategy for you? What are the considerations for passing your business down to family members? What options do you have for selling your company? How should you best prepare your company — and your finances — to best take advantage of today’s tax and business laws?

Join “The Succession Advisor” Columnist for Accounting Today and Certified Public Accountant Gene Marks for a fast paced, entertaining and informative discussion where you will better understand your best succession actions you should be taking that benefit yourself, your
family and others connected to your business.

During this presentation, Gene will cover the following topics:

• How the 2017 tax reform will impact your business structuring and life insurance planning.
• The latest estate planning developments from the recent year that affect business owners like yourself.
• The key issues in transitioning a business to family members or key employees while providing for financial security.
• The most important retirement and estate tax considerations you should be taking into account to ensure that your income will be maximized for the years to come.

Whether you’re a financial person or not, this presentation is critical for your business. Why? Because taxes represent the biggest expense you have in your organization and personally. Minimizing your tax expense will free up capital to invest, hire and save. Knowing the tax breaks and incentives that you can use will help you defer the costs of bringing on great people and growing your business.

The 2017 tax reform legislation is coming to an end. Many of the provisions are expiring in 2025. Which means that the clock is ticking on more than a few deductions, credits and other benefits that can have a significant impact on your business. How do you plan for this now? What can you do before the end of 2025 to maximize your tax savings and minimize your tax expenses? What changes can be expected and how can you prepare?

Join author, columnist and CPA Gene Marks for a fast paced, entertaining but very detailed discussion of how tax reform will affect you, your company and your employees. During this lively presentation Gene will cover the following topics:

• What provisions from the 2017 Tax Reform Act are expiring and what can be expected to continue?
• The organizational structure that’s right for your business;
• New energy efficiency and vehicle tax credits to leverage in your business and personally;
• Moves to lower taxes on your compensation;
• Property and equipment investments that qualify for tax breaks;
• Special employee related credits to help reduce the costs of compensation and benefit plans, including healthcare;
• An update on tax rates, rules and strategies for your company’s retirement plans;
• Tax considerations when exiting your business;
• Key questions you should be asking your accountant.