A solid password today keeps the hackers away

With identify theft becoming one of the world’s fastest growing crimes, days like World Password Day are crucial to raising awareness of online threats. I sat down with Jay Overcash, Director of IT Security Strategy, to talk about how people can protect themselves from hackers.

Why is a day like World Password Day so important?

As more and more of our lives move into the digital realm, we rely on authentication to protect our valuable online data and assets.  Usernames and passwords remain the predominant method for securing online data.  World Password Day is important as it draws attention to the need to adequately protect online data with a strong password.

Summer reading list

It’s that time of year: trips are being planned, office cubes seem emptier than normal and social media is flooded with pictures of vacation spots. But, nothing says summer to me like relaxing with a good book, so I joined forces with my colleagues to present you with a collection of books for your next trip or staycation.

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
You don’t even have to be a history buff to become fully engrossed in this novel. It’s a remarkable story of one Jewish family who – torn apart by World War II – fought for survival without knowing if they’d ever see each other again. The most unbelievable part is it’s based on a true story. While the topic is a tad heavier than a typical beach read, I couldn’t put this one down!
Sonia Bauer, Senior Manager - Corporate Communications & Public Relations

A Father’s Day wish list

First celebrated in 1910, Father’s Day is a day that goes far beyond greeting cards. It’s a day everyone honors fathers and all that they do for us. Whether it be advice, help from a handyman or just a hug, they deserve to be celebrated.

We asked CPA dads what they’re hoping to receive on their special day. Here’s what they said:

A Mother’s Day wish list

Mother’s Day is a time when everyone comes together to celebrate the women who gave us life. It’s an opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the love, advice and support these women offered us throughout our lives. We asked CPA moms what they are hoping to receive on their special day. Here’s what they said:    

Kentucky Derby - it’s more than just the hats

It’s that time of year again. The Kentucky Derby is back, and people from all over the world are coming together to watch the race. It’s an exciting (and expensive) day. This year, ten racehorses were purchased for more than $300,000 each. In fact, one horse had a price tag of $3 million.

All of the owners certainly are hoping for the $2 million purse — and many of the viewers are hoping for their own payday. The Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest betting events of the year, drew a record $209.2 million in wagers in 2017. So, what if all those dreams of instant wealth come true?

Blast from the Past: Lessons Learned from #AdviceAt25

Look back at your 25-year-old self — what would you tell her or him? Would you share career wisdom? Life advice? What’s the one thing you’d share that could impact a young person? 

Earlier last week, we asked our social media audience what advice they would share with their younger self using the hashtag #AdviceAt25. Here’s what they said:

Naveed Hussain

“Pave your own way, don’t lose yourself trying to be and look like others.”

Lisa Hastings

“Be brave! Hurdle yourself forward and ask for help along the way. Make the ask specific – an introduction, critical feedback – and cast a wide net of people in your circle.”

Dan Griffiths

“Invest even more energy into building a network. It's much like saving for retirement. Small investments made early on can pay huge dividends down the road and it requires huge investments later in your career to make up for a failure to make the small investments when you're just getting started.”

5 Lessons Learned From CPAs #FirstSevenJobs

Earlier this month Twitter user Marian Call, a singer-songwriter, started a viral trend when she tweeted her first seven jobs. Since then, social media has been all abuzz with users reminiscing about their #firstsevenjobs.

There’s no doubt that every job someone holds will teach them some kind of lesson. First jobs in particular teach those lessons in tough ways. To find out what lessons CPAs have learned, we put out a call for responses on social media; here’s what we heard.

Rand Gambrell

First seven jobs: Draftsman, McDonald’s Cook, Bus Boy, Wendy’s Cook, Bus Boy, Retail Sales, Hotel Sales Manager

Lesson learned: “No matter what your occupation or profession, perform your job to the best of your ability. People always recognize excellence.”

Backstage Pass: EDGE Experience

Often times, in-person conferences are the best time to get updates on industry news and to learn new things. The EDGE Experience, the premier career development event for young CPAs, focuses on building young professionals not only technically, but with soft skills as well.

Yesterday, Stacie Saunders, Senior Manager of Social Business at the AICPA, sat down with three CPAs to talk about how they began a professional strategy on social media. Saunders began the conversation by saying “most of us started on social media for personal reasons, but as you start to use it you can see how the benefits can cross over into a professional space.” So, how does one begin to use social media professionally?

As a special treat for AICPA Insights readers, we listened in and pulled tips and tricks for some of the most common questions surrounding social media.