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We asked NJCPA emerging leaders what major factors influenced their decision-making processes in their careers and what advice they would give to other young professionals. Here are their responses.

The NJCPA Scholarship Fund has awarded $188,000 in scholarships to 44 New Jersey high school seniors entering college and current college students.

Estate planning is complicated enough, particularly if a taxable estate is equal to or less than the federal exemption. It's important to also avoid double taxation.

Social media does not replace referrals or networking. It supports them by keeping your voice in front of prospects, demon­strating expertise and opening the door to conversations.

Beyond signaling expertise and credibility, earning a CPA license opens the door to a wide array of career opportunities across public accounting, corporate finance, government and beyond.

There are several audit considerations to keep in mind as consolidation and mergers and acquisition activity continues in the retirement industry. Discussing these with plan sponsors and fiduciaries ahead of time can help.

The combination of stablecoins and AI does not simply digitize existing processes. It creates an entirely new financial environment. Payroll becomes dynamic. Payments move at the speed of the internet.

If you rely on AI for deterministic processes without supervision, you are gambling. The only defense is a strict policy of “trust but verify.” Never copy-paste AI output directly into a deliverable.

Forensic accounting in criminal court is where numbers meet the law. For CPAs, understanding this intersection not only broadens professional horizons but also reinforces the value they bring to clients and the justice system.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made several key changes affecting those with federal student loans or pursuing this option in the future. This has been a highly debated topic.

As part of an initiative to address the needs and challenges of small firms and sole practitioners, the NJCPA hosted three roundtables in the fall. Everything from hiring interns to software upgrades was discussed.