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Freelance Forum: Freelancers: Get Your House in Order! (It’s Our Version of Fall Clean-up)
October 1, 2015 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$10 – $15Did you have a crazy, busy and overscheduled summer? With no time to get organized? Now that clients are back from their vacations and the kids are back in school, it’s time to get your house in order and restore your peace of mind.
To achieve that, help is on the way with three financial and legal EXPERTS we’ve invited to speak! These experienced professionals will help you get back on track financially, prepare for your family’s future and provide ways to ensure you grow your business wisely. Our trio of panelists includes:
CHRIS SMITH, CPA: Taxes get more and more complicated every year. Factor in client and personal demands, and you could easily feel overwhelmed just at the thought of tackling taxes! Chris will discuss tax planning for 2016, deductions, controlling cash flow, choosing the right legal entity for your freelance business, etc.
ALLISON BYRD, Attorney: Do you have a plan for your family in case something happens to you? Or maybe you’ve been grappling with a difficult or non-paying client. Allison will help you understand the best ways to manage your changing life circumstances, discuss estate planning, wills/trusts, legal issues and much more.
CARLOS ZAVALA-DIAZ, Banker: Nearly every freelancer goes through growth spurts (“I have more work than I can handle, maybe it’s time to hire”) and tough times (“How am I ever going to survive these slow-pay clients?”). Carlos will offer valuable advice on how to address freelance and small business concerns regarding savings, investments, business loans, retirement and other critical issues.
About our panelists:
CHRIS SMITH is a certified public accountant and owner of CB Smith & Associates. With more than 20 years of financial experience, Chris offers accounting services, tax services and management guidance to small and midsize businesses. Since founding his full-service accounting firm in September 2003, Chris has grown the company to nine employees. He is the current treasurer of the Rotary Club of Lanier-Forsyth and is an active member of the Atlanta CPA Alliance, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce. www.cbsmithcpa.com
ALLISON BYRD has been practicing law in Georgia for over two decades. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families safeguard their financial futures and the care of their loved ones through customized estate planning delivered with exceptional and compassionate service. Allison is also an arbitrator and a registered mediator in the State of Georgia. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and the Atlanta Bar Association. www.allisonbyrdlaw.com
CARLOS ZAVALA-DIAZ has been a Business Specialist/Personal Banker at Wells Fargo Bank for nearly a decade. A self-described “active champion for small business,” Carlos is a skilled portfolio manager, profiling customers to determine their needs and provide the appropriate products, services and other in-house expertise. Services include investments, credit analysis, loans, customer retention and more. www.wellsfargo.com/biz/
See you October 1!
*The Creative Circus is located at 812 Lambert Drive, near the intersection of Cheshire Bridge Road and Piedmont Road, in northeast Atlanta. Depending upon your route, you can access Lambert from either Cheshire Bridge or Piedmont. The building is at the end of Lambert, which jogs to the right past the concrete plant. Need a landmark? Barking Hound Village is just across the street from the school.
Enter The Creative Circus building through the doors on the raised patio bordered with blue fencing — NOT the first main entrance. You must sign in at the front desk. Then proceed down the hallway to the presentation theater on the right (sign is above the double doors).