Andrea was going along in life with a loving family, good friends, a home that filled her with peace, and a dog she adored. She had fulfilling work with a 20+ year career as a CPA financial planner and had the pleasure of working with people from all walks of life. Then, something shocking happened. Without warning, someone she was deeply connected with passed away suddenly at the age of 53. Her world was shaken apart. 

The shock of unexpected loss made her want to know more about her purpose and live a more meaningful life. The realization hit her: for the most part, she had been working her life away; sometimes driven by passion and sometimes by a desire to meet the standards and expectations of others. Looking back, she realizes that this gave her a great escape to avoid getting out of her comfort zone and taking risks in other areas of her life.

It was time for something more, so she embarked on a deep dive with enriching books, master teachers, and enlightening people who were seeking purpose, meaning, and intention in their lives. She found the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, where she learned how to create a compelling life plan for herself and others while earning the Registered Life Planner (RLP®) credential. She also honed her coaching skills and received a credential through the Fearless Living Institute and continued the pursuit of lifelong learning with the Academy for Coaching Excellence. She has also studied with the Financial Transitionist Institute to support clients in transition, couples, and families.

As a result of her exploration and learning, she has more joy in life and has learned to feel fear and do it anyway, giving her the courage to take the leap to create her passion business. Self-care and health are now integrated into her daily life. She has deeper and closer relationships with the people important to her (including her dog), and is more focused on enjoying the present moment.

Now, with clear and renewed meaning, she helps clients fulfill their own life goals by helping them align their money, time, and energy with their purpose. Often, this involves helping them overcome the things (sometimes themselves) that keep them from bringing their life’s vision to fruition. She walks the talk in her own life and alongside them in the coaching process.

We're saddened by the passing of our Executive Advisor and friend Sidney Kess. Sid was an inspiration to us all, an unrivaled leader in the profession, and the torch bearer for excellence in CPA education. 

Join Scott Zarret, CPA, as he explores the remarkable life and lasting impact of Sid Kess, a trailblazer in the world of accounting and Continuing Professional Education (CPE). Sid Kess was not just an educator; he was a visionary who transformed the accounting profession through his passion for knowledge, mentorship, and genuine human connection.

click here to watch the video

In 2019, Sidney Kess, CPA, J.D., LL.M., was named as an Advisor to CPAacademy.org. Mr. Kess was recently selected “Most Influential Practitioner” by CPA Magazine, and is a nationally renowned tax expert and author/coauthor of hundreds of tax books on financial and estate planning.  Having lectured to more than 1,000,000 practitioners on tax, financial, and estate planning, Mr. Kess is one of the nation’s most prominent lecturers on continuing professional education.  Mr. Kess is also Consulting Editor of CCH Incorporated’s Financial and Estate Planning Reporter. In addition, Mr. Kess was Chairman of the Advisory Board of Tax Hotline and is a member of the PPC Tax Action Panel.  He has edited a column on “Tax Tips” for the New York Law Journal for the past fifty years.

Mr. Kess was editor of the AICPA’s CPA Client Bulletin and CPA Client Tax Letter.   He has written hundreds of AICPA tax workshops, audio, and video programs, and is the recipient of the AICPA Distinguished Lecturer Award.  Mr. Kess is often quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other national publications.  He was included in Accounting Today’s, “100 Most Influential CPAs in the U.S.” for several years, as well as CPA Magazine’s, “Most Influential CPAs in the U.S.”  Mr. Kess was the National Director of Tax at KPMG Main Hurdman and a tax partner at KPMG Peat Marwick.  Mr. Kess is the recipient of the AICPA’s “Special Recognition Award” for his many years of contributions to the AICPA’s continuing professional education program and was elected to the Estate Planning Hall of Fame by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils for his distinguished service to the field of estate planning. He is also the recipient of the AICPA’s Gold Medal Award, which is the highest award in the accounting profession.  Most recently, he received the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award.

The AICPA established the Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education, to recognize individual CPAs who have made significant and outstanding contributions in tax and financial planning and whose public service exemplifies the CPA profession’s finest values and ethics.  Sidney Kess was the first recipient of this Award.  Mr. Kess was inducted into the New York State Society of CPA’s Hall of Fame.  He received his B.B.A. from Baruch College, his J.D. from Harvard University School of Law, and his LL.M. from New York University Graduate School of Law.

Click here to read THE SID KESS APPROACH: 60 Years of Best Practices in Tax, Education, Careers and Life: Published by the AICPA