April 16, 2025 – In a significant move to enhance the skills of accounting and finance professionals, Surgent CPE has unveiled a new lineup of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses. This announcement comes on CPA Day 2025, marking a pivotal moment for professionals aiming to stay current in the rapidly evolving fields of AI, taxation, and cybersecurity.
As the tax season concludes, CPAs are now focusing on meeting their CPE credit requirements. Surgent’s new courses offer a timely solution, with nearly 50 new options designed to keep professionals ahead in their industry.
According to Elizabeth Kolar, Executive Vice President of Surgent, “Understanding the pressing needs of our audience, Surgent is excited to offer a robust selection of timely and practical courses that empower accounting professionals to stay ahead in a dynamic industry.”
The new lineup includes 30 live webinars starting April 22 and 18 new on-demand courses on Microsoft Excel and Power BI, ensuring flexibility for busy professionals. Notably, the courses cover a range of topics, including AI, taxation, and cybersecurity.
Nick Spoltore, Vice President of Tax and Advisory Content, highlights the importance of staying informed post-tax season, especially with new tax laws expected in 2025. “Our tax-focused courses provide essential tools for enhancing practitioner effectiveness and delivering value to clients,” he said.
For professionals navigating the growing influence of technology in accounting, the addition of five specialized courses on artificial intelligence will enhance knowledge and skills in this critical area.
For more information on the new courses, visit SurgentCPE.com.
Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!
The average 30-year mortgage rate slipped to 6.18% just before Christmas, offering a small break from last year’s higher levels. Yet despite the improvement, mortgage applications for purchases and refinances have fallen to a three‑month low as buyers remain cautious. With mixed rate movements, fluctuating Treasury yields, and affordability challenges still weighing on first‑time buyers, the market is showing signs of stability but not momentum. Real estate professionals who stay informed on these shifting conditions will be best positioned to guide clients in 2026.
New CoStar data shows a widening split in the U.S. commercial real estate market, with high-value office towers, industrial hubs and major retail assets posting steady gains while smaller properties in secondary markets continue to lose ground. Premium assets logged their sixth straight monthly price increase in November, boosted by falling interest rates and limited new construction, while lower‑tier properties saw continued price declines and weakening demand.
Microsoft has eliminated long‑standing volume discounts on cloud services like Microsoft 365, Power BI, Intune and Defender, meaning healthcare organizations will soon pay the same price per seat whether they purchase 100 or 10,000 licenses. With the change taking effect at renewal, hospitals and health systems must begin auditing unused licenses, right‑sizing staff tiers, and re‑evaluating digital workflows to avoid major cost spikes. CDW is stepping in with advisory support, cost‑optimization tools, and flexible CSP options to help organizations navigate the transition before budgets tighten further.
America is still short nearly 2.8 million homes, and in 2026 the states driving the bulk of new construction are once again Florida and Texas. With the South producing more than half of all new building permits nationwide, these regions are shaping the future of inventory, affordability, and opportunity. For real estate, mortgage, insurance, and finance professionals, the surge in Southern homebuilding—especially in Florida—signals expanding career potential as new inventory enters the market and demand for licensed experts continues to rise.
A new Redfin report crowns Irondequoit, New York as the nation’s most competitive housing market, with homes selling in just 8.5 days and often above asking. Priced at a median of $249,132, the lakeside suburb is drawing buyers seeking affordability and speed. The surprising lineup of competing markets—from Bay Area tech hubs to Rust Belt metros—highlights a shifting post‑pandemic housing landscape where affordability pressures and regional disparities continue to shape buyer behavior.
Alaska has overhauled its Third Party Administrator licensing rules, eliminating major long‑standing exemptions and pulling many previously exempt organizations into full licensing requirements starting January 1, 2026. Under Senate Bill 132 and Bulletin B 25‑09, TPAs must now review their operations, prepare documentation, and monitor upcoming state guidance as Alaska moves toward stricter oversight and stronger consumer protection.
