Press Releases

Free Service Helps Consumers Cope with Struggling Economy

PHILADELPHIA – An unstable economy generally translates into a flood of questions from concerned consumers on how the critical events on Wall Street will affect them. Members of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) can help consumers understand the issues.

           PICPA’s free Ask a CPA online service allows consumers and small business owners to submit financial questions and get answers from CPAs. People are encouraged to visit www.picpa.org/askacpa to submit their general questions on personal finance, tax, and small business. Whether the consumer wants to know if banking institutions are safe, how to set up a budget, or the taxation of investments, PICPA is your source. Your question may already be answered. More than 300 questions and answers are posted and organized by category.
           
           Many consumers are understandably concerned about what will happen to their money in the wake of the drastic economic downturn. These consumers, luckily, are not without resources. Ask a CPA is both a free outlet to post questions, and a resource to help navigate through this murky economic cycle.

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Contact Jim DeLuccia, communications administrator, at (267) 675-6255, or Kathleen Miller, communications manager, at (215) 972-6188, to set up an interview with a CPA or e-mail mediaresources@picpa.org.

Founded in 1897, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants is a professional association of more than 19,000 CPAs who work in public accounting, industry, government, and education. PICPA is the second-oldest state CPA organization in the United States. To find a member CPA in your area, visit our Web site at www.picpa.org and click on CPA Locator. Students and educators can visit PICPA’s specially designed site www.CPAzone.org to get the latest information about careers in accounting and the CPA profession.