You, Too, Can Read the Code

5 (1 vote)

“The Code” is not a secret code. Often when planners hear of tax code sections, they have a working knowledge of their content but have rarely read the actual code sections. Instead, we may read an IRS publication or simply do a web search for terms, read others’ commentary, and run with this “knowledge” as authoritative. You are encouraged to crack the Code, meaning open it up and read it for yourself.

Mark L. Prendergast

MS, CPA, CFP®, CDFA®

Mark Prendergast is the Director of Tax Strategies at Inspired Financial, a comprehensive financial planning firm in Huntington Beach, California, where he heads up the divorce consulting department. He is a practicing CDFA®, CPA, and CFP® and has given numerous continuing education presentations for a variety of organizations, including the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), California Society of CPAs, Wealth Counsel, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

He started his career with the international accounting firms Ernst & Young (then Ernst & Whinney) and Price Waterhouse having attained the position of tax manager. He is married to Evelyn Zohlen, the 2019 president of the Financial Planning Association, who is also the founder of Inspired Financial.