Plenty of CPAs can say they learned something from Sid Kess, who died last week at age 97. Some earned CPE credits from a Kess conference session, others read his book, and some learned simply how to treat other people.

Kess was passionately devoted to the profession; he continued serving on conference planning committees well into his 90s. As recently as 2022, Kess was honored with others in the profession at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE. The specific award given then to Kess was the Stanley H. Breitbard Personal Financial Planning Division Lifetime Achievement Award. It is one of many such honors, not that Kess was in it for awards.

In 2016, he received a separate PFP award. In 2011, he received the AICPA's highest honor. In 2010, an award related to continuing education was named after him. That's the way it was for Kess, who devoted his life to the profession.

This episode of the JofA podcast shares more memories of Kess, dating back 50 years.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• Background information on Sid Kess, who died last week at age 97.
• What Kess taught Marty Finn about relationship-building at conferences.
• David Lifson’s surprise that Kess remembered him from a meeting that occurred at least 10 years earlier.
• Julie Welch’s memory of when Kess suffered broken bones just before an AICPA video session but carried on. 
• AICPA & CIMA CEO Barry Melancon’s early dealings with Kess.
• Why Melancon said that “you hated to disappoint” Kess.