Background

Steven D. Handler's background includes comprehensive experience at America Invsco, a company offering broad, fully integrated capabilities that span traditional and alternative asset classes. Mr. Handler built a history of reliable performance rooted in strong investment quality, risk awareness and a continuing emphasis on thoughtful innovation. For example, he put together the company's first consolidated financial statement, bringing together over 300 separate legal entities. This required the demonstration of both aggressive accounting methodology and systems knowledge. Such knowledge and dedication are the attributes that he uses to help international business conduct operations in the United States.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Steve Handler's deep experience with a vast array of businesses enabled him to open up his own CPA firm in 1982. After 15 years of continuous growth, he merged in 1997 with Michael Silver, where he is currently a partner.

"I help my international clients through the maze of business in the U.S.," Mr. Handler says modestly. "My clients are successful companies in their own countries; however, they are looking at the United States as the best buying population in the world."

And they are right. But the United States is a large audience - so large, in fact, that many resident businesses find their markets often elusive. One client recently described his market conditions as changing so fast it was like "quicksand."

"I can serve as the guide to avoid the pitfalls of 'quicksand,' and my services include how to properly select and use an attorney... help with networking, whether establishing proper banking relationship or an advertising or insurance firm... assistance in leasing office or production space," Handler says.

"As treasurer for a prominent European American Chamber of Commerce, I have developed a unique accounting system that best meets the reporting needs of the chamber. It reports income and expense by program event. The reports are both detailed and summarized. Also as treasurer, I successfully went through the tedious process of obtaining not-for-profit status. If your chamber would like my assistance with such matters, please contact me."

PERSONAL ATTENTION

"What differentiates my service from competitors is the amount of hands-on involvement I have in their business," according to Mr. Handler. To that end, he gives them quick responses. For example, normal turnaround on financial statements in the U.S. is by the end of the following month. The typical turnaround time for international companies is five to eight business days after the end of the month.

Timely in reporting, Steve Handler offers personal attention to each business, and a wide range of services, including:

  • income tax advice and structuring
  • mergers and acquisitions consulting
  • long-range planning
  • short-range tactical planning
  • traditional financial statement
  • unique accounting packages
  • database programming

Often serving as a source of education for his clients, Steve Handler understands the differences between doing business outside the U.S. and doing business in the U.S..

HANDLER BENEFITS

Steve Handler's clients learn realistic expectations of the U.S. marketplace. Because of his "hands on" approach, they learn to properly budget and access capital needs, and are immediately made aware of and protected from U.S. tax traps (such as the transfer pricing area - request our white paper).

CASE HISTORY: THE WRONG EMPLOYEE

One company hired employee to be their sole employee in the U.S. Almost immediately, problems began to emerge with that employee. After the first six months, the company's patented product began being duplicated "mysteriously." The problem was a common one with international businesses seeking to penetrate the U.S. marketplace: there was no one here, in the U.S., to supervise the employee. In the course of one year, this company's U.S. strategy had turned from opportunity to nightmare.

Steven D. Handler helped them solve this problem. He helped the company develop the right solution strategy and worked closely with appropriate legal counsel to resolve the legal matters involved in this complex situation. We helped the company bring over their own "home grown" employee to the U.S., assisted that employee in leasing an automobile, finding a residence, and did all that was necessary to make the transition a successful one. The patent-infringing company backed off when threatened by legal action.

Our studies - as well as other studies in the industry - have demonstrated that the main source of fraud is a company's own employees. This is especially exaggerated when coming to a different country, where numerous variables also complicate the temptation to compromise trust.

Steven D. Handler has helped companies avoid such compromises by participating and developing stringent internal controls.