*Note: CPAs may specialize in different areas. Be sure to check credentials and service offerings.*
If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
*Tip: Organize your documents in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.*
*Note: Preparation helps you make the most of your CPA’s expertise.*
*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
12522 Moorpark St
Studio City, California 91604
My experience with Barbara Bergstein was very positive. She is knowledgeable, professional, thorough and kind in handling sensitive matters. I highly recommend her for your legal needs.
Barbara was so helpful with putting together my mom's trust. She was kind and so sweet to my aging mother.
What can i say about Barbara Bergstein? She is the BEST! Barbara came into our lives during a very difficult time. My father was aging quickly. Dad needed the comfort and guidance of someone he could trust. Barbara came to us through a warm referral. We were told Barbara had the skill to work with seniors. Barbara?s level of compassion, caring, and ability to listen, are only a fee things that put her at the echelon of her profession. Without question Barbara was the perfect fit. Dad met one on one with Bar
Sometimes you are lucky enough to strike gold and thats what happened when I reached out to Barbara Bergstein for creating my living trust. She makes everything so easy to understand and not complicated. Trustworthy, honest and a fellow dog lover. I fell like Barbara has my back !
My wife and I have recently dealt with Barbara to help update estate documentation for a family member, she is truly fantastic! Very patient with all our questions and explained everything wonderfully to make sure we understood everything, no complicated legal jargon, simple and straight to the point. She had everything sorted out for us so quickly, she must be a machine. We absolutely loved her, would definitely recommend!
I have never been happier to write a review! Barbara is everything that you could possibly want in an estate planner. She is kind, communicative, understanding of circumstance, extremely intelligent and the absolute best in her area of practice. We came to her with two confusing, unusable Trusts that were written and filed by a paralegal at We the People. She was patient and helped us navigate our way out of that mess, and created a Will and Trust that we are extremely happy with . She walked us through ev
We were looking for an attorney to setup our family trust and Barbara was referred to us. Barbara has years of experience doing this and she is only doing estate planning, there are firms who do this as another service but we need an attorney who is only focused on estate planning. Her price is very reasonable when compared to other law firms. Barbara is very nice to work with during the setup process and she promptly respond to any questions that may arise during the trust funding process. We highly recomm
Barbara has been truly wonderful advising me and my father through the process of setting up trust accounts and estate planning. She is thorough, smart and kind. She is always very fast with her responses and really puts up with no nonsense when dealing with people who don't have our best interests in mind. Cannot thank her enough!
My mom, my sisters, and I cannot thank Barbara Bergstein, ESQ. enough for the work she did as my mom?s estate planner. Barbara is professional, compassionate, highly knowledgeable, and dependable. We shared our goals. We discussed our options. Barbara answered any and all questions we had with insight, clarity and patience. As a result, she was able to provide the best solution to fit my mother?s specific circumstance, needs, limitations, and timeline. Barbara walked us through what actions needed to be tak
We feel we were extraordinarily lucky to have been made aware of Barbara Bergstein and her practice. I initially visited her regarding advice related to a Trust, shortly after my mother died. I, literally, immediately felt so comfortable with Barbara that I made arrangements to further consult with her, this time regarding/redoing my husband's and my Trust. It was so effortless getting in touch with Barbara via email, with even the seemingly most insignificant of questions, and she always responded immed
I recently needed to create a living trust and other estate planning documents. I have met with several attorneys over the years, having to do with other people?s estates, and all of them were men. I knew that I wanted a woman attorney, so I did my research, checked reviews, and compared services and rates. When I met with Barbara Bergstein, I found her to be knowledgeable, understandable, and responsive, answering all my questions quickly. I had let Barbara know that I hoped to get my documents finalized b
I was lucky to have found Attorney Barbara Bergstein on Google. I was looking for an attorney close to where I live, who specialized in setting up Trusts. Oh my, did I find a gem in Barbara. She not only set up a Trust for me and my partner, but also executed our wills and advanced health care directives. Additionally, she guided us through changes to our property ownership status that will save us a lot of money in estate taxes. In the process of dealing with our property, she found and corrected issu
When I decided to have a trust drawn up, I knew I needed skilled help because I had a child with disabilities. I found Barbara online, and I will never regret it. Not only did she have a full grasp of the applicable law, but because she herself had been "special needs' mom, she was totally empathetic with my needs. Barbara proved to be more than an attorney. She is a warm, caring human being who has the ability to put herself in your shoes. I highly recommend her.
Barbara is a God send. After speaking to several trust attorneys and being oversold on complex estate planning, I found Barbara to have an easy going and no-nonsense manner, patiently answered questions, delivered creative and not unnecessarily complex solutions, and sincerely looked out for my own interests. I highly recommend her!
Barbara created both my mother's trust and our trust. Barbara is very specific and concise in how she produces the documents, asking pertinent questions and answering the questions we had. Her knowledge of trust law made us feel very comfortable to work with her. It was a pleasant experience. I would highly recommend Barbara to other perspective clients.
Barbara Bergstein is a fantastic lawyer. She is familiar with all documents required for the formation of our trust. In addition, she was very compassionate when dealing with sensitive personal decisions. I recommend Barbara to all my friends and family!!
LOVED working with Barbara on my Will/Estate/Trust. She is so nice to work with, super smart and thought of everything needed to make sure my children are taken care of. I have a special needs trust and she is an expert in that area. Best of all, she worked within my budget so I was able to get everything done so I can now relax. I put this off for years and I am so glad I was able to work with someone who made the process easy and was so nice. You will love her and the work is outstanding. She even gav
Estate planning can be difficult, emotional, and unpleasant. Barbara Bergstein provided me with professional and gentle guidance allowing me to complete this essential task for the benefit of my family. As dynamics change and revisions to the estate plan become necessary, I'm grateful to have Barbara in my corner to help direct me with the complex decisions.These important matters require a careful, precise and knowledgeable advocate to ensure the details are in place so plans are clear and definite. This
Barbara provided excellent counsel and service to our family for which we're extremely grateful. She is HIGHLY recommended.
Barbara is extremely well-versed in all aspects of trust law, and is especially compassionate and sensitive to issues regarding special needs trusts. It was a pleasure to work with her and we would highly recommend her to anyone with such a need.
Barbara Bergstein is absolutely professional, well experienced in the nuances of complicated legal details, and a pleasure to work with.
I'm very happy to recommend Barbara Bergstein..a friend for over 40 years. Most of all a very competent estate planning attorney and a pleasure to work with on a professional basis. In my life insurance work I deal with a number of estate planning attorneys and Barbara was the one my wife and I selected to do our estate plan. Paul Glass
For 20 + years I have found Barbara Bergstein most professional, attentive and taking personal interest in the challenging task of creating a Trust. In addition, she is always available for educating the client on updated laws that apply to your Trust documents.
My entire family has used Barbara Bergstein. She was referred to me and I was very happy with everything about my experience getting my Family Trust taken care of by such a professional. I highly recommend her.
After consulting several attorneys, I went with Ms. Bergstein because of her ability to explain everything so clearly and her natural ease which made the whole process of planning for my family's future so comfortable and reassuring.
Very thorough, professional and personable. She made the trust process seamless. Highly recommend.
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.