Author: David R. Peters, CPA, CFP, CLU, CPCU
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the South Carolina CPA Report
“Awareness.” That was my response to a recent interview question where I was asked what the most important skill was these days for finance leaders. I think I caught my interviewer off guard. She seemed flustered for a second and slightly confused. I rescued her by going further and explaining that I didn’t think any one singular skill makes a finance leader thrive in today’s world. This is not to say that the classic skills of a CFO, like analytical skills and objectivity are not important. Quite the opposite. These skills are vitally important in a world where information comes at us faster and faster each day. Knowing what is out there to enhance those already important skills, though, is what will put one ahead. The problem becomes getting your head around everything that is out there.
During my sessions at Spring Splash, we are going to be looking at two very familiar topics to CFOs: managing the assets of the organization and data analysis. However, instead of tired discussions on 60/40 portfolios and pivot tables, we are going to discuss new trends and how technology can help enhance these areas.
Knowing the Terms: Advanced Digital Asset Concepts
Digital assets are no longer a niche topic—they are increasingly intersecting with investment planning, accounting standards, tax compliance, and regulatory oversight. This session provides a practical, structured overview of today’s digital asset landscape, helping financial professionals move beyond headlines and develop a working understanding of how these assets function, how they are regulated, and where they may (or may not) fit within a portfolio.
If you are confused by all the terms around virtual currency, you are not alone. We are going to spend some time defining virtual currency and digital assets, clarifying how cryptocurrencies, tokens, and other blockchain-based assets differ from traditional investments. We will also examine how regulators approach digital assets, including the contrasting perspectives of the SEC and IRS, and why classification matters for accounting and tax purposes.
We will then explore the major categories of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and blockchain-based tokens. Special attention will be given to distinguishing between assets designed primarily as stores of value, payment mechanisms, or platforms for decentralized applications. Understanding these distinctions is critical for evaluating risk, volatility, and long-term use cases.
If you are thinking about utilizing digital assets in your company portfolio, we cover that too. We discuss the importance of appropriateness and suitability, why speculation in the digital asset world is so dangerous, and how to apply traditional financial planning frameworks, including risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and tax considerations, to the digital asset world.
Beyond investing, the session highlights the expanding role of smart contracts and tokenization across industries. Use cases span financial services, real estate, supply chain management, healthcare, insurance, and intellectual property, demonstrating how automated execution can reduce friction, increase transparency, and improve efficiency.
Finally, the presentation addresses accounting and tax implications, comparing GAAP, IFRS, and IRS guidance. Topics include fair value accounting, inventory treatment, taxable and nontaxable events, NFTs as collectibles, and recent IRS clarifications—areas where misunderstanding can create significant compliance risk.
Simply put, attendees gain a balanced, practical foundation for understanding digital assets as an evolving component of corporate strategy—grounded in regulation, accounting, and real world application rather than hype. It is asset management and enhancement, but with an eye toward what is ahead—not looking back.
Knowing How: Data Analytics Using AI
By now, we have all heard about how AI is supposed to make our working lives more efficient. However, if you are like me, you are struggling to see how exactly to apply this technology in any useful way to the tasks that you do every day. In this session, we are going to explore how AI changes our ability to mine and utilize data.
The discussion begins with the explosive growth of global data and the increasing investment companies are making in analytics and AI. As data volumes, velocity, and variety continue to expand, traditional tools and manual analysis methods can no longer keep up. AI is not just a productivity booster—it is rapidly becoming essential to navigating the scale and complexity of today’s data environment.
Then we will dive into how AI is reshaping data analytics in practice. We examine how machine learning and generative AI accelerate data preparation, enable natural language querying, uncover anomalies and fraud, and support predictive and prescriptive analytics. Rather than replacing human judgment, AI acts as a force multiplier—freeing analysts to focus on interpretation, strategy, and business impact instead of manual data wrangling.
However, AI is not without its problems. The session explores common pitfalls such as AI hallucinations, overreliance on automated outputs, weak prompting, bias amplification, and model drift. These challenges highlight why governance, domain expertise, and “trust but verify” thinking are critical when deploying AI in analytics workflows. We will talk about how to write better queries and where the technology falls short. We won’t just discuss the problems; we will look at what we can do about them to manage risk. We will develop actionable guidance on improving AI prompts, strengthening data integrity, and building a culture that treats data as a strategic asset rather than a byproduct of operations.
If you’re responsible for turning data into decisions—and want to understand how AI can help you do it faster, smarter, and more responsibly—this session will give you both the framework and the confidence to lead the way.
All of this is to say that these sessions at Spring Splash will bring the familiar responsibilities of the CFO role into sharper focus. We will reframe classic skills, like asset management and analytics, through an informed, forward-looking lens—grounded in awareness of what’s next rather than comfort with what’s always been.
Required SEC Disclosure
Financial, investment, and estate advisory services offered through Peters Financial LLC. Brokerage and custodial services offered through Charles Schwab Co. Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. Peters Financial LLC and Charles Schwab Co. Inc. are not affiliated. David Peters also offers tax services through Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting, PC. Other than being under the same ownership, Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting, PC and Peters Financial LLC are not affiliated and clients or prospective clients of one are never obligated and receive no financial compensation or discount for using another.
