Administrative and Content Development Policies

Administrative Policies

Record Retention Policy

The CPA Trendlines Academy (Thomas Advisors LLC d/b/a) retains the following information associated with individual attendees. Separate files are created and retained for five (5) years from date of participation. These files consist of attendance, date attended, level of participation, response to required polling questions (3 per CPE hour), instructor and associated licenses, course title and description and CPE credits earned. Relevant data is used to electronically generate a Certificate of Completion for each participant, per NASBA recommendation.

Additionally, aggregate reports showing overall course title, description, delivery, attendance, date presented, polling questions, are generated by the hosting platform and retained for a minimum of five (5) years.

Each participant is asked to complete an evaluation form hosted by a third party research vendor https://research.typeform.com/to/cb0lVbL9 . The evaluation form is structured per NASBA recommendation.

Promotional materials are created, generated and archived at a third party ESP (Email Service Provider)

Refund Policy

We will grant refunds no questions asked any time PRIOR to webinar start time. Please email us at admin@cpatrendlines-academy.com to request a refund, and we will process it within one business day.

There are no refunds if you missed the webinar because of unanticipated business interruptions, mistaken calendar notation, miss reading the relevant time zone start time,or didn’t read our policy ahead of time. There are no refunds if you failed to comply with NASBA rules of attendance and participation and consequently did not receive CPE credits or IRS CE credits.

Please note if you cancelled via the GoToWebinar software, we are not notified. Therefore, you must email us at admin@cpatrendlines-academy.com to request a refund.

Rescheduled Courses

If a course needs to be rescheduled, we will notify participants of the rescheduled date immediately via email or phone. We will offer the option to attend the course at the revised time or request a refund prior to the start of the revised course. Participants must notify us of their request for a refund via email, and the refund will be promptly processed.

Course Cancellations

If a course needs to be cancelled, we will notify you immediately via email or phone. You will receive a full refund for your order with our profuse apologies.

Complaint Resolution

Participants should submit complaints to Thomas Kothman, Director of The CPA Trendlines Academy d/b/a Thomas Advisors LLC, via email at admin@cpatrendlines-academy.com or via telephone at 910-742-0108. We will respond within five (5) business days.

Course Update Policy

We take reasonable measures to ensure that course materials contain the most recent publication, revision, or review date. Courses are revised as soon as feasible following changes to relative codes, laws, rulings, decisions, and interpretations. All learning content are developed by individuals who have represented to have expertise in the subject matter. Courses in subjects that undergo frequent changes will be reviewed by a subject matter expert at least once a year. Other courses will be reviewed every 2 years.

Content Development

Effective Date: October 5th, 2025

Program content and knowledge level. 

The CPA Trendlines Academy publishes promotional material (email, social media, etc.) specific to each program instance. The materials will clearly articulate the program content and level so that participants can accurately assess whether the program is appropriate for their development needs. Program knowledge levels will consist of the following: basic, intermediate, advanced, overview and update. All programs identified as intermediate or advanced will clearly identify prerequisite education, experience, and/or advanced preparation, if any. 

Content and delivery system(s). 

Course materials will contain the most recent publication, revision, or review date, where applicable. Courses will be revised as soon as feasible following changes to relative codes, laws, rulings, decisions, interpretations, etc. Courses in subjects that undergo frequent changes will be reviewed by a subject matter expert yearly or more frequently as needed. Programs that do not undergo changes will be reviewed at least every 2 years.

The course delivery system will be a state-of-the-art digital interactive platforms, such as GotoWebinar or Zoom for Group Internet based programs and will be reviewed and maintained by the CPA Trendlines Academy. Such platforms will allow for measurement of attendance, engagement and additional material as required by the subject matter or as offered as part of the promotional material.

Content is developed by a subject matter expert and reviewed by qualified people who not part of the development team. 

All learning programs will be developed by individuals who have expertise in the subject matter. Expertise will be demonstrated through practical experience, authorship of published content and/or education. At least one active licensed CPA will participate in the development of every program in accounting and auditing and taxes (and all other fields of study) developed for CPE purposes. Programs will be reviewed by qualified persons other than those who developed them. These reviews will occur before the first presentation of these materials and again after each significant revision of the program. Each program reviewer’s professional biography will be maintained for a period of not less than 5 years.

Content is based on relevant learning objectives and outcomes. 

All programs will contain relevant learning objectives and outcomes that clearly articulate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be achieved by program participants. These objectives will be clearly articulated in course specific promotional materials distributed prior to each instance of the program, thus allowing participants to accurately assess whether their specific development needs will be met.