Enhancing tax compliance and research with CCH® AnswerConnect at Zell Family Office

Solutions with CCH AnswerConnect

The implementation of CCH AnswerConnect addressed
the firm’s needs in the following ways:
​

• Building advisory services
  Susan Schwolow emphasized that CCH AnswerConnect played a pivotal role in expanding the skill sets of both junior and senior staff. Its intuitive
  interface enabled the entire team—regardless of experience—to engage
  in tax planning confidently. This enhanced the firm’s ability to provide
  tailored planning services to families while staying ahead of evolving tax laws.
  “Paperless is where the extreme efficiencies occur, but going to a cloud base
  just made everything that much easier,” she said. “And it’s all integrated.”

• Staying on top of tax planning changes
  The platform provided Zell Family Office with streamlined summaries and
  efficient search capabilities. Its user-friendly tools resembled familiar
  search methods, making it easy to access critical information at their
  fingertips. This improved the firm’s responsiveness to tax law updates.
• Adapting to a changing research landscape
  Susan observed significant improvements in the efficiency of tax research
  compared to previous methods. The platform allowed conversational searches
  and streamlined filtering of results, making the research process far more
  functional and time-efficient than traditional, rigid search systems.
• Simplifying user experience
  CCH AnswerConnect fostered confidence among junior team members by
  offering a user-friendly design. Staff members, especially younger employees,
  adapted quickly to the platform’s clear navigation and precise search tools.
  This significantly reduced the intimidation associated with complex tax
  research platforms, allowing seamless access to crucial information.

Outcomes

1. Enhanced skill development: Staff members, regardless of experience, successfully expanded their capabilities, fostering professional growth.
2. Proactive compliance: The firm efficiently tracked and implemented changes in tax law.
3. Improved efficiency: Tax research became faster and less labor-intensive, increasing overall productivity.
4. Empowered team members: Junior staff gained confidence in conducting tax
   research independently, contributing to a cohesive and agile workforce.

Conclusion

By integrating CCH AnswerConnect, the Zell Family Office transformed its approach
to tax compliance and research. The platform’s simplicity, functionality, and adaptability
empowered the entire team to stay ahead in a constantly evolving tax landscape.