James
E. Stiles
Certified Public Accountant
Personal
Data
James
E. Stiles was born and raised in South Jersey. He graduated from
Palmyra High School in 1963 and Drexel University in 1968.
From
1969 to 1971 he was assigned to the US Army Finance Corps at Ft.
Lewis, WA and Seoul, Korea. Drafted into the service as an E-1,
he rose to the rank of E-5 in just fourteen months.
Education and
Work Experience
Jim
attained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through
Drexel University's five year cooperative education program. His
pre-graduation work experience included almost two years of intern
assignments with Main Lafrentz & Co. in Philadelphia (now
part of KPMG). After returning from the military, he passed the
CPA exam immediately thereafter in May 1971 while working with
Main Lafrentz. In 1975 he was promoted to audit manager. In December
1977 he moved to the Monterey Peninsula to become the Controller
and Vice President for First Federal Savings and Loan of Carmel.
In 1981, after First Federal was acquired by a large Northern
California financial institution, Jim was asked to join Monterey
Savings, which was later acquired by Coast Federal Savings. In
1984 he opened his own practice as a CPA and on October 1, 1985
joined William P. Cater to form Cater & Stiles CPA's, Inc.
Jim
has extensive audit and tax experience with clients in various
industries with specialization in auto dealerships, food manufacturing,
banking, thrifts, insurance and education. During the last few
years he has primarily focused on estate planning issues and tax
returns. He works closely with other professionals in the estate
planning area. Jim has given a number of seminars on estate planning
and charitable giving.
During
the last ten years he has obtained over nine hundred hours of
continuing education credits including over five hundred hours
in estate planning. In 1998, he obtained professional accreditation
from the Estate Planning Certificate Program sponsored by the
California Society of CPAs.
Professional Associations
and Community Service -
Past and Current
Member,
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Tax Division
Member, California Society of Certified Public Accountants
Monterey Kiwanis Club - six years
Treasurer, Forest Theater Guild - four years
Treasurer, Family Services Agencies
Board Member - American Heart Association
Member, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Carmel
Member, Carmel Valley Racquet Club
Member, Financial Managers Society
Member, CSUMB Planned Giving Advisory Council
Member, Monterey Estate Planning Group
Attendee, Annual Phillip J. Heckerling Estate Planning Institute,
Miami Florida
