Meet The Team
Clint A. Costa, CPA, JD, LLM
Clint A. Costa serves as advisor and counselor to starters and entrepreneurs, business owners, wealthy families, executives, and closely-held and high growth businesses. Clint’s comprehensive roles include business planning and structuring, advanced estate and asset protection planning, income tax planning, contracts, financing, and real estate. Clint serves as both business and personal general counsel for his clients, assuring that all of their interests are properly aligned and legally protected.
Clint earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting with honors from DePaul University where he participated in the Strobel Honors Accounting Program. Clint attained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Chicago-Kent College of Law where he graduated with honors. Clint also completed his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation with honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. In addition to being an attorney, Clint is an Illinois registered Certified Public Accountant.
Clint has been an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Estate Planning Council, the Illinois CPA Society and Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries.
Clint’s writings have been published and his commentary has been sought on a wide range of issues related to his practice. Clint has written for Interest.com, Technori.com, Tech.Co and the Illinois CPA Society’s HYPE newsletter. Clint has provided expert commentary for articles appearing on CNBC.com, MSN Money, American Express Open Forum, Private Wealth Magazine, and BusinessWeek. He has also appeared on MoneyRadio as well as Steve Strauss’s Small Business Success Podcast.
Clint has also taught and presented extensively. Clint is an adjunct professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law where he teaches in the legal writing program. Clint’s other presentations have included:
“The Current State of Entrepreneurial Finance in Chicago” Chicago Booth Alumni Roundtable
Mr. Bertsch frequently lectures throughout the country on a wide array of subjects including the following:
- “5-Minute Law School for Entrepreneurs” IgniteChicago
- “Asset Protection Strategies for Internet Affiliate Marketers” Chicago Affiliate Meet-Up
- “Using LLCs in Estate Planning” YLS–Estate Planning Committee of the Chicago Bar Association
- “Fiduciary Income Taxation: The Dreaded Form 1041” Probate and Practice Committee of the Chicago Bar Association
- “Asset Protection and Estate Planning 101: How APNs Can Benefit From the Basics” APN Midwest Conference
- “Protecting Your Money & Your Family: Estate Planning & Asset Protection for CRNAs” NorthShore University Health System
Publications AND FIRM NEWS
Open House
Due to unforeseen circumstances, DBTA Open House for WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH has been Postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for your interest and understanding.
Alert: Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds
Summary As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), a new community and economic development program was enacted under Section 1400Z-1 & 1400Z-2 that garnered little attention at the time of passage, but which now appears to be causing high net worth investors and the investment community at large to take […]
IRS TO ALLOW MOST TAXPAYERS TO DEFER PAYING 2019 TAXES ON APRIL 15, 2020 DUE TO COVID-19
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking at a coronavirus news conference today, announced that individuals who owe taxes to the IRS can defer up to $1 million, and corporations can defer up to $10 million in payments, for a period of 90 days from the April 15th deadline. At this point, the deferral applies to the income taxes owed, and there does not appear […]
DB Alert: 2019 Payment and Filing Deadlines
As we previously alerted our clients and friends, the Internal Revenue Service has postponed the tax payment deadlines for calendar year taxpayers until July 15, 2020 provided that the amounts owed did not exceed certain levels (prior alert); however, the tax filing deadline itself was not automatically extended under this prior guidance Recent guidance just […]
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act: Forgiveness Relief
Last week Congress passed H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (PFA), significantly amending certain provisions in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) relating to a borrower’s loan forgiveness relief requirements. The President subsequently signed the PFA legislation into law which provides PPP borrowers with the following favorable modifications that should enable more, […]
Significant Estate, Gift, and Income Tax Changes Proposed Under The “Build Back Better Act”
On September 13, 2021, the House Ways and Means Committee released a proposed tax bill (House proposal) as part of the Biden administration’s “Build Back Better Act.” The segments of the proposed bill discussed below highlight important changes to the way trusts, estates, and individuals could be taxed. However, it is important to note that […]
For the 99.5% Act
In late March, the “For the 99.5% Act” (the “Act”) was introduced to Congress. The Act contains several additions, removals, and amendments to the Internal Revenue Code that would significantly alter estate and business planning practices. The changes, if enacted, that would be most relevant to comprehensive planning for the private client are summarized below. […]