Speaker · Trainer · CRS Instructor

Taxes and wealth building, made easy to understand.

Looking for a lively speaker with timely content? Chris Bird, a CFP® and former Senior IRS agent, turns a dry subject into a session your members will talk about, and adds in some fun.

Book Chris for your eventRegister for a seminar or webinar
Chris Bird presenting on stage
  • 30+years in the financial business
  • 16years as a Senior IRS agent
  • 125+seminars a year, nationwide
  • 20+years teaching tax law at the University of Illinois
Portrait of Chris Bird
Christopher Bird, CFP®

About Chris

Chris Bird has been in the financial business for over 30 years. He started his career with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration, and he holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.

Chris was a Senior IRS agent for 16 years. After leaving the IRS he started his own company, Chris Bird Seminars, Inc., and went on to conduct over 125 seminars a year on taxes, wealth building, residential rental property ownership and tax strategies for the real estate and financial industries nationwide. He has presented his courses multiple times at NAR conventions and at Howard Brinton's StarPower™ Conference.

Chris was an adjunct instructor in tax law at the University of Illinois for over 20 years. He is a Certified CRS Instructor and holds his real estate license in Illinois. He has a unique way of making a tough subject (taxes and investments) entertaining and enlightening at the same time.

Qualifications

  • Full-time professional speaker, trainer and workshop leader
  • Specializes in wealth building, tax strategies, independent contractor tax issues, retirement, money management and defined benefit plans
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
  • Former Senior IRS agent (16 years)
  • Currently teaches CRS courses
  • Current on today's tax issues and how they affect real estate agents
“Chris exudes energy and enthusiasm from the minute he takes the podium to the time he completes his presentation. The Illinois Association of Realtors feels fortunate to have Chris Bird on its faculty roster.”
Wayne Edwards, Director of Education, Illinois Association of Realtors

Topics

Courses and sessions presented by Christopher Bird, CFP®. Each one is updated for current tax law.

CRS chapters: course sponsors contact instructors directly to set dates and fees. Chris is accepting requests for CRS 204 teaching assignments. Book Chris or call 217-649-3934.

Designation courses

CRS 204 · 2 days

Wealth Building Course

More people have become wealthy investing in real estate than in many other investments. Agents learn how to spot the right opportunities in a down market or an up market, compare real estate with other investments, and create wealth for themselves and their clients. A high-energy course on a way to generate sales that's often overlooked.

After this course, learners can:

  • Identify money-making opportunities
  • Compare potential investment opportunities
  • Plan and invest toward retirement
  • Calculate initial investment to rate of return

RRC 136 · 1 day

Tax Strategies for the Real Estate Professional

Tax laws have a major impact on the business of real estate. REALTORS®, homeowners and investment property owners are all affected every year. Participants learn the tax laws and changes that affect REALTORS®, primary residences and residential investment properties, including the changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

After this course, learners can:

  • Compare and contrast the tax law changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
  • Identify the tax laws that affect a REALTOR'S® personal and business taxes
  • Explain the implications of tax law on residential real estate
  • List the tax laws relevant to investment properties
  • Plan business changes that optimize returns

RRC 144 · 1 day

Increase Your Wealth with Rentals and Other Investments

Investment property transactions can easily grow your market by 20% and build your net worth at the same time. Learn why rental properties are ideal investments, build your own investing strategy, and use easy online financial apps to evaluate properties, then package the homes you already sell to appeal to investors.

After this course, learners can:

  • Develop strategies to build wealth for investor clients and yourself
  • Integrate real estate investing into your business plan
  • Find, analyze and select successful investments
  • Simplify ROI evaluations with easy-to-use financial apps

Seminars and sessions

Interesting Income Tax Aspects of Home Ownership

Participants learn exactly who benefits from the tax aspects of homeownership, and by how much, given the standard deduction, mortgage interest, real estate taxes and other tax issues. They'll become an indispensable resource for clients, with the tax information needed to make the right housing purchase.

The Tax Impact of Residential Real Estate Investments

Taxes matter to all of us, and especially to buyers and sellers of residential rental real estate. Participants explore the financial effect a purchase or sale of these properties has on the investor, and learn the details they need to make savvy decisions and guide their clients' investments.

Tax Write-offs for the Self-Employed

The write-offs REALTORS® are allowed can significantly reduce federal, state and Social Security taxes. As an IRS agent for 16 years, Chris learned the ins and outs of the system. This updated, power-packed session covers specific, legitimate deductions you can use as a self-employed individual.

  • The IRC 105 Medical Reimbursement Plan for the self-employed
  • "Before tax" and "after tax": what they really mean
  • Recordkeeping requirements, including how long to keep records
  • Legitimate business expenses in depth: advertising, depreciation, automobiles, hiring family members, retirement plan contributions, insurance, estimated taxes, home office, travel and entertainment, and more
  • Business entities and how they differ: sole proprietor, S corporation and LLC
  • Current IRS priorities to close the tax gap
Advanced Asset Protection and Wealth Strategies

Take your goals to the next level while protecting your hard-earned assets. Learn to get more from your retirement plans, review your entity choices for the best tax advantages, and leverage pre-tax dollars for maximum return.

  • Who the IRS is targeting now, and whether REALTORS® are on the list
  • Recent tax law changes affecting Coverdell ESAs, IRC 529 plans, retirement plan contributions and loans, and estate and gift taxes
  • Tax-deferred IRC 1031 exchanges: three things everyone should know
  • Entity choice: sole proprietor, C corporation, S corporation and LLC, and how each affects your wealth, liability and taxes
  • Buying real estate with tax-deferred retirement plans: four little-known pitfalls
Solid Investment and Retirement Strategies for REALTORS®

Chris shares his insights as an ex-IRS agent and Certified Financial Planner: maximizing pre-tax investments, strategic tax planning, recent tax law updates and how they affect you.

  • Why IRAs can work for you
  • The financial benefits of the Roth IRA and Roth 401(k)
  • Using a Coverdell Education Savings Account for kindergarten through 12th grade
  • College 529 plans for your children or grandchildren
  • Smart investment and retirement strategies everyone should know
  • Getting the most from self-employed retirement plans
  • Wills and trusts, and what they mean to your heirs
  • The most recent estate and gift tax issues
Solid Investment and Retirement Strategies for Today's Manager/Broker

A fast-paced session on recent tax law updates, maximizing pre-tax investments, strategic tax planning and the retirement issues facing broker/owners.

  • Why IRAs can work for you
  • The financial benefits of the Roth IRA
  • Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and College 529 plans
  • Getting the most from self-employed retirement plans
  • Wills, trusts, and estate and gift tax issues
  • The health savings account and how it can work for your family
What's Congress Up To? How Changing Federal Tax Laws Impact Your Clients and the Real Estate Professional

Congress keeps revisiting favorite deductions and tax rates. Learn how higher tax rates could change the spending behavior of upper-income clients, and the potential impact on housing markets of reducing or eliminating the mortgage interest deduction.

Chris, live

A sampling of Chris in action, and what attendees said afterward.

  • Chris teaching a seminar in a hotel conference room
    “Chris did a phenomenal job on teaching tax tips! Very informative.”
  • Chris presenting to a class
    “You need to bring Chris back next year. He is awesome.”
  • Chris speaking to attendees
    “Very knowledgeable and approachable. Could have listened all day!”
  • Chris at the front of a seminar room
    “This dude did the job. Bring him back.”
  • Chris presenting from a slide deck
    “Awesome information. Entertaining. Got right to the point.”
  • Chris answering questions from the audience
    “I think he literally will save me thousands of dollars this year alone.”
  • Chris leading a workshop
    “Incredible! The most helpful workshops I've ever attended!”
  • Chris teaching with real examples on screen
    “Chris does a nice job educating from our standpoint, lots of real examples.”

Simply the best

“Chris has been an instructor with the ProSource team since he left the IRS in 1986. He specializes in continuing education for Realtors and he is simply the best instructor we have ever had. Chris has a repeat audience of students who come only to attend the courses he teaches, and we generally have to turn people away due to classroom size.”
Rick Larson, President, ProSource Educational Services

Timely savings and strategies

“Chris has provided my real estate stars and attendees at my annual conferences with timely and significant tax savings and financial planning strategies. He is one of the top-rated speakers every year, and some of my attendees tell me that he is one of the main reasons they attend.”
Howard Brinton, President, Star Power Inc.

Right on point

“Chris did a great job in the first session I attended, right on point with the session topics and some very great ideas. I sat in his additional sessions and was fully impressed with each. Being a Realtor/Owner and a practicing accountant and tax preparer, I even picked up a few ideas I can use personally and for my clients.”
2018 convention attendee

Upcoming seminars

Chris teaches live tax seminars in Illinois and live webinars online through Zoom. See every upcoming date, or register for a seminar or webinar.

View the calendarBrowse courses

Prefer to learn online?

Every season's update is also offered as a live webinar on Zoom, with the same CE credit as the in-person seminar. See webinars.

For meeting planners

Everything you need to promote a Chris Bird session. Missing something? Email Chris@ChrisBirdSeminars.com and we'll be glad to help.

Speaker introduction

A printable introduction for whoever introduces Chris.

Download intro (PDF)

Photo

A high-resolution headshot for programs, flyers and websites.

Download headshot (JPG)

Room setup

  • Projection screen (10×10 preferred)
  • Projector stand or small round table with power
  • Lavalier microphone (cordless preferred)
  • Classroom-style seating
  • Dimmable lights (very important)
  • A table at the back of the room for Chris's products

Chris brings his own computer and projector.

Book Chris for your next event

Tell us about your event and Chris will get back to you about dates, topics and fees.

Chris Bird Seminars, Inc.
2906 E Oaks Road North
Urbana, IL 61802
217-649-3934
Chris@ChrisBirdSeminars.com
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