NKSFB - Key Persons
Bessy Wong is a partner in the business management practice and has been with the firm since 1989. She brings peace of mind, common sense and big-picture thinking when providing wealth, career and life management services to her clientele, comprised of the top performance artists, entertainers, producers and executives in the entertainment world, and other high net worth individuals. Bessy strives to use her problem solving skills to simplify the complex issues of high net worth individuals.
Bessy's focus is Business Management, and she specializes in:
Cash flow management and planning
Life management
Risk management
Devising business plans and overseeing execution
Contract review and negotiation of major services in consultation with counsel
Bessy graduated with an Accounting degree from University of Southern California, School of Leventhal. She first joined Gordon & Berg, a CPA firm, where she was responsible for compilation, review and audit work. After three years in public accounting, Bessy joined Breslauer, Jacobson & Rutman, a business management firm, where she worked on all financial aspects for some of the country's most high profile and top earning entertainers.
Bessy has been serving on the Governance Board of the New West Charter School in Los Angeles for over 10 years. She has been elected to be the Chair of the Board since 2013. Bessy has been instrumental in managing the Charter School's financial affairs and areas surrounding the education of the younger populations. Bessy has dedicated her services from the day the school first opened its doors, to its recent expansion as a top performing Middle and High School in the Los Angeles area.
Beth Sabbagh brings decades of experience working closely with clientele - which includes legendary musicians and actors to small bands and independent film producers - and their professional advisers to provide thorough, accurate and timely information.
Beth's focus is Business Management, and she specializes in:
Multi-dimensional artists creating brands across all genres
Touring and recording artists
Producers, songwriters and labels
Social media producers and talent
Beth has been recognized as one of the entertainment industry's top business managers by Billboard.
Beth graduated from Loyola Marymount University, and began her career as auditor and tax accountant before making the switch to business management, where she was able to combine her love of music and the arts with her accounting skills. She loves being able to work with creative people every day. She was a partner at a firm in Seattle prior to joining David Weise & Associates in 2006. Beth is a CPA and a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and is also certified with the California State Board of Accountancy.
Beth is a lifelong equestrianne and has earned a United States Dressage Federation Silver Medal from showing horses. She enjoys spending time with her horses and dogs, as well as traveling, cooking, arts & crafts, and is a self-proclaimed "foodie."
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Chair of the Annual Entertainment Industry Conference for the California CPA Education Foundation
Bill Harris specializes in providing business management and other financial services to clients in all areas of the entertainment business, including film, television, music and sports. He has a diversified client roster, from high net worth individuals to small business owners.
Bill's focus is Business Management, and he specializes in:
Television and Production companies
Start-up and small businesses
Outsourced Accounting Functions - CFO/Controller
Compliance review and right-setting
Risk management
Bill received his Bachelors of Science from California State University Northridge with a dual emphasis in Accounting and Finance. His career as a Business Manager began in 1996 where he began working with production companies and, over the years, had the opportunity to work with some of the industry's biggest names. Prior to joining the Business Management community, Bill spent nine years at HBO and was involved with all financial aspects of programming and production.
Bill serves as a Co-Chair of the Annual Entertainment Industry Conference for the California CPA Education Foundation, of which he has been a member since 2000. He serves on the Executive Board for Temple Judea and formerly served on the Executive Board of Women in Film as its CFO. He is a member of the Professional Representatives Peer Group Executive Group for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and he also chaired the 2022 Cal CPA Entertainment Industry Conference and led a discussion about working on different platforms with panelists from SAG/AFTRA, DGA and WGA.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Partner
- Member of the Board of Contributing Editors of Entertainment Law & Finance
- Tax Expert
Bob Jason is an internationally-recognized tax expert who has advised many of the world's most famous celebrities, as well as businesses from startups to public companies. He has lectured all over the country, including multiple times at Harvard Law School, and has published numerous tax articles that he suspects no one has ever read.
Bob's focus is Tax, and he specializes in:
Entertainment, Music and Sports
International Tax
Mergers and Acquisitions
LLCs and Partnerships
Technology and Start-Ups
Bob graduated with honors from Harvard College, where he was a math major, and Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Bob has been a member of the Board of Contributing Editors of Entertainment Law & Finance since 1995, and he is also a longtime member of the Motion Picture and Television Tax Institute. At the 2022 Cal CPA Entertainment Industry Conference, Bob spoke as part of a Tax Update Panel. He is active in community and charitable affairs, including Imagine L.A., through which he mentors families to help empower them to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Job Titles:
- Principal / Audit / Westwood, CA
Brian Meath has been with Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein LLP since 1987. He specializes in payroll compliance audits for large multi-employer trust funds, working primarily with advertising agencies and television and theatrical production companies. He also has experience in training and implementing Compliance Audit Programs for clients, as well as conducting fraud investigations and negotiating settlements on behalf of clients.
Brian's focus is Audit, and he specializes in:
Payroll Compliance Inspections
Fraud Investigations
Financial Statement Analysis
Contract Evaluation
Brian graduated with highest honors from UC Santa Barbara and received his MBA, emphasizing in Finance, from UC Berkeley.
He was an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Wiseburn School District between 1997 and 2010, serving as President three times. Brian now serves on the Board of Directors of Da Vinci Charter High Schools in El Segundo, and is its Board Treasurer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Partner
Cara's focus is Tax, and she specializes in:
Tax planning, compliance and representation
Multi-generational business succession and wealth planning
State and local taxation, including domicile and other residency concerns
Services specific to high income/high net worth individuals in the Real Estate, Entertainment and Venture Capital industries
Cara has her bachelor's degree in Business Economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to joining NKSFB in 2015, Cara had over 20 years of big four experience in tax and 5 years in private industry as a tax director in a family office focused on entertainment and real estate and Real Estate Investment Trust.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Board Member of the Dream Forever Foundation
As Partner and Co-Head of the Sports Business Division at NKSFB, the largest business management firm in the country, Craig Brown oversees a team of world-class business professionals who act as the CFO and family office for almost 100 MLB, NBA and NFL top-athletes and retired pros.
Craig's focus is on independent, comprehensive financial management and his extensive experience lies in:
Strategic financial planning: from Pro Athlete to Entrepreneur/Private Industry
Analysis and guidance of investments in non-traditional asset classes
Assessment of one's financial shape, creation of financial plan, and execution
Appraisal of insurance, healthcare, education and retirement requisites
Cash flow management and forecasting
Over the past 11 years, Craig has developed a blueprint for educating athletes in an effort to position them to make better informed decisions about their future and design what their lives will look like after their careers end. This education is critical in guiding athletes through each stage of their professional lives and the process they must put in place along the way to maintain a long-term lifestyle, meet their philanthropical objectives, and build wealth for future generations. Craig works in partnership with clients to source, vet and invest in traditional and creative business prospects, as well as assisting them with the development of their content and branding strategies through his network of contacts in the hospitality, real estate, and entertainment industries.
Craig graduated with honors from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, receiving his Bachelors of Science degree in Finance. Following his collegiate baseball career, Craig was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and also played for the United States National team. In 1998, he began his financial career on the largest sports management team at Merrill Lynch, working with over one-hundred athletes. In 2005, Craig established the first fully dedicated sports practice at NKSF, of which he has been co-head since 2008. Over the last 15 years, Craig has represented multiple MVPs, All Stars, Pro Bowlers, as well as over 50 first round picks including multiple number one overall draft picks in each of the three major sports.
Craig is a board member of the Dream Forever Foundation, volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, and mentors at risk youth.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Partner of Ross Bennet Smith
Daniel's focus is Business Management, and he specializes in:
M&A
Touring
Intellectual property rights
Film and television production
Daniel became Managing Partner of Ross Bennet Smith (RBS) in 2016; He is currently a Partner of RBS, a division of NKSFB based in London.
Daniel is a graduate of University College London (UCL), an avid tennis player, qualified pilot, and gives his time as a Trustee for two charitable foundations.
He has also served on the Boards of leading entertainment and tech industry companies, most notably music streaming company Tidal, where he was a Director from launch through to sale in 2021 to Block Inc. (formerly Square Inc.).
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of David Weise & Associates
David Weise has always maintained a balanced client base, comprised of music, television and motion picture, and sports clientele. With over 20 years of professional business management experience, David has developed invaluable relationships within the entertainment industry. These relationships have been beneficial in structuring deals which benefit multiple clients at a time.
David's focus is Business Management, and he specializes in:
Evaluating cash flow and income streams
Structuring business entities
Performing production and tour accounting
Royalty and compliance disputes
Contract review and negotiation in consultation with counsel
David has been recognized as one of the entertainment industry's top business managers by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Billboard.
David received his Bachelor of Science at University of Arizona and began his career with a well-respected national accounting firm in 1990. In 1992, David successfully transitioned into business management after accepting a position with a business management firm in the San Fernando Valley. He quickly excelled as an accountant and business manager and developed his own clientele. In an effort to grow his client base and provide broader services, David left that firm in 1994 to work for an international business management firm. David's clientele continued to grow. In 1999, he made his next big business move by forming his own company. His firm was formed with an original staff of four employees. In 2005, there were close to 50 employees when David and his original partner ended their partnership and he formed the firm of David Weise & Associates, Inc. David is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
David lives in Westlake Village, and has two children, Madison and Adam. All of them love the outdoors, especially hiking, fishing and cycling. With any other extra time, David enjoys traveling, Los Angeles Dodgers games, walks with his dog, Charlie, and time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Principal / Audit / Westwood, CA
Denise Hart joined Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein LLP in 1984 and was instrumental in developing the firm's payroll compliance audit practice with Managing Partner Mickey Segal. Denise has over 27 years of experience as a trusted advisor to Fund Administrators and Trustees of Multi-Employer Taft Hartley Funds. Her expertise includes educating employer companies to design and implement rigorous audit programs. Denise's practice focus has benefited both Labor and Employer Trustees in resolving collective bargaining interpretational disputes so as to increase the collection of contributions due to the Funds.
Denise's focus is Audit, and she specializes in:
Payroll compliance audits
Interpretations of complex collective bargaining agreements
Negotiating settlements with contributing employers
Implementation and design of rigorous audit programs
Multi-Employer Taft Hartley Funds
Having attended UCLA and USC, Denise has the distinction of being both a Bruin and a Trojan.
Denise is involved in numerous philanthropic activities, including fundraising for Saint Joseph Center, Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children, St. John's Seminary, St. Monica's Catholic Church and other important charities in Los Angeles. She is a member of Women in Film and the Professional Advisory Committee of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Chair of the NKSFB Events Committee
Gail joined the firm in 1992. She heads the Accounting Services Department which specializes in servicing the financial matters of primarily non-business management clients. Gail developed an internal control platform for payroll and business license compliance. Currently Gail works with High Net Worth Individuals, Athletes and Business Management clients.
Gail's focus is Business Management, and she specializes in:
Working with athletes, business management clients and high net worth individuals, with an emphasis on intricate real estate investments
Onboarding new business management clients
Internal accounting software, compliance as it relates to Business Licenses, payroll, 1042s, 1099s and business management firm policies & procedures
Internal controls & procedures for business management as related to tax preparation
Special projects for various partners and departments
Gail is Co-Chair of the NKSFB events committee for the past several years. Gail is a past President of Temple Ahavat Shalom where she has been an active member for over 20 years. Gail is a philanthropist and annually supports several charities: MPTF, FIDF, No Kid Hungry & MEND.
Gail has two daughters. One is married, living in PA and expecting her first child in December and the other daughter lives in L.A. Gail enjoys spending time with family, traveling and entertaining and is a big sports fan-especially watching the Dodgers and Lakers.
Gary Scharf is a business manager with over 25 years of experience working with professional athletes and entertainers. Focusing on his unique ability to communicate with his clients, Gary oversees their financial planning, tax planning and lifestyle management.
Gary's focus is Business Management, and he specializes in:
Cash flow management and budgeting
Financial plan review and implementation
Post career retirement planning
Evaluating insurance and estate planning needs in consultation with counsel
Overseeing proactive tax planning
Gary graduated in1980 magna cum laude from Miami University [Ohio] and immediately passed his CPA exam. Gary also is a registered Investment Advisor with a Series 65 license. Gary began his career in 1980 with the international accounting firm of Deloitte Haskins & Sells. In 1986, Gary transitioned into the sports and entertainment industries with Davimos Advisors and remained there until joining famed sports agent Bob Woof in 1993. From 2000 thru 2011, Gary was a partner at CSI Capital Management until the firm was acquired by Suntrust Bank in 2011. Gary joined NKSFB from Suntrust In 2014.
Gary and his wife Bonnie are actively involved in year-round projects and fundraising for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Partner
Glenn Frank, in conjunction with the firm's tour department, consults on tax and business management issues that affect both the firm's international and domestic clients doing business here and abroad. Glenn draws from his extensive experience to ensure that the firm's clients not only maintain their financial independence, but also promote their future financial security.
Glenn's focus is tax, and he specializes in:
International and domestic income tax planning and compliance
Tax planning and consultation for high net worth entertainers
Structuring business entities
Contract negotiations in consultation with counsel
Tax audit representation
Glenn received his Bachelor of Science at California State University, Northridge with a focus on Business Administration - Accounting Theory and Practice. He became involved in the entertainment business as a Senior Accountant at the Big Four accounting firm KPMG. With over thirty years of experience in Southern California accounting firms, he has overseen the tax, business management and auditing services provided to various clientele, including high net worth individuals in the entertainment industry, independent recording labels, and television and motion picture studios. Glenn has been interviewed by Music Connection Magazine, where he offered his insights on personal financial and tax planning for musicians. Glenn joined David Weise & Associates in 2004 as Senior Manager to head the tax and accounting department. In December 2008, Glenn became a Partner.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Neuman Associates
Harley Neuman has been in business management for over 30 years. He has represented some of the highest-profile names in the entertainment business, including actors, writers, producers, directors, recording artists and executives. Harley has the distinction of having been named The Hollywood Reporter's first ever "Business Manager Icon" in 2018.
Harley's focus is Business Management, and he specializes in:
Working with the client's team to maximize opportunities and, in several cases, launch and manage ancillary business ventures
Assisting clients in managing their day-to-day finances, while also planning for the future, including retirement and coordination with counsel of estate planning
Budgeting and analysis of budgets to actual results
Tax planning and compliance
Coordination of major asset acquisitions and sales
Harley has been recognized as one of the entertainment industry's top business managers by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Billboard.
Harley graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an Accounting major. Harley began his career at the international accounting and consulting firm, Deloitte Haskins & Sells (the predecessor to Deloitte & Touche) where he led the firm's entertainment industry practice and was also involved in the corporate finance/mergers and acquisitions practice. Harley is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he was the Chairman of the its annual Entertainment Industry Conference in Los Angeles for several years.
Harley serves on the Board of Directors of the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund and is an active participant in several other not-for-profit organizations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Partner
- Tax Partner
Howard Avery is a Tax Partner with more than 35 years of experience. Howard's focus is Tax and he specializes in:
High net worth clients
Real estate
Trust & Estate taxation, planning and compliance
Partnerships
Howard graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California School of Business in 1978. He began the first eight years of his career practicing in the tax department of Arthur Young & Co. and left as a Tax Manager to become a Tax Partner at Avery & Greig LLP in 1986. He has practiced in area including real estate, partnership, and trust & estate planning and compliance.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Partner
Jeff Klein has more than 37 years of business experience. He has extensive experience in film production, television, real estate and management.
Jeff's focus is Tax and he specializes in:
Tax planning and compliance
Film, television and production companies
Real estate
Multi-state touring entity taxation
High income and net worth individuals
Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Business/Accounting degree. With more than 37 years of business experience, he has expertise in tax, film/TV production and technology.
Jeff is active in the community and with charitable organizations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Partner / Audit / Westwood, CA
Jill Goldstein has been with Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein LLP since 2002. Her responsibilities include film and television participation audits, record royalty, music publishing and merchandising audits, forensic audits in a variety of industries, and due diligence. Jill also provides expert witness testimony.
Jill's focus is Audit, and she specializes in:
Contract compliance inspections
Film and television participation audits
Record royalty audits
Music publishing audits
Merchandising audits
Jill is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in business administration and a graduate of the University of Texas with a Masters in professional accounting. She is a certified public accountant licensed in the state of California. Prior to joining NKSF, Jill spent 15 years at Ernst & Young where she had extensive experience performing both financial reporting and operational audits as well as the preparation and auditing of SEC documents such as 10Ks, 10Qs, and other registration statements. She was an active participant in numerous initial public offerings of equity and debt, private placement memorandums and acquisitions.
Jill is a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certificated Public Accountants.
Michael was a Founding Partner of NKSFBGO, a division of NKSFB, and worked in the Encino office focusing on Business Management services.