AccounTrends

Join us as we bring the curtain down on our much-loved series, celebrating the diverse and deeply insightful conversations we've been privileged to host over the last two years. Our special guest for this grand finale is none other than our very own production wizard, Luke Johnston. He shares his journey, laced with industry insights and fun facts around the production of the show.As we look back on the show, a host of transformative themes leap out. The digitization wave and AI's indomitable march in the business world, the emergence of niche practices, and the rise of the audit's importance in CPA firms all point to an exciting future for the profession. We also cast the spotlight on the transformational role private equity is playing in morphing CPA firms into professional services establishments.Our series finale also embraces a moment of introspection. Over the course of our journey, we've unearthed precious lessons about work-life balance, the power of connection, and the critical need to fuel prosperity worldwide. As we bid adieu to our much-loved series, we extend a warm thank you to our loyal listeners. So, here's to candid reflections, exhilarating discussions, and a heartfelt farewell to you, our cherished audience.Notes:Check out Musicbed for easing your music selection woes

Ever wondered how to navigate the changing landscape of tax accounting and stay ahead of the curve? Kane Polokoff, Principal, Client Advisory Services Practice Leader at CohnReznick LLP, joins the podcast today as we unravel fascinating insights that will set you apart in your firm. We'll illuminate why imaginative hiring strategies are crucial, how to meet client expectations, and why soft skills are as vital as advisory services in shaping a future-ready industry. Together with Kane, we look at how firms can effectively build capacity to meet the demands of clients, the pivotal role of recruiting and training, and the art of projecting future workloads. As we wrap up our explorative chat with Kane, we delve into the value of vertical expertise and the significance of offering advice that goes beyond the transactional level. Get ready to be enlightened, challenged, and inspired.

What if you could gain the confidence to embark on an advisory journey and transition your business smoothly into this new venture? In our latest episode, we get to chat with Geni Whitehouse, the founder of Impactful Advisor, who generously shares her knowledge on consulting and advisory services. Geni, with her unique experiences and innovative approach, affirms the significance of operational and customer service elements in any successful advisory firm.Geni Whitehouse's step-by-step training course equips you with the right questions to ask your clients and the tools to navigate the intricacies of consulting and advisory services. She elaborates on the benefits of her subscription-based online training, a treasure trove of recorded videos, downloadable tools, and PowerPoints. This comprehensive training fosters insightful client conversations and improved service delivery. Moreover, Geni reveals how to construct data dashboards atop operational systems to make data more meaningful, helping you to align better with your client's business tracking mechanisms.Geni meticulously explains her framework for consulting, emphasizing evaluating what's working and what needs improvement, understanding the client's ideal outcome, and identifying levers to help them reach their goals. If you are seeking insights on how to improve business performance, creating engagement, and effectively selling advisory services, this episode is a must-listen!

Join us as we chat with Bob Lewis from the Visionary Group, an industry veteran with 27 years of experience and plenty of fascinating insights to share. Surprisingly, pickleball and Cornhole aren't the only games picking up pace; accounting is too, with earnings even surpassing some medical professions!The staffing shortage and the capacity problems in the accounting sector are real, but what if we told you there's a silver lining? A crisis can often be the birthplace of innovation. In this episode, we dissect the impact of limited personnel on capacity mix and how firms are getting creative. The old guard is gradually passing the baton with over 50% of CPAs being over 50, and the dynamic field of mergers and acquisitions is stepping into the spotlight. Brace for a deep dive into strategies firms are employing to navigate these changes and harness the potential of our evolving industry.Lastly, it's time to gear up for the future of advisory services. With the accounting industry landscape shifting, we explore the impact of private equity investments, the rise of outsourcing, and the transformation to more profitable service lines. We also discuss how firms are responding to the varying needs of clients, the comparison between corporation and partnership models, and the disruption in the M&A market. Tune in for an episode jam-packed with insights, trends, and opportunities that will reshape your perspective on the accounting industry.

H. Randy Hughes III, Chairman & CEO of Counting Pennies LLC, joins the podcast to talk all things tax advisory, including specific use cases, helpful tips, how to implement it, and more. Tune in to hear first-hand how tax advisory has saved Randy's clients thousands.

In this episode, we sit down with Martin Bissett, Founder of The Bissett Group, to discuss the importance of trusting and leaning on your financial advisor. Martin shares his family story and emphasizes the need for financial literacy in today's world. He also highlights why advisory services are key to a thriving business and offers insights on how to transition to an accounting business that prioritizes growth and profit while providing high-value services to clients.As we navigate the pandemic's 'snapback' effect, Martin encourages us to get closer to our clients and truly understand their needs. He also discusses the power of social proof in transforming the traditional accounting profession and breaking free from the recurring fee apathy cycle. This episode is a call to action for accountants everywhere to step up, break the mold, and truly make a difference. Tune in for a important conversation on how to elevate your accounting practice and provide exceptional value to your clients.

How do you take a data-driven approach to your business while keeping your passion at the forefront? Amy Phillips, the powerhouse behind TriStar CPAs, has mastered the art of blending number crunching with relationship building. Join us as we explore her journey in the accounting industry and marvel at how she's revolutionized her practice by transitioning to an advisory model. No matter the size of your business or the complexity of your financials, Amy's insightful story presents a treasure trove of advice for both accounting professionals and business owners.

Uncover the secret sauce to doubling or even tripling your business profits without spending a dime on advertising! In our enlightening chat with Tatiana Tsior, CEO and Founder of The Bold Method, we explore how to build a profitable, self-sustaining business that won't leave you chained to your desk. Tatiana's revolutionary approach to business development allows entrepreneurs to step away from day-to-day operations, retire comfortably, and live off their investments, all while avoiding hefty tax penalties.We'll guide you through a labyrinth of market dominance strategies and dive into the psychology behind pricing. Tatiana brings her expertise to the table, detailing the importance of a unique selling proposition, the power of drip campaigns, and the art of standing out in a saturated market. She also shares her savvy three-option pricing strategy, utilizing color psychology to create a compelling pricing framework. With insights on understanding supply and demand curves, you'll soon be setting the perfect price for your products and services.Finally, we delve into the world of advisory services. We explore how to create capacity within your firm to focus on these services, and the value they bring to potential clients. Tatiana sheds light on the concept of proactive tax advisory services that can save clients significant sums of money and keep them coming back for more. From the tax reduction strategy plan to business tax filing and personal tax filing, Tatiana leaves no stone unturned. Tune in for an episode filled with actionable strategies that will transform your business approach and supercharge your profits. Don't miss out!

Join us as we discuss the future of accounting with renowned educator, consultant, and writer Randy Johnston. With decades of experience in the accounting software world, Randy's insights on the evolution of the profession and the importance of tax automation are invaluable for both accounting professionals and business owners alike. We dive into the impact of technology on accounting firms, focusing on the benefits of automation in terms of efficiency and productivity. Randy shares his expertise on how using technology intentionally can help firms break free from the "hamster wheel" and gain a holistic view of their business. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of adopting new technology and the significance of educating staff to maximize its capabilities. Finally, we explore tax strategies and the role of new technologies in ensuring firms and individuals pay their fair share, without being overcharged. Randy sheds light on common tax strategies that are often overlooked, and the time-saving potential of new technology.

Roman Kepczyk, CPA and Director of Firm Technology Strategy at Right Networks, helps firms throughout North America effectively use information technology to optimize production processes. Listen as Roman shares information on the top technology trends he's seeing in the industry and what tax professionals should know. 

Roman Kepczyk, CPA, Director of Firm Technology Strategy at Right Networks, helps firms throughout North America effectively use information technology to optimize their processes. In this episode, Roman highlights the biggest security threats for the tax and accounting profession and how to spot them. He shares tips, checklists, and recommended resources to help keep your data safe.

Dawn W. Brolin, CPA, CFE and CEO of Powerful Accounting joins the podcast to talk about tax advisory. Now that tax season is over, it is time to pivot and introduce your clients to the benefits of tax advisory for their financial success. 

Gale Crosley, CPA, CGMA is a strategic growth consultant, who has helped hundreds of accounting firms worldwide to achieve profitable and sustainable organic revenue growth. Listen as she shares her expertise for focusing on the right industries for your business, the positives of using tech at your firm, and more.

Daniel Hood has been the editor-in-chief of Accounting Today since 2011 and has seen the industry change and grow, while collecting incredible insights along the way. Listen as he talks about Accounting Today's Top 100 Firms list released this month and growth strategies for high performing firms. 

Boris Shmukler, Senior Product Manager at Intuit, joins the podcast to continue the conversation on technology and the future of the industry. The group talks about shifts in the industry, the difference between native cloud or hosting, the role of product design when creating new software solutions, and more. 

Boris Shmukler, Senior Product Manager at Intuit, joins the podcast to talk about technology and the future of the industry. In this two-part conversation, the group talks about shifts in the industry, the difference between native cloud or hosting, the role of product design when creating new software solutions, and more. 

Sharrin Fuller, CEO Glass Wallet Ventures joins the podcast to talk all about hiring. Listen as she shares her expertise on attracting and retaining talent, different generations working together, and the importance of evolving to stay relevant.

Carrie Steffen, Co-Founder and President at The Whetstone Group, joins the podcast to talk about how consulting firms can drive top-line growth through the implementation of advisory services. Listen in as she explains the importance of addition by subtraction, why less is more, and how you can zero in on the value of advisory services. 

Kacee Johnson, VP of Strategy and Innovation at CPA.com, an AICPA Company, joins the show to walk us through the 2023 Accounting and Finance Hype Cycle. Learn about the methodology, why certain trends move forward vs. back, and more. 

A quick flyover of some of the top insights from season 2 of AccounTrends. If you enjoyed this season, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!0:48 - 1:53 - Dominique Molina on creating real value by creating things that our clients want 1:54 - 3:45 - Jim Buffington on focusing on tax planning and preparation with advisory services over compliance services3:46 - 5:53 - Heather Satterley on enhancing your firm with the help of technology5:54 - 8:34 - Kristen Keats on creating a tax roadmap for your clients and accurate pricing 8:35 - 9:34 - Carla Caldwell on bring her perspective that is beneficial to different firms9:35 - 12:08 - Blake Oliver & David Leary on accounting and tax licensing and the evolution of accounting12:09 - 13:24 - Sonia Dumas on what you need to know about advising clients on crypto13:25 - 15:33 - Jason Blumer on creating a purposeful strategy for building a niche firm15:34 - 18:30 - Shelly Weir on state associations and the roles they play in the state and public sector18:31 - 19:34 - Jin Chang on the wave of cybersecurity privacy, risk needs

Join Jin Chang, CEO and Co-Founder of Fieldguide, to hear about the importance of risk advisory services and how they're a big part of the future of audit and advisory. Learn about the inception of Fieldguide and how the platform helps firms grow faster and become more profitable through automation.

This week join Shelly Weir, President & CEO at Florida Institute of CPAs, as she talks about her fresh eyes on the profession and the role state societies play in it. She also talks trending topics in the industry and how firms need to think about attracting new talent. 

Defining a niche is a complex strategy for firms everywhere. On this episode, Jason Blumer, CPA and CEO of Thriveal CPA Network and Blumer CPAs,walks us through how firms should find and define their niche, when is the right time to do so, and the complexities of building a niche firm overall. 

Sonia Dumas, CEO of Curio Haus and Web3 Educator, specializes on educating tax professionals on cryptocurrency. Hear her expert advice for tax professionals on what questions they need to ask, tools they need to utilize, and how to advise their clients on everything revolving around cryptocurrency. 

Blake Oliver and David Leary, co-hosts of the Cloud Accounting Podcast, join us to talk about trends in the industry, what they've learned from their journey in podcasting, and where they see firms heading in the future.  

Founder of Caldwell Consulting & Training, Carla Caldwell, joins us to discuss growing as a leader. Hear advice on finding the right community, the importance of mentors, and why you need to lean into your strengths to grow as a leader. 

Kristen Keats, CPA and owner of Sherwood Tax & Accounting, joins the podcast to talk about how to create tax roadmaps for clients. Listen as she explains the shift away from compliance services, and digs into creating monthly goals to help clients prepare for their future.

Heather Satterley, CPA, CIO of GrowthLab FaaS, and 'Appy Hour Webinar co-host, joins us today to educate listeners on the power of technology. Hear her expert advise on when to utilize technology in the industry to help automate compliance work, the biggest pain points technology can solve, and more on today's episode. 

Jim Buffington, CPA and Advisory Services Leader at Intuit, dives deep into why offering tax advisory services is a key benefit to your clients and can be transformative for your business. Jim shares examples and best practices from firms that are already seeing the fruit of adding advisory services to their list of offerings.

Dominique Molina, CPA, co-founder and President of the American Institute of Certified Tax Coaches joins us to discuss the importance of clearly educating clients on the benefits of advisory services. Hear her advice on how to present advisory services in a positive light, how to articulate its value, how to answer difficult questions from clients, and more. 

A look back at some of the top insights from season 1 of AccounTrends. If you enjoyed this season, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!1:05 - Allan Koltin on the war on talent and raiding3:53 - Darren Root on working through staffing challenges during the great resignation5:16 - Angie Grissom on 3 fundamentals for reducing burnout and lack of engagement7:49 - Ron Baker on how hourly billing can make it difficult to move into advisory9:26 - Jody Grunden on firm culture and why how you communicate with clients matters11:21 - Dr. Sean Stein Smith on  what crypto is and the 2 biggest risks around it15:52 - Mark Wickersham on the power of choice in pricing models16:49 - Nayo Carter-Gray on how to lead clients well based on what matters to them18:13 - Randy Crabtree on R&D tax credits & digging deeper for clients20:06 - Joe Woodard on the terror wall and failure trench

Part 2 of our discussion with Joe Woodard, Founder and CEO of Woodard. Join us as Joe continues to unpack the barriers to tax advisory and the psychology behind why some professionals are hesitant to get started.

Don't miss this two-part discussion with Joe Woodard, "Barriers to Advisory: Why Most Tax Preparers Don't Embrace the Opportunity", and hear him unpack the common barriers to breaking into tax advisory.  Success and learning are on the other side of the fear of failure. Tune in as Joe walks us through some key concepts for growing your business to include tax advisory.

In this episode, Randy Crabtree, Co-Founder and Partner at Tri-Merit, shares from the wealth of knowledge he's gained while running a successful specialty tax consulting firm and teaming up with tax preparers to help them bring more value to their clients.

It's hard for your clients to see the value in all the advice you provide and be willing to pay for it if you've been giving it away for free. Join us as Nadia Rodriguez, CPA and Tax Analyst at Intuit, shares her thoughts about what tax advisory really is and how you can take steps towards it by being proactive with your clients, clearly communicating the value your services create, and transitioning your pricing model.

Mike D'Avolio, CPA, JD, and Intuit employee, shares tax strategies for families with children and covers tax benefits for education, hiring your child to work in the family business, the kiddie tax, and more.

Join Robin Gervais, EA and Manager at Intuit, as she discusses her passion around taxes, shares the latest in tax trends to incorporate into your business today, and discusses how she got started as an EA growing her practice to over 100 clients through year-round advisory. Robin covers creative techniques, strategies, and tangible steps you can share with your clients to grow their retirement nest egg, plan for the future, and lower their current tax bracket.

Nayo Carter-Gray, EA and  QuickBooks Online Advanced Certified Pro-Advisor,  joins us today to talk about the power and benefits of workflow automation.  With a little planning before client engagement begins, hours can be saved in the long run.  You won't want to miss hearing Nayo's tips and tricks!

Mark Wickersham, sought after profit improvement expert, value pricing expert, professional speaker and author, joins us as we answer burning questions about value pricing and how to avoid common pitfalls. You don't want to miss this one!

Sean Stein Smith, PhD, joins us to address the most commonly asked questions on cryptocurrency, its impact on the accounting profession, and why he predicts that of the 10,000+ coins circulating today, 1,000 will rise to the top.  Get your notebook ready, Dr. Sean Stein Smith is about to decode the crypto world.

Jody Grunden, co-founder & CEO at Summit CPA Group, joins us to explain how he's built a successful multimillion-dollar accounting firm through a subscription-based pricing model, and enjoys a 94% retention rate. Learn his tips and see how you can apply them in your firm.

Ron Baker, founder of VeraSage Institute, best selling author, and radio talk show host on the VoiceAmerica.com show - The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy, also known as the "Godfather of value pricing",  joins us to share his views on the subscription model in the accounting industry, how firms should quantify success, and why timesheets should be a thing of the past. With over 27 years of study in this area, Ron brings a distinct perspective on the changes coming to the industry and provides insight for those who are looking to lead the way.

Angie Grissom, Owner and Chief Relationship Officer at the Rainmaker Companies, breaks down why the hybrid work model is here to stay.  After months of observation and study, Angie walks us through examples of how, with time and the proper technology, hybrid working benefits the team, builds relationships, offers safety, and promotes engagement. You won't want to miss the tips Angie shares to get you and your team on the road to successful remote work.   

Technology has infiltrated every industry and accounting is no exception to this trend. The pandemic ushered in this advancement faster than we've witnessed in years past. With remote work taking hold and people leaving their current jobs to explore other opportunities, firms are finding it harder than ever to staff up. Automation is the technology solution firms are gravitating toward. Join Darren Root, CEO of Rootworks as he talks with hosts Jasen Stine and David Bergstein about how moving forward with technology in your firm is the key to surviving the “Great Resignation”.

Allan Koltin CPA, CGMA and CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, Inc joins us to share his thoughts around key trends currently at play in the profession at large. In this episode we will discuss: "The war on talent", succession planning, M&A, outside ownership and capital, transformation to advisory, and outsourced services. We also tackle what the top performing firms are doing to be successful.

Meet the hosts of AccounTrends, get an overview of the show, and hear about some of the trends that will be covered as well as the experts who will come on the show to discuss them.