CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations.

This stealthy tax rule could hit clients starting in 2026.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayEvery tax bill hides a few surprises, and the OBBB is no exception. According to tax guru Art Werner, one of those surprises could wallop high earners through the quiet return of the PEASE limitation.Click here for more Art WernerIn the newest episode of Quick Tax Tip, he breaks down this often-overlooked provision, its history, and what it could mean for your clients. 

Mindset shifts, gut instincts, and the right mentors matter most when starting your own firm.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrMaking the shift from employee to entrepreneur isn't always easy, as Questian Telka, founder of ReQoncile Financials and co-host of the She Counts podcast, discovered. Besides the obvious pieces of getting business licenses and opening a business bank account, Telka believes it's essential to keep your reason for starting your business – your why – firmly in focus. “If I lose sight of that why, then I am continually getting away from what it is that I enjoy about it, why I'm doing it in the first place,” she explains. MORE STREAMING: Woodard: Move Past Reports; Deliver Results | Baker: Find True Purpose to End Burnout | Brolin: The W.I.N. Leadership Formula | Gertrudes: How EOS & “Unreasonable Hospitality” Reshaped GrowthLab | Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | Martha Yasso: From Wall Street to Main Street | Jackie Meyer: Tax Plans in 90 Seconds? Believe It | Erica Goode: Build a $200K Firm in 15hrs/Week | For Telka, her why centered around “having a little bit more freedom and flexibility to spend time with family, being able to take on my ideal clients.” Without the centering influence of a strong why, entrepreneurs may risk working with clients who don't fit their ideal client profile.  Besides a firm focus on your Why, the shift from employee to entrepreneur requires a complete mental overhaul. “It's a huge mindset shift, being an employee versus running your own practice, in your own firm, because everything stops with you,” Telka says.

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations.

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations. Learn MoreSchedule a Demo

Trust outlasts spreadsheets.By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™For CPA TrendlinesLike CPAs, financial planners have long been associated with numbers people. They're highly trained to use mathematics to address a client's risk tolerance, goals, time horizons, and a magic “retirement number.” But George Kinder, founder of the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, argues that most practitioners are overlooking the most obvious skill needed to be a successful advisor: listening.  MORE Rory Henry and The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management BUY the Holistic Guide to Wealth Management “Too many advisors take the math-first approach,” Kinder says. “Instead, they should be doing deep listening and building trust with clients to help them construct their ideal life. Only when that's established should the math and money decisions be introduced."  Often called the “father of financial life planning,” Kinder is no touchy-feely guru. He began his career as a traditional tax preparer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Harvard-trained math and economics student viewed the IRS code as a puzzle to master—one that required both precision and creativity. Over time, he realized that the most rewarding part of the work wasn't solving the tax code but forming personal connections with clients. “When a client comes in, they typically think their biggest obstacle is money,” Kinder relates. “But in many cases, they're their own biggest obstacle.” Kinder believes practitioners can uncover a client's true priorities with three simple but powerful questions.

Zoomers expect clarity, equity, and purpose—and they're not afraid to walk if firms don't deliver. Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownBy 2025, one in 10 managers will be from Generation Z. That's right—the so-called “lazy, entitled” group born between 1997 and 2012 is already leading teams in accounting firms. But instead of wrecking the workplace, Gen Z might be exactly what the profession needs to survive its crossroads. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown On Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown explores the rise of Gen Z and what their entry into the accounting workforce means for leaders, firms, and the profession at large.

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations.

By starting with conversations and clean books, accountants can deliver clarity, confidence, and real results.It's Not Just the NumbersWith Penny Breslin and Damien GreatheadFor CPA Trendlines When accountants and advisors talk about “advisory services,” the conversation often drifts toward models, frameworks, and numbers. Advisory is explained through dashboards, KPIs, forecasts, and ratios. However, sometimes in our focus on data, we forget the human side —the fact that behind every balance sheet is a business owner who is stressed, overwhelmed, and often lonely.  MORE Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead MORE Advisory & Consulting BUY "It's Not Just the Numbers" That's where voices like Steven Ladd's come in. In a recent It's Not Just the Numbers podcast “After Hours” session, Ladd shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur to trusted advisor for small business owners. His insights reveal why advisory services are more than just financial analysis. They're about empathy, connection, and equipping business owners with clarity. 

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations.

Four key strategies show how firms can lead with value, optimize for AI, test strategies, and show more humanity to win clients.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA Trendlines“Firms can't afford to hide behind best practices or boring templates anymore,” says Jay Schwedelson, president and CEO of Outcome Media and host of the top-rated marketing podcast Do This, NOT That, during his appearance on Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, and hosted by Jean Caragher of Capstone Marketing. More Gear Up for Growth here. | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here “It's time to be bold, be human, and make sure you're showing up where your prospects are actually searching, especially in AI,” he adds. Schwedelson shares four urgent takeaways for CPA firm leaders.

The accounting profession faces a reckoning as leaders debate whether CPA licensure protects the public—or stifles innovation and diversity.Accounting ARCWith Byron Patrick and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationLicensure is one of the bedrock features of the CPA profession. But what if that bedrock is actually quicksand? In a provocative episode of Accounting ARC, hosts Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA,  sit down with noted author and thought leader Ron Baker to ask: Should CPAs even be licensed at all? MORE Accounting ARC: CPA Firm Ownership Under Fire | Walking Violation: When Showing Your CPA Gets You in Trouble | Audit Bags to TikTok Tags, Gen Z Talks Success | Students Challenge Accounting's Traditional Career Path | True Grit: Recognizing Struggles That Shape Our Successes | More Admins, Fewer Students, No Plan | What Career Advice Gets Wrong for Gen Z - And How to Fix It |Your Identity is Not a Liability | What Happens in Vegas… Gets Reported on a Tax Return | Burnout, Be Gone: Accounting Needs a Boundary Breakthrough | The Ultimate Business Hack You're Probably Ignoring | Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service Baker begins with a history lesson, tracing professions back to ancient Babylon and the code of Hammurabi. A profession, he explains, rests on three pillars: a common body of expertise, autonomy with exclusion, and a duty of service to the public. By that definition, he argues, not all licensed occupations—such as florists or interior decorators—qualify.

A campaign promise turns into tax code reality—but only for a limited time.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayOn the latest Quick Tax Tip, tax guru Art Werner unpacks one of the buzziest provisions tucked into the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: the partial exemption of tips from taxation.Click here for more Art WernerDuring their campaigns, both former President Trump and Vice President Harris floated the idea of eliminating taxes on tips. Now, some of that rhetoric has made its way into law—but with caveats that every taxpayer, accountant, and employer in the hospitality sector needs to understand.

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations. Learn MoreSchedule a Demo

Treating communication as a strategy, not administration, helps firms navigate M&A, private equity, and constant change.MOVE Like ThisWith Bonnie Buol RuszczykFor CPA TrendlinesOn the latest MOVE Like This, host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk sits down with Alice Grey Harrison of AGH Consulting to talk about the people side of firm transformation. Harrison, a three-decade veteran of strategic communications and change management in the accounting sector, helps firms navigate M&A, private equity, leadership transitions, and system rollouts by focusing on how people experience change.  MORE MOVE Harrison's central thesis: culture, clearly tied to mission–vision–values, is a growth engine. When people see how their daily work advances firm goals, they give “discretionary energy.” She illustrates this with a pivotal chapter from her big-firm years: after a streak of acquisitions, offices clung to local traditions and bespoke tax methods that trapped capacity. Moving to a true “one firm” model, aligned methodologies, systems, and talent, unlocked scale and accelerated growth that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. 

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations. Learn MoreSchedule a Demo

From automation to document management, open source solutions can deliver enterprise-level value for free.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayWhat if you didn't have to pay for Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, or even popular automation platforms like Zapier? What if you could get the same—or even better—functionality for free, while also gaining full control over your data and privacy? That's the promise of open source software, and it's more accessible than ever. MORE Steve Yoss here | MORE TECH In the latest episode of Quick Tech Talk, you'll learn how open source tools are transforming both personal and business technology use. From document management to automation, open source solutions provide cost savings, flexibility, and security—all without the hidden strings of paid SaaS products.Open source software means that the underlying code is publicly available. Anyone can use, modify, or share it. That freedom has given rise to an entire ecosystem of high-quality applications that rival the best-known commercial products.

Dashboards and statements aren't enough—accountants must help clients turn data into action. The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrJoe Woodard sees a disconnect between what accountants think they're selling and what clients want to buy. Many accountants still think they're selling time, but as Woodard points out with a vivid analogy, that's not what clients care about. MORE STREAMING: Baker: Find True Purpose to End Burnout | Brolin: The W.I.N. Leadership Formula | Gertrudes: How EOS & “Unreasonable Hospitality” Reshaped GrowthLab | Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | Martha Yasso: From Wall Street to Main Street | Jackie Meyer: Tax Plans in 90 Seconds? Believe It | Erica Goode: Build a $200K Firm in 15hrs/Week |“If I'm going into CVS and I need Tums,” he explains, imagine if CVS charged you more because “I hung around in their store for twice as long to buy the Tums as I needed to, I took a circuitous path. Maybe I looked at some of the kids' toys for an upcoming birthday party where they're going to charge me twice as much for the Tums.”This absurd scenario mirrors what accounting firms do to clients when the cost of delivering the service depends on the time it takes to do the work, so “the value of the product changes based on some arbitrary time metric,” Woodard says. “As long as that's the case, there's always going to be a resistance to the billing for selling the wrong product.”However, even among firms that have adopted value pricing, a disconnect remains because the focus is on deliverables rather than outcomes.

Stop reacting. Start Guiding. Move from Historian to Navigator with an AI-powered Business GPS platform purpose-built for growing CPA firm advisory.The traditional advisory model wasn't built to scale-- 4impactdata changes that.Client Advisory Services at ScaleStart delivering scalable advisory in weeks — not months — with our 5-step implementation process.4ID is purpose-built to embed codified wisdom into your existing workflow — quickly and seamlessly. With our proven 5-step approach, your team can confidently move from insight to action without complexity or disruption.Advisory Beyond Dashboards.Built for What Comes Next. Old School: Dashboards report what happened. New School: We scale your advisory with recommendations. Learn MoreSchedule a Demo

The PFML federal tax credit is no longer temporary. Here's how to claim it, avoid pitfalls, and support your workforce.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayIf you've been taking advantage of the federal Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) credit, here's some good news: It's no longer set to expire. Thanks to recent legislation, the enhancement of this credit is now permanent—a significant win for employers who want to support their staff without taking a major financial hit. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines' Rick Telberg. In the latest Quick Tax Tip episode, tax expert Art Werner breaks down exactly what this means for your business, how you can qualify, and the rules you must follow to keep this benefit in play.

Two-thirds of current firm leaders risk being obsolete within three years.Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownA stark warning is shaking the accounting profession: 65% of current firm partners will be considered “digitally obsolete” within three years. The unsettling part? Private equity (PE) investors are not planning to retrain them—they are preparing to replace them. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown On the latest episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, host Rob Brown uncovers how private equity–backed firms are redrawing the profession's leadership map. The digital divide is no longer theoretical. It is already defining who will lead the future of accounting and who will be pushed aside.

Reform firm structures before outside forces impose changes that erode independence.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA Trendlines“We don't change unless we have to, but waiting for a crisis to force transformation is a failure of leadership,” says Michael Meihaus, owner of Meihaus CPA, appearing on Gear Up for Growth, hosted by Jean Caragher, president, Capstone Marketing. Meihaus calls for firm leaders to embrace meaningful ownership authority and rethink outdated business models that are no longer serving their people or their purpose.  More Gear Up for Growth here. | More Jean Caragher here |  Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here |  More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here Meihaus identifies two core failings within many accounting firms.

Attention CPAs and accounting pros! Are you ready to take your practice to the next level? Then it's time to upgrade to CPA Trendlines PRO Membership—your all-access pass to premium insights, strategies, and tools designed just for YOU!See today 's best PRO  offers here.Get exclusive access – Over 10,000 articles, tools, and expert guidance—keeping you ahead of the curve in practice management, growth, and industry trends.Enjoy VIP perks – Be the first to get new content, receive special handling on orders, and unlock priority concierge service just for PRO members.Save big– In the CPA Trendlines Shop, plus deep discounts on membership plans!And here's a bonus: New PRO members receive welcome gifts worth over $300!Stay informed – With exclusive member surveys, studies, and expert insights that help grow your firm and boost your success!More support, more value, more power for your practice!Upgrade today at CPA Trendlines and start maximizing your potential!

As private equity reshapes the profession, accounting leaders debate who should hold the keys to ownership. Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationWhen New York passed the first CPA licensure law in 1896, the goal was simple: protect the public by ensuring financial professionals met high standards. More than a century later, that mandate is at the heart of a heated debate about who should be allowed to own CPA firms. MORE Accounting ARC: Walking Violation: When Showing Your CPA Gets You in Trouble | Audit Bags to TikTok Tags, Gen Z Talks Success | Students Challenge Accounting's Traditional Career Path | True Grit: Recognizing Struggles That Shape Our Successes | More Admins, Fewer Students, No Plan | What Career Advice Gets Wrong for Gen Z - And How to Fix It |Your Identity is Not a Liability | What Happens in Vegas… Gets Reported on a Tax Return | Burnout, Be Gone: Accounting Needs a Boundary Breakthrough | The Ultimate Business Hack You're Probably Ignoring | Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service In the latest episode of Accounting ARC, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, explore the evolution of firm ownership rules and their implications for the profession.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act can reward smart planners—and punish the unprepared.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayIn the aftermath of the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), taxpayers and businesses alike are scrambling to determine whether they stand to gain or lose under the sweeping changes. But according to tax authority Art Werner, the dividing line between winners and losers is clear: those who plan will win; those who don't will lose. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines' Rick Telberg. “There are always winners and losers in a tax bill,” Werner says in the latest Quick Tax Tip podcast. “But the best answer I can give at this point is that the winners are going to be the people who plan.”

“You can't ask people to act like partners and then treat them like employees.” Big 4 TransparencyBy Dominic Piscopo, CPAFor CPA TrendlinesIn an industry marked by incremental change and cautious tradition, Tim Petrey, managing partner at HD Growth Partners, is going all-in on a radical reimagining of what an accounting firm can be. Speaking on the Big 4 Transparency Podcast, Petrey shares how his firm has abandoned the tired trappings of the old model - mandatory billable hours, rigid promotion timelines, and siloed service delivery - in favor of a more dynamic, entrepreneurial approach. And he isn't just talking about change, he's living it.  MORE Dominic Piscopo | MORE Private Equity | MORE Pay & Compensation The episode dives deep into how HD Growth Partners embraces a consulting-first approach, using accounting services as a wedge rather than a foundation. The firm encourages team members, even juniors, to build one-on-one relationships with clients. Petrey believes the best learning happens on the job, with mentorship layered into real-world client work. This, he argues, is what keeps staff engaged and clients loyal. 

Automate common workflows, ensure accuracy, and free your time for higher-value work.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayFor years, QuickBooks Online (QBO) has been a go-to accounting platform for small and midsized businesses. Now, its Advanced Edition takes efficiency to a whole new level by introducing robust workflow automation features designed to eliminate repetitive tasks and keep financial professionals focused on what matters most. MORE Steve Yoss here | MORE TECH Imagine never having to manually send invoice reminders, route approvals, or post recurring journal entries again. With QBO Advanced, automation handles it for you. The platform now offers numerous automations to help you ensure accuracy, increase transparency, and allow you to focus on the work that means the most to you.

Attention CPAs and accounting pros! Are you ready to take your practice to the next level? Then it's time to upgrade to CPA Trendlines PRO Membership—your all-access pass to premium insights, strategies, and tools designed just for YOU!See today 's best PRO  offers here.Get exclusive access – Over 10,000 articles, tools, and expert guidance—keeping you ahead of the curve in practice management, growth, and industry trends.Enjoy VIP perks – Be the first to get new content, receive special handling on orders, and unlock priority concierge service just for PRO members.Save big– In the CPA Trendlines Shop, plus deep discounts on membership plans!And here's a bonus: New PRO members receive welcome gifts worth over $300!Stay informed – With exclusive member surveys, studies, and expert insights that help grow your firm and boost your success!More support, more value, more power for your practice!Upgrade today at CPA Trendlines and start maximizing your potential!

CPAs can help guide four types of client transformation - and break through their own listlessness.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrRon Baker has been pushing accountants to change how they think and how they operate their businesses for decades, starting more than 20 years ago by ditching the timesheet, and followed recently by adopting a subscription approach to services. Now that more than half of CAS firms have abandoned hourly billing, according to the latest CPA.com CAS benchmark survey, it's time for accountants to move from providing services to guiding transformations.    CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES:The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: Brolin: The W.I.N. Leadership Formula | Gertrudes: How EOS & “Unreasonable Hospitality” Reshaped GrowthLab | Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | Martha Yasso: From Wall Street to Main Street | Jackie Meyer: Tax Plans in 90 Seconds? Believe It | Erica Goode: Build a $200K Firm in 15hrs/Week | Randy Crabtree: Live at the Intersection of Passion & Skill |McClelland and Telka: Women Ready to Rewrite the Rules of Accounting | Baker's latest endeavor with co-founder Ed Kless, Threshold, aims to support accountants and other professionals in moving into the transformation economy. Threshold is a membership community where professionals can receive guidance, attend meetings and webinars, and learn from each other.  

Firms that prioritize outcomes over hours are better positioned to innovate, retain clients, and empower teams.By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™For CPA TrendlinesOn the latest episode of The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management, Loren Fogelman, founder of Business Success Solutions, and Mike Maksymiw, CPA, Executive Director of Aprio Firm Alliance, share strategies for firm growth, profitability, and sustainability. Their discussion covers value-based pricing, client relationships, team culture, leadership authenticity, and the role of technology in shaping the accounting profession's future. MORE Rory Henry and The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management BUY the Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Fogelman argues that firms often avoid raising rates out of fear of alienating long-time clients, but that reluctance undervalues their services. She stresses that a structured approach to rate increases allows firms to retain most clients while improving profitability.The first step, she explains, is identifying which clients are profitable and which ones drain resources. By focusing on “what's behind the money,” firms can better understand client goals and position themselves as consultants rather than technicians.

Nonprofit employees face a new tax reality on fringe benefits.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayFor years, employers could offer free or subsidized parking or public transit passes as a valuable fringe benefit without triggering extra tax for employees. Businesses could deduct the cost—up to an inflation-adjusted $325 per month in 2024—while employees enjoyed the perk tax-free. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines' Rick Telberg. That changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Now, if a business deducts the cost of parking or transit benefits, employees must count it as taxable income. Employers can still shield employees from the tax by choosing not to deduct the expense.

Firms blame culture and training, yet AI, real estate, and talent pressures tell a different tale.Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownThe push to bring accountants back to the office is gaining momentum, echoing trends at corporate giants like JPMorgan, Amazon, and Meta. While firms frame return-to-office (RTO) policies as a way to boost collaboration, mentorship, and culture, industry observers question whether the real motivations include cost control, talent reshaping, and even quiet workforce reductions. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In the latest episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown examines the drivers behind RTO in accounting, from Big Four mandates to real estate obligations, and explores whether being in the office truly advances careers or simply serves firm agendas.

Tough client calls, tax planning, and better leadership turned hard knocks into growth.It's Not Just the NumbersWith Penny Breslin and Damien GreatheadFor CPA TrendlinesWhen Lang launched Upside CFO, he didn't set out with a grand blueprint. “If we're being honest, we started off with simple bookkeeping,” he says. Over time, his firm evolved into a multi-faceted practice offering fractional CFO services, tax planning, and even financial planning partnerships. Along the way, he admits to trial and error. “Sometimes I do smart stuff. Sometimes I don't,” Lang laughs. MORE Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead MORE Advisory & Consulting BUY "It's Not Just the Numbers" Yet from that messy middle came clarity: the future of advisory services lies in translating numbers into strategy, choosing the right clients, and building processes that can scale without sacrificing value.

Developing “power skills” like trust and coaching are critical.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesEmployee experience is no longer optional; it's a strategic imperative, says Kassi Rushing, CEO and owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting. Appearing on Gear Up for Growth—hosted by Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, and powered by CPA Trendlines—Rushing shares practical insights for firms aiming to attract and retain top talent. More Gear Up for Growth here. | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here The episode highlights two critical shifts firms must embrace:  Employee experience drives business performance, and Leadership must evolve with generational expectations. 

Employee ownership gave the firm a growth path on its own terms.MOVE Like ThisWith Bonnie Buol RuszczykFor CPA TrendlinesIn this episode of MOVE Like This, Jeremy Vokt, managing partner at Bland & Associates, discusses the firm's journey to becoming Nebraska's first ESOP-owned CPA firm. Vokt shares how Bland evolved from a small 17-person firm in 2006 to a thriving 130-person business today, thanks in part to its unique blend of traditional CPA services and specialized government consulting work focused on Medicare and Medicaid compliance.  MORE MOVE Vokt walks through the fundamentals of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), explaining that it's similar to a 401(k) but without employee contributions. Instead, employees are allocated shares annually based on their compensation, which grow in value over time through third-party valuations. This approach creates an ownership culture from day one for every employee – from the front desk to the managing partner – without the typical 15- to 20-year wait to buy into ownership. 

State boards, private equity, and outdated laws are forcing CPAs to downplay the very credential that defines them.Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationFor many CPAs, the three letters after their name are more than a credential—they're a badge of honor. Yet, a new wave of regulatory challenges and firm structures is calling into question when, where, and even if CPAs are allowed to use the designation they worked so hard to earn. MORE Accounting ARC: Audit Bags to TikTok Tags, Gen Z Talks Success | Students Challenge Accounting's Traditional Career Path | True Grit: Recognizing Struggles That Shape Our Successes | More Admins, Fewer Students, No Plan | What Career Advice Gets Wrong for Gen Z - And How to Fix It |Your Identity is Not a Liability | What Happens in Vegas… Gets Reported on a Tax Return | Burnout, Be Gone: Accounting Needs a Boundary Breakthrough | The Ultimate Business Hack You're Probably Ignoring | Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service In the latest episode of Accounting ARC, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, dig into one of the most contentious issues facing the profession: restrictions on displaying the CPA license in alternative practice structures and across state lines.

Unreported income from prior years may trigger a Circular 230 compliance issue that forces you to end the relationship.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayIn the latest Quick Tax Tip from CPA Trendlines, tax guru Art Werner dives into a sticky — but all too familiar — scenario facing tax professionals: discovering a client's unreported income years after the fact. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines' Rick Telberg. It begins innocently enough. A client brings in a Form 1099-K — perhaps for the first time — showing payments received through online sales platforms. The conversation reveals that this “new” activity isn't new at all. The client has been running an internet-based side business for years, but never disclosed it to their preparer.“Now you have a Circular 230 problem,” Werner warns.

Equity pathways, training, and culture—not payouts—will determine which firms thrive in the P.E. era.Big 4 TransparencyBy Dominic Piscopo, CPAFor CPA TrendlinesIn an era when private equity's arrival in public accounting has been met with suspicion, Nishaad Ruparel is reshaping the narrative. As president of Ascend, a $400+ million PE-backed platform that has quietly acquired or partnered with 17 accounting firms in just two years, Ruparel joins the Big 4 Transparency show to unpack what's driving this wave and why it may be an interesting path forward for talent, succession, and innovation. Unlike the caricature of firms selling to PE “grabbing the bag,” Ruparel says the firm leaders choosing to join Ascend are doing it not for a quick payday, but for future growth and legacy.  MORE Dominic Piscopo MORE Private Equity MORE Pay & Compensation “These firms are looking at their clients and saying, ‘I've served this market for 50 years - how do I keep doing that in a way that's synonymous with excellence?'” Ruparel explains. “Then they look at their people, at their deep bench, and ask how they can secure their future. And they realize: the cost of independence is rising fast.” 

A password shorter than 15 characters makes your encryption practically meaningless.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayMost professionals know that PDF files are one of the most reliable ways to share contracts, reports, and sensitive documents. But here's a question: are your PDFs truly secure—or just locked with a flimsy password that a hacker could break in minutes? MORE Steve Yoss here | MORE TECH Did you know you can set not one but two passwords on a PDF? One encrypts the document, preventing unauthorized access, while another restricts editing or modification. Together, these measures give you control over who can read and who can alter your files.

Double revenue with a smaller team and a healthier culture. The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrAfter 26 years in accounting, multiple gigs emceeing accounting conferences, and coaching a college softball team, Dawn Brolin knows a thing or two about leadership. “Empathy is, to me, the number one characteristic that a leader should follow,” she told Liz Farr in her second appearance on The Disruptors.   CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES:The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: Gertrudes: How EOS & “Unreasonable Hospitality” Reshaped GrowthLab | Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | Martha Yasso: From Wall Street to Main Street | Jackie Meyer: Tax Plans in 90 Seconds? Believe It | Erica Goode: Build a $200K Firm in 15hrs/Week | In her new book, "The Elevation of Empathy: Leading for the W.I.N.," Brolin delves into empathy as a key superpower for accountants. However, many accounting firms have prized other qualities, resulting in what Brolin calls “appointed leaders” versus true leaders. “You could be appointed a leader because of a skill or the amount of revenue you bring in. That doesn't mean you are one,” she explains. The distinction is crucial – being placed in a leadership position doesn't automatically confer the emotional intelligence and people skills necessary to guide others effectively. 

From business owners to high-net-worth individuals, OBBB affects every income tier—and tax advisors are urged to act now.The Concierge CPAWith Jackie MeyerFor CPA TrendlinesIn the latest episode of The Concierge CPA, Jackie Meyer, a nationally recognized tax strategist, and Dave Lukas, CEO of TaxPlanIQ, walk through the most significant provisions of the new law. The hosts emphasize that while the changes add complexity, they also create what Meyer calls “a once-in-a-generation opportunity for accountants to step up as trusted advisors.”More Jackie MeyerOne of the biggest wins for business owners is the permanent return of 100% bonus depreciation. Companies can immediately expense the full cost of qualifying assets—including used property—placed in service after Jan. 19, 2025. “Timing matters more than ever,” Meyer stresses, urging CPAs to model scenarios carefully to avoid unintended consequences with Qualified Business Income (QBI) deductions.

Connect emotionally with top talent through real experiences.Sponsored by Small Office / Home Office Cyber Security Protection for Accountants. Learn more here Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesIn the latest episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, speaks with Karen Waga, chief marketing officer of WilkinGuttenplan CPAs & Advisors, about the firm's award-winning recruiting campaign, which resonated deeply with job seekers, employees, and peers across the profession.Waga says the campaign was built entirely on real employee experiences and candid storytelling, leveraging the firm's flexible, people-first culture. The campaign offered a compelling and authentic view of life at WilkinGuttenplan from summer Fridays to paternity leave and personal caregiving.See full episode notes here551_GUFG Ep 38

In this episode of Student-led Conversations, accounting leaders and emerging pros share how staying open can change everything.Accounting ARCWith Arpan Grewal and Harshita MultaniCenter for Accounting TransformationIn an era where the definition of success is increasingly personal, a recent Student-led Conversations episode of the Accounting ARC podcast brought together two Gen Z hosts and two seasoned accounting leaders to unpack a deceptively simple question: What does “freedom to be” really mean? MORE Accounting ARC: Students Challenge Accounting's Traditional Career Path | True Grit: Recognizing Struggles That Shape Our Successes | More Admins, Fewer Students, No Plan | What Career Advice Gets Wrong for Gen Z - And How to Fix It |Your Identity is Not a Liability | What Happens in Vegas… Gets Reported on a Tax Return | Burnout, Be Gone: Accounting Needs a Boundary Breakthrough | The Ultimate Business Hack You're Probably Ignoring | Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service For hosts Arpan Grewal and Harshita Multani, both interns with the Center for Accounting Transformation, this wasn't about GPAs or résumés. Instead, they explored how independence, cultural influences, and resilience intersect in the personal and professional lives of accountants.Joining them were Kristine “Tina” Caratan, CPA, CGMA, a veteran consultant to California's nonprofit sector with 51 years in the profession, and Calvin Harris Jr., CPA, CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs. The discussion spanned immigrant family expectations, systemic barriers, generational shifts, and even the unexpected role of TikTok in modern accounting outreach.

Progressive tax changes could reshape the charitable giving landscape.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayPrivate foundations may soon find themselves writing bigger checks to the IRS. In the latest Quick Tax Tip podcast, tax expert Art Werner explains a key provision of the OBBBA that increases the tax rate on net investment income for certain private foundations under section 4940(a). Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines' Rick Telberg. “It's a progressive tax now for the larger foundations,” Werner says, noting that while many foundations are set up for truly noble purposes—think the Red Cross or the Boy Scouts—the government is tightening the rules to ensure fairness and accountability.

Acquisition isn't assimilation—it's alignment.Big 4 TransparencyBy Dominic Piscopo, CPAFor CPA TrendlinesOn the latest episode of The Big 4 Transparency Podcast, Marcus Dillon, founder and president of Dillon Business Advisors, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the art of accounting firm acquisitions and what happens after the deal closes. Having completed 15 M&A transactions, Dillon has quietly built a hybrid growth model that blends strategic purchasing with equally strategic divestitures, helping him scale while staying lean and focused.   MORE Dominic Piscopo MORE M&A MORE CAS Dillon's approach flips conventional acquisition thinking on its head. Rather than simply absorbing the full book of business, Dillon's team audits each client against their firm's service model and values, and often sells off the clients who don't fit. “We apply the 80/20 rule early in the due diligence phase,” he explains. “Twenty percent of the clients typically generate 80 percent of the revenue, and the rest are often where the frustration lies.” That filtering strategy, he says, allows for faster onboarding, better client service, and less internal chaos. Dillon, however, isn't targeting mega-firms or private equity roll-ups. Instead, he's finding opportunity in smaller legacy firms, often with outdated systems and annual-only service models. But that doesn't bother him. “It's like a box break,” he says, referencing the trading card phenomenon. “You buy the box, open it up, and see what value you can extract and grow.” His most recent acquisition, closed just days before tax season, brought in $600K in annual revenue and positioned the firm to grow past $4 million in 2025. 

Free and powerful PDF tools are hiding in plain sight. Here's how to find them.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayWhen you think about Portable Document Format (PDF) files, there's a good chance Adobe Acrobat comes to mind first. But here's something most people don't realize: PDFs aren't an Adobe-owned format anymore—they're an ISO standard for digital paper. That means anyone can use, create, and manage them without paying for an Adobe subscription. MORE Steve Yoss here | MORE TECH And the options go far beyond the familiar. Whether you're creating workpapers for clients, sharing contracts with staff, or archiving important documents, there's an entire toolbox of PDF solutions—many of them free—that can get the job done just as well as premium software.

Applying entrepreneurial principles and embracing a culture of extraordinary service, this finance firm is breaking the mold.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrDan Gertrudes doesn't consider himself an accountant, though he admits, “I'm pretty good at it. I've taught it at Brown University.” After more than a decade working in finance in large corporations, Gertrudes began his journey as a firm owner via entrepreneurship through acquisition, or ETA, when he bought a firm in 2014 from a retiring owner.   CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES:The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | Martha Yasso: From Wall Street to Main Street | Jackie Meyer: Tax Plans in 90 Seconds? Believe It | Erica Goode: Build a $200K Firm in 15hrs/Week  Gertrudes positions his firm, GrowthLab, as finance-as-a-service, which means his clients receive ongoing, highly scoped recurring work rather than project work. “We want to be an extension of your management team,” he explains. Besides traditional bookkeeping, his firm provides the full spectrum of financial services: accounting, FP&A, tax, CFO services, and HR. In addition, he is also building STRMS as an AI automation agency.  In contrast to many legacy firms, Gertrudes operates his firm as a business. “They're not businesses,” he says about traditional CPA firms. “There's no engine… You need more than one engine to be a business.” 

From Big Four consulting to FEMA volunteerism, Adjei blends problem-solving, purpose, and proactive planning.The Concierge CPAWith Jackie MeyerFor CPA TrendlinesWhen Hurricane Harvey submerged his first office, Houston-based CPA and tax advisor Brandon Adjei could have stepped back. Instead, he leaned in, volunteering for months at FEMA disaster relief centers, helping storm victims navigate IRS issues so they could access life-saving grants and loans. That work, originally meant to be temporary, became a catalyst for building a broader tax practice that now spans the U.S. and international clients.More Jackie MeyerOn The Concierge CPA, host Jackie Meyer sits down with Adjei to unpack a career that has been anything but linear. From starting at Enron just before its collapse, to Big Four M&A consulting, to founding multiple firms, Adjei's journey is rooted in adaptability, relationship-building, and a deep commitment to client advocacy.Adjei's client base extends far beyond Texas. He works with international students, entrepreneurs, and overseas businesses entering the U.S. market, tackling everything from residency rules to ITIN certifications. His guiding principle? Consistency. Whether it's a McDonald's in London or Los Angeles, clients expect the same standards in their U.S. operations—and in their advisors.

PE-backed firms are luring top performers with faster promotions, equity stakes, and career paths that traditional firms rarely offer.Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownPrivate equity's influence on the accounting profession is shaking up more than firm valuations — it is rewriting the rules for attracting and retaining talent. A staggering 70% of top performers at traditional firms say they would move to a PE-backed competitor right now if given the chance, according to new industry insights. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown And it's not just about bigger paychecks. Private equity firms have zeroed in on what motivates high performers — opportunity, impact, and accelerated growth — and are building career models to match.

In CAS, winning the client is just the first step—success depends on what happens next.It's Not Just the NumbersWith Penny Breslin and Damien GreatheadFor CPA TrendlinesFor many accounting firm owners, winning a new client is a victory. But according to It's Not Just the Numbers podcast hosts Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead, that's only the beginning. The real success lies in what happens next: the onboarding process. MORE Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead MORE Advisory & Consulting BUY "It's Not Just the Numbers" “Too many firms have no clue what actually happens when a client walks in the door,” says Breslin. “They've sold the service, but they haven't defined the first experience their client will have—or the role their team will play in delivering it.”

The immersive experience transforms recruiting from a guessing game into a hands-on, culture-rich audition.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA Trendlines In the latest episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, spoke with co-creators of JLK Rosenberger LLP's innovative student recruitment program, Audit 500, which combines real-world experience with relationship-building to deliver extraordinary results – and some unexpected emotional impact.  Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here. More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here   More Gear Up for Growth More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here Originally created to address a gap between academic theory and audit practice, the Audit 500 is a fast-paced, three-day simulation that gives accounting students a hands-on experience of what it's like to be an auditor. From testing cash and fixed assets to engaging with a mock CFO, participants work side-by-side with the firm's staff, simulating the dynamics of a true engagement team. “We get to evaluate students in a much more meaningful way than a traditional interview ever could,” said Ani Zadorian, partner at JLK Rosenberger and co-creator of the program. “At the same time, they get to see our culture and decide if they see themselves growing here."