Capstone Conversations. Informal and informative discussions with leading growth strategists from the nation's most dynamic CPA firms.With Jean Caragher.  For CPA Trendlines.  In a business not always comfortable with notoriety, it takes bold ideas to position an accounting firm in the marketplace, according to Kristen Lewis, director of marketing at EisnerAmper and a member of the Association for Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame. Show notes here | Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines...

The profession's problems are the profession's own fault.Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownTim Brackney, CEO of a private equity-backed CPA and advisory firm, is challenging the widespread notion that private equity harms the accounting industry.Full show notes here | More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here"Private equity is not killing public accounting," Brackney tells Rob Brown in Accounting Influencers. "Public accounting was killing public accounting." Brackney says private...

Capstone ConversationsInformal and informative discussions with leading growth strategists from the nation's most dynamic CPA firms.With Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesWhen the Covid pandemic hit Grassi CPAs, chief marketing officer Sarah Cirelli launched a "SWAT" program to stem the losses and reap an extra $2 million in new fees. Full show notes here | Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | Catch Jean...

From $70 milliion to $450 million: The power of positivity, strategic planning, and going international.Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownRichard Kopelman, CEO and managing partner of PE-owned Aprio, shares his philosophy of staying positive and never giving up, the importance of having a well-written strategic plan, and his vision of truly global accounting firms.Complete show notes here, including takeaways, background, analysis and transcript | See Part 1: Richard Kopelman: Inside...

Lessons from dozens of strategic mergers & acquisitions.Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownRichard Kopelman, CEO and managing partner of PE-owned Aprio, reveals the firm's dramatic transformation and rebranding into a global business advisory and accounting firm.See Part 2: Richard Kopelman: Aprio’s Plans for Global Conquest | More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here | Aprio Sells Majority Stake to Charlesbank Capital Partners here | Cited: Mindset: The New Psychology of...

Leveraging social media and other digital platforms allows firms to attract talent without relying on traditional job boards or recruiters.Gear Up for Growth.With Jean Caragher.For CPA Trendlines."You actually have to be a good firm,” Katie Thomas, CPA, founder and owner, Leaders Online LLC, replied when asked about the factors needed for an organic inbound recruitment strategy to work. Full show notes here | Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effective growth in...

How will proposed tax reforms impact businesses and tax professionals in the 2024 election cycle?Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationThe 2024 election is poised to bring significant changes to tax policy, and the accounting profession is bracing for the potential impact.SHOW NOTES here | MORE Accounting ARC: Leadership for the Future: Stakeholders, Sustainability, and Strategic Vision | In-Person Conferences Still Essential |...

A 1,200 percent gain in billing.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesAccountants struggle with moving from the traditional billable hour model because they have concerns about accurately estimating costs, managing expectations, and measuring work in progress. This change requires a shift in mindset and firm-wide accountability, which can be challenging but necessary to remain competitive.Full show notes here | More CPA Trendlines podcasts here | More Jean Caragher hereDavid...

Beyond its ethical implications, CSR can bring tangible financial gains.Know-How KornerWith Donny Shimamoto  Center for Accounting TransformationIn this episode of Know-How Korner, we interview Jeff Joireman, a professor of marketing at Washington State University, about his groundbreaking research on corporate social responsibility.COMPLETE SHOW NOTES here | MORE Donny ShimamotoDiscover how CSR influences consumer behavior and what it means for businesses today. Tune in to uncover insights...

Stop following SALY. Think about what you are trying to accomplish. Plus 17 key takeaways.The DisruptorsWith Liz Farr Kelly Mann wants firms to stop relying on SALY – same as last year – for everything: “Everything is same as last year, the way we give bonuses to people, the way we split partner compensation, the way we monitor hours, the way we prepare a work paper, the way we plan an audit,” she says.17 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Kelly Mann Disruptor Notes MORE: Disruptors MORE CPA TRENDLINES...

Capstone ConversationsWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesAccording to Korby Boswell, Adams Brown's senior marketing and growth manager, successful accounting firm marketing lies in effective project management, smart content marketing, and producing solid sales leads.Full episode note here | More Capstone Conversations here | Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | Catch Jean Caragher every Friday with Gear...

Balancing growth, profits, culture, and staff retention.Gear Up for Growth. With Jean Caragher. For CPA Trendlines. “Probably no surprise, the greatest challenge to growth in this industry is attracting and retaining talent,” said Kristin Murray, managing partner of Weinstein Spira. “Without that, there is no growth, and given the landscape of our industry right now, that's everybody's biggest challenge. If it's not, I'd be amazed.”Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart...

Leadership beyond control means empowering others to succeed and, of course, eating last.Accounting ARCWith Byron Patrick and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationThis episode of Accounting ARC offers a candid discussion on leadership with Byron Patrick, CEO and founder of VERIFYiQ, and vice president of Client Success at The B3 Method Institute.SHOW NOTES here | MORE Accounting ARC: In-Person Conferences Still Essential | Non-Accountants in Accounting: A Game-Changer for the...

The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrAlicia Katz Pollock proves that you don’t need an accounting degree or formal bookkeeping training to be a hugely helpful resource for the QuickBooks community.SHOW NOTES here | MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS:  Nancy McClelland: Be the One Your Clients Ask First |Alan Whitman: Stop Accepting the Status Quo | Sean Duncan: Discover Your Own Genius | Ingrid Edstrom: True Wealth Is Not Financial | Caleb Jenkins: Firm Growth Requires Owners to Shift Roles | Chris Hervochon: Be...

Capstone ConversationsBy Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesThe greatest challenge in marketing CPA firms is understanding the role of technology and how different generations of clients and prospects want to engage, Joe Kovacs, marketing and biz dev director at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, tells Jean Caragher in this episode of Capstone Conversations.Show notes here | Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms,...

Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesDemand for tax services emboldens CPAs to fire clients and deliberate about the clients they choose to work with. Two practitioners share their strategies for accepting new clients through structured intake forms and firing clients who are not a good fit for their firms in this episode of Gear Up for Growth, with Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, and powered by CPA Trendlines Research. “It just took firing 7 percent of our...

 Know How KornerWith Donny Shimamoto.Center for Accounting TransformationIn a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for professionals in any field, especially accounting. Recognizing this need, a group of ambitious students from Brigham Young University has created TechHub.training — a free online learning platform designed to help users from all skill levels master essential software tools and applications used in the accounting industryMore...

Rely on your professional network for answers you don't know.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrNancy McClelland never intended to start a firm, but after leaving a toxic work environment, she took on a few part-time gigs. Because she’d never worked at a CPA firm, she built her firm “the way it made sense” without bumping up against the traditions of “This is how it should be done.”The name of her firm – The Dancing Accountant – reflects her passion for dancing and membership in several dance...

Plus: The marketing myths that plague accounting firms.  Capstone Conversations.  With Jean Caragher  For CPA Trendlines Being a managing partner is tough enough, but now accounting firm leaders must master two new superpowers. And CPE won't help.   Complete show notes here.  |  Get more Capstone Conversations every Monday.  |  Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines.  |  Get Caragher's international best-seller, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms.  |  Catch Jean Caragher with Gear Up for...

Capstone ConversationsInformal and informative discussions with leading growth strategists from the nation's most dynamic CPA firms.With Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesBrenda Sleeper reflects on her path to the Association for Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame, where she joins an elite few as Bruce W. Marcus Lifetime Fellowship Members. Brenda is a Business Resource Network Relationship Director for the BDO Alliance, working with BDO alliance firms nationwide.Follow Jean Caragher on CPA...

Accounting Influencerswith Rob BrownIs the accounting profession facing an identity crisis? Can it adapt to meet the demands of a rapidly changing business landscape? Rob Brown brings together a panel of industry experts to discuss the future of accounting. Jeff Phillips, Maureen Dillmore, Samantha Louis, and Sandra Wiley share their perspectives on the profession's challenges and opportunities.More episode notes hereMore Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown hereThe panelists share their...

Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherCapstone MarketingInvesting in learning and development is essential for retaining and attracting staff. Developing a curriculum that includes both technical and success skills can help firms address the current talent shortage and prepare their employees for higher-value roles. Complete show notes hereMore CPA Trendlines podcasts hereMore Jean Caragher hereMore Gear Up for GrowthMore Capstone Conversations"We're going to see automation making a big impact...

Despite the rise of virtual events, live conferences remain essential for career growth and relationship-building in the accounting industry. Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationJoin Donny Shimamoto, Liz Mason, and Byron Patrick as they dive into the importance of attending in-person events versus virtual conferences. In this lively discussion, they explore how in-person connections, casual coffee line chats, and random encounters...

The firms that shift from billable hours to value outcomes will win.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrAlan Whitman wants to break the mold of public accounting. He wants to put an end to the billable hour and the siloed practices that characterize the way many firms have operated for decades. As Whitman says, “we’re here to serve clients, we’re here to deliver great value. But do we really need to do it the way we’ve been doing it since before my father was in the workforce?”  While “most firms...

Capstone ConversationsWith Jean CaragherWhat fun it is speaking with Bethany Silvis, marketing supervisor for Kerkering, Barberio & Co., who was named the Association for Accounting Marketing Rookie of the Year.  Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | Catch Jean Caragher every Friuday with Gear Up for Growth here |Bethany joined her firm in 2018 as the marketing coordinator. Since then, Bethany: Has...