"This is the golden age of opportunity for accounting marketers. Let’s seize it.” Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Accounting marketing has come a long way since the landmark Bates v. State Bar of Arizona case, which 45 years ago allowed professional services firms to market their services. Today, as firms navigate digital transformation, client experience, and talent challenges, marketing plays an increasingly pivotal role. Capstone Conversations brought together a pan...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min
"The accounting profession today is living its golden age, driven by its expanded capabilities." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines In a landmark episode of the Gear Up For Growth podcast, Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the longest-serving CEO in AICPA history, joined host Jean Caragher to share his invaluable insights on the evolution of the accounting profession. After 30 years at the helm of the AICPA, Melancon stepped down at the end of 2024, leaving a profound legacy of in...
Jan 03, 2025•42 min
Learn why the upcoming busy seasons could be among the most demanding in recent memory. Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today According to seasoned tax educator Art Werner, the next busy season may be the last of what he calls a "lull period." Preparers are currently working under existing laws, dealing with the tax returns for the 2024 calendar year. However, significant changes are expected on the horizon. Click here for more Art Werner “The fact is, busy season in 2025—and especially 2026—w...
Jan 02, 2025•2 min
Accounting ARC wraps 2024 with insights and bold 2025 predictions. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation Since its launch in May, the Accounting ARC podcast, hosted Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, has quickly gained traction as a thought leader in accounting. As the year concludes, the trio reflects on their journey and the pressing issues reshaping the industry. MORE Accounting ...
Dec 29, 2024•39 min
Risk-taking and transparency emerge as key drivers for success in accounting marketing. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines When Katie Lyles joined Dallas-based accounting firm Lane Gorman Trubitt at the end of 2019, she anticipated a role focused on coordinating live events. Little did she know, her career trajectory would be shaped by a global pandemic, propelling her into a spotlight she hadn’t foreseen. In 2021, Lyles was named the Association for Accounting Marketing ...
Dec 23, 2024•20 min
In a world of AI, outsourcing, and shifting client expectations, accountants can remain indispensable. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Michael King’s journey to becoming a fractional CFO and mentor to accounting professionals is as unconventional as it is inspiring. A former nuclear submarine engineer, King transitioned into the world of business management, eventually running a $90 million facility. His lack of understanding of financial principles at the time ignited his passion for empo...
Dec 20, 2024•30 min
Save time and reduce errors with automated transaction mapping. Quick Tech Talk With Steve Yoss CPE Today Artificial intelligence is a game-changing technology. Its ability to take on tedious processes allows accountants to focus on higher-value work. A prime example is bank feeds in applications like QuickBooks, Xero, and other accounting platforms. MORE STEVE YOSS MORE TECH Bank feeds already streamline workflows by pulling transaction data directly into accounting systems, but AI takes it fur...
Dec 19, 2024•2 min
"I’d rather have questions I can’t answer than answers I can’t question." Accounting ARC With Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation Ron Baker discusses his revolutionary journey in accounting, his challenge to the status quo, and how accountants can lead transformation. MORE Accounting ARC: Angie Grissom: Next Gen Inspo for Accountants | Does Accounting Belong in STEM? | Rose Wang: Where Numbers Meet Strategy and Creativity | TikTok Fraud Exposes Gaps in Financial Literacy | How ...
Dec 18, 2024•37 min
Create a win-win with "The ROI Method of Value Pricing." The Disruptors With Liz Farr In 2016, Jackie Meyers needed a change. Long hours, health issues, and missing out on her kids’ activities forced her to make a radical change. She leaned into tax advisory and tried a new value pricing methodology, which “tripled to quadrupled revenue for our clientele,” even after selling 60 percent of her clients. FULL show notes here | MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jack Flaherty: Don't Be a 'Yes' Person | Greg ...
Dec 17, 2024•38 min
Firms that embrace marketing as a strategic priority unlock opportunities for growth and differentiation. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines The world of accounting marketing is one of transformation, resilience, and adaptability. Few individuals embody these qualities as profoundly as Lauren Clemmer, the former Executive Director of the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) and one of its most recent Hall of Fame inductees. In a recent Capstone Conversation, Clemmer...
Dec 16, 2024•22 min
Accountants who stay silent risk disappointing--and probably losing--clients. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Accountants, take charge of your client relationships—that was the call to action from Susan Bryant, CPA, on a recent episode of Accounting Influencers. The episode, hosted by Rob Brown, highlights Bryant’s mission to empower accountants to refine their client base, set professional boundaries, and elevate client interactions to meet today’s high expectations. Full Show Notes Here ...
Dec 14, 2024•31 min
“Leadership and culture define the future of accounting firms.” Accounting ARC With Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation When Angie Grissom first stepped into a Nashville-based consulting firm, she likely didn’t foresee owning and transforming it. Yet, over two decades later, she leads The Rainmaker Companies, a firm dedicated to empowering accounting professionals through leadership development, business growth strategies, and culture-building initiatives. MORE Accounting ARC: ...
Dec 11, 2024•21 min
The next generation is purpose-driven, and the firms that lean into this will retain scarce talent. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Jack Flaherty believes that one of the most important business skills is on the wane: the art of decision-making. “We're all becoming ‘Yes’ people. We don't want to have an objective discussion, bringing out different ideas,” Flaherty says. The unfortunate result is that “it's causing us to make decisions that don't allow us to achieve our goals.” FULL show notes here ...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 2 min
The Hall of Famer explains why understanding buyer behavior is the toughest—and most rewarding—part of the job. Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines A trailblazer in the field, Sarah Dobek was recently inducted into the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) Hall of Fame, cementing her status as a Bruce W. Marcus Lifetime Fellowship Member. With over two decades of experience in accounting and professional services marketing, Sarah shares her insights, challenges, and s...
Dec 09, 2024•37 min
Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today Every CPA, EA, and tax professional should attend at least one federal tax update program annually. It’s like stretching or warming up before intense exercise. Show notes here | More Art Werner A tax update serves two main purposes and demonstrates your value: prep for tax and expand client value....
Dec 08, 2024•3 min
In an era when traditional models fail, accountants should rethink relevance, client experience, and the power of language. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Accounting visionary Ed Kless challenges the profession to move beyond the traditional billable hour and embrace a proactive, subscription-based model. In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Kless, known for his strong stance on abolishing hourly billing, offers actionable insights into how accountants can redefine their services an...
Dec 07, 2024•21 min
"Every client interaction is a marketing opportunity." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Marketing has evolved from a client acquisition tool to a vital part of a firm's overall strategy. “When we first started marketing firms, it was all about bringing in the client and not worrying about anything else,” says August Aquila of Aquila Global Advisors and author of the new CPA Trendlines practice manual, " MAX: Maximize Productivity, Profitability and Client Retention " Full...
Dec 06, 2024•40 min
Quick Tax Tip With Art Werner CPE Today We are anticipating changes to tax laws that could significantly impact clients, either positively or negatively, depending on the structure of their businesses. Full show notes here | More Art Werner One major consideration is the type of business entity the client operates. The options include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Within corporations, there are further distinctions: C corporations or those that have made an S election....
Dec 05, 2024•3 min
Accounting experts debate STEM designation and its implications for the accounting field. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation As accounting evolves into a technology-driven profession, a question looms: Does accounting qualify as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field? On the latest episode of Accounting ARC, thought leaders hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CG...
Dec 04, 2024•37 min
"Good accountants focus on tasks, but great ones focus on outcomes." Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown WealthAbility founder and veteran CPA Tom Wheelwright dives into the essential strategies for client-centric service and relationship-building in accounting. Hosted by Rob Brown, this episode explores how accountants can elevate their client relationships, optimize billing practices, and bring joy back into their work. Full Show Notes Here | More Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here I...
Nov 30, 2024•32 min
Moving beyond a "partner-driven" model is essential to scale operations and continue growth. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines While many skills contribute to effective leadership, Gary Shamis, president & CEO of Winding River Consulting, says executing strategic plans is the most critical. Full episode notes and video here | More Gary Shamis on The Private Equity Hazards for Young Partners, Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown here | Gear Up for Growth spotlights the...
Nov 29, 2024•32 min
Accounting ARC With Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation As the accounting profession expands beyond its traditional boundaries, Rose Wang represents a new wave of CPAs who bring strategic thinking and entrepreneurial savvy to the table. With roles as a principal consultant at both IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC and Apaira Group LLC, Wang has carved a career path that spans accounting, business strategy, and now, authorship. SHOW notes here | MORE Accounting ARC: TikTok Fraud Expo...
Nov 27, 2024•28 min
Accountants need to write their own stories. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Greg Adams believes that accountants' work opportunities have long been underappreciated and misunderstood. When accountants at parties are asked what they do, Adams explained that they always have to give the “but answer,” as in, "I’m an accountant, but I have a really cool job." SHOW NOTES here | MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jody Padar: Make Radical Changes Now If You Want to Be Relevant in 2030 | Rebecca Driscoll: Amplify ...
Nov 26, 2024•54 min
Capstone Conversations By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Glen Carmichael, digital marketing coordinator at YHB CPAs and Consultant, is pushing the firm's newsletter to more than 55,000 recipients, growing educational webinars to 23, and garnering 64,000 blog readers annually. And she's just getting started, 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 Caragher's other show, Gear Up fo...
Nov 25, 2024•17 min
Private equity in accounting could boost firm value, but at what personal cost? Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In a deep dive into private equity’s involvement in accounting, Gary Shamis, CEO of Winding River Consulting, describes how investment firms see value in the sector's steady cash flows and resilient recession history. “It’s not that accounting is recession-proof,” Shamis states, “but its inherent stability during economic downturns is highly appealing to investors.” He adds that ...
Nov 23, 2024•30 min
"Speed and being nimble are critical to being able to try new things and iterate quickly." Gear Up For Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Alan Whitman, CEO of ADW Advisory, formerly led Baker Tilly U.S. through a meteoric rise from $475 million to $1.5 billion in revenue. In this episode of Gear Up For Growth, he shares his wealth of experience and insights. Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up ...
Nov 22, 2024•40 min
Social media users jumped on a Chase ATM “free money” scheme—but the consequences were severe. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto. Center for Accounting Transformation In the age of social media, financial misinformation can spread as rapidly as it’s created, and the Chase Bank ATM scam exemplifies this. MORE Accounting ARC: How Accounting Pros Own the Stage in Public Speaking | Greg Kyte: Being a CPA Is Like Being the Marie Kondo of Numbers | Rachel Bashore: A Law...
Nov 20, 2024•31 min
Your pricing isn’t aligned with the future, and neither is your business model. Plus: 18 more takeaways. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Jody Padar, The Radical CPA, has been pushing for big changes in accounting for years. Her latest book, Radical Pricing , is a blueprint for firm owners who want to fully transform their businesses to serve clients better, make employees happier, and be more profitable. Padar maintains that combining pricing with standardization and productization drives firm prof...
Nov 19, 2024•58 min
"Marketing CPA firms in a sea of sameness is challenging, but when you niche down, the possibilities are limitless." By Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines In the latest episode of Capstone Conversations, Stacy Dreher, the Director of Practice Growth at James Moore & Company and the Association for Accounting Marketing’s (AAM) 2024 Marketer of the Year, dives into the world of accounting marketing and offers applicable advice for CPA firms of all sizes. Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines he...
Nov 18, 2024•34 min
Having a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and auditing one's skills are essential to continuous learning and development. Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown Bailey Parnell, owner of Skills Camp, emphasizes the importance of soft skills in the workplace, particularly in high-pressure professions like accounting. She stresses that grit is just one element of resilience and that soft skills are often the skills that characterize our relationships with ourselves and others. Parnell also explains...
Nov 16, 2024•32 min
