On this episode of Pulse of the Practice, hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller get candid about the real trade‑offs between remote, hybrid, and in‑office work—especially inside tax and accounting firms. Fresh off the Oct 15 deadline push, they unpack client "last‑minute" realities, staff learning curves, and why knowledge transfer, mentorship, and relationship building often accelerate when people share the same room. Mo and Paul compare what's truly efficient remotely vs. what benefits from in‑person...
Oct 14, 2025•27 min
In this Pulse of the Practice conversation, Paul Miller unpacks why the best “tax planning season” is all year long—not just Q4. With many firm initiatives already targeting 2026, Paul shares how leading firms translate today’s client conversations into concrete capacity, revenue, and staffing plans for the next 12–24 months. Key takeaways: Listen for life‑event signals. Clients rarely say “I need an exit plan.” They hint at transitions—succession, burnout, relocation, health, or market shifts. ...
Sep 30, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 15
In this episode of "Pulse of the Practice," hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller dive deep into the latest tax law updates impacting accounting and tax firms as we approach the fourth quarter of 2025. Discover practical strategies for communicating key legislative changes—like the expiration of the clean vehicle credit, updates to renewable energy incentives, R&D credit modifications, QBID (Section 199A), and bonus depreciation—with your clients. Learn how to break down complex information into di...
Sep 09, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 14
In this insightful episode of Pulse of the Practice, hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller reconnect to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of tax law changes and the impact on accounting practices. With recent travel and busy schedules behind them, Mo and Paul dive deep into how firms can proactively adapt to new legislation, including the "big beautiful bill" and its implications for tax credits, child tax exemptions, overtime income, and more. Listeners will gain actionable advice on how to stay ahe...
Aug 27, 2025•31 min•Season 2025Ep. 13
In this insightful episode of "Pulse of the Practice," hosts Mall Harbor and Paul sit down with Kevin Stewart, a seasoned CPA and second-generation firm owner, to discuss the journey from traditional compliance work to an advisory-driven practice. Kevin shares candid stories of taking over his father's firm, scaling to 55 employees, and confronting the overwhelming "hamster wheel" of accounting work. He reveals the pivotal moments that inspired a shift towards a value-based, client-focused advis...
Aug 19, 2025•17 min
In this insightful episode of Practice Pulse, host Mo sits down with industry veterans Paul and John for a candid conversation live from the Nashville Partner Summit. Together, they dive deep into the realities of modern accounting practice, addressing common challenges, the power of peer support, and actionable strategies for firm transformation. John, a CPA with 35 years of experience, shares his personal journey—discussing the pressures of running a firm, the impact of constant change in the ...
Aug 05, 2025•14 min
Join us for a dynamic live episode of “Pulse of the Practice” from the 2025 Advisory Symposium in Miami! Hosts Mo and Paul kick off with lively banter, audience engagement, and a look behind the scenes at the evolution of their own professional journeys. This special session dives into the rapid pace of innovation and adaptation in various industries, spotlighting the transformation of Amazon from humble beginnings to global powerhouse. Discover how Amazon’s relentless drive for innovation—and i...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2025Ep. 11
Summary In this episode, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller discuss the recent Partner Summit and the evolving landscape of advisory services in the accounting industry. They reflect on the challenges firms face, including pricing strategies, client relationships, and the impact of AI. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding client perspectives and the need for firms to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining strong relationships with clients. Takeaways AI is becoming a c...
Jun 24, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 10
Summary In this episode, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller engage with Trisha Floyd, a CPA firm owner, discussing her journey in transitioning from traditional accounting to advisory services. Trisha shares insights on the importance of client education, building trust, and the integration of wealth management into CPA practices. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of the service industry and the opportunities for CPAs to provide higher levels of service and support to their clients. Takea...
Jun 13, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 8
Summary In this conversation, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller discuss the evolving landscape of advisory services in the accounting and tax industry. They reflect on their recent experiences at a conference, the importance of understanding what advisory truly means, and the challenges firms face in delivering value to clients. The discussion highlights the need for structured advisory services, the role of technology, and the importance of client relationships. They also touch on the future of advisory...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 209
Summary In this episode, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller engage with Michael Foguth, a prominent figure in the financial services industry. They discuss Michael's journey into financial services, the importance of tax planning, current trends in wealth management, and the role of AI in enhancing client relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for collaboration between financial advisors and tax professionals to provide comprehensive services to clients. Michael shares insights on how to educ...
May 13, 2025•34 min•Ep. 208
Summary In this conversation, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller discuss the complexities of client management in the advisory sector, emphasizing the importance of proactive engagement and understanding the annual client cycle. They explore the challenges of balancing technology with client needs, the significance of routine communication, and the necessity of shifting mindsets regarding tax preparation. The discussion highlights strategies for building successful client relationships and managing expect...
May 02, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 207
In this conversation, Mo and Paul discuss the challenges of navigating tax season, the evolving nature of client engagements, and the generational shifts in client expectations. They explore the role of meetings in client relationships, emphasizing the need for effective communication and understanding client dynamics. The discussion highlights the importance of adapting to new client behaviors and the necessity of balancing traditional practices with modern expectations. Navigating tax season c...
Apr 15, 2025•26 min•Ep. 206
In this episode, Mo and Paul discuss the evolving landscape of advisory services in the context of AI and technology. They explore how AI tools like ChatGPT are being integrated into client interactions, the importance of maintaining a human element in advisory roles, and the future implications for professionals in the industry. The conversation highlights the need for advisors to adapt to changing client expectations and the potential for AI to enhance, rather than replace, the advisory relati...
Apr 01, 2025•26 min•Ep. 205
Paul and Mo discuss how important it is to reset a client relationship and provide tips on how to do that on a regular basis.
Mar 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 184
Paul and Mo are back to check on the pulse of the practice!
Mar 04, 2025•22 min•Ep. 203
It's bittersweet moment as Paul and Mo reflect on key moments this year and what they're looking forward to in 2025.
Dec 24, 2024•26 min
Paul and Mo discuss the new AI-powered tech with Ready to Advise during Thomson Reuters SYNERGY.
Dec 09, 2024•12 min•Ep. 201
Mo surprises Paul with a special Pulse of the Practice Anniversary announcement.
Dec 03, 2024•10 min•Ep. 200
Paul and Mo are joined by Adrian Johnson, Chief Product Officer with SafeSend. They discuss how the use of technology has helped many firms address challenges within their workflow, both on the front-end and on the back-end, and how this is an ongoing evolution and growth.
Oct 08, 2024•24 min
Paul and Mo are joined by Michael Horwitz, Executive Director of BDO Alliance USA. They discuss recent trends in the profession, challenges, and opportunities.
Oct 01, 2024•26 min
Paul and Mo have a casual conversation about tax deadline, challenging relationships, evaluating and grading those relationships, and how to communicate scope changes to clients.
Sep 17, 2024•26 min
In this week's episode, Paul and Mo are joined by Brady Lievens, Chief Revenue Officer with Protection Plus. They discuss notices and audits and how Protection Plus partners with, and offers Tax and Accounting firms defense services.
Sep 10, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 199
In this week's episode, Mo goes back in time.. into the school days, and asks Paul about student loans and tax and planning stragies.
Sep 04, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Paul and Mo are joined by Thomas J (TJ) Sabotka, Managing Partner of O'Brien Shortle Reynolds & Sabotka, PC. TJ shares his firm's journey, acquisitions, and how being the leader of change and having a coaching mindset are both important contributors to his success.
Aug 20, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 197
In this week's episode, Paul and Mo are joined by Tim Petrey, the CEO of HD Growth Partners. They have a discussion around the challenges and opportunities in the past, the current, and the future accounting firm.
Aug 13, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Paul and Mo go LIVE from Carlsbad, CA during the Thomson Reuters annual Advisory Symposium, interacting with a live audience for the first time, and bringing them an exciting conversation with Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA. Tom is currently the EVP Business Growth & Engagement for AICPA-CIMA and the Business Learning Institute. He was named in the top three most influential people in accounting by Accounting Today Magazine for the eleventh year. His focus is elevating and accelerating the role o...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 195
To guilt or not to guilt! In this week's episode, Paul and Mo have a discussion on a specific prospective client situation, and the conflict between the feeling of guilt and the right time to say No.
Jul 30, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Paul and Mo are joined by Nathan Nelson, Attorney and Co-Founder of Virtus Law, as they have a part 2 discussion around the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rules and managing client information.
Jun 18, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Paul and Mo have a discussion around their experience of the first Partner Summit in 2024! They recall some highlights from the event and how the mindset of many peers in the profession has shifted into understanding advisory and realizing value.
Jun 11, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 192
