In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, small business CFOs are navigating complexities that demand more than spreadsheets and manual processes. In this episode of The Modern CPA Success Show, Ahikam Kaufman, co-founder and CEO of SafeBooks AI, explains how AI is transforming financial operations, enhancing data integrity, and streamlining decision-making. With over 20 years of experience in Fintech and corporate finance, Ahikam shares practical insights on using technology to elevate C...
May 13, 2025•42 min•Ep. 139
When the time comes to consider selling, it’s easy to feel buried in uncertainty and daily chaos. How do you prepare your business for sale? In this episode, Tom Wadelton and Adam Hale from Summit Virtual CFO by Anders walk you through what it really takes to prepare your business for sale. They share straightforward insights into how to think beyond putting out daily fires and start making strategic moves that increase the value of your business. Adam and Tom break down key valuation metrics li...
Apr 15, 2025•44 min•Ep. 138
Many firms find themselves delivering outsourced accounting but struggling to break into true advisory work. In this episode of The Modern CPA Success Show, Amy Bridges, Senior Manager of CAS Professional Services at CPA.com, shares how firms like yours can build a thriving CAS practice that’s scalable, efficient, and impactful. Amy's journey into the world of CAS is anything but ordinary. With a background in mathematics, software, and education, she brings a unique perspective to how firms can...
Apr 01, 2025•41 min•Ep. 137
In our year end wrap up: Jody, Brett, Tom, Hannah, and Jamie share favorite moments from the show, podcasting resolutions and holiday gift wishes. the hosts reflect on personal anecdotes and provide their aspirations for the upcoming year. They also introduce a new behind-the-scenes team member. "If we have the ability to make our clients feel like heroes, that’s a complete home run. For me, that was very impactful and has changed the way we present things." – Tom Wadelton The finer details of t...
Dec 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 136
Title : Why Did the Accountant Cross the Road? To Connect with Clients on a Deeper Level! Quote : "My clients had and still have amazing reputations in what they do. Most of them don't need huge numbers of new clients; it's more about reputation management and keeping the marketing ticking over." -Chantal Cornelius Summary : In this episode of the Modern CPA Success Show, the host and Tom Walton, a virtual CFO at Anders CPA and Advisors, engage with Chantal Cornelius, founder of Appletree Market...
Dec 09, 2024•47 min•Ep. 135
" As an owner of a business, it’s really nice to have control, knowing what’s coming in, what’s going out, and how much cash I have. " -Adam Hale Summary : In this episode of the Modern CPA Success Show, hosts Tom and Adam discuss their firm's cash flow management service. They highlight the critical role of cash flow in business health, distinguishing it from financial forecasting. Their service includes a 13-week cash flow forecast, regular cash flow meetings, and detailed tracking of accounts...
Nov 25, 2024•11 min•Ep. 134
"If you want to understand your pricing, I need to know what your service packages are. If you want to understand how you're going to onboard a client, I need to know what your service package is." - Adam Hale The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of service packages for accounting firms, focusing on clarity in offerings, pricing, and alignment with target client segments to enhance relevance and value. ● Structuring service packages using a "small, medium, large" model to cater to dif...
Nov 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 133
In this special episode of The Modern CPA Success Show, four speakers with Halloween-themed personas—Jamie Nightmare, Hannah Hexed Hood, Adam Haunted Hale, and Joey Killing Kenny—engage in a lively draft-style discussion about their favorite Halloween movies. Jamie, the enthusiastic host, sets the stage and outlines the draft rules. Hannah humorously admits her limited horror movie experience, while Adam and Joey share their deep knowledge and personal anecdotes. The conversation is filled with ...
Oct 31, 2024•47 min•Ep. 132
"They swapped out ‘accounting’ for ‘advisory’ in CAS, but I still believe it’s 'client accounting and advisory services.' At scale, especially with small businesses, it’s hard to separate the two. You need a foundational understanding of their accounting model to help architect it in a way that truly tells their story." – Adam Hale The finer details of this episode: The shift from compliance work to advisory roles in accounting. Differences between traditional accounting firm structures and matu...
Oct 28, 2024•21 min•Ep. 131
“If you're only working in the business, you're doing it wrong. Cut your activities in half. You have to free up time to think about the business, to work on the business.” – Simon Severino The finer details of this episode: • Transition from traditional tax-based practices to advisory-oriented services in accounting. • Challenges faced by accounting firms in defining and marketing their services. • Importance of understanding client needs and delivering tailored solutions. • Decoupling time fro...
Oct 14, 2024•44 min•Ep. 130
“I love Excel. It's helped me save so much time over the years, and when I began thinking about Excel more like an employee that I can delegate stuff to, it helped me save an incredible amount of time.” – Jeff Lenning The finer details of this episode: • Strategies for leveraging Excel to improve efficiency • Continuous learning and development in Excel • Common pitfalls and challenges in Excel usage • Mindset shift from "if" to "how" in using Excel • Role of AI in enhancing Excel skills • Struc...
Sep 30, 2024•42 min•Ep. 129
“The smartest people in the world know where their expertise ends and someone else's begins. We all need to understand that because if we're on the right team, everybody wins.” – Michael Clarke The finer details of this episode: • Transitioning from individual-centric practices to sustainable business models in professional services. • Importance of teamwork and collaboration among professionals serving the same clients. • Common mistakes made by professional service providers in managing their ...
Sep 16, 2024•47 min•Ep. 128
“Procrastination is a huge problem, but the bigger problem is the lack of awareness of the need for owners to start planning now, whether you're selling in three years or 13 years.” – Adam Koós The finer details of this episode: Financial strategies for clients with appreciated properties Challenges faced by business owners in managing real estate assets and company structures Tax implications of selling a business and recasting financials Importance of proactive financial planning and business ...
Sep 02, 2024•46 min•Ep. 127
“The reason I started Modeliks is because it took me three weeks to create a proper financial model in Excel for every new client. With our predefined financial model template, you have that handed to you on a plate.” – Blagoja Hamamdjiev The finer details of this episode: Discussion about business planning and financial reporting software for startups and small businesses Main features of Modeliks software, including financial planning, budgeting, and advisory services Importance of driver-base...
Aug 19, 2024•49 min•Ep. 126
“The total relationship is about making life better for the client, focusing on what they need in the next 6 to 12 months, and helping them prioritize their financial decisions.” –Tyson Ray The finer details of this episode: The concept of the "total relationship" in financial planning The importance of understanding clients' short-term goals and concerns The role of wealth advisors in understanding clients' motivations and aspirations Proactive planning and collaboration between financial advis...
Aug 05, 2024•45 min•Ep. 125
Episode Notes: “Our mission is to educate, inspire, and support accountants, financial advisors, and CFOs who are representing a client with a need for any type of entity filings, entity setup, entity expansion, or payroll tax registration services.” – Nellie Akalp The finer details of this episode: Services offered by CorpNet and their benefits for accountants and clients Challenges faced by accountants in providing comprehensive services to their clients Importance of accountants offering enti...
Jul 22, 2024•53 min•Ep. 124
“In the American workplace, 80% of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. If your people are stressed and they're not talking to you about it, that's a clue that you need to change something in your organization.” – Joey Kinney The finer details of this episode: ●Stress management in the workplace and at home ●Challenges of setting boundaries and prioritizing tasks in work-life balance ●Impact of stress on personal lives and managing ...
Jul 08, 2024•36 min•Ep. 123
“Your Spidey sense has to be high during onboarding. If you start to sense frustration from the client, there might be something else that you need to dig into. I might send them a quick note and say, ‘hey, do you mind if we talk tonight?’ and I offer up my cell phone number. I've never had a client abuse it. In fact, as you start to build those relationships, they'll text you just like your friends; they don't talk business. It's really important that you establish that relationship and that co...
Jun 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 122
“Spending time onboarding can be tough for firms because it's not billable, but it is probably more important for the value proposition.” – Chris Papin The finer details of this episode: Scoping, setting boundaries, and having next step conversations with clients Subscription-based model and building slack into engagements Managing scope creep in advisory work Impact of economic changes on client needs Aligning client and firm expectations Implementing change orders for additional services Onboa...
Jun 10, 2024•44 min•Ep. 121
“These aren't just numbers; numbers represent things that people care about, and when you start thinking about it that way, that's when you get clients who stay with you for life.” –Jeff Bartsch The finer details of this episode: Importance of storytelling and communication skills in the accounting industry Strategic use of storytelling, empathy, and understanding deeper motivations of clients in the context of financial numbers and business strategy The role of communication skills in human con...
May 27, 2024•46 min•Ep. 120
“Telling the story behind the figures is not about compliance; it's about triggering an action in the heads of business owners.” –Soufyan Hamid The finer details of this episode: Importance of storytelling in finance Practical tips for effective financial communication Transforming financial data into compelling narratives Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at mcpasuccessshow@...
May 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 119
“ The accounting profession historically has been like taking a trip with an atlas that’s 10 years out of date. However, today, what we can do with modern accounting and advisory services is much like the Waze app or Google Maps; you're getting instantaneous data that will tell you ‘Up ahead there's a roadblock and here's a workaround.’ This real-time info keeps you on track with your financial forecast. You can't make any business decisions on historical information; you must have current infor...
Apr 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 118
“We did a lot of due diligence; we landed on Guadalajara, Mexico not only because of time zone, cultural assimilation, and a direct flight from the west coast but its citizens are highly educated, so there's a big pool of talented individuals working there.” – Martin Moll The finer details of this episode: Discussion of nearshoring and its benefits for accounting firms Differences between nearshoring in Mexico and offshoring in India Challenges and advantages of nearshoring, including nurturing ...
Apr 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 117
“At the end of the day, it's first impressions. If you get a flat tire those first couple of weeks, it’s just going to really resonate through the entire relationship. You're never going to be able to win back that trust." -Adam Hale The finer details of this episode: ● Importance of onboarding for CPA firms ● Setting clear expectations and creating a process for onboarding ● Activities involved in the onboarding process (accounting discovery, advisory discovery) ● Role of project management and...
Apr 01, 2024•17 min•Ep. 116
“The pipeline meeting delivers so much value; it's a strategic conversation around the best way to allocate resources.” – Adam Hale The finer details of this episode: Need for accurate data in pipeline management Strategic implications of pipeline meetings Challenges of waiting percentages in pipeline management Methods for evaluating and forecasting pipeline opportunities Tools and strategies for pipeline management Advice for looking forward and utilizing pipeline management Timestamps: Pipeli...
Mar 18, 2024•20 min•Ep. 115
“ESG is not a measure of ‘good company versus bad company.’ ESG is a collection of roughly 200 different metrics around environmental, social, and government governance data. The way I look at ESG is, it's a measure of transparency; how much information do I have to make an informed decision about a company?” – Kai Gray The finer details of this episode: The changing landscape of ESG adoption and its extension to smaller companies Regulations and disclosures required by federal agencies for gove...
Mar 04, 2024•55 min•Ep. 114
The finer details of this episode: Challenges of finding and retaining CPAs Strategies for attracting and retaining talent Hiring local talent vs. offshoring Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ If you have questions or would like to be a guest on the show, email us at [email protected] Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://vcfoplaybook.summitcpa.net/ https://jcgcpafirm.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcgcpa/...
Feb 19, 2024•49 min•Ep. 113
The finer details of this episode: Ideal clients for tax savings and retirement planning strategies, including cash balance plans Flexibility and tailoring of retirement plans to client's financial situation Maximizing contributions to reduce tax liabilities and increase retirement savings Strategic planning and minimizing disruption in retirement savings strategies Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ If you have questions or would like to be a gue...
Feb 05, 2024•46 min•Ep. 112
“I believe that business thrives when it's driven by human connection. And that human connection happens when you take ordinary messages and elevate them into something extraordinary. And you can do the exact same thing in business; you can take what some people might consider ordinary and connect humanity to it—driving business results in the process.” – Jeff Bartsch The finer details of this episode: Importance of storytelling in engaging clients in the accounting industry Applications of stor...
Jan 22, 2024•43 min•Ep. 111
“Don't let the needs of the present get in the way from the needs of the future. Build that future, invest now, and it'll pay for itself in the long run.” – Joey Kinney The finer details of this episode: Importance of training and developing the advisory mindset Challenges of merging existing processes during onboarding Building relationships and personal connections with clients Episode resources: Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/ If you have questions or would li...
Jan 08, 2024•51 min•Ep. 110
