CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Private equity is redefining influence, and only agile, change-ready professionals will survive.Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownIn the next 36 months or so, nearly half of accounting leaders could find themselves labeled as legacy problems. That’s the stark prediction in the latest episode of Accounting Influencers, where host Rob Brown unpacks how private equity is fundamentally reshaping the rules of leadership, authority, and influence in the profession. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown As private equity (PE) firms continue to invest heavily in accounting, they're accelerating transformation—and not everyone is keeping up. “This is not just about writing big checks,” says Brown. “It’s a power shift that rewards adaptability, speed, and strategic boldness over patience and technical seniority.”

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Differentiation, confidence, and connection can transform firms.Capstone ConversationsBy Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesBonnie Buol Ruszczyk, founder of BBR Companies and one of the accounting profession’s most respected marketing strategists, joined Jean Caragher for a compelling episode of Capstone Conversations—this time as a newly inducted member of the Association for Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame.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 for Growth, here. | And browse all the shows in the CPA Trendlines broadcast network here Ruszczyk, who was also named AAM’s Volunteer of the Year in 2014 and has made Accounting Today's Top 100 and CPA Practice Advisor’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting lists, spoke candidly about how far marketing has come in accounting—and how far it still needs to go.“Accounting marketers bring a perspective to firm strategy that many partners don’t have,” she says. “It’s not just about brochures and branding—it’s about growth strategy, mergers, business development, and client alignment.”Despite industry progress, Ruszczyk says many firms still struggle to stand out in a crowded market. “Everyone says, ‘our people are great,’ but that’s just noise,” she says. “What clients care about is: what can you do for me?”

Emerging professionals and a Gen X CFO explore mentorship, curiosity, and why success no longer wears a suit and tie.Accounting ARCWith Arpan Grewal and Chayton FarleeCenter for Accounting TransformationWhen you think of accounting, do you picture spreadsheets and number crunchers locked in back offices? Think again.In a special student-led edition of the Accounting ARC podcast, high school senior and Center for Accounting Transformation intern Arpan Grewal joins college accounting student Chayton Farlee and seasoned professional Nealy Wheat, CAE, SPHR, for an energetic and thoughtful conversation about the changing face of accounting—and what it means to succeed today. MORE Accounting ARC: 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 Wheat, who serves as chief financial and administrative officer of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), shares hard-won career wisdom and personal stories to inspire the next generation. But this isn’t your typical “how I made it” narrative. Instead, listeners are treated to an open dialogue about failure, growth, curiosity, and the power of building your network early.“Success is not a straight line,” Wheat says. “It’s a lattice of opportunities, setbacks, and mentors.”

SALT changes may not be as sweet as clients think.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayTax guru Art Werner doesn’t pull punches—and when it comes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction limits in the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill,” he’s sounding the alarm for tax pros across the country.“This was the one area under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that had the most screaming going on,” Werner says, referencing the uproar he witnessed during live lectures in high-tax states like New York and California. “They were really angry.”Click here for more Art WernerWhile early rumors suggested the SALT cap might rise dramatically—perhaps even to $40,000—the current proposal sets the limit at $30,000 for married filing jointly and $15,000 for married filing separately, tripling the current $10,000 cap. That might sound like a win… until you read the fine print.

As language evolves, clarity and authenticity are more important than ever.MOVE Like ThisWith Bonnie Buol RuszczykFor CPA TrendlinesIn this episode of MOVE Like This, host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk welcomes Cass Bailey, CEO of Slice Communications, for an insightful discussion on how firms—especially those in professional services—can effectively communicate their organizational values in a way that resonates in today’s polarized environment. With deep experience in public relations, crisis management, and employee communication, Bailey offers guidance for navigating sensitive topics while maintaining alignment between internal culture and external brand. MORE MOVE Bailey opens the conversation by sharing Slice Communications' journey from a traditional PR firm into a strategic communications agency. Today, her team helps businesses manage both their public reputation and internal messaging, especially when facing scrutiny around workforce practices and company culture.

Don’t be the next victim. Spot--and stop--fraud early.   Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayOccupational fraud remains one of the most pervasive and costly threats to organizations worldwide—and many companies may be underestimating the risk. A recent Quick Tech Talks episode delves into key findings from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' (ACFE) 2024 Report to the Nations, uncovering the mechanics behind the world’s most common types of fraud and the staggering financial toll they exact. MORE Steve Yoss here MORE TECH The numbers are alarming: Occupational fraud is responsible for losses equaling up to 7% of global GDP, or more than $5 trillion annually, according to the ACFE. These crimes don’t just target large corporations—they impact businesses of all sizes and sectors. In this episode, listeners are guided through the three major categories of occupational fraud—asset misappropriation, financial statement fraud, and corruption—and shown how each can quietly undermine an organization’s integrity and profitability.

Accounting must abandon toxic traditions, prioritize people over profits, and rebuild its mentoring culture—or risk losing the next generation entirely. The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrYuri Kapilovich didn’t set out to become #TheFunCPA. It started as a casual hashtag when he shared photos from buses and bikes, but it stuck—especially after a networking event where attendees misread his booth sign and started calling him “The Funk PA.” The nickname became a brand, but it also reflects his deeper mission: bringing humanity and humor back to a profession that’s burning out its best talent. CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES: The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: 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 | Jacob Schroeder: AI Won’t Replace Accountants—But It Will Reveal Who’s Replaceable | Ditching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | Jean Zick: Happy Team = Happy Clients | Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Kapilovich, founder of Kapilovich & Associates, believes the root of accounting’s talent shortage is simple: misplaced priorities. “We, as a profession—especially in the larger firms—have lost sight of the fact that the number one asset we have is our people,” he says. “It’s not the clients.”When firms put clients ahead of staff, the result is a toxic cycle: long hours, low pay, and outdated leadership practices that make accounting look like a dead-end career. “Why would I do accounting,” Kapilovich asks, “when I can do finance or computer science and make six figures right out of school?”

"No one wants to leave the IRS more than they have to." By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™For CPA TrendlinesAn estimated 10 to 12 million Boomer-owned businesses are expected to transition over the next decade. That’s a massive wave of planning, liquidity events, and legacy questions. Yet experts say most owners don’t engage advisors until they’re well into the deal process. MORE Rory Henry and The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management BUY the Holistic Guide to Wealth Management “By the time they come to us, they’ve often already signed a letter of intent,” laments Randy A. Fox, CFP, AEP, founder of Two Hawks Family Office Services, on a recent panel discussion for contributors to my new book, Holistic Guide to Wealth Management. “That shuts the door on a lot of the strategies that could have helped them keep more of what they built,” Fox added. Fellow contributor and panel discussion guest Christine Nicholson, author, business consultant, and exit planning specialist, has worked with hundreds of owners. She sees the same distorted view of reality cloud their thinking -- owners mistakenly assume their kids will take over and believe their business is worth far more than it really is.

...And the 8 emerging leadership paths that can help you rise to the top...Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownIn the world of accounting, influence is no longer the exclusive domain of Big Four alumni or Ivy League pedigrees. Each December, Accounting Today releases its Top 100 Most Influential People list, highlighting leaders who shape the profession. The surprising truth behind many of these selections? Over 70% started from modest beginnings, without elite credentials, but with a clear strategy for building career capital. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In a recent episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, host Rob Brown delves into the evolving landscape of leadership in accounting. “This isn’t about popularity or vanity metrics,” Brown says. “It’s about curating influence—the kind that drives innovation, fosters relevance, and moves the profession forward.”