CPA Trendlines Podcasts

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act can reward smart planners—and punish the unprepared.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayIn the aftermath of the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), taxpayers and businesses alike are scrambling to determine whether they stand to gain or lose under the sweeping changes. But according to tax authority Art Werner, the dividing line between winners and losers is clear: those who plan will win; those who don’t will lose. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines’ Rick Telberg. “There are always winners and losers in a tax bill,” Werner says in the latest Quick Tax Tip podcast. “But the best answer I can give at this point is that the winners are going to be the people who plan.”

“You can’t ask people to act like partners and then treat them like employees.” Big 4 TransparencyBy Dominic Piscopo, CPAFor CPA TrendlinesIn an industry marked by incremental change and cautious tradition, Tim Petrey, managing partner at HD Growth Partners, is going all-in on a radical reimagining of what an accounting firm can be. Speaking on the Big 4 Transparency Podcast, Petrey shares how his firm has abandoned the tired trappings of the old model - mandatory billable hours, rigid promotion timelines, and siloed service delivery - in favor of a more dynamic, entrepreneurial approach. And he isn’t just talking about change, he’s living it.  MORE Dominic Piscopo | MORE Private Equity | MORE Pay & Compensation The episode dives deep into how HD Growth Partners embraces a consulting-first approach, using accounting services as a wedge rather than a foundation. The firm encourages team members, even juniors, to build one-on-one relationships with clients. Petrey believes the best learning happens on the job, with mentorship layered into real-world client work. This, he argues, is what keeps staff engaged and clients loyal. 

Automate common workflows, ensure accuracy, and free your time for higher-value work.Quick Tech TalkWith Steve YossCPE TodayFor years, QuickBooks Online (QBO) has been a go-to accounting platform for small and midsized businesses. Now, its Advanced Edition takes efficiency to a whole new level by introducing robust workflow automation features designed to eliminate repetitive tasks and keep financial professionals focused on what matters most. MORE Steve Yoss here | MORE TECH Imagine never having to manually send invoice reminders, route approvals, or post recurring journal entries again. With QBO Advanced, automation handles it for you. The platform now offers numerous automations to help you ensure accuracy, increase transparency, and allow you to focus on the work that means the most to you.

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CPAs can help guide four types of client transformation - and break through their own listlessness.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrRon Baker has been pushing accountants to change how they think and how they operate their businesses for decades, starting more than 20 years ago by ditching the timesheet, and followed recently by adopting a subscription approach to services. Now that more than half of CAS firms have abandoned hourly billing, according to the latest CPA.com CAS benchmark survey, it’s time for accountants to move from providing services to guiding transformations.    CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES:The 100th Episode of The Disruptors MORE STREAMING: Brolin: The W.I.N. Leadership Formula | Gertrudes: How EOS & “Unreasonable Hospitality” Reshaped GrowthLab | Vilms: The Power of People in a Tech-Driven World | Dickerson: From Diagnosis to Disruption | Kapilovich: Treat People Like People | 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 | Baker’s latest endeavor with co-founder Ed Kless, Threshold, aims to support accountants and other professionals in moving into the transformation economy. Threshold is a membership community where professionals can receive guidance, attend meetings and webinars, and learn from each other.  

Firms that prioritize outcomes over hours are better positioned to innovate, retain clients, and empower teams.By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™For CPA TrendlinesOn the latest episode of The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management, Loren Fogelman, founder of Business Success Solutions, and Mike Maksymiw, CPA, Executive Director of Aprio Firm Alliance, share strategies for firm growth, profitability, and sustainability. Their discussion covers value-based pricing, client relationships, team culture, leadership authenticity, and the role of technology in shaping the accounting profession’s future. MORE Rory Henry and The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management BUY the Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Fogelman argues that firms often avoid raising rates out of fear of alienating long-time clients, but that reluctance undervalues their services. She stresses that a structured approach to rate increases allows firms to retain most clients while improving profitability.The first step, she explains, is identifying which clients are profitable and which ones drain resources. By focusing on “what’s behind the money,” firms can better understand client goals and position themselves as consultants rather than technicians.

Nonprofit employees face a new tax reality on fringe benefits.Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayFor years, employers could offer free or subsidized parking or public transit passes as a valuable fringe benefit without triggering extra tax for employees. Businesses could deduct the cost—up to an inflation-adjusted $325 per month in 2024—while employees enjoyed the perk tax-free. Click here for more Art Werner Catch more Art Werner, Wednesday, Sept. 3, for Tax Rumors, Episode 3, with CPA Steve Yoss, and hosted by CPA Trendlines’ Rick Telberg. That changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Now, if a business deducts the cost of parking or transit benefits, employees must count it as taxable income. Employers can still shield employees from the tax by choosing not to deduct the expense.

Firms blame culture and training, yet AI, real estate, and talent pressures tell a different tale.Accounting InfluencersWith Rob BrownThe push to bring accountants back to the office is gaining momentum, echoing trends at corporate giants like JPMorgan, Amazon, and Meta. While firms frame return-to-office (RTO) policies as a way to boost collaboration, mentorship, and culture, industry observers question whether the real motivations include cost control, talent reshaping, and even quiet workforce reductions. MORE Accounting Influencers with Rob Brown In the latest episode of Accounting Influencers, host Rob Brown examines the drivers behind RTO in accounting, from Big Four mandates to real estate obligations, and explores whether being in the office truly advances careers or simply serves firm agendas.

Tough client calls, tax planning, and better leadership turned hard knocks into growth.It's Not Just the NumbersWith Penny Breslin and Damien GreatheadFor CPA TrendlinesWhen Lang launched Upside CFO, he didn’t set out with a grand blueprint. “If we’re being honest, we started off with simple bookkeeping,” he says. Over time, his firm evolved into a multi-faceted practice offering fractional CFO services, tax planning, and even financial planning partnerships. Along the way, he admits to trial and error. “Sometimes I do smart stuff. Sometimes I don’t,” Lang laughs. MORE Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead MORE Advisory & Consulting BUY "It's Not Just the Numbers" Yet from that messy middle came clarity: the future of advisory services lies in translating numbers into strategy, choosing the right clients, and building processes that can scale without sacrificing value.

Developing “power skills” like trust and coaching are critical.Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesEmployee experience is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative, says Kassi Rushing, CEO and owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting. Appearing on Gear Up for Growth—hosted by Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, and powered by CPA Trendlines—Rushing shares practical insights for firms aiming to attract and retain top talent. More Gear Up for Growth here. | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here The episode highlights two critical shifts firms must embrace:  Employee experience drives business performance, and Leadership must evolve with generational expectations.