CPA Trendlines Podcasts

Liz Mason, a contributor to the evolution of accounting firms, Byron Patrick, an advocate for non-accountants in the industry, and Donny Shimamoto, an expert on their impact, discuss the game-changing role of diverse professionals in accounting. They highlight how skills from IT to HR enrich services. The conversation dives into the challenges of communication and trust with non-accountants, emphasizing their unique contributions. Together, they envision a more holistic approach to accounting, transforming it into a strategic business partner.

There aren’t enough of us to help everyone who needs our help.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrWhat would work look like if it reflected your passions? “Imagine,” says Sean Duncan, CPA, “if you worked with the people that you loved working with, talking about the things that you love talking about, and you made a living and helped them?” As Duncan says, “That’s just freakin' awesome!” Duncan was working at a large regional firm back in 2006 when he noticed that many small business clients were asking him for advice, but they couldn’t afford the fees of a large firm. So he started his firm out of “kind of this gut feel” of wanting to help those small business clients. Over the years, his firm, SMD Consulting and Accounting, has developed a specialty in working with video game developers, a special passion of Duncan's.  13 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Sean Duncan Disruptor Notes MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Ingrid Edstrom: True Wealth Is Not Financial | Chris Hervochon: Be the Leader You Want to Work For | Caleb Jenkins: Firm Growth Requires Owners to Shift Roles |Ira Rosenbloom: Don't Merge for the Money | Adam Lean: Get Out of the Accountant's Trap | Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | SEE THEM ALL here.

Accounting ARCWith Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationFor many accounting professionals, the Big Four firms represent the pinnacle of success—a destination for those with high aspirations. But for Rubik Yeriazarian, CPA, CFE, CFF, they were just the beginning. Specializing in forensic accounting, Yeriazarian knew from his college days that this was the path he wanted to follow. "Back when I was in college, Big Four were the only firms that offered forensic accounting," he recalls. "I knew that was my ticket in." EPISODE NOTES HEREAt the Big Four, Yeriazarian was exposed to complex forensic cases that shaped his career. He learned the ropes in an environment with vast resources and support, but something was missing. "You have a lot of support at a Big Four, but I felt like I needed more hands-on experience," Yeriazarian says. This realization led him to a boutique firm—a move that many of his peers questioned. 

Capstone ConversationsInformal and informative discussions with leading growth strategists from the nation's most dynamic CPA firms.By Jean CaragherFor CPA TrendlinesI was delighted to have a Capstone Conversation with Allison Schlegelmilch, director of marketing at RKL LLP and an  Association for Accounting Marketing Marketer of the Year.  Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here And catch Jean Caragher's other show, Capstone Conversations, with the profession's leading growth strategists, also available on CPA Trendlines. Why was Allison named Marketer of the Year? Well, let me give you an idea. In 2021, she elevated the RKL brand message with a bold new branding campaign and led her team's efforts to implement and adopt a new marketing automation and CRM solution. She lent her unique perspective to the firm's strategic plan and oversaw merger communications, brand integration, and marketing onboarding for two mergers in November 2021 and January 2022. In this episode, Schlegelmilch reveals: What she learned about herself as a result of the pandemic. What marketers can bring to their firms. How she built her marketing team.  Why it's important to celebrate the small wins. The roster of stellar guests in upcoming episodes includes: Brenda Sleeper from the BDO Alliance,  Carrie Steffen from The Whetstone Group,  Bethany Silvis from Kerkering, Barberio & Co.;  Joe Kovacs from Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell;  Korby Boswell from Adams Brown;  Lucas LaChance from Lane Gorman Trubitt; and  Sarah Cirelli from Grassi Advisors & Accountants.

Gear Up for GrowthWith Jean CaragherFor CPA Trendlines“More than half of the CPA firms in the country won't qualify to be part of private equity,” says Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting, appearing on Gear Up for Growth, a new show hosted by Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, and powered by CPA Trendlines.  Follow Jean Caragher on CPA Trendlines here. Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here And catch Jean Caragher's other show, Gear Up for Growth, with today's biggest newsmakers, also available on CPA Trendlines Part of the discussion explores the criteria private equity companies look for and the challenges firms may face in qualifying for PE funding. Koltin believes that more than half of the CPA firms in the country don’t make enough excess profitability to create earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to calculate an acceptable enterprise value. “Leaders of these firms tell me they’ll go back and get more profitable,” says Koltin. “How's about, let's stay as an independent firm. Let's put a level of governance in. Let's make the tough decisions we've been talking about forever, and let's really run it like a business. Let's not be a 501(c)(3) anymore. Let's just pretend we're in business to make money.” Other highlights include:  Learn how revenue size impacts a firm's ability to remain independent.  Find out about Allan Koltin’s three T’s – talent, technology, and transformation – and the fourth T that sparks worry.  Discover how EBITDA is an obstacle for many firms in obtaining investment and what to do about it.  Understand the role firm growth plays in attracting and retaining talent.  Learn how firms not receiving PE funding can compete with those who are.  At Capstone Marketing, Jean Caragher gets things done. With over 35 years of experience working solely with CPAs, Jean knows the challenges and opportunities firms face today. Her experience and knowledge and her practical approach help growth-focused CPA firms attract the best clients and talent. A well-respected industry specialist, Jean is an inaugural AAM Hall of Fame inductee, a multiple AAM-MAA award winner, and a CPA Practice Advisor Thought Leader. She has been named one of Accounting Today’s 100 Most Influential People twice.  Gear Up for Growth is tailored specifically for public accounting firms with up to 100 team members looking to expand their practices intelligently and efficiently. Each episode focuses on a topic crucial for accounting firms aiming for smart growth in today's competitive landscape. Upcoming episodes of Gear Up for Growth will feature more of the profession's brightest luminaries, including: Mark Koziel from Allinial Global on new business models for CPA firms, Tom Hood from the AICPA on the connection between recruiting and retaining the best talent with an environment of supportive learning, Joey Havens from Horne CPAs on the role culture plays in firm growth, and  Jen Wilson from ConvergenceCoaching on top-shelf people practices.

Quick Tax TipWith Art WernerCPE TodayArthur Joseph Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), is the president and founder of the professional education firm Werner-Rocca Seminars Ltd.Werner’s lecture topic specialties include business, tax, financial and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals.

Stephen M. Yoss, Jr., is a visionary CPA, a contributor to CPA Trendlines, and the entrepreneurial mind behind CPE Today.Get more Steve Yoss at cpatrendlines.com here: https://cpa.click/steve-yossStarting his tech journey at age 10, Stephen quickly progressed to establish his own IT company at 13 and began crafting software by 15. He holds a dual degree in Accountancy and International Business from Loyola Marymount, complemented by a Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology with a focus on Geographic Information Systems from Claremont Graduate University.Since 2017, Stephen has been at the helm of CPE Today's parent company, Devmatics LLC. He specializes in developing tailored software solutions, mobile apps, and sophisticated automation systems to solve complex, critical challenges for a variety of clients. His innovative approach to technology was first applied at his family’s firm, Yoss & Allen, where he revolutionized their technological infrastructure.As an authoritative speaker and prolific author, Stephen is a powerhouse in professional education, presenting at over 100 events annually and having authored more than 50 CPE courses. His sessions, packed with expertise and actionable insights, cover critical technology topics from cloud computing to preventing data breaches, artificial intelligence, automation, and empowering professionals across the globe.Stephen’s expertise in the realm of pyrotechnics is equally impressive. As a licensed pyrotechnician, he’s contributed to some of the nation’s most memorable fireworks displays, including the Macy’s July 4th Spectacular and the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th Anniversary celebrations, the annual Burning Man event, and many other shows around the country. His precision and creativity illuminate the sky, showcasing his dedication to this explosive art form.When he’s not developing software, enlightening professionals, or lighting up the sky with fireworks, Stephen indulges in his passions for music, community service, and the great outdoors. His commitment to community and adventure is evident, whether he’s at Burning Man or volunteering in his hometown of Big Bear Lake, CA.Dive deeper into Stephen’s blend of technological innovation, educational contribution, and pyrotechnic artistry at https://yoss.io.

Work-life balance means integrating work and life so that the work we choose to do expresses who we want to be in the world.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrIngrid Edstrom wants accounting to be not just a more sustainable profession but one that’s regenerative. “This idea of sustainability is really operating from the idea that things can continue to perpetuate as they are,” she explains. A firm may be financially sustainable, “but at what cost to our families, to our personal health?” The regenerative approach recognizes “that we’ve already passed a threshold of harm that needs to be healed,” Edstrom says. “Regenerative accounting is starting to reframe those ideas around 'What does it look like to go about business in a different way that is truly life-supporting for all peoples and our planet, rather than being extractive of our planet and exploitative of our peoples?'" 11 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Ingrid Edstrom Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Chris Hervochon: Be the Leader You Want to Work For | Caleb Jenkins: Firm Growth Requires Owners to Shift Roles |Ira Rosenbloom: Don't Merge for the Money | Adam Lean: Get Out of the Accountant's Trap | Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | SEE THEM ALL here.

Accounting ARCWith Liz Mason, Byron Patrick and Donny ShimamotoCenter for Accounting TransformationFew industries are poised for a dramatic transformation as accounting in the rapidly advancing world of artificial intelligence. This episode of the Accounting ARC show, "AI Will Take Your Job—And That's a Good Thing," explores the impending shift, offering a fresh and optimistic perspective on AI's role in the profession. EPISODE NOTES HERE The episode's hosts, Liz Mason, CPA, and Byron Patrick, CPA,CITP, CGMA; and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, delve into the implications of AI with a bold assertion: AI will indeed take over many accounting jobs, but this is a development that should be welcomed, not feared. [Corrected spelling of Liz Mason]

Leave the stone age behind. Join the new paradigm.The DisruptorsWith Liz FarrWhen Caleb Jenkins was eight, he started selling cookies to his dad’s firm during tax season. His dad told him, “For me to pay you, I need you to create an invoice for me.” So Jenkins set up his own QuickBooks file and has been playing with QuickBooks ever since, and eventually joined his dad’s firm.Like most small firms, RLJ Financial focuses on the fundamentals of tax, bookkeeping, and payroll, but, as Jenkins says, “in the eyes of the beholder, there's really not a whole lot of value there.” However, shifting into advisory – a big talking point in recent years for the profession – is where accountants can bring “incredible value …beyond the baseline of traditional compliance services,” Jenkins says. Shifting into advisory also means “there's way more work that happens all year round.” 10 MORE TAKEAWAYS: More Caleb Jenkins Disruptor Notes  MORE: Disruptors  MORE CPA TRENDLINES PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Ira Rosenbloom: Don't Merge for the Money | Adam Lean: Get Out of the Accountant's Trap | Geraldine Carter: Charging More is Better for Your Clients | Vimal Bava: When Working Smarter, Not Harder, Is the Only Option | Dawn Brolin Says Grow Your Firm by Shrinking It | Jason Blumer & Julie Shipp: Move Leaders Out of Client Service |  SEE THEM ALL here.