The Modern CPA Success Show

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 this episode:

Personal anecdotes and reflections on podcasting experiences.Highlights of me...

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 Marketing and author of "Stand Out Strategies."...

"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 receivable and payable. Emphasis is placed on the importance of reconciling bank a...

"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 different client needs, manage resources, and improve client onboarding and communication.

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 playful banter and passionate debates as they each select and defend their top horror film picks, creating an engaging and entertaining Halloween-themed episode.

"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 mature CAS practices.Importance of leveraging resources and delegating tasks within accounting firms.Financial metrics and profitabili...

“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 from value in professional services to enhance profitability.
• Strategies for effectively packaging and pricing advisory services.
• The role of marketing in diffe...

“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
• Structure and offerings of Excel University
• Key Excel functions and...

“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 firms.
• Strategies for building trust and effective communication with clients.
• The significance of understanding and targeting ideal clients for growth.
• The role of support st...

“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 propertiesChallenges faced by business owners in managing real estate assets and company structuresTax implications of selling a business and recasting financialsImportance of proactive financial planning and business transition for business owners

 

Episode resources:

Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have quest...

“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 businessesMain features of Modeliks software, including financial planning, budgeting, and advisory servicesImportance of driver-based financial planning and its impact on business resultsCost-effectiveness and pre-defined financial model templates by industry within the softwareIntegration of financial tables and charts...

“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 planningThe importance of understanding clients' short-term goals and concernsThe role of wealth advisors in understanding clients' motivations and aspirationsProactive planning and collaboration between financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneysEducating clients about tax planning, investment decisions, and trade-offsSeeking deeper, more fulfilling connections beyond just financial matters

Episode resources:

Summit Virtual CFO by And...

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 clientsChallenges faced by accountants in providing comprehensive services to their clientsImportance of accountants offering entity filings, setup, expansion, and payroll tax registration servicesCorpNet’s partner program and its benefits for accountantsManaging compliance requirements for clients' business entitiesBenefits of outso...

“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 competing interests

●Role of leaders in addressing recu...

“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 connection.” – Adam Hale

The finer details of...

“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 clientsSubscription-based model and building slack into engagementsManaging scope creep in advisory workImpact of economic changes on client needsAligning client and firm expectationsImplementing change orders for additional servicesOnboarding and spending time on non-billable activities

Episode resources:

Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/If you have questions or would like to be a guest...

“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 industryStrategic use of storytelling, empathy, and understanding deeper motivations of clients in the context of financial numbers and business strategyThe role of communication skills in human connection, client retention, team management, and business growthThe core outcome of storytelling as human connection and building trust

 

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