Be the Firm You Want to Be

Every organization is perfectly designed to produce the results it’s producing. If you want a different result – you must change something. The originator of this phrase is debatable. Its premise is not. The business case for change is that firms that continue to do things as they have always done at some point will…

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People at the Center of CPA Firm 2015 Top Issues

The CPA Consultants’ Alliance (CPACA), a group of thought leaders working together to further leadership within the CPA profession, recently held its annual meeting to discuss the most pressing leadership challenges facing the CPA profession and identify solutions to address these challenges.  Following the meeting, CPACA members were asked to comment on the single most…

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Building Your Bench For Succession

Thousands of firms are working through the succession and retirement of senior partners and deciding along the way whether or not they can pull it off internally and stay independent. The single most important factor for success is what we see when we look over our shoulder – is the bench of people there to…

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Can You Afford to Buy-out the Retiring Partners of Your Firm?

Many firms are struggling with the prospects of paying retirement buyout payments for their senior partners who will be retiring in the next few years. In some cases, several partners will be receiving retirement buyouts simultaneously. The financial burden can seem daunting. As we have emphasized in earlier blogs, make sure you first have the…

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When Should You Commence the Execution of Your Succession Plan

A key factor in successful transition of clients, as a partner moves toward retirement, is how dependent the client has become on the individual, rather than dependent upon the firm.  In most firms, retirement benefits for partners are dependent upon the number of clients that remain with the firm. So, it is important that you…

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Can You Feel The Power Shift?

78 million Baby Boomers, born from 1946-1964 need to transfer responsibility, wealth, and assets over the next 12-15 years. It might be easy to lull yourself into believing that the impact of this is a ways off.  But studies estimate that 10,000 to 12,000 people are retiring every day and the impact in firms (and…

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A conversation with Managing Partners

I recently facilitated a panel discussion with three managing partners. The topic of discussion was around developing future leaders. They also shared best practices around creating a culture focused on creating value for clients, and not just what we ordinarily think of as value. True value and deep relationships that come from a focus on…

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