The firms winning with AI aren't the ones implementing every tool they can find. They're the ones being strategic about what actually moves the needle.

Rachel Ferris learned this firsthand when she built TaxStack AI, not because she wanted to start a software company, but because she needed a solution that didn't exist. As a tax advisor specializing in Puerto Rico's Act 60, she was spending hours researching complex state-specific cases. ChatGPT seemed like the answer, until it started citing Reddit and Quora as sources. When she'd call it out, it would cheerfully admit, "You're right, that's actually not correct." That's when she realized: if she wanted AI that actually worked for tax research, she'd have to build it herself.

In this episode, Rachel shares how she created a platform that sources directly from actual tax code, IRS forms, and treasury regulations, so you get accurate answers with citations you can trust. But more importantly, she breaks down the difference between firms that will thrive with AI and firms that will struggle: it's not about adopting everything, it's about adopting responsibly.

The conversation covers:

• Why ChatGPT's fact-check problem makes it dangerous for tax research (and how to fix it by sourcing your own database)
• The cautionary tale of firms that went all-in on AI integration in 2024, only to abandon everything six months later 
• Why now is the time to pause and evaluate rather than frantically adopt every AI tool that hits the market
• How AI should free you up for higher-value advisory work with existing clients, not just help you take on more volume
• Ed Kless's "transformation economy" concept: moving from providing transactions to providing transformations
• The three-pillar approach to attracting and retaining young talent: technology + mentorship + entrepreneurship mindset
• Why mandatory mentorship programs fail (and what actually works instead)
• How being genuinely curious about people has opened more doors than any technical skill Rachel has learned

Rachel also breaks down why firms that use AI responsibly will win, while firms that use it to cut personality and human connection will lose clients. She explains why young people crave personal connection more than you think, why entrepreneurial-minded accountants connect better with business owner clients, and how spending three hours talking to a Pizza Hut franchise owner taught her more about business than any textbook.

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode, Yuri (aka "The Fun CPA") explains why now is the perfect time to build the kind of firm where people genuinely want to work. He's spent four years building a following on LinkedIn by saying the things that managers and senior accountants at big firms are thinking but can't say out loud. 

His mission is to change the perception of accounting by showing what's possible when you prioritize people, mentorship, and actually enjoying the work you do.

The good news is that students aren't avoiding accounting because they don't want meaningful work. The firms that figure out how to create those better options internally will win the talent game for the next decade.

The conversation covers:

• Why visibility into firm life (thanks to Reddit and Fishbowl) is actually helping the profession by forcing transparency and accountability
• How forward-thinking firms are building cultures where people genuinely want to stay, creating competitive advantage in a tight talent market
• The opportunity for firms that invest in mentorship and long-term thinking, while others chase short-term efficiency metrics
• Why the current moment is perfect for CPAs who want to build firms differently (or work at firms that prioritize culture over billable hours)
• How Yuri's Mentors Count community is filling the mentorship gap for accountants in their first five years
• The rise of networking events that people actually enjoy attending (and why that matters for building genuine professional relationships)

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It―Unlock Your Persuasion Potential in Professional and Personal Life: Voss, Chris, Raz, Tahl 

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Introduction of Yuri Capilovich and his mission in accounting 

03:10 - Yuri's background and career path into accounting and technology 

07:30 - The real problems holding accounting firms back 

12:45 - AI as an enabler, not a replacement 

18:30 - Using technology to improve client experience and firm margins 

23:40 - The mindset shift firm owners must make to scale 

29:10 - What forward-thinking firms are doing differently right now 

34:50 - Final thoughts on the future of the profession

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

If your best accountants are walking out the door, it's probably not about the money. 

In this episode, Tim Schurrer (CEO of David Novak Leadership and author of "The Secret Society of Success") reveals the leadership principle that grew Yum! Brands from $4 billion to $32 billion, and it has everything to do with solving what's plaguing CPA firms right now: the talent crisis.

Here's the reality: when your senior accountant flawlessly closes out another month, files returns ahead of deadline, or navigates a complex client situation without you even knowing there was a problem, they become invisible. 

That's the curse of excellence in accounting. 

And while you're focused on billable hours and realization rates, your best people are quietly wondering if anyone actually notices the value they bring.

We talk to Tim about how his company studied companies that built decades-long dynasties (Walmart, Southwest Airlines), and found one non-negotiable: they created cultures where everyone counted. Not through pizza parties during busy season or casual Friday perks, but through systematic recognition that made people feel genuinely seen for their contributions. 

Tim breaks down how this translates directly to CPA firms struggling to keep talent.

In this episode, we cover:

• The two reasons people quit (spoiler: your compensation package isn't fixing either of these)
• The danger of taking "the joy of the decision" away from your team, especially during tax season when you're tempted to control every client interaction
• How firm owners can stop micromanaging review notes and start empowering staff to own client relationships (with the right training framework)
• Why so many managing partners hit burnout chasing revenue targets that don't actually align with what success means to them personally
• The "empowerment is an earned right" framework that lets you delegate without losing quality control

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

You've spent years developing your next generation of partners, but what happens when they don't want to lead, can't secure financing, or simply aren't the right fit to take over? 

In this episode, our Ontario Market Leader Darryl Boyd, reveals why so many multi-partner firms are discovering that their "default" internal succession plan isn't working, and why external sales often deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.

Over his decade with Poe Group Advisors, Darryl has helped the Canadian M&A landscape transform from earnout-heavy transactions to all-cash deals that prioritize fit over spreadsheets. 

We explore the uncomfortable truth about internal succession: technical excellence doesn't equal business leadership, and the partner who's great at client work may have zero interest or aptitude for running the firm.

The conversation highlights that:

• Why exhausted accounting firm owners often just need better systems, not an exit strategy
• How private equity is slowly earning trust in Canada, and why most CPA firm sellers still choose CPA buyers
• The hidden assumptions killing Accounting M&A deals (like the "25% client loss" myth with zero data behind it)
• Why the best transactions happen when both parties forget about price and focus on whether the handoff will actually work

We also tackle the massive variability across firms that makes a cookie-cutter valuation worthless: profitability, owner workload, geographic markets, and cultural dynamics all impact valuation more than sellers realize. Whether you're a multi-partner firm wrestling with succession, a solo tax practitioner planning your exit, or a buyer trying to understand what sellers really care about, this episode will challenge your assumptions about how accounting practice transitions actually work.

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa Smith who is a functional medicine dietitian, gut-health expert, and founder of Lisa Smith Wellness. We explore the realities of deep stress and the health impacts that so many accounting firm owners quietly carry. We start by talking about the concept of “deep stress,” how it differs from everyday overwhelm, and why professionals who juggle multiple roles often don’t realize their bodies are stuck in long-term survival mode. Lisa breaks down the signs many CPAs ignore: waking up tired, constant tension, reliance on caffeine or wine, disrupted sleep, brain fog, and that ever-present feeling of being “on.”

Timestamps:
03:55: Introducing the concept of deep stress
05:58: How stress impacts sleep and cortisol
07:57: What entrepreneurs consistently overlook in wellness
10:50: Habit change and understanding personal motivators
12:52: Redesigning your life and business through intentionality
16:34: Long-term health implications of unmanaged stress
18:59: Feeling trapped in your business and how to begin unwinding it
23:05: Reducing stress and improving clarity
24:26: Price’s Law, the Pareto Principle, and understanding real productivity
29:14: Pre-tax-season tips for improving energy and well-being
30:46: The “campfire method” for stabilizing daily energy
34:29: Lisa’s book recommendations for leaders and entrepreneurs

Lisa’s Resource Recommendations:

• Prepare Your CPA Firm for A Sale by Brannon Poe [https://poegroupadvisors.com/prepare/]
• Atomic Habits by James Clear [https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299]
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson [https://www.amazon.com/Slight-Edge-Turning-Disciplines-Happiness/dp/1626340463]
• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151]
• Traction by Gino Wickman [https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837]
• The Common Path to Uncommon Success by John Lee Dumas [https://www.amazon.com/Common-Path-Uncommon-Success-Fulfillment/dp/1400221099]
• Journaling Guide: [http://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal]

Connecting with Lisa: 

•  Listen to my Pretty Well PODCAST https://apple.co/3Y2IbSZ
•  Visit my Website https://lisasmithwellness.com
•  Read my Wellness BLOG  https://lisasmithwellness.com/blog/
•  Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/
•  [email protected] 

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode, we sit down with returning guest Nick Sinclair, founder and chairman of TOA Global, one of the largest accounting outsourcing companies in the world. Nick shares the unlikely origin story of how a leadership trip to the Philippines revealed the talent  and scalability his own firm desperately needed. This inspired him to build what has now become a powerhouse with more than 4,500 team members serving over 1,100 firms worldwide. His personal “why” behind the business was shaped by watching his parents lose everything when he was young. This drives his mission to ensure more people get the financial advice they need by helping firms leverage the offshoring support they need to deliver high-touch service.

• 00:37 – Introduction to Nick and his background
• 02:46 – How TOA Global began
• 04:10 – Early offshoring lessons and growing pains
• 06:40 – The unexpected demand that revealed a real business
• 07:43 – Nick’s personal “why” and decision to scale globally
• 09:12 – Why the Philippines has such strong accounting talent
• 11:25 – Why every accounting firm needs a people plan
• 13:30 – Industry capacity issues and long-term global staffing strategy
• 15:07 – How offshoring perceptions have evolved
• 16:19 – Quality challenges, cultural misunderstandings & outsourcing stigma
• 18:00 – Outsourcing reveals internal firm weaknesses
• 19:16 – Offshoring accelerates local careers
• 20:00 – People are the product in accounting firms
• 22:20 – Human connection as the profession’s long-term differentiator
• 23:02 – Why training and quicker competency paths matter
• 25:06 – Building career plans and accelerating development
• 27:39 – Challenges firm owners face when building global teams
• 28:56 – Cultural nuances in leading global teams
• 31:21 – Leadership, flexibility, and knowing your people
• 32:30 – Nick’s most memorable career moment
• 34:23 – Book recommendation: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
• 35:24 – Where to connect with Nick: LinkedIn 

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode of The Accountant’s Flight Plan Podcast, we sit down with Kristen Corey, founder of Media Books Agency, to talk about how accountants can use marketing to strengthen their brand, attract ideal clients, and communicate value beyond compliance work. With experience in both public accounting and marketing, Kristen shares how her journey from working as an auditor to owning her own marketing agency taught her the importance of storytelling and connection in the profession.

Key Timestamps

00:57: Introduction of Kristen Corey and her journey from auditor to marketer

03:00: Building a marketing career abroad and launching Media Books Agency

07:00: The importance of communication skills for accountants

10:10: Why every firm needs marketing, even if referrals are strong

13:05: Using AI tools like ChatGPT for tone, content, and creative brainstorming

16:31: Marketing strategies for small accounting firms under $5M

17:29: The power of newsletters and relationship-based marketing

20:41: Under-the-radar marketing tactic: consistency on social media

23:54: Funny story: catching potential fraud during an internship

27:20: Book recommendation: Extraordinary Circumstances by Cynthia Cooper

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode of The Accountant’s Flight Plan Podcast, we sit down with Jody Padar, known across the industry as The Radical CPA, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the accounting profession. Jody shares her journey from founding one of the first cloud firms in 2010 to working in tech startups like Botkeeper and now launching her newest venture, XcelLabs. Her mission is to prepare firms for 2030 by building AI-first practices that leverage automation to expand the capacity for empathy, client connection, and creativity in order to transform advisory work.

Timestamps:

00:00: Using AI strategically to enhance advisory work
01:06: Jody’s career journey and launch of XcelLabs
04:00: PE capital, fintech, and aging leadership disrupting the accounting industry
08:00: How money movement and tech are transforming accounting
10:11: How to leverage AI to build deeper client relationships at scale
13:20: PE-driven competition for top accounting talent
14:26: Using AI to rewrite firm operations and scale
15:24: ChatGPT, Claude, and creative thinking over automation
23:20: Using AI for unbiased performance feedback
27:35: Book Recommendation: Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can and Can’t Do

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

In this episode of The Accountant’s Flight Plan Podcast, we sit down with Mike Schwarz, CEO of MyZone AI, to explore the evolving need for modern accounting firm leaders to adopt AI. In this episode, we discuss how AI is impacting the world and what the projected implications are for small business owners in every industry. 

There are some key strategies for implementing AI in this episode. We encourage you to learn about the ways it can help your business without becoming overwhelmed by it. Even just thirty minutes a day learning AI tools can add up to major advances in your accounting firm. Watch in the player above or listen through the player below to hear more!

Timestamps:

00:00-02:30: Introduction of Mike Schwarz

03:10-06:45: Rethinking firm capacity and leadership challenges

08:15-11:30: Building systems that balance efficiency and employee well-being

11:40-13:10: AI as a catalyst for change in compliance and advisory work

17:50-19:30: Leveraging AI for efficiency and expanding firm capacity

23:15-25:00: Maintaining the human advisory touch alongside automation

25:45-28:00: Leading through change and fostering trust in new tech

28:00-29:45: The future of AI in predictive analytics and decision-making

31:00-33:30: Advice for firm owners navigating transformation

33:45-End: Closing thoughts and how to connect with Mike

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template

Quality leadership that grows your accounting practice isn’t about pushing your team to work harder. While it may sound counterintuitive, modeling a healthy, balanced life is what actually moves the needle. In this episode of The Accountant’s Flight Plan, Rob Dube opens the conversation by emphasizing that when leaders prioritize wellness, the team will follow suit. This results in less burnout, fewer mistakes, better client service, and a more harmonious work environment. If you are happy in your work and life, your team and CPA practice will thrive as well. 

Brannon and Rob also discuss the importance of vulnerability and authentic connection to maintain effective leadership. By sharing your personal story with partners, employees, and close peers, leaders build trust and authentic engagement. Some practical ways to start doing this could be asking for feedback from your close friends and peers on what your strengths and weaknesses are, allowing leaders to shed their “armor”. This can lead to more self-awareness and foster deeper relationships and a higher-energy workplace.

To conclude, Rob and Brannon discuss the importance of setting boundaries to prioritize high-value work. The effectiveness of avoiding hustle culture, taking time off, and delegating lower-value tasks ensures that leaders remain energized for what truly matters. By focusing on purpose, energy, and mindful action, leaders can build resilient teams, sustainable practices, and more fulfilling lives.

Timestamp List: Key Sections:

• 02:00 - Introducing The Ten Disciplines
• 04:00 - Climbing the Two Mountains: Achievement vs. Meaning
• 07:00 - Chaos vs. Awareness: Tuning Into Your Body
• 11:00 - Understanding the Driven Personality
• 14:00 - Vulnerability and the Inner Story
• 21:00 - Practical Steps to Peel Back the Armor
• 26:00 - Combatting Hustle Culture and Setting Boundaries
• 31:00 - Delegating and Avoiding Low-Value Work
• 37:00 - Resources and Key Takeaways

Download Now: https://poegroupadvisors.com/accounting-practice-academy/increase-letter/

Price increases are nothing to fear. The real challenge is effectively informing clients of these changes. Our templates will help you demonstrate your value and help clients understand the increases necessary to keep your firm afloat.

*Download now and receive:*
- (1) Major Fee Increase Letter Template
- (1) 20% Fee Increase Letter Template