After working with over 1,000 accounting firms, from solo practices to firms generating over $100 million, Petar Iliev has a pretty clear view of what separates firms that stay dependent on the owner from those that can actually scale. 

Petar joins Yuri to talk about the shift from running a practice to building a business. What is the “standard”? What should you know, or prioritize? 

They also get into how Petar would build an accounting firm from scratch, why he would choose a specific niche, and how he would handle everything from finding leads to onboarding and retaining clients. 

Along the way, Petar shares some practical ideas around pricing, communication, automation, and AI that firm owners can start applying without completely rebuilding their businesses. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - How TaxDome identifies high-intent leads 

0:50 - Meet Petar Iliev 

3:14 - Electronic music and European work culture 

9:00 - What successful accounting firms do differently 

14:38 - Building a business that can run without you 

20:40 - How Petar would build an accounting firm 

28:20 - Niche marketing, industry events, and SEO 

30:12 - Using lead scoring to find serious prospects 

36:46 - Why speed wins accounting clients 

40:30 - How successful firms use AI and automation 

46:25 - Creating a better client experience 

53:14 - Retention, pricing, and service packages 

1:02:00 - Turning feedback into reviews and referrals 

1:06:40 - Building a client status tracker with AI 

1:07:38 - Balancing business and Brazilian jiu-jitsu 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH PETAR ILIEV 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/p-iliev/ 

Website: https://taxdome.com/ 

Bad tax advice has never been easier to find.

Jasmine DiLucci is a tax attorney, CPA, and enrolled agent who has built a large online following by calling out illegal strategies and the people selling them.

She joins Yuri to talk about why unqualified influencers gain so much credibility online, why disproving their claims takes far more work than making them, and what people misunderstand about the tax strategies used by the wealthy.

Jasmine also shares how she took over her parents’ firm, fixed its billing and client problems, and grew it into a team of 45 people. They get into pricing, firing bad clients, building the right team, and how educational content helped Jasmine establish trust with better clients.

The wealthy still plan around taxes. They just understand that saving money is rarely worth risking the entire business.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:53 - Meet Jasmine DiLucci

2:42 - Becoming a tax professional in high school

4:28 - Why bad tax advice wins online

9:08 - Growing up in a family tax firm

14:07 - Taking over and fixing her parents’ firm

17:36 - Why accountants struggle to communicate their value

19:07 - How better clients eliminate most firm problems

27:20 - Growing the firm to a team of 45

28:40 - Jasmine’s accounting firm technology

31:55 - How Jasmine started creating tax videos

36:00 - Managing the demands of social media

40:07 - Creating a roadmap for legal tax planning

43:31 - The real risk behind viral tax strategies

45:48 - How wealthy people make tax decisions

49:32 - Closing thoughts and where to find Jasmine 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Newsletter: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JASMINE DILUCCI

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@taxleverage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taxleverage/

Website: https://jasminedilucci.com/

A $500,000 firm with employees may not leave its owner much better off than a $300,000 solo practice.

Aaron Zimmerman joins Yuri to talk honestly about that tradeoff and the kind of accounting firm he actually wants to build. After leaving his job and launching Brickhouse CPAs, Aaron grew the firm to roughly 75 clients and 120 tax returns while developing a niche serving real estate investors.

Rather than chasing headcount or revenue for its own sake, Aaron has focused on strong pricing, better-fit clients, and enough flexibility to spend time with his family. He shares how he found his first clients, why he started with three-tiered pricing, and how a solid financial foundation gave him the freedom to turn down work that didn’t make sense.

Aaron and Yuri also compare their technology, workflows, and client experience before digging into the bigger question facing many firm owners: once the business provides a great income and lifestyle, what exactly are you scaling toward?

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:41 - Meet Aaron Zimmerman

2:13 - The reality of owning a CPA firm

4:10 - Building a niche around real estate investors

6:21 - Aaron’s path from employee to firm owner

9:18 - Cutting through information overload and technology choices

11:30 - Preparing financially to launch a firm

15:36 - Finding clients through local real estate communities

20:48 - Raising prices as the firm approaches capacity

22:49 - The tradeoffs of hiring and scaling

28:22 - Projecting $250,000 to $300,000 in revenue

30:27 - Reducing administrative work before tax season

31:39 - Aaron’s accounting technology stack

40:51 - Managing workflows and creating a better client experience

43:55 - Aaron’s four-and-a-half-month honeymoon

47:16 - Controlling the workload instead of chasing more revenue

49:00 - Building a firm without building a large company

51:43 - Final advice and where to connect with Aaron 

SPONSORS

Today' episode is sponsored by Stanford Tax: Helping you manage tax document collection in the smoothest way possible. Aaron does a deeper dive on how he uses Stanford Tax in his firm around 31 minute marker. 

Go check them out: https://stanfordtax.com/

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Newsletter: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

CONNECT WITH AARON ZIMMERMAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondzimmerman/

Website: https://www.brickhousecpas.com/

Mike Libbey joined his father’s accounting firm straight out of college, becoming its first employee and working alongside him from the family living room. Today, Mike is a partner and COO at YBL, a modern virtual firm with approximately 30 employees and $3.75 million in annual revenue.

Mike shares how the firm grew, why hiring an operations manager changed what he believed was possible, and how he gradually removed himself from client work to focus on strategy, technology, and growth. He also explains why firm owners should document their processes before they need to hire, even if that means simply turning on Loom and talking through the work as they do it.

The conversation also looks at AI’s rapidly expanding role in accounting. After building roughly 40 internal and client-facing apps, Mike believes the profession’s future is not simply about producing tax returns faster. It is about using technology to become a more deeply integrated financial partner while continuing to provide the judgment and peace of mind clients actually value.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:44 - Meet Mike Libbey

2:16 - Joining his father’s accounting firm

5:16 - Growing up around the accounting grind

10:50 - From two people to a 30-person firm

13:13 - Building a modern firm without the traditional CPA path

18:17 - Early hiring mistakes and the importance of operations

24:01 - How to document, delegate, and escape client work

31:11 - Knowing when the firm can afford its next hire

35:05 - Revenue, profit, and defining the firm you actually want

39:25 - Creating space to experiment with AI

41:43 - Building useful apps without knowing how to code

46:38 - What AI means for the future of accounting

52:02 - The changing role of entry-level accountants

55:12 - Protecting work-life balance while running the firm

58:15 - Building a public presence through YouTube and social media

1:02:05 - Final thoughts on making accounting more fun 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH MIKE LIBBEY

LinkedIn: Mike Libbey | LinkedIn 

Website: https://mikelibbey.ybl.ca/

More money does not automatically create peace of mind. Without a healthy relationship with money, greater wealth can simply magnify the same anxiety, guilt, and uncertainty that were already there. 

Matt Fizell, CFP® and founder of Harmony Wealth, joins Yuri to explore the human side of financial planning. Matt shares how early experiences shape the way people save, spend, and invest, and why even highly successful clients can struggle to enjoy what they have built. The real goal is not always maximizing the number. Sometimes it is understanding what “enough” looks like and creating a plan that gives someone permission to live. 

The conversation also turns to the relationship between financial planners and CPAs. Matt and Yuri discuss how better communication, clearer expectations, and thoughtful pricing can create stronger partnerships for everyone involved. They also examine what it means to build a firm intentionally, work with the right clients, and charge enough to make the work sustainable. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Why more money does not eliminate financial anxiety
 0:55 - Meet Matt Fizell of Harmony Wealth
 2:18 - Leaving commission-based insurance for fee-only planning
 6:39 - How wealth magnifies your relationship with money
 11:57 - When disciplined savers struggle to enjoy their success
 15:25 - Financial planning beyond investments
 20:44 - Bitcoin, speculation, and investment regret
 25:58 - Building a comprehensive financial plan
 30:28 - Better partnerships between CPAs and financial planners
 38:22 - Advisory work, communication, and fair compensation
 43:36 - Setting minimum fees and qualifying referrals
 45:14 - Designing the firm and client base you actually want
 52:14 - The problem with complicated pricing models
 55:43 - Wake surfing with country singer Jake Owen
 59:01 - The future of CPA and financial planner collaboration 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT FIZELL 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fizell-0606134a/ 

Website: https://planwithharmony.com/ 

In this episode of The Fun CPA Podcast, Yuri sits down with Daniel Pinkous, founder and CEO of Truss, for a conversation about the messy, frustrating reality of tax workflow.

They talk about why client document collection still creates so much friction for CPA firms, how Truss is trying to make that process easier, and why the best software should remove headaches instead of creating another system to manage.

Daniel also shares the story behind building Truss, from entering the accounting space as an outsider to bootstrapping the company through some very real founder pressure. It’s a conversation about better systems, better client experiences, and building something that actually solves the problems firm owners deal with every day.

Join my new newsletter here:  https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

Learn about Truss here: https://gettruss.link/thefuncpa

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:03 - Meet Daniel Pinkous and Truss

2:52 - How Daniel found the CPA workflow problem

5:15 - What Truss does for tax firms

7:04 - Why client intake breaks down every year

13:41 - Replacing the traditional portal experience

16:30 - Using AI to clean up document collection

20:50 - Smarter questionnaires and client checklists

25:19 - Automating workpapers and tax organization

30:00 - Prep partnerships and outsourcing options

36:23 - Max AI, transcripts, and reducing missed items

41:02 - Making return delivery easier for clients

44:10 - Building Truss without outside funding

49:40 - The hard moments of bootstrapping

53:14 - Faith, support, and staying grounded

57:36 - Where to find Daniel and Truss 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH DANIEL PINKOUS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-p376152/

Website: https://gettruss.link/thefuncpa

 Mike Payne joins Yuri to talk about building BOSS Advisors, growing the firm to more than $2 million in revenue and eventually selling it. 

They discuss how Mike combined accounting and legal services under one roof, landed a major client during his first week in business and dealt with the pressure that came with the firm’s growth. Mike also shares what led him to sell, how he chose the right buyer and what life has looked like since the acquisition. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Working 36 hours straight and hitting burnout 

0:50 - Meet Mike Payne 

1:18 - Combining accounting and legal services 

8:28 - Starting BOSS Advisors and landing a major client 

15:07 - Reaching the firm’s next growth ceiling 

19:51 - The personal cost of building the business 

29:27 - Finding the right buyer and selling the firm 

36:13 - Making more time for family 

39:57 - Creating healthier boundaries with work 

43:04 - Building an audience and professional community 

50:22 - Where to connect with Mike 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH MIKE PAYNE 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpaynejdcpa/ 

Website: https://themikepayne.com/ 

Erin Pohan is the founder of Upkeeping, a bookkeeping and payroll firm, and Wave Seattle, a conference for women in accounting.

In this episode, Erin shares what it actually looked like to build her firm, grow a team, and figure things out without ever feeling completely ready. She and Yuri talk honestly about the pressure to scale, the challenge of hiring before there is enough work, and why success does not have to mean building the biggest firm possible.

The conversation also gets into a difficult season of burnout caused largely by one high-paying client. Erin explains how the work began affecting her health and family life, why walking away from the revenue felt terrifying, and how that decision ultimately gave her more freedom without hurting the business long term.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:57 - Erin’s background and the start of Upkeeping

3:21 - Going from employee to firm owner

10:46 - Why you may never feel ready to launch

14:42 - Hiring your first team member

19:47 - What does success actually look like?

23:42 - Setting boundaries with clients

27:22 - Erin’s vision for her firm

30:00 - Burnout, overwork, and one major client

36:11 - What burnout looked like physically and emotionally

39:52 - Letting go of misaligned clients

43:09 - The financial upside of owning a firm

49:11 - Building community through accounting events

54:20 - The hidden costs of hosting events

1:03:47 - Imposter syndrome and finding your lane

1:08:13 - Where to find Erin

1:08:46 - Episode wrap-up 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH ERIN POHAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/

Website: https://www.upkeeping.co/

In this episode, Yuri reflects on the 2026 tax season, sharing the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're a solo CPA or managing a growing firm, this episode offers practical insights into tools, workflows, and mindset shifts to navigate busy periods more effectively.

• Breakdown of the 2026 tax season experience and key challenges faced
• Document collection pitfalls and exploring new tech solutions
• Software considerations: Drake, ProConnect, Stanford Tax, Soroban, Truss
• Strategies for managing workload, burnout, and client communication

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview
 01:10 - Reflecting on the confidence at the start of the season
 04:00 - Highlights: $140K revenue and billing methods
 05:22 - Business entity handling: 60 S-corps, 93 1040s, and 60 1065s
 07:47 - Podcasting and balancing workload
 08:48 - The main issue: Document collection breakdown
 09:42 - Challenges with Tax Dome and new features
 11:23 - The importance of team access and oversight
 12:47 - Workflow issues: Tracking submission and missing documents
 13:42 - Burnout from managing incomplete document submissions
 15:18 - Exploring alternative software solutions
 16:55 - Comparing Drake, ProConnect, Stanford Tax, Soroban, and Truss
 21:21 - Features of Soroban and AI document integration
 22:23 - Truss: All-in-one platform with robust features
 25:09 - Stanford Tax’s efficient work paper generation
 27:02 - The power of automation and AI in modern tax prep
 28:28 - Concerns with multiple platforms and risk diversification
 29:23 - The importance of starting lean and growing with tools
 30:52 - The value of tackling challenges step-by-step
 33:01 - Considering ProConnect and its features
 34:23 - Potential benefits of ProConnect’s auto-import
 35:40 - Personal insights on transitioning software and managing risk
 37:57 - Evolution of the firm: From Google Drive to advanced PM tools
 40:04 - Final thoughts: Keep it simple, start small, grow smart
 42:13 - Upcoming projects and personal life updates
 43:11 - Closing remarks and thank you to listeners

In this episode of The Fun CPA Podcast, Yuri sits down with Isaac Perdomo, CEO and founder of Opzer, to talk about automation, AI, and where accounting firms should actually start. 

Isaac shares why firms do not need to overhaul everything at once, and why the best place to begin is usually with the painful, repetitive work they are already doing every day. From client reminders to workflow tracking to simple AI-powered daily prep, the conversation focuses on practical ways firm owners can save time without making things more complicated. 

They also talk about the challenge of getting teams to adopt new tools, how to test automations safely, and why small improvements can make a real difference during tax season. It’s a practical conversation for firm owners who know they need better systems but are not sure where to begin. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:46 - Meet Isaac Perdomo 

1:44 - How Isaac got into accounting automation 

3:08 - Where firms should start with automation 

4:44 - Why accountants tolerate broken processes 

6:32 - Tax season pain points and client intake 

8:59 - Using automation to improve follow-up and workflow 

11:23 - How to test automations without breaking things 

12:30 - Why DIY automation can feel overwhelming 

15:18 - Choosing what is worth automating 

16:15 - Simple AI use cases for email and daily planning 

18:28 - Setting up Claude tasks and meeting prep 

24:26 - Isaac’s process for finding automation opportunities 

27:04 - Conferences, relationships, and accounting communities 

31:14 - Content, YouTube, and sharing what he is learning 

32:44 - Where to find Isaac and Opzer 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH ISAAC PERDOMO 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-perdomo/ 

Website: https://opzer.co/