The Nexus Point Podcast

Most CPA firms sell for 3x to 7x EBITDA. So why are some mid market firms breaking past 20x?

In this episode of Nexus Point, Geoff and Rich break down the real drivers behind the premium multiples showing up in today's accounting M&A market. It is not about revenue size. It is about what is inside the business.

We cover:

• Why recurring, subscription style revenue is reshaping how buyers price accounting firms
• How adding wealth management or advisory services can push a firm's blended multiple well above the standard range
• What private equity platforms are actually underwriting when they pay top dollar
• The difference between a firm that depends on its owner and one that runs without them
• Why partner retention has become the single biggest lever in deal pricing

If you are a firm owner thinking about an exit, a merger, or just want to understand where the market is heading, this episode gives you the real numbers behind the headlines.

Got questions about your firm's valuation? Link to book a call in the comments.

Subscribe for more conversations on M&A, succession planning, and building a firm that is built to sell.

CPA firms have more leverage than they realize. In this episode of the Nexus Point Podcast, Rich Romero sits down with White Tiger Connections CEO Geoff Bruskin to break down the real dynamics behind CPA and RIA integration. They cover why joint ventures between RIAs and CPA firms rarely work, what's driving the M&A heat in accounting right now, and how firm owners can build optionality into their future, whether that means selling, merging, or simply repositioning their equity.

Geoff and Rich also dig into the estate planning leg of the multi family office model, why bigger firms struggle to execute integration even with unlimited resources, and what AI driven consolidation will mean for the profession by 2030.

Timestamps:
00:00 Demand Shock Intro
00:55 Podcast Setup and Guests
01:44 Client View of Integration
04:53 Why Big Firms Struggle
07:28 Referral Reality Check
10:42 CPA Market Heat and Optionality
16:18 RIA Paths Beyond JVs
19:02 Build Buy or Hire
23:57 Estate Planning Third Leg
32:49 Executing the Thesis Well
35:26 Why Waiting Costs You
38:12 Wrap Up and Call to Action

Learn more about White Tiger Connections at whitetigerconnections.com

How CPA Firms Can Prepare to Hire Top Talent (and Stop Losing Candidates) | Nexus Point Podcast

In this episode of The Nexus Point Podcast, host Rich speaks with White Tiger Connections recruiting manager Bryce Hollingsworth about how accounting and CPA firms can prepare for a successful hire in a tight, time-sensitive talent market. They discuss defining the ideal candidate (experience, industries, credentials, budget) while also clarifying culture, values, and team dynamics to position the opportunity effectively. Bryce explains what separates firms that are truly ready to hire, clear interview plans, timelines, onboarding considerations, and aligned decision makers, from those that aren't, and how misalignment can waste time, strain teams, or cost top candidates. They also cover signs a search is getting difficult (low inbound and outbound response) and how to adjust messaging, sourcing phases, and job boards. Finally, they address compensation realities in a national remote market and the importance of fast, consistent candidate communication.

00:00 Why Speed Wins00:36 Meet the Recruiter02:19 Defining the Ideal Hire05:17 Ready vs Not Ready10:11 When Searches Get Hard15:21 Comp in a Remote Market20:12 Candidate Experience Matters23:22 Communication Horror Story26:27 Wrap Up and Reach Out

Is your CPA firm still running on Excel, disconnected tools, or a practice management module built inside your tax software?In this episode of The Nexus Point, Geoff Bruskin and Rich Romero break down everything accounting firm owners need to know about practice management software in 2026, from how to evaluate the right tool to the biggest red flags that signal your firm is being held back.Topics covered:- Why practice management software is the operational spinal column of every CPA firm- The three undisputed industry leaders in public accounting: Karbon, Canopy, and TaxDome- Why purpose-built practice management software outperforms general tools like monday.com every time- Why CCH and Thomson Reuters tax software is best in class but their practice management modules are not- How bidirectional synchronization works and why it is easier to solve than most firm owners think- The three-part software stack every accounting firm needs: practice management, AI, and technical software- Why doing a practice management overhaul the right way the first time saves enormous pain later- The single biggest red flag Geoff looks for when evaluating a firm's readiness for change- How one resistant partner or manager can hold an entire firm hostage and what to do about it- Why better practice management software is helping public accounting attract talent againWhether you are a CPA firm owner evaluating a software migration, a private equity firm building a public accounting platform, or a wealth management firm thinking about adding a tax practice, this episode gives you a clear framework for getting the technology stack right.Hosted by Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner of White Tiger Connections.Connect with Geoff Bruskin: [email protected] Tiger Connections: whitetigerconnections.com00:00 Why PMS Matters00:47 Podcast Intro01:41 PMS Basics Explained03:03 AI vs PMS Stack05:51 Purpose Built Wins08:37 Integration Reality Check11:02 Migration Success Story12:59 Choosing The Right Tool13:32 Red Flags People16:12 PMS As Foundation16:48 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Most CPA firm owners assume they need to get licensed to participate in wealth management revenue. They don't. In this episode, Geoff Bruskin breaks down the alternative practice structure that gives CPA firm owners equity, control, and recurring revenue from a wealth management vertical without splitting their focus or sitting for a single exam.

We cover why joint ventures almost never work, how the 49/51 equity split and managed service agreement actually function, who the ideal founding advisor is and where to find them, and what mistakes to avoid when building this in-house.

If you're a CPA firm owner with more than four years before a liquidity event, this episode is worth your full attention.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:21 Do CPAs Need Licensing
01:32 Synergy and Best Structure
03:41 Why Joint Ventures Fail
06:55 Alternative Practice Structure
09:23 Control and Economics
10:46 Recruiting Founding Advisors
13:27 Who This Model Fits
14:28 Common Mistakes to Avoid
16:21 Wrap Up and Farewell

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ABOUT NEXUS POINT
Nexus Point is hosted by Rich and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner and CEO of White Tiger Connections. Each episode covers strategic direction, AI and automation, and billing and pricing standardization for CPA and wealth management firms.

Learn more: whitetigerconnections.com

#NexusPoint #CPAfirms #WealthManagement #RIA #AccountingM&A #ExitPlanning #SuccessionPlanning #AlternativePracticeStructure #CPApodcast #AccountingPodcast

Why There Are More Buyers Than Sellers in Public Accounting (and How to Win Deals)

In this episode of The Nexus Point Podcast, host Geoff Bruskin sits down with Rich Romero to unpack why there are currently far more buyers than sellers in public accounting and why deal activity still feels like "hurry up and wait." They discuss seller hesitation driven by timing and personal and business uncertainty, and growing buyer interest fueled by private equity, low acquisition multiples, and accounting's unique visibility into clients' full financial lives. Geoff and Rich cover how public accounting can serve as a platform for roll-ups and adjacent theses like technology, wealth, and advisory services, while highlighting that the most overlooked risk is talent replacement amid retirements, an issue they argue can be addressed through remote hiring. They close with why a clear, grounded plan and compelling story often beats simply having committed capital.

00:00 Why Buyers Outnumber Sellers
00:52 Podcast Intro and Setup
01:33 Seller Hesitation and Timing
02:06 PE Money and Roll Up Appeal
03:50 Accounting as Client Gateway
05:13 Multiple Theses and Low Multiples
06:24 Talent Crunch and Remote Hiring
08:20 Buyer Network and Deal Flow
09:00 Win Deals With a Clear Story
11:37 Closing Thoughts and Sign Off

If you're a tax manager or senior manager in public accounting thinking about your next move, this episode is the honest conversation most recruiters won't have with you.Bryce Hollingsworth, Recruiting Manager at White Tiger Connections, joins Rich Romero on The Nexus Point to break down what the job market actually looks like right now, what mistakes candidates make that cost them the right role, and what the placements that worked long term all had in common.Topics covered:Why tax manager and senior manager roles are the most in-demand positions in public accounting right nowHow opening your search to remote roles changes everything about what's available to youThe most common mistakes candidates make during job searches and what they actually costWhy talking about compensation early is an advantage, not a riskHow cultural alignment matters more than work-life balance as a search criteriaWhy the CPA and RIA integrated model is creating a completely new kind of partner track for accounting professionalsWhat early career CPA professionals should be doing right now to set themselves up for promotionWhat the candidates who thrived long term had in common that had nothing to do with their resumeIf you're a CPA, tax manager, or senior manager considering a move in 2026, this episode gives you a clear picture of what actually works.Hosted by Rich Romero with Bryce Hollingsworth, Recruiting Manager at White Tiger Connections.Connect with White Tiger Connections: whitetigerconnections.com

AUM vs.AUM vs. AUA Explained: Choosing the Right Wealth Management Fee Model (and Why CPA Firms Matter)On this episode of The Nexus Point Podcast, host Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner and CEO of White Tiger Connections, compare assets under management (AUM) and assets under advisory (AUA), explaining how each fee model works and when it makes sense based on client net worth, liquidity, firm monetization, and brand narrative. They discuss typical basis-point fee schedules under AUM, how AUA can support more holistic financial advice and reduce incentives tied to where assets are held, and why AUA is more common among ultra-high net worth families with significant illiquid holdings. Geoff suggests wealth management firms should evolve rather than switch models outright, potentially serving multiple market segments with different fee structures. The episode closes with a case for integrating tax and accounting capabilities into RIAs and broker-dealers, enabled by fully remote CPA talent, to improve client outcomes and drive growth.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:18 AUM Explained: Basis Points and Fee Schedules02:15 AUA Explained: Net Worth and Flat Fee Structures03:49 Choosing Between AUM and AUA Based on Client Profile05:55 Fiduciary Narrative, Fee Conflicts, and Incentive Structures08:25 Fee Model Advice for CPA Firms Starting an RIA09:46 Should Wealth Management Firms Switch Fee Models12:08 Remote CPA Talent and the Integrated Wealth Management Thesis15:10 Wrap Up and Where to Find White Tiger ConnectionsHow this was made

Are you a CPA tax partner at a top 100 firm feeling burned out, underpaid, or stuck with no control over your book of business?In this episode of The Nexus Point, Geoff Bruskin and Rich Romero break down why large firm tax partners are the most disillusioned professionals in public accounting right now, and what your real options look like in 2026.If you're a big firm tax partner running a $1M, $2M, or $3M+ book of business, this episode will show you what the market actually thinks you're worth.Topics covered:Top signs a large firm tax partner is ready to make a moveWhy golden handcuffs, infrastructure, and client retention fears are weaker than you thinkHow to merge a tax book of business into an existing wealth management firmThe step-by-step math behind launching an affiliated RIA as a CPA partnerHow to structure a CPA and RIA partnership with minority ownership and alternative practice structuresWhy tax partner compensation at large firms is severely undervalued compared to independent and integrated platformsThe fear vs. satisfaction framework for deciding when to leave a big firmWhether you're considering going independent, joining a smaller CPA firm, partnering with a private equity backed platform, or integrating your tax practice into a wealth management firm, this episode gives you the blueprint.Hosted by Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner of White Tiger Connections, a leading M&A advisory and recruiting firm specializing in CPA firms and RIA wealth management practices.Connect with Geoff Bruskin: [email protected] Tiger Connections: whitetigerconnections.com00:00 Welcome to Nexus Point00:25 Who This Episode Is For00:48 Signs You're Ready to Leave a Large Firm02:28 What's Holding Big Firm Tax Partners Back05:09 Myths About Leaving and Better Moves06:34 Tax as the Quarterback of Integrated Services09:13 How to Merge a Tax Book Into a Wealth Firm09:48 Blueprint for Your Next Step as a CPA Partner11:52 Starting Your Own RIA as a Tax Partner13:02 RIA Ownership Structure and Revenue Math16:51 One Move CPA Partners Should Make Before Year End18:50 Wrap Up and Call to Action

When to Reinvest in Your CPA Firm: Talent, Tech, Marketing & Remote Hiring | Nexus PointAre you taking too much cash out of your CPA firm — or not enough? In this episode of Nexus Point, Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin break down how accounting firm owners should approach reinvestment decisions: when to pull the trigger, how to rank ROI priorities, and how to avoid reactive, band-aid spending that doesn't move the needle.Geoff shares a proven reinvestment framework — talent first, then workflow and technology, then marketing, then service line expansion — and explains why the sequence matters. You'll also learn how remote hiring is reshaping the CPA talent market, why it's now a top-tier investment for firm scalability and buyer appeal, and how to think about offense vs. defense when your firm's North Star is exit planning or long-term growth.What you'll learn:When to reinvest vs. take cash out of your CPA firmHow to reduce owner hours without sacrificing revenueWhy talent always comes before tech and marketingHow to evaluate safe bets vs. strategic risksWhy remote hiring expands your candidate pool and increases firm valueWhether you're a solo practitioner or running a multi-partner firm, this episode will help you reinvest with intention — not reaction.Subscribe to Nexus Point for weekly conversations on M&A, succession, and the future of public accounting.Chapters00:00 Welcome to Nexus Point00:27 Why Reinvest Now01:04 Signals to Reinvest01:26 Hours vs. Profit04:00 Ranking ROI Priorities04:54 Talent First Always05:42 Tech, Workflow & Marketing09:07 Safe vs. Risky Bets11:57 Offense and Defense15:01 Remote Hiring Advantage17:39 Wrap Up & Next StepsNexus Point is hosted by Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin of White Tiger Connections — M&A advisors and business brokers specializing in CPA firms and RIA/wealth management practices