Are you tracking dozens of numbers but still unsure how your firm is really performing? More data does not equal more clarity. What matters is knowing which five metrics actually drive decisions.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Wize Mentor Thomas breaks down the Fab 5, the five high-level KPIs every firm owner should be watching if they want clarity, control, and sustainable growth:

✅ Why revenue and profitability only matter when viewed through the right lens
 ✅ How fees won and lost reveal your future hiring needs months in advance
 ✅ The hidden story behind WIP, lockup, and cash flow
 ✅ Why client and team NPS quietly drive referrals, retention, and performance
 ✅ How to use benchmarks to spot problems early without getting buried in numbers

If you want to stop tracking everything and start focusing on what actually moves your firm forward, this conversation will give you a practical framework to lead with confidence.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Are you keeping track of the metrics that actually drive profit and control…
 or getting sidelined by vanity metrics that make you feel busy?

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Thomas breaks down the Fab 5 KPIs and why they’ve been refined over the last 10–15 years into a simple scoreboard that gives firm owners a full-spectrum view of how the business is really performing.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why output metrics matter more than input metrics (and how to spot the difference)
 ✅ The Fab 5: Revenue, Profitability, Lockup, Sales, and NPS, and what each one reveals
 ✅ Why write-ons / write-offs is often the hardest KPI to track, but the most powerful for protecting margin
 ✅ How KPI patterns tell a story and help you diagnose what’s actually happening inside the firm
 ✅ The monthly manager meeting rhythm that turns KPIs into ownership, accountability, and calm leadership

If you want to stop tracking numbers for the sake of it, and start using a KPI dashboard that makes decisions obvious, this episode is a must-listen.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners don’t hit a growth ceiling because they lack talent in their team.

They hit it because they haven’t built ownership in their team yet. 

The result? Managers who stay dependent. Performance conversations that feel emotional. And a firm that can’t scale because everything still rolls back up to the owner.

In this Wize Coaching Call, Tim breaks down the simplest (and most powerful) lever to create alignment and accountability in your firm: a monthly strategic meeting built on objective KPIs — plus the “no bypass” rule that stops you from accidentally sabotaging your leaders as they grow. 

Inside the session, you’ll learn:

✅ Why most firms hit a real ceiling around $500k–$1M revenue (and what actually breaks through it) 
✅ The monthly KPI rhythm that builds ownership mindset in client managers 
✅ How to coach performance through the “story behind the numbers” (without personal conflict) 
✅ Why “no bypass” is the hidden skill behind scalable leadership and real delegation 

✅ The metrics that reveal whether your firm is truly healthy: revenue, productivity, write-offs, lockup, growth, and NPS 

If you want a firm that grows beyond your personal capacity — and a team that performs without constant rescue — this is a must-listen. 

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners try to scale by tracking more numbers yet still feel stuck in the weeds. The result? KPI overload, inconsistent results, and a business that still depends too heavily on the owner.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, we unpack how SOPs are the missing link between KPIs and real performance. Not as paperwork, but as the operational muscle that turns targets into daily behaviour. Drawing from a live Wize coaching session, this conversation explores:

✅ Why KPIs fail when systems don’t support them
 ✅ How SOP ownership drives accountability for results
 ✅ The link between micro-training and consistent KPI outcomes
 ✅ How to get buy-in so teams act on the numbers, not just report them

If your KPIs look good on paper but don’t change how work gets done, this is a must-listen.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners think leadership is about driving harder, fixing problems faster, and holding everything together themselves.

But real freedom doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from lifting others to lead.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Jane Pollard shares an honest reflection on leadership, legacy, and what changes when a firm owner stops centering the business around themselves and starts building people instead.

You’ll hear Jane unpack:

• Why leadership is about impact, not control
• The mindset shift from serving clients to developing leaders
• What it means to paint a future your team can’t yet see
• How building yourself first creates a better life for everyone around you
• Why it’s never “too late” to lead differently - or more meaningfully

If you’re building a firm and wondering what your work is really for, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, success, and the legacy you’re creating through your team.

This is one for firm owners who want their business to mean something, not just run.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners think pricing is a “numbers problem”… so they copy what the last accountant charged, slap on a fixed fee, and hope it works out.

The result? Scope creep, shrinking margins, and a team that’s flat-out busy while the profit quietly disappears.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Bren Ward sits down with Jamie Johns to break down the Wize approach to pricing, including:

✅ Why COGS % is the KPI that decides whether you live or die
 ✅ The real truth about value pricing vs fixed fees vs time billing (all can work, if you do it right)
 ✅ The 4-step pricing playbook to price jobs with confidence
 ✅ Why timesheets aren’t “dead” - they’re your efficiency and accountability dashboard
 ✅ How to increase fees without shocking clients (and why annual rises matter)

If you want pricing that protects profit, sets expectations, and scales with your team, this conversation is a must-listen.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners try to improve performance by pushing harder, hiring more, or firefighting their way through the week. But the real bottleneck isn’t effort - it’s the lack of structure. Without clear systems and consistent meetings, your team is left guessing, and you end up carrying the weight alone.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, we break down how effective meetings become the backbone of your SOPs and your leadership.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why meetings are the fastest way to uncover missing SOPs
 ✅ How 1:1s help new hires settle in and reveal process gaps
 ✅ The role meetings play in accountability, delegation, and culture
 ✅ How structured rhythms give you visibility across every part of the firm

If you’re ready to stop running your business in the dark and start leading with clarity and confidence, this episode is a must-listen.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners try to “scale the business” by working harder or hiring faster - but never fix the structural ceiling that keeps them stuck.
 The result? Constant firefighting, team bottlenecks, unpredictable results, and a firm that can’t run without them.

In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, we break down the real blueprint behind building a scalable, self-running firm - the same principles used inside $7M practices. You’ll learn:

✅ Why growth stalls when there’s no deep-and-narrow team structure
 ✅ How weak SOPs and unclear roles quietly destroy capacity
 ✅ The two divisions that determine whether you scale or spin your wheels
 ✅ Why the Fab 5 is the only KPI system that shows whether your firm is truly healthy
 ✅ The mindset shift every owner must make to step out of the day-to-day

If you’re ready to stop doing more and finally build a business that grows without you, this episode is a must-listen.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Most firm owners hear the noise about AI and panic. They’re told their jobs are disappearing and the industry is on borrowed time. But the reality is simpler: AI isn’t replacing accountants,  it’s reshaping how firms think, make decisions, and deliver value.

In this episode, Brenton Ward and Thomas Phabmixay break down what AI actually does in a firm, why it’s more “translation engine” than threat, and how it can scale judgement, not just automate tasks. Thomas shares how he uses AI inside his own practice to analyse work, improve communication, and speed up decision-making and why the biggest wins come when AI is woven into workflows so the team barely notices it’s there.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why “AI will replace accountants” is a myth that’s been repeated for decades
✅ How AI turns financial and client data into instant insight
✅ Where AI creates real leverage in a firm’s workflow
✅ Practical ways firms can use AI today without building custom tools
✅ Why critical thinking matters more than ever in an AI-enabled world

If you’ve been overwhelmed by the hype or unsure where to start, this conversation gives you a grounded view of how AI can strengthen your firm, not threaten it.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

Firm owners don’t realise they’re building a business that depends on them because they never truly delegate. They hand off tasks thinking they’re freeing themselves but without training, clarity, and follow-up, the work boomerangs right back, and the cycle of overwhelm continues.

In this episode, Ed Chan breaks down the difference between delegation and abdication. He explains why doing 100 percent of a task or giving it away with no guidance keeps owners stuck, stressed, and unable to scale. And he shares the 20% Rule he used to reduce his workload, build a high-performing team, and grow a firm that runs without him.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why doing work from start to finish destroys productivity and growth
✅ How abdicating (instead of delegating) creates inconsistency and rework
✅ Why investing time in training is the only path to real freedom
✅ How to balance P&L thinking with “balance sheet thinking” that builds capability
✅ The right way to decide whether to hire an admin, a senior accountant, or a junior

If you’ve ever felt like training takes too long, or worried that delegating will slow things down, this episode will change the way you think about leadership — and the role you’re meant to play in your firm.

________________

PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm:

1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here

2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here

3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here

4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here