Who's Really the BOSS?

By Marcus Dillon, Rachel Dillon

"Who's Really the BOSS?" highlights the joys and challenges of running a CPA firm with your spouse or family. From hiring and terminating to improving capacity, cash flow, and culture, our conversatio... more

· Business

4.6

1111 ratings

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FAQs about Who's Really the BOSS?:

How many episodes does Who's Really the BOSS? have?

The podcast currently has 147 episodes available.

Who's Really the BOSS? episodes:

November 24, 2025Leading Change, Creating Impact: Highlights from Gather 2025
Marcus and Rachel recap Gather 2025, their fall event that brought 105 firm owners, leaders, and team members together in Grapevine, Texas. They walk through the four Ps framework for change management (purpose, picture, plan, and part) and share highlights from sessions on KPIs, firm valuation, AI agents, and collaborative problem-solving.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(01:45) - Event Details and Attendees
(04:05) - Feedback and Highlights
(09:10) - Upcoming Events
(10:57) - Opening Session Insights
(18:22) - Change Management Framework
(23:14) - The Four Ps of Leading Through Change
(24:53) - Importance of Defining Roles in Change
(25:50) - Reflecting on Past Change Management
(27:46) - Challenges for Leaders in Communicating Change
(28:49) - Personal and Team Leadership in Change
(29:36) - Event Recap: Setting the Stage for Success
(32:48) - Diving into KPIs and Firm Performance
(35:40) - Case Studies and Mastermind Groups
(40:38) - Firm Challenges and Collaborative Solutions
(44:24) - Innovative Use of AI and Technology
(49:27) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
...more
56min
November 10, 2025$50K to $1.1M: Building a Firm with Your Spouse
James and Cindy Buss join Rachel and Marcus to share their 20-year journey building Buss CPA in Hartford, South Dakota, from surviving the 2008 recession to transforming their business model around fixed-fee engagements. The conversation covers their transition from hourly billing to monthly recurring revenue, navigating price increases, building a committee-based client acceptance process, and what it's really like when the operations manager gives her retirement notice years in advance. Both couples offer candid insights about communication, community support, and why treating clients well matters more than perfect execution.
Learn More About Buss CPA
https://busscpa.us/
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:38) - Meet James and Cindy Buss
(02:55) - James Introduces the Firm
(06:50) - Cindy Shares Personal Life
(19:41) - Cindy's Retirement Plans
(23:21) - Evolution of the Firm
(30:16) - Budgeting and Fee Structures
(31:47) - Impact of Economic Downturns
(33:25) - Goals and Initiatives
(44:22) - Onboarding Fees and Client Management
(49:35) - The Importance of Community and Peer Networks
(59:31) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
...more
1h 2min
October 27, 2025Hiring for Integrity: Building Your Dream Accounting Team
Fletcher Wimbush from Discovered.AI joins the show to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing CPA firms today: finding and hiring quality talent. Fletcher shares his proven interviewing techniques, including the career performance history interview, strategic reference checking, and assessment tools that help predict candidate success. Learn why integrity trumps experience, how to compress your hiring timeline to just five days, and why becoming an "employer of choice" requires more than just offering remote work options.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:53) - Fletcher's Background and Experience
(02:38) - Best Hiring Advice
(03:26) - Defining Integrity in Business
(05:08) - Challenges in Talent Acquisition
(06:29) - Techniques for Assessing Integrity
(13:41) - Current Hiring Landscape
(17:06) - Becoming an Employer of Choice
(19:18) - Remote vs. In-Office Work
(26:06) - Effective Interviewing Techniques
(29:26) - Candidate Selection and Structured Interviews
(31:57) - Key Interview Questions
(36:04) - Reference Checks and Integrity
(41:54) - Efficient Interview Process
(48:39) - Final Thoughts and Resources
...more
53min
October 13, 2025The Org Chart Advantage: Planning Your Firm's Future Team
Rachel and Marcus reveal how they use organizational charts as a strategic tool for firm growth at Dillon Business Advisors. They walk through their process of identifying bottlenecks, defining roles before hiring, and evolving from a chaotic "spider web" structure to their streamlined team-of-three model. Learn how mapping out future roles, including their new tax advisory service line and CSM assistant positions, helps them scale intentionally while maintaining client service quality and avoiding the trap of reactive hiring.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Recap
(01:26) - Strategic Growth and Acquisition
(04:09) - Defining Roles and Responsibilities
(06:29) - Identifying Bottlenecks and Capacity
(10:56) - Additional Metrics
(16:42) - Roles and Responsibilities
(19:55) - Utilizing Part-Time and Remote Team Members
(28:24) - Expanding Tax Advisory Services
(37:04) - The Value of Clear Team Structure
...more
48min
September 29, 2025Modernizing a 50-Year Legacy Practice
Tim Abbott shares his journey from merging his small practice into MJ Vanden Brook in 2012 to becoming the third-generation owner of the 50-year-old firm. He discusses two major acquisitions, including modernizing operations from clipboards to cloud technology, and reveals why keeping previous owners around for 2-3 years led to high client retention rates.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Welcoming Tim Abbott
(01:08) - Tim Abbott's Background and Firm Overview
(02:50) - Team Structure and Work Environment
(04:12) - Personal Life and Family
(05:22) - Best Advice Received
(06:48) - Journey to Business Ownership
(08:13) - First Acquisition and Modernization Efforts
(11:34) - Second Acquisition and Transition Challenges
(18:49) - Client Transition and Relationship Management
(20:49) - Lessons from Recent Acquisitions
(22:15) - Challenges with Referral Sources
(24:31) - Surprises Post-Acquisition
(28:55) - Evaluating Buy vs. Build
(33:51) - Current Goals and Initiatives
(41:48) - Importance of Peer Relationships
(45:53) - Looking Ahead: Future Plans
(48:05) - Conclusion and Contact Information
...more
50min
September 15, 2025The Four R's of Improvement Season: Recharge, Review, Refocus, Refine
Rachel and Marcus share their approach to "improvement season" - the strategic summer months between tax deadlines when most accounting firms slow down. They break down their four-part framework of recharge, review, refocus, and refine, revealing how they used this time to tackle everything from cybersecurity upgrades to team candor training after completing a firm acquisition. The duo candidly grade their own performance while discussing the challenges of maintaining momentum when team members are taking well-deserved vacations.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(00:55) - Family Updates
(03:01) - Accounting Firm's Busy Season
(03:44) - Improvement Season Concept
(07:51) - Recharge: Rest and Relaxation Strategies
(15:54) - Review: Analyzing Feedback and Performance
(22:49) - Refocus: Aligning with Mission and Vision
(24:56) - Refine: Setting Goals and Execution Plans
(30:09) - Technology and Security Enhancements
(36:29) - Soft Skills and Team Dynamics
(40:41) - Client Alignment and Service Models
(45:00) - Growth Strategies and Future Planning
(51:12) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
...more
53min
September 01, 2025A CPA's Guide to Adding Financial Planning
Matt Kidd joins us and shares how he transformed a traditional 1040 firm into a hybrid practice offering both tax services and wealth management after acquiring a $400K firm at age 26. He breaks down the practical steps of adding an RIA to your CPA practice, from choosing between broker-dealers and registered investment advisories to navigating compliance requirements and team buy-in. Matt also discusses his strategy of trading high-volume tax clients for higher-value financial planning relationships and why the "good enough" mentality has been crucial to his firm's evolution.
Connect with Matt Kidd
https://www.blundenkidd.com/who-we-are/matthew-s-kidd
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewkiddcpa
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(01:39) - Matt Kidd's Background and Firm Acquisition
(03:08) - Challenges and Changes in the Firm
(04:34) - Social Director and Best Advice
(08:45) - Firm Structure and Remote Work
(10:37) - Expanding Services: Financial Planning and Wealth Management
(13:48) - Client Conversion and Relationship Building
(24:17) - Navigating Financial Advisor Relationships
(29:46) - Understanding Financial Planning Routes
(31:02) - Broker Dealers vs. RIAs
(32:04) - Turnkey Asset Management Providers (TAMPs)
(33:10) - Choosing the Right Financial Model
(44:20) - Growth and Client Retention Strategies
(47:49) - Networking and Professional Development
...more
58min
August 18, 2025From $400K to $3.5M: What to Delegate When
Rachel and Marcus share their journey of learning when and how to delegate responsibilities as their firm grew from $400K to over $3M in revenue. They break down specific tasks that should be delegated at different revenue milestones, from administrative work in the early days to entire service lines as the business scales. The conversation covers common delegation mistakes, the importance of building processes before handing off responsibilities, and why thinking in terms of roles rather than individual people creates better outcomes for everyone.
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(02:19) - Transitioning to Empty Nesters
(04:54) - Mastermind Group Insights
(06:04) - The Art of Delegation
(08:35) - Delegation Strategies and Examples
(15:34) - Growth and Organizational Changes
(17:31) - Early Delegation Experiences
(28:53) - The Importance of Role-Based Org Charts
(31:03) - Streamlining Operations for Better Client Service
(36:09) - Shadowing and Training for Effective Delegation
(38:59) - Evolving the Interview Process
(45:22) - Onboarding Evolution and Best Practices
(49:41) - The Role of Structure and Processes in Delegation
(53:26) - Final Thoughts on Delegation and Growth
...more
54min
August 04, 2025Taking Vacation During Tax Season
Shawn Gubler of Kinexus CPAs shares how he transformed his approach to firm ownership by taking vacations during tax season, building meaningful partnerships, and creating systems that allow his team to thrive without him. He discusses the challenges of growing from $1-3 million in revenue, the importance of hiring people who will challenge you, and why giving more than you take has been the foundation of his success. Shawn also opens up about the value of one-on-one advisory relationships and how stepping back as an owner has actually improved client service and team development.
Connect with Shawn
https://stgcpas.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-gubler-10a92b5
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:57) - Shawn's Personal Background
(04:35) - Best Advice Received
(05:36) - Kinexus CPA Team and Firm Structure
(08:02) - Growth and Client Services
(22:04) - Hiring Trends and Market Shifts
(25:07) - Current Goals and Initiatives
(28:01) - Breaking Through Plateaus
(35:23) - Client Relationships and Succession Planning
(43:36) - Starting a Firm: Lessons Learned
(50:27) - The Importance of Advisory Relationships
(54:47) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
...more
57min
July 21, 2025From Rice and Beans to $1.7M: A Young CPA's Growth Story
Nate Goodman shares his remarkable journey from starting a church bookkeeping practice in 2019 to building a $1.7 million CPA firm by age 29. He opens up about the challenging early years that included eating rice and beans to survive, studying for the CPA exam with a newborn during COVID, and making crucial pivots that transformed his struggling practice into a thriving business.
Connect with Nate
https://goodmancpa.llc/
Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba
Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors
Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com
Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app
(00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
(01:04) - Nate's Personal and Professional Background
(02:03) - Starting the Firm and Early Challenges
(05:53) - Advice and Inspirations
(07:45) - Connecting with Collective by DBA
(10:21) - Firm Growth and Acquisitions
(21:58) - Hurricane Helene and Overcoming Adversity
(24:46) - Firm's Work Setup: In-Office, Remote, and Hybrid
(27:00) - Challenges and Successes in Hiring Remote Talent
(33:01) - Mentorship and Team Dynamics
(36:36) - Advice to Younger Self and Current Focus
(39:59) - Client Metrics and Performance Bonuses
(43:00) - Sales Team Structure and Compensation
(44:55) - Client Focus and Work-Life Balance
(49:20) - Building a Peer Network and Community
(52:59) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information
...more
55min

FAQs about Who's Really the BOSS?:

How many episodes does Who's Really the BOSS? have?

The podcast currently has 147 episodes available.

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