W.T.F (We're Trying to Figure-out) with Saul | MY-CPE📚

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how CPAs perceive and navigate cannabis business engagements.
• Identify major compliance challenges beyond Section 280E in cannabis accounting.
• Analyze the role of state-specific cannabis laws in client service.
• Explain the importance of professionalism and advocacy in cannabis accounting.
• Explore the future role CPAs may play in shaping cannabis regulation.

Welcome to another Episode of W.T.F. with Saul; we sit down with Renata Serban, CPA, to unpack the fast-growing and complex world of cannabis accounting. This conversation dives into the challenges CPAs face when serving cannabis businesses, from unclear regulations to strict tax codes, while highlighting how compliance and professionalism shape the path forward.

Renata shares her experience advising cannabis clients and navigating regulatory confusion across state boards and professional organizations. She offers insights on the perception of CPAs in the industry, the overlooked realities beyond Section 280E, and the importance of mastering state-specific rules. Listeners will hear how she pushes for stronger advocacy and professionalism to legitimize cannabis accounting as a respected practice.

Learning Objectives

• Identify strategies to transition a CPA firm from compliance to advisory-first.
• Apply proactive listening to uncover high-value client advisory opportunities.
• Structure advisory services using pricing buckets and pre-determined service levels.
• Manage scope creep while maintaining high client satisfaction.
• Coach and empower team members to scale advisory delivery effectively.

Is your CPA firm truly advisory-first or still stuck in compliance mode? In this episode of We’re Trying to Figure Out (WTF), host Saul talks with James “Jamie” Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA, co-founder and CEO of Capricor Professional Advisors, about how to shift from reactive compliance to proactive, high-value advisory that transforms client businesses and strengthens relationships.

Jamie shares his journey from founding Capricor in 2017 to merging with Knock Accounting in 2021, explaining how traditional CPA firm models fell short in delivering proactive advisory services. He introduces the firm’s five pillars: leadership, tailored services, peace of mind, fee transparency, and proactiveness—and shows how these principles guide day-to-day client engagement and strategic decision-making. The merger added accounting expertise and client services that complement Capricor’s advisory focus, creating a cohesive and client-centric approach.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the primary provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
• Analyze the political and economic forces behind the bill’s passage.
• Identify key winners and losers among individual and business taxpayers.
• Evaluate the risks and ambiguities in regulatory implementation.
• Anticipate practitioner impacts tied to tip rules, expense, and client guidance.

Is this the biggest tax reform since TCJA, or just a political patch job? In this high-stakes episode of We’re Trying to Figure Out (WTF), Saul is joined by Adam Michel, Director of Tax Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, to dissect the One Big Beautiful Bill. From overtime deduction rules and tip exclusions to the massive overhaul of credits, expenses, and amortization, this conversation explores how policy ideals collide with economic realities.

Adam, whose experience includes deep tax research and Capitol Hill advisory roles, guides listeners through the bill’s actual impact beyond the headlines. Together, they discuss the revived §179 and §168(k) expensing allowances, child and dependent care credit modifications, and which deductions were made or scrapped. The episode also highlights the return of amortized R&D costs, the uncertain future of clean energy tax breaks, and the tightrope the Treasury walks in issuing guidance.

Key Topics:

• Tip income and overtime deduction mechanics
• Expensing and amortization reversals
• Phase-outs of business credits
• Industry carve-outs and lobbying wins
• Regulatory uncertainty and IRS workload

Learning Objectives

• Describe how passion can guide niche selection in accounting firms.
• Identify due diligence best practices when acquiring a book of business.
• Analyze how advisory work supports stronger client relationships and growth.
• Distinguish between transactional and long-term service models.
• Evaluate operational challenges and mindset shifts in firm building.

What if your best career move starts with your passion, not a business plan? In this episode of We’re Trying to Figure Out (WTF), Saul sits down with Ryan Pulice, a CPA who pivoted from computer science into accounting and then carved out a powerful niche in real estate. From buying his first book of business just months before the pandemic to launching a successful firm and podcast, Ryan walks us through his mindset, missteps, and milestones.

As the founder of a real estate-focused accounting firm, Ryan shares why choosing a niche accelerated everything: streamlined processes, stronger client relationships, and smarter growth. He breaks down how his own investing experience sharpened his advisory skills and led to long-term client trust. The conversation explores due diligence lessons from his first acquisition, the leap from side hustle to full-time firm owner, and the importance of saying no to the wrong clients.

Key Topics:

• Passion-driven firm design
• Real estate accounting niche
• Buying your first firm
• Due diligence and cultural fit
• Moving from compliance to advisory

Whether you're still a generalist or just ready to grow with purpose, this episode is a roadmap to building a firm around what you care about.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how a personal brand improves trust and engagement on LinkedIn.
• Identify common mistakes professionals make with LinkedIn profiles and posting.
• Apply the 15-minute daily routine to boost visibility and online networking.
• Distinguish between authentic personal branding and AI-generated content.
• Develop strategies to overcome mindset blocks around content creation

Are you just scrolling on LinkedIn, or are you building something? In this episode of We’re Trying to Figure Out, Saul is joined by Ashley Leeds, known globally as The 15-Minute Guy, to break down how accounting and finance professionals can use small, consistent LinkedIn habits to stand out, win clients, and become memorable. If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have time for LinkedIn,” Ashley’s approach might just change your mind.

A former software executive turned full-time coach, Ashley Leeds brings deep experience in personal branding, communication coaching, and business development. He shares the “15-minute habit” he’s used to help 600+ professionals transform their profiles, show up with purpose, and enjoy posting. From adjusting your headshot and banner to replacing passive scrolling with targeted engagement, Ashley’s method balances neuroscience, coaching psychology, and content strategy.

Learning Objectives

• Differentiate between delegation and micromanagement in team settings.
• Apply a structured delegation framework for clarity and ownership.
• Recognize how communication impacts psychological safety and trust.
• Coach team members through delegation failures constructively.
• Adapt delegation styles to different generational communication preferences.

Why do high-performing leaders struggle to let go? In this episode of Accounting in the Wild, Saul is joined by leadership experts Ashira Prossack and Sean Glaze for a powerful conversation on what delegation really means. This isn’t about offloading tasks. It’s about clear communication, mutual trust, and creating a culture where accountability and growth can thrive.

Ashira, a specialist in workplace communication, and Sean, a leadership coach with experience in sports and business, walk listeners through the mechanics of effective delegation. From Sean’s TIME framework to Ashira’s insights on cross-generational dynamics, they offer actionable tools that turn delegation into a leadership strength. The discussion covers how poor delegation erodes morale, how coachable teams are developed, and why leaders must focus on the how and why, not just the what.

Key Topics:

• Delegation versus micromanagement
• TIME delegation framework
• Psychological safety cues
• Coachability and leadership growth
• Generational communication dynamics

Learning Objectives

• Identify key employee concerns often left unspoken in workplaces.
• Build a culture that supports transparency and open communication.
• Apply leadership actions that improve engagement and staff retention.
• Recognize warning signs of silence, burnout, and quiet quitting.
• Explain how psychological safety drives team performance and trust.

What if silence, not strategy, is what’s killing your firm’s culture? In this episode of We’re Still Trying to Figure It Out, Bonnie Low-Kramen joins host Saul to unpack the unspoken truths driving employee disengagement, quiet quitting, and the great workplace divide. With decades of experience working with elite executives and corporate teams, Bonnie offers a candid look at what staff really want and why most leaders still aren’t listening.

Drawing from her bestselling book Staff Matters and years spent with Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Bonnie shares stories of toxic cultures, invisible labor, and the human cost of unacknowledged tension. She highlights the dangerous silence in remote-first firms, the leadership trap of “no news is good news,” and why the most critical skill for 2025 isn’t technical, it’s listening. Her insights into psychological safety, real-time feedback, and breaking the fear cycle are a wake-up call for firm owners, managers, and rising professionals.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how resilience influences entrepreneurial strategy and leadership development.
• Identify core principles of management accounting for small service firms.
• Explain how fixed pricing transforms client relationships and firm scalability.
• Analyze growth strategies tailored to niche service-based businesses.
• Differentiate traditional bookkeeping from advisory-driven client services.

What does it take to build a modern, values-driven accounting firm that thrives in a specialized niche? Inna Korenzvit’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and redefining traditional accounting norms. From the challenges of immigration to the demands of motherhood and entrepreneurship, Inna turned personal hardship into a foundation for innovation. Her ability to pivot, specialize, and lead with integrity offers valuable insights for accounting professionals looking to evolve their practices.

In this CPE Episode of WTF, we sit down with Inna Korenzvit, founder of KORE Accounting Solutions, to explore how a journey shaped by immigration, family, and adversity led her to build a purpose-driven, future-focused accounting firm. We’ll talk about her unique specialization in helping solo and small law firms thrive, why she moved away from hourly billing, and how embracing fixed-price, advisory-driven models transformed her firm’s value proposition. This is an inspiring, tactical conversation for anyone who’s trying to grow a niche firm while staying true to their values.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how quantum computing differs from traditional computing systems.
• Identify key risks and opportunities in AI and cybersecurity fields.
• Analyze strategies to manage AI privacy, trust, and security concerns.
• Explore the role of national security experts in tech innovation.
• Discuss the ethical and strategic impact of emerging technologies.

In this CPE Episode, host Saul sits down with Nick Reese, founder of Frontier Foundry and former national security tech strategist, to explore the cutting edge of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. With a unique background bridging innovation policy and defence, Nick shares why these fast-evolving technologies are more than just buzzwords—they're the foundation of the next era of trust, security, and digital power.

The conversation dives deep into quantum disruption, AI privacy risks, and what it truly takes to lead responsibly in an era where machines learn faster than regulation evolves. Reese offers practical insights for business leaders, technologists, and policymakers alike, highlighting the sectors most vulnerable to change and the frameworks needed to prepare. From decoding quantum fundamentals to confronting ethical blind spots, this CPE episode offers a strategic roadmap for navigating what’s next.

Learning Objectives

• Identify how to structure accounts to reduce probate exposure
• Evaluate IRA withdrawal timing for tax-efficient legacy transfers
• Recognize the risks of gifting real estate prematurely to heirs
• Apply asset titling and beneficiary designations to optimize planning
• Discuss family communication techniques that safeguard intent and dignity

What’s your plan if you get that call tomorrow—the one that changes everything? In this episode of W.T.F. with Saul!, Chad Holmes, CPA and founder of Formula Wealth, joins the show for a candid and actionable conversation about inheritance, legacy, and planning beyond the tax code. With the largest generational wealth transfer in U.S. history unfolding, Chad challenges listeners to move past checklists and talk about what really matters—family dynamics, dignity, and long-term intent.

Chad, author of The Inheritance Playbook, blends personal experience with professional insight as he breaks down the critical mistakes families make when preparing (or failing to prepare) for estate transitions. From IRA timing traps to real estate titling errors and emotionally loaded gifting decisions, this episode delivers practical strategies that financial professionals and families can use right now to prevent chaos later.