integrated planning, not heroics, creates life-changing outcomes for clients.
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big 4 transparency
by dominic piscopo, cpa
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间
what happens when you fuse a cpa firm with a wealth advisory under one roof and design the operations from a blank page? in this two-guest episode of the big 4 transparency, host dominic piscopo sits down with owen pryor and steve blake, managing and senior managing advisors at evans may advisory, the sister firm to evans may wealth advisory. their premise is simple and radical: serve the client with unreasonable hospitality, align wealth and tax strategy, and deliver family-office convenience to high-net-worth families and growing owner-operated businesses.
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pryor and blake describe a system built on proactive data sharing (with client consents in place) so the firm, not the client, chases documents, coordinates advisors, and executes. the impact shows up in small, high-leverage wins (e-paying taxes and killing paper vouchers, physically banking clients’ mailed checks twice a week, fully recording receivables) and in headline outcomes (structuring a family-farm sale from an estimated $550,000 tax bill to near $0 through planning; spotting missed depreciation and back-catching via form 3115; introducing lesser-known international strategies like icdis where relevant). the result is relief for clients and measurable roi that converts conversations into scope.
that scope is expanding fast. with ~15 ftes and a new office built for 34, evans may is growing from both directions: inbound from the wealth practice’s client base and direct wins from community and national events. they were the only cpa firm at a recent nashville vertical conference (trailers/rv dealerships) and left working 15–20 new opportunities – a play enabled by their operational model.
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under the hood, the firm runs monthly flat fees tied to a crystal-clear, a-la-carte scope of services (locked for 12 months, reviewed at month 10). they don’t track time; performance is managed by task completion and deliverable deadlines (e.g., estimates due 10+ days before quarter-ends for hnw clients). when reality exceeds scope, the fee adjusts transparently. this reframes outreach: clients aren’t afraid to call, and the firm turns conversations into margin-rich projects.
perhaps most distinctive is their talent thesis, instead of chasing mid-level hires, they’re building a student pipeline with local universities: paid, capped-hours roles during the semester; heavy use of paraprofessionals; interns who sit in client meetings to develop soft skills; and even eas signing simple returns. it’s a “teaching hospital” approach that scales capacity, improves service economics, and keeps young professionals in the profession while living the firm’s stated philosophy: do the right thing, treat people right.
4 key takeaways
- operationalize advisor alignment. implement universal information-sharing consents (tax, wealth, legal) so your firm – not the client – requests documents, schedules, and executes coordinated plans.
- replace hours with outcomes. shift to monthly, scope-based pricing with a month-10 review; manage teams by deadline slas (e.g., estimates 10+ days early) rather than billable hours.
- stand up a capacity flywheel: deploy paraprofessionals and a semester-based student pipeline (capped hours, repeatable projects, client-meeting exposure) to expand throughput without offshoring.
- create family-office conveniences: offer tax e-payments, mail-to-bank runs for clients with paper checks, and receivables posting documented with dual-control to improve trust and retention.
- make advisory the default: for each client, produce an old-vs-new law side-by-side and a quarterly opportunity memo (cash-flow effect, fee to implement, net benefit) to convert planning into engagements.
more about steve blake
steve blake brings a calm, practical approach to advisory work shaped by experience in law, public accounting, and executive leadership. after earning his law degree from indiana university, he began his career as a tax attorney, later moving into public accounting and serving as a chief financial officer before returning to public practice. at evans may advisory, blake works closely with business owners, nonprofits, and individuals to deliver clear, actionable tax guidance. his industry experience spans manufacturing, construction, retail, not-for-profits, and dealerships of all kinds. clients value his steady judgment, ability to simplify complex issues, and commitment to white-glove service. outside of work, blake enjoys traveling with his family and hiking new places. he has explored most of the u.s., much of canada, and parts of europe, and previously coached youth sports—experiences that continue to shape his perspective on leadership, teamwork, and balance.
more about owen pryor, cpa
owen pryor is a cpa and strategic advisor with nearly two decades of experience in accounting and financial services. with an entrepreneurial mindset and a people-first approach, he helps lead evans may advisory’s growth, client experience, and advisory strategy. pryor specializes in strategic tax planning and business advisory for entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals. known for his proactive, value-driven approach, he delivers white-glove service that integrates tax strategy, financial planning, and long-term decision support. clients value his ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable guidance that builds confidence and momentum. outside of work, pryor is a devoted husband, proud father, and ironman finisher. he enjoys fishing with his son and coaching youth sports, and he currently serves as treasurer of indy real, supporting real estate leaders across central indiana.