today's features
audit & assurance

six skills that every auditor needs

man intently listening to woman in office

empowerment is for the whole organization, not just the rookies.

by alan anderson, cpa
transforming audit for the future

empowerment means that teams feel like they have ownership over the outcome, outputs and the process of what they are doing. they need to feel it’s ok to try doing things differently and even to make a mistake – and learn from it. the quality of everyone’s work improves when they have the confidence to present new ideas, and to push back when they think there’s a better way to do something. and empowerment delivers results – especially when it is partnered with owned accountability.

more by alan anderson
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

unfortunately, most of us have a better idea of what an empowered team and empowering managers do not look like than what they do look like. let’s look at a few of the ones you may have seen in your time working.
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advisory & consulting

papin: a bold blueprint for modernizing | the concierge cpa

this interdisciplinary approach offers a glimpse into the future of the accounting profession.

this is a preview. the complete episode is first available exclusively to pro members | go pro here
sponsored by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 pro membership, where accounting pros go pro  – see today’s special offer
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the concierge cpa
with jackie meyer
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

in this episode of the concierge cpa, host jackie meyer introduces an extraordinary guest who truly embodies the term concierge advisor. meet chris papin—cpa, attorney, insurance producer, and all-around problem-solver for small business clients navigating today’s increasingly complex financial landscape.

papin, founder of both papin cpa and papin law, brings a rare blend of legal, accounting, and advisory insight under one roof. based in edmond, oklahoma, his firm is not only a one-stop shop for tax compliance and estate planning—it’s a home base for strategic conversations, real-world coaching, and highly personalized service.

more jackie meyer

papin’s journey began when a college professor explained that certain advanced tax topics were reserved for lawyers. that stuck. years later, papin is that lawyer—and cpa—bringing the skipped chapters into focus for his clients. his multi-credentialed approach is more than a résumé flex; it’s a direct response to client demand for integrated, trustworthy, and empathetic advisory.

“small business owners often need to pull five levers to get all the professionals they need in one room. i decided to be all five,” papin quips.

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pro member exclusive

marketing strategies for wealth management services

portrait of kelly waltrich
waltrich
 kelly waltrich is the co-founder of intention.ly, a leading marketing consultancy to fintech and finserv companies.

turn holistic services into accelerated growth.

by kelly waltrich
the holistic guide to wealth management

for cpas, offering holistic wealth management services can be a game changer for your practice. these services are a clear opportunity to provide top-notch guidance to clients while fueling additional revenue streams.

more: trust is the primary ingredient | use goodwill to maximize exit readiness | a question of trust: not just for the wealthy | bridge the advice gap for better financial futures | subscriptions beat aum and hourly fees for wealth management | pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | why cpas are best positioned to become financial advisors | rory henry upends the traditional accounting firm
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

but let’s be real – simply hanging out a “wealth management” shingle won’t cut it in an industry in which competition is abundant, and differentiation is key. making your clients and prospects aware of your expanded offerings, and growing your business as a result of those offerings, requires a much more targeted approach.
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accounting influencers

huber: from noise to noteworthy | accounting influencers

ditch bland blogs and craft content that actually converts.

 

sponsored by max: maximize productivity, profitability, and client retention by august j. aquila  – see today’s special offer

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accounting influencers
with rob brown

in this accounting influencers episode, nick huber—former financial times journalist and expert in content strategy—calls out the elephant in the accounting marketing room: most firm content is forgettable. but it doesn’t have to be.

instead of cranking out generic updates and lifeless newsletters, huber challenges firms to rethink their approach. “content is more than a checkbox. it’s your chance to stand out, show what you know, and shape how people perceive your firm,” he says.

despite his statement, huber does offer two checklists for evaluating and producing lead-generating content.

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charts & graphs

can doge and palantir fix the irs with a ‘mega api’?

and what about data security and privacy?

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

the internal revenue service is developing a unified api layer intended to consolidate access across its fractured legacy systems, a move that could transform the agency—if executed with transparency, speed, and user needs in mind.

more irs | brace yourself: irs 25% staff cuts mean big trouble for tax pros and clients | what to watch in the one big beautiful bill |irs’s big annual report: already out of date as agency grapples with chaos and cuts | busy season barometer stats: who’s responding and how they’re doing | tax season faceplant: accountants overrun by late chaos

the project gained momentum–and sparked controversy–this year with the department of government efficiency and palantir technologies aiming to build a comprehensive api system.

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featured video

ellison-taylor: small firms’ fix for talent crisis | gear up for growth

they’re not leaving the firm. they’re leaving you.

originally published jan. 10, 2025.
sponsored by max: maximize productivity, profitability, and client retention by august j. aquila  – see today’s special offer

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gear up for growth
with jean caragher
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

what’s driving talent out of accounting firms? according to kimberly ellison-taylor, cpa, cgma, citp, cisa, everything from outdated leadership to untold success stories is pushing promising professionals away. in this episode of gear up for growth, powered by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间, host jean caragher sits down with the powerhouse behind ket solutions to explore how the profession can—and must—change to attract and retain the next generation.

gear up for growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today’s competitive landscape. more gear up for growth | more capstone conversations with jean caragher | more jean caragher here | get her best-selling handbook, the 90-day marketing plan for cpa firms, here | more 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 videos and podcasts here

ellison-taylor, former chair of both the aicpa and the maryland association of cpas, started her journey into accounting as a third grader inspired by a career-day presentation. that spark led to decades of leadership—and now, a mission to transform the narrative around what it means to be a cpa.

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charts & graphs

five million irs refunds delayed by staff cuts

still, better than 21 million in 2022 pandemic.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

2025 filing season by the numbers
individual returns received 140.6 million
refunds issued 86.1 million
total refund dollars $253 billion
average refund $2,942

issuing $49 billion more in refunds than last year, the internal revenue service processed over $253 billion in refunds during the 2025 filing season, with 86.1 million refunds issued and an average check of $2,942, according to the national taxpayer advocate’s 2026 objectives report to congress.

more irs | brace yourself: irs 25% staff cuts mean big trouble for tax pros and clients | what to watch in the one big beautiful bill |irs’s big annual report: already out of date as agency grapples with chaos and cuts | busy season barometer stats: who’s responding and how they’re doing | tax season faceplant: accountants overrun by late chaos

in 2022, the irs faced a substantial backlog, with over 21 million delayed refunds, primarily due to pandemic-related challenges and a surge in paper filings. by 2023, improvements in processing systems and staffing helped reduce the backlog to approximately 1.9 million delayed refunds. however, in 2025, delayed refunds rose again to over 5 million, slowed by headline-making staff cuts and an uptick in identity theft cases requiring additional verification.

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growth strategies

leverage technology for growth

how to make your tech stack work for you.

by jackie meyer

we have discussed how solid systems and processes can streamline your operations and boost efficiency. now, it’s time to delve into the specific technologies and software that can truly transform your advisory practice and propel your growth. we’re going to talk about building your tech stack – the collection of tools that work together to support and automate your workflows.

more: streamline your operations with systems and processes | craft tiered service packages for maximum impact | master the roi method: price for value, not time | from compliance to advisory: shifting the value proposition | niche down to scale up | how to define your vision | how i became an accidental entrepreneur | build a seven-figure firm in four hours a week
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

embracing the right technology can elevate your one-person or small firm into a powerhouse that feels much larger. when done right, tech removes drudgery, reduces errors and creates a client experience that’s smooth and modern. on the flip side, ignoring tech or using outdated tools can hold you back, limit your growth and eat away at your time. let’s make sure that doesn’t happen!
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2022年世界杯抽签

bissett bullet: help them understand

today’s bissett bullet: “we might want to work with a potential client, and see the benefit to them of doing so, but that is immaterial if they themselves don’t understand why.”

by martin bissett

so often i am told by the accounting profession that they just cannot understand why a business did not come on board when it was so obvious as to the benefit to them for doing so.

the reality is, whether we see the necessity or not for a client to work with us, our opinion is irrelevant. the responsibility is incumbent upon us to make sure that the business sees a compelling reason for working together, and make sure that the reason creates a sense of urgency that allows them to give us a decision in our favor.

let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that just because we understand why they should change that the business automatically does too.

today’s to-do:

give thought today to the next meeting you have got coming up in your diary with a potential, or indeed existing, client. make sure you have a way prepared of making the client or prospect understand why working with you is in their best commercial interests.

see more bissett bullets here

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accounting arc

the hidden reason you’re exhausted | arc

discover the link between triggers, burnout, and the power of saying “not right now.”

originally published may 29, 2025.
sponsored by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 pro membership. get more. go pro!  – see today’s special offer

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accounting arc
with liz mason, byron patrick, and donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation

more arc: analysis, reaction, comedy

let’s be honest: the accounting profession isn’t exactly known for work-life balance. long hours, tax season sprints, and “just one more thing” emails can leave even the most seasoned pros teetering on the edge of burnout.

in this episode of arc, hosts liz mason, cpa; donny shimamoto, cpa.citp, cgma; and byron patrick, cpa.citp, cgma, confront that edge—and explain why healthy boundaries are more than just trendy jargon. they’re essential tools for staying sane, productive, and professionally respected.

more accounting arc: your identity is not a liability | what happens in vegas… gets reported on a tax return | burnout, be gone: accounting needs a boundary breakthrough | the ultimate business hack you’re probably ignoring | resilience, real talk, and the road to mental wellness | blockchain could still reshape accounting | what gen z wants from business | firm differentiation depends upon client service |

“burnout is basically professional depression,” says mason, ceo of high rock accounting. “if you find yourself triggered, angry, or exhausted at work all the time, there’s a good chance your boundaries are being violated—and you might not even realize it.”

read more →

charts & graphs

irs phone stats improve—unless you’re a tax pro

what “priority service”? only 61 percent of practitioner calls get through.

irs phone line
level of service
accounts management
87%
practitioner priority service
61%
installment agreement / balance due
35%
identity theft
29%
critical support lines remain overwhelmed.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

the internal revenue service reports significant improvements in its phone service, but the gains mask critical shortfalls in other high-demand lines, frustrating taxpayers and practitioners alike.

more irs | brace yourself: irs 25% staff cuts mean big trouble for tax pros and clients | what to watch in the one big beautiful bill |irs’s big annual report: already out of date as agency grapples with chaos and cuts | busy season barometer stats: who’s responding and how they’re doing | tax season faceplant: accountants overrun by late chaos

despite improvements in certain areas, such as the accounts management lines achieving an 87 percent level of service with average wait times dropping to 3 minutes, other critical lines experienced significantly lower service levels. for instance, the identity theft line had an los of just 29 percent, and the installment agreement/balance due line stood at 35 percent.

however, performance plummets for other phone lines. the level of service on the identity theft line was just 29 percent, and on the installment agreement/balance due line, it was 35 percent.

the practitioner priority service line, heavily used by professionals, managed just 61 percent, well below the standard for acceptable support.

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pricing, fees & billing rates

how to create client personas

they’ll help you build service packages.

by jody padar
radical pricing – by the radical cpa

one drawback of the hourly pricing model is its one-size-fits-all nature. every client is charged the same rates per hour, with the only difference being the number of hours each uses.

but the world isn’t made up of identical people working in identical businesses and driving identical cars to and from their identical homes. thank goodness!

more by jody padar
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

 

clients are as different as you or me, but we can group them into buckets called personas based on shared values or traits. in a client-centric firm, it helps to understand these basic personas so you can more efficiently meet each client’s needs. you probably have a handful of personas in your firm right now. you just haven’t seen them as a grouping because, in your bill-by-the-hour model, it doesn’t matter who they are.
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