forecast

Next-gen leapfrogging. Aggressive pricing. Widening gaps.

See the complete 2014 Roundtable

By Jeff Pawlow
The Growth Partnership

Analysis

The demographic tsunami is upon us with firms finally being forced to face what the successor generation is going to look like. Loyal technicians are next in terms of tenure, but I see many next-gen practitioners leapfrogging these long-term managers / non-equity partners and landing in key firm leadership roles instead.

Opinions are mixed when it comes to the overall economic outlook. The recession may be falling behind us but Main Street doesn’t seem to have recovered as quickly or as deeply as in the past. As a result, we continue to see very aggressive pricing in the market, which is placing pressure on some long-held client relationships.

Outlook

Anecdotally, we see the business development and leadership development areas of our practice growing, which suggests a deeper level of engagement by most firms in these areas going forward into 2014. READ MORE →

Mandatory retirements.

See the complete 2014 Roundtable

By Allan Koltin
Koltin Consulting Group

Analysis

First — People, people, people. I believe the white gloves have officially come off when it comes to recruiting talent from other firms in our industry. I’m seeing much more sophisticated strategies in terms of how firms target talent and, more precisely, go after that talent. READ MORE →

Not so sure, however, about their clients or the rest of the U.S.
Click here to take survey and get the results.

Tax and accounting professionals are entering 2013 with deep concerns about the U.S. economy, but are more confident about their abilities to survive and thrive nonetheless, according to a new CPA Trendlines poll.

The poll compares the industry’s confidence levels for the economic outlook in four areas: themselves and their families, their firms or organizations, their clients and customers, and for the nation in general. The discrepancies are sometimes jarring – and their remarks reveal much about the industry’s psyche, as well as some business strategy. READ MORE →