Monthly Archives: May 2013

Tax Season Survey Data on Top Issues

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Seven hot topics that “pushed a button.”

Bob Jennings
Bob Jenning

Tax guru Bob Jennings (CPA, EA, CFP, and RTRP) has been polling past attendees of his CPE seminars about Tax Season 2013.

Clearly, tax professionals are still seething. “We sent our survey out and it must have pushed a button because the responses overwhelmed our servers,” says Jennings, taxspeaker.com.

The results may not surprise you. But they are sobering nevertheless.

He offers new data on

  1. workloads,
  2. profits,
  3. software,
  4. volume of returns handled,
  5. exit strategies, and
  6. the use of engagement letters and
  7. portals.

Here are the highlights so far: READ MORE →

Checklist: How the Best Managing Partners and Firm Admins Work in Concert

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In a 43-item checklist based on surveys of the best-run firms in the nation, Marc Rosenberg, author of “CPA Firm Management and Governance: The Managing Partner’s Guide to Running a CPA Firm Like a Business,” details the allocation of duties and responsibilities that distinguish the separate roles of the managing partner as CEO and firm administrator as COO.

It’s easy to see why the managing partner should be the executive most responsible for holding partners accountable. But other questions are not so clear: Who manages the banking relationships? Who works with partners to set goals? Who’s responsible for profitability?

The answers may surprise you. If they don’t, then you’re already doing everything right.

Here’s the checklist:

READ MORE →

12 Must-Do Items for Your Partner Retreat Agenda

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August Aquila
August Aquila, CEO of AQUILA Global Advisors

And 12 retreat topic no-no’s.

by August Aquila
Author of “Leadership At Its Strongest”

The purpose of the retreat should be clearly thought out early in the year. Articulate one or two goals for the retreat. You need to be very specific as to what you want to accomplish. For example, the purpose of the retreat is to develop a succession plan for the firm. You many not know exactly what it will look like, but you know what the end product of the retreat will be.

If you cannot do this, don’t hold the meeting. Ask yourself this one question: “What would happen if we did not hold this retreat?” If the answer is “nothing,” you’ll know what to do.

Retreat topic no-no’s

Let’s look at common retreat topics that should not be discussed at a retreat. You may or not agree with the list, but I urge you to strike the following items from your retreat agendas. READ MORE →