February 2026 produced 21 recorded transactions — second only to January.
The accounting profession’s private equity wave shows no sign of cresting.
By CPA Trendlines Research
The 57 private-equity-backed accounting transactions recorded in the CPA Trendlines PE Deal Tracker™ through the first two months of 2026 represent more than three times the 18 deals logged in the same period a year ago, as the PE phenomenon continues to gather speed.
February didn’t beat January’s record pace but it came in second, even if down 42%. Still, the underlying rate remains roughly double the 2025 monthly average of 12.1 deals. READ MORE →
As with any service area, it’s important to have a solid process in place. Without one, it can be a little bit like the Wild West! The 401(k) audit process involves six stages, which are typically completed within four to eight weeks.
Once a prospective client confirms they want Summit to complete their audit, we send them the engagement letter and the questionnaires along with the governance planning memo that we’re required to give them. READ MORE →
David Lau is the founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners, a privately held financial services firm that specializes in the development and distribution of low-cost, commission-free insurance and annuity products, for registered investment advisors (RIAs) and individual investors.
Perceptions are changing … and rightfully so.
By David Lau, founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners,and Ross McGoodwin, regional vice president at DPL Financial Partners The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management
After the stock market swooned (-22% S&P 500) and the majority of bond indices suffered double-digit losses in 2022, protection and income solutions are at the forefront of planning discussions. Instead of these principal protection and income solutions being offered only by commission-based agents, however, now they can be offered by fiduciaries for planning discussions and appropriate implementation.
According to LIMRA (Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association), retail annuity sales in 2022 shattered the annual sales records set during the global financial crisis of 2008. For instance, fixed-rate deferred annuities totaled $113 billion, more than double the sales in 2021, LIMRA reported. CD alternatives, such as fixed-rate deferred annuities, provide security and tax-deferred growth. I have found this helps clients guarantee upside return, something they are actively seeking after one of the worst years in combined equity and bond performance since World War II. I’ve also found that fee-only options will provide higher rates compared to traditional, commission-based solutions. READ MORE →
Today’s Bissett Bullet: “Confirming the details of your meeting with a prospective client after a meeting is set up is not a formality.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here
