Today's Features

Write Your Way to the Top: The Career Move Most Overlook | Accounting Influencers

What’s the best professional step in accounting? It’s free, powerful—and you’re probably not doing it.

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Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

Want to stand out in your firm? Build a loyal client base? Attract speaking gigs, promotions, or even media opportunities? In this episode of Accounting Influencers, the answer isn’t more certifications or hours—it’s writing. Publicly.

Rob Brown makes a bold claim: writing publicly is the most effective, accessible move accounting professionals can make to shape their careers—and almost no one is doing it. Not because it’s hard, but because they’re afraid.

“This one habit can take you from being another face in the crowd to a trusted voice in your field,” he says. “And trust me, it’s a lot easier than you think.”

Technical competence alone is no longer enough. Clients and firms are looking for accountants who can lead, communicate, and inspire confidence. Public writing—on LinkedIn, blogs, newsletters, or industry sites—is one of the most efficient ways to showcase your expertise and build trust at scale.

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How to Buy Out Partners (in 31 Steps)

No one said it would be easy.

By Marc Rosenberg
The Rosenberg Practice Management Library

When firms call us for help on their partner agreement, we immediately ask: “Do you want help with your entire partner agreement or just the retirement/buyout part?” Many firms hesitate because they had only one part in mind.

MORE by Marc Rosenberg
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We have written an entire book devoted to CPA firm retirement/buyout plans. If you are interested in a comprehensive resource on crafting a proper retirement plan that adopts CPA firm industry best practices, visit the CPA Trendlines shop to purchase “CPA Firm Retirement/Buyout Plans.”
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Two Reasons That Selling Scares Us

Two women shaking hands across a table

The good news: with practice, you can get better.

By Martin Bissett
Business Development on a Budget

If winning new clients is simply a matter of being yourself, why is selling so difficult for accountants? Well, it’s a combination of several factors, but there are two main reasons.

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First, accountants have not traditionally been required to sell. Maybe your practice has grown by referral – business has come to you and you haven’t had to do much to win that business. Unfortunately, however, business doesn’t always walk through the door; you don’t know how often it will, or what caliber it will be when it does.
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Randy Crabtree: Live at the Intersection of Passion & Skill | The Disruptors

Abandon rigid roles and redefine success on your own terms.

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The Disruptors
With Liz Farr

Randy Crabtree believes the biggest shift accounting needs isn’t in technology or tax law—it’s in mindset. For decades, the profession has prized consistency and predictability.

But in a time of demographic disruption and rapid innovation, Crabtree argues that clinging to “Same As Last Year” thinking is holding the profession back.

“We have to embrace change,” he says. “This is a massive opportunity to start thinking differently.”

And for Crabtree, that change is deeply personal. A stroke more than a decade ago sparked a transformation that reshaped his life, leadership, and mission. Now, he champions vulnerability, passion, and purpose as the new pillars of a thriving accounting career—and he believes the profession’s best days are just beginning.

CPA TRENDLINES CELEBRATES: The 100th Episode of The Disruptors

MORE STREAMING: McClelland and Telka: Women Ready to Rewrite the Rules of Accounting | Jacob Schroeder: AI Won’t Replace Accountants—But It Will Reveal Who’s ReplaceableDitching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | Jean Zick: Happy Team = Happy Clients | Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client AdvocateDominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining PowerDebbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small |

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Crabtree’s vision for accounting starts with reimagining relationships—both with clients and with ourselves.

“It’s not just about shifting services. It’s about shifting how we see our role,” he explains. “We have to stop thinking of ourselves as just technicians and start thinking of ourselves as partners in our clients’ futures.”

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Justin Baker: Save $8M in Estate Taxes in One Move (Before 2026) | The Concierge CPA

Even clients under $30 million could face a surprise tax hit in 2026—here’s how to protect them.

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The Concierge CPA
With Jackie Meyer
For CPA Trendlines

As the 2026 sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act looms, one of the least discussed yet most consequential shifts in tax policy is about to hit: the estate tax exemption is set to be cut in half. For high-net-worth individuals—and the CPAs who advise them—the clock is ticking.

More Jackie Meyer

On the latest episode of The Concierge CPA, host Jackie Meyer welcomes Justin Baker, general counsel at Baker Wealth Strategies, to explain how the looming estate tax changes present both a threat and an opportunity. “If Congress does nothing, the current $14 million per-person exemption drops to around $7 million,” Baker warns. “For married couples, that’s a potential $14 million reduction in tax-free estate value—and a real risk of a 40% tax on anything above that.”

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