by Kristi Stangeland, CPA RJ Thompson Publishing, 2006, 177 pp. Shortening the client development cycle is one of the most compelling reasons for a CPA firm to develop a Web site if it does not already have one, according to author Kristi Stangeland. Keeping clients abreast of change, increasing sales
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TOPICS / FIRM PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Practice growth & client service
Structuring for Growth
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Managing partners at small CPA firms —those having four or fewer professionals on staff—face a challenge. Their chief responsibilities are to build and maintain a solid foundation of financial, technological and legal support and to take action to ensure the firm’s profitability and future.
Build, Buy (or Sell)?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In managing a practice’s lifecycle, CPAs periodically face questions of how best to grow–to build the practice from within over time or to acquire an existing firm. They also must consider how best and when to sell their practice. The decision of how or when to build,
Market Every Day (in Every Way)
Marketing is the process of educating people about the availability and value of your firm’s CPA and advisory services. It lets potential clients know how you can help them solve problems and meet financial goals. Targeted, budgeted marketing plans generally work best, but many simple strategies cost
Economics of Scale
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Faced with a major piece of new business, many clients find they instantly need more equipment, space, inventory, people and working capital. They must obtain capital quickly while simultaneously managing the other, physical aspects of the total opportunity. Many entrepreneurs are accustomed to pushing
CPAs as Trust Protectors
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Clients who want their beneficiaries to avoid probate often place assets in trust. Many CPAs are reluctant to take on being a trustee, which is a time-consuming responsibility. An alternative is to be a third-party “trust protector” alongside a professional trustee. CPAs are highly
Help Clients Get Government Contracts
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. government is the biggest buyer in the world. CPAs can help clients build business by learning the federal procurement process and advising on how to compete successfully for a share of government business. Companies first must obtain a data universal number (DUNS)
Sell Financial Products Wisely
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Many CPA firms now provide insurance and investment services to their clients in addition to core services. This can be an attractive avenue to growth that increases client retention and firm revenues, but it carries certain reputational, legal and economic risks. To limit liability
Smart Stops on the Web
THE INTERNET Smart Stops on the Web PFP SITES Onward and Upward www.mynextphase.com Here CPAs and financial advisers can get a free trial membership and explore some of the nonfinancial considerations of retirement, such as how to handle change and revisit past interests as future
Liability for Someone Else’s Sins: The Risks of Accounting Firm Alliances.
ccounting firms worldwide have for many years formed alliances, and there are good reasons to do so. A network of firms can capture marketing and promotional synergies and offer a broader range of accounting services to clients by expanding the availability of resources, expertise and geographic coverage. Moreover, with the
Be an HR Resource for Your Clients
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A company’s staff positions involve many human resources (HR) functions that CPA firms can provide relatively easily. Many firms already assist in traditional areas such as payroll and benefits administration. The profession’s roots in recordkeeping, tabulation and financial reporting give CPAs insight into organizations’ operational needs such
First Form a Plan
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The most valuable service trusted CPA investment advisers bring to clients is a clear direction. A business plan helps provide a road map—a sound investment approach based on the tenets of prudent investing—and the discipline to stay the course. A PFP-niche business plan should contain a mission
Bridging a Breakup
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY More family law attorneys are recommending their divorce clients hire a single, neutral CPA to help handle the transition from their shared financial life to their new independent lives. Using a neutral CPA often keeps the divorcing parties out of court. A neutral accountant gathers documents, makes
Smart Stops on the Web
TAX SITES Community Service www.taxalmanac.org CPAs looking for discussions on recent IRS rules and regulations dealing with employee plans, exempt organizations, employment and estate and excise taxes can find them at this Web portal. Content is contributed by visitors who add advice and tax tips to the site’s discussion threads.
Smart Stops on the Web
RETIREMENT PLANNING SITES Green Golden Years http://retireplan.about.com CPA/PFSs can find retirement planning advice here, including information on rolling over qualified plans, an IRA fact sheet and five reasons to open a 401(k) plan. Take a quiz to see how much you know about the basics of retirement planning, calculate 401(k)
Best Practices in EBP Audits
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Labor requires employee benefit plan (EBP) audits for employers with more than 100 eligible plan participants and some smaller plans. EBPs include defined-benefit, defined-contribution, 401(k) and ESOP, health and welfare, and vacation and severance plans sponsored by a single company or several employers under common
Smart Stops on the Web
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SITES Know the Law www.dol.gov/ebsa Firms shopping for health insurance will want to read up on the potential pitfalls at the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration Web site. Focus on Health Care Fraud has fact sheets on how to protect your employees when purchasing health insurance
Castellano Wins Institute’s Top Citation
James G. Castellano, CPA, received the AICPA’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Service at the fall council meeting. Doyle Z. Williams, CPA, chair of the AICPA Awards Committee, presented the medal, which recognizes those who have had an extraordinary positive influence on the profession. Castellano, a former AICPA chairman, is chair
Jenkins Hailed for His Effect on the Profession
Edmund L. Jenkins, CPA, FASB chairman from 1997 through 2004, received the Institute’s 2005 Special Recognition Award from AICPA Chair Leslie Murphy at the AICPA National Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments in December. The award honors those who have significantly influenced the profession. Jenkins chaired the AICPA Special
AICPA Financial Literacy Campaign Adds to Its Laurels
The Institute’s 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program garnered a 2005 Platinum Award from the League of American Communications Professionals and was on the organization’s list of Top 50 Communications Materials for 2005. The campaign also won a Financial Planning Award of Excellence from CPA Wealth Provider magazine and a
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Tax season quick guide
Get ready for tax season with the JofA’s annual filing season quick guide, an easy-to-use compilation of dollar thresholds, tax tables, standard amounts, credits, and deductions. Download and print for quick reference this tax season.
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