EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BEING A RELIABLE SOURCE of timely information for busy editors and reporters can give a CPA who is a sole practitioner or in a small practice a significant marketplace advantage. A practitioner can pursue this opportunity by developing a relationship with local media. TO BECOME A KEY LOCAL
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TOPICS / FIRM PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Practice growth & client service
The Hedge Fund Mystique
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HEDGE FUNDS ARE SUCCESSFUL ONLY IF THEY MAKE money in both up and down markets. To do this, they employ some creative and risky investment strategies—selling short, using leverage, trading put and call options, trading futures and investing in emerging markets. SINCE HEDGE FUNDS ARE NOT RIGHT FOR
A Primer on Exchange-Traded Funds
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SINCE THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE INTRODUCED them in 1993, the market for exchange-traded funds continues to grow despite the current disappointing investment climate. As an alternative to index mutual funds, ETFs offer investors a low-cost, tax-efficient way to invest in their favorite market segments. The expense ratio for
Ten “Musts” for Developing a PFP Practice
CPAs interested in careers in personal financial planning or who have established practices and would like to create a niche in this area can follow these steps to get started: Select a practice structure. Depending on their firm’s purpose or the way they conduct business—including how much liability they are
Teaming Up for the Bottom Line
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR A MODEST INVESTMENT within reach of any small to midsize firm, a 48-member, seven-partner office of J.H. Cohn drew on football as a model for a team incentive program (TIP). THE FIRM’S GOALS WERE to bring in new business and develop a team approach, encourage nonpartners to
Reverse Exchanges Come of Age
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PAST PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN SECTION 1031 exchanges had led to the development of the reverse or “parking” exchange in which a third-party “warehouses” the new property until the taxpayer sells the existing property. Although the IRS didn’t attack parking exchanges, questions about their validity remained unanswered until revenue
Be a Standout on the Web
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A WEB SITE IS A VALUABLE DIRECT MARKETING TOOL when it has action-oriented copy and graphics, reader involvement devices and promotional offers that prompt readers to respond. FOCUS ON WHAT CLEARLY SEPARATES YOUR FIRM from the competition and can be locked into the minds of your prospective clients.
CPAs Add HR to the Mix
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STAFFING IS EVERY COMPANY’S NUMBER ONE problem, and CPAs are in an excellent position to offer human resources (HR) consulting services to clients in need of financial professionals. HUMAN RESOURCES OUTSOURCING IS GOOD for clients that don’t feel they need a full-blown HR department. It can help
Golden Business Ideas
Marketing by Database Most businesses have a powerful marketing guru at their disposal—and they probably aren’t even aware of it. The guru is any staff person who is savvy about the use of databases. Most businesses have some of their customer information on computer—probably in the accounting software database—and they
Making It—As a Consultant.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NOT EVERY CPA FIRM that tries its hand at consulting can report financial success, and although there’s no such thing as a single universal cure for an unhealthy consulting business, the one that comes closest is strategic planning. IF CONSULTING FIRMS WITH LOW PROFITS have one thing
For Better Direct Mail
full-color mailer with a tired approach is no more a promotion than a Volkswagen Beetle painted red is a Ferrari. Think creatively to grab your readers’ attention; focus on a key idea; and make it worthwhile. “Mailings that offer a special promotion encourage a response,” says John Schulte, executive
Profitable Communication
hat a difference a decade makes: Just 10 years ago, most managing partners didn’t consider marketing key to their business plans. Now firms not only employ marketing professionals but also expect them to deliver value beyond traditional functions. Yet many firms need to realize that one area still requires their
Sophisticated Web Design
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MOST CPA FIRMS HAVE STATIC WEB SITES with fixed content. Practitioners can not easily change this data without prior knowledge of a Web programming language, such as html. DATABASE-DRIVEN WEB SITES allow practitioners to change Web content without knowing a Web programming language, thus saving CPAs the cost
Tips for the Valuator
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOLLOWING BASIC TENETS will provide business appraisers in both industry and public practice enhanced understanding and skills to comply with business valuation standards. FIRST, FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE of each BV assignment. CPAs WHO OFFER BV MUST CONFORM with several standards on professional competence, due professional care, planning
Is Business Appraising for You?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BV IS A VERY CHALLENGING BUSINESS that requires an unusual set of skills. CPAs SUCCESSFUL AT OFFERING BV tend to: — Function well under intense pressure. — Communicate well, both orally and in writing. — Integrate quantitative and subjective data coherently. — Be unfazed by ambiguity and uncertainty.
Measuring Public Companies
PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT/BUSINESS VALUATION Skills you need to value businesses. Is Business Appraising For You? BY ELIZABETH DANZIGER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BV IS A VERY CHALLENGING BUSINESS that requires an unusual set of skills. CPAs SUCCESSFUL AT OFFERING BV tend to: — Function well under intense pressure. — Communicate well, both
International Associations
There are more than 130 associations of accounting firms, 30 of which are international. However, fewer than 1,000 U.S. firms belong to some kind of accounting association. David Albrecht, professor of accounting, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. he world is our horizon! How can we—a midsize accounting firm
Make Your Firm A Household Name
(ILLUSTRATION BY: KELLEY GRAPHICS) The CPA designation already sets you apart from other service professionals, but it alone will not position your firm ahead of other firms and the many new full-service companies, such as American Express and HRB, that invest millions of dollars each year in marketing and brand
Ace Your Presentations
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IF YOU PREPARE BEFORE YOU PRESENT, you are more likely to have an influence on your audience. Make sure you know your audiences needs and concerns. Find out what motivates them and how they make decisions. Know the purpose of your presentation and integrate it with what you
Be a Go-To Person
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HAVING A GREAT DEAL OF KNOWLEDGE and experience in a niche is helpful, but being the industry champion (a “go-to” person) has a greater impact in the marketplace. A go-to person is perceived as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field DO ENOUGH RESEARCH BEFORE you
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
Preparing clients for new provisions next tax season
As the 2025 filing season approaches, H.R. 1 introduces significant tax reforms that CPAs must be prepared to navigate. These legislative changes represent some of the most comprehensive tax updates in recent years, affecting both individual and corporate taxpayers. This report provides in-depth analysis and guidance on H.R. 1.
From The Tax Adviser
November 30, 2025
Digital asset transactions: Broker reporting, amount realized, and basis
October 31, 2025
Recent developments in estate planning
October 31, 2025
