How a routine year-end call became a five-year relationship
A routine year-end meeting changed when one accountant asked a longtime business owner what would happen if he were no longer running the company. That single question uncovered an unaddressed succession gap and led to a coordinated planning process involving ownership options, tax considerations, contingency funding, and the founder’s first family conversation about the future of the business. What began as an annual compliance relationship grew into an ongoing advisory partnership built around a plan the client had postponed for years.
Why Mid-Year Is a Valuable Touchpoint for Planning
Mid-year planning gives CPA firms an opportunity to move beyond year-end review, engage clients earlier, and help influence business, tax, succession, and wealth decisions while there is still time to act.
Using Permanent Life Insurance to Support Business and Estate Planning Goals
Permanent life insurance can support business and estate planning goals by providing protection, building tax-advantaged cash value, and potentially creating access to capital through strategies such as an Immediate Financing Arrangement.
Liquidity Without Liquidation: Helping Clients Access Capital While Preserving Their Long-Term Plan
Liquidity planning can help business owners access capital when opportunities or needs arise, without unnecessarily disrupting long-term investment, tax, estate, or succession planning goals.
Why Service Segmentation May Be the Missing Link in a Growing Advisory Practice
Service segmentation helps advisory firms align resources, communication, and planning depth with each client’s actual complexity and long-term needs.
What Happens Before, During, and After an Advisory Meeting
Effective advisory meetings create value before, during, and after the conversation by turning preparation, discovery, and follow-through into client progress.
5 Estate Planning Conversations That Help CPA Firms Build Stronger Client Relationships
Estate planning conversations help CPA firms deepen trust by connecting tax, succession, family, and wealth decisions into one coordinated advisory strategy.
How to Segment Your Client Base for Higher-Value Work
Most CPA firms already have the clients they need to grow — the opportunity lies in recognising which relationships are ready for more.
When a Client’s Income Jumps Suddenly: Planning Opportunities to Consider
A client's best year on record isn't just a tax event — it's a planning moment that opens doors that simply weren't there before.
Turning Tax Season Insights into Planning Conversations
Tax season is the most information-rich period of the year, and the most overlooked starting point for meaningful planning conversations.