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Three Safe Harbor Elections Could Save Thousands on Your Next Big Repair Project

When a rental property owner faces a $27,000 repair bill, can they deduct it immediately or must they capitalize it? Jeremy Wells, CPA, EA, walks through this real case on Tax in Action, revealing the IRS framework for repair versus improvement decisions and three safe harbor elections that could save thousands in taxes.

The Real Reason Your Female Colleagues Keep Disappearing from Leadership

In the She Counts podcast episode “Still Under Glass,” hosts Questian Telka and Nancy McClelland tackle accounting’s female leadership crisis. They identify the motherhood penalty, flexibility trap, and sponsorship gap as barriers keeping women from partnership, offering actionable solutions for firms to transform their cultures and retain talented women professionals.

Why Accountants Are Both Thrilled and Terrified by QuickBooks’ Latest AI Push

In the latest Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, hosts Alicia Katz Pollock and Matthew “Spot” Fulton explore Intuit’s new AI agents for payment collection and payroll processing. They debate the benefits of automation while warning about necessary human oversight to avoid compliance issues with these time-saving but potentially risky technologies.

Tax Law Rewards Professional Stagnation While Punishing Growth

In the latest Tax in Action podcast, Jeremy Wells reveals how the tax system penalizes professional advancement. From CPAs to MBAs, the credentials that make you more valuable often become non-deductible “personal investments.” Discover how to navigate this knowledge economy trap and make informed decisions about your professional development.

The Business Case for Leading with Heart in a Numbers-Driven World

CPA Dawn Brolin shares her journey from victim of toxic leadership to empathy champion on the She Counts podcast with Nancy McClelland and Questian Telka. Her new book “The Elevation of Empathy” reveals how embracing emotional intelligence creates stronger teams and better business outcomes, not weakness as the accounting profession often assumes.

Why Most Accounting AI Will Hit an Auditability Wall

FloQast CEO Mike Whitmire joins Blake Oliver on the Earmark Podcast to explain the “auditability wall” AI accounting systems face. While tech companies rush to automate accounting, FloQast’s Transform solution uniquely preserves audit trails by combining AI power with human oversight, transforming accountants into reviewers rather than transaction processors.

How Smart Small Businesses Turn Economic Headwinds into Competitive Advantages

Gusto economist Nicholas Tremper reveals on the Earmark Podcast that despite economic challenges, small businesses are thriving by combining AI productivity tools and competitive benefits packages. Rather than downsizing, they’re adapting creatively, creating opportunities for accountants to evolve from compliance providers into strategic advisors guiding clients through uncertainty.

This Forbes Top 200 CPA Says Sponsors Matter More Than Mentors

Forbes Top 200 CPA Nicole Davis shares powerful insights on the “She Counts” podcast about commanding respect, redefining professional power, and embracing authenticity. From being called “darling” by clients to chairing an AICPA committee, Davis reveals how women can dominate spaces by owning their story and leveraging technology.

The Lookback Period Mistake That Turns Valid Refunds Into Permanent Losses

Tax in Action podcast host Jeremy Wells breaks down the complex refund statute of limitations through Lenora Hamilton’s case, revealing a dangerous “due date myth” that costs taxpayers money. Understanding the two-step framework of limitation periods and lookback periods is crucial for tax professionals.

Why Your Audit Fails Before Fieldwork Even Starts

In Episode 2 of Audit Smarter, Sam & Abdullah reveal how poor risk assessment dooms audits before they begin. They share five common mistakes that derail engagements and practical solutions to transform your approach from a checkbox exercise into a strategic foundation for successful audits.

Stop Talking About Culture and Start Fixing These Three Problems

On the Earmark Podcast, host Blake Oliver interviews CPA Erin Daiber, who transformed from burnt-out Big Four accountant to culture coach. She reveals how firms can bridge the gap between stated values and actual behaviors, offering practical strategies to create authentic workplace cultures that retain talent instead of driving it away.

The R&D Credit Reality Check Every Tax Professional Should Understand

Host Jeremy Wells dives into the misunderstood Section 41 R&D tax credit on Tax in Action podcast, revealing why the “20% credit” actually delivers closer to 10% and requires scientific experimentation—not just business improvements. Most service businesses face steep qualification hurdles despite initial excitement.

The Math Is Brutal: Every CPA Must Triple Their Productivity by 2035 or Face Professional Extinction

Ascend CEO David Wurtzbacher reveals on the Earmark Podcast how accounting firms must become 2.7x more productive by 2035. He outlines three transformations: evolving managing partners into true CEOs, creating “irresistible” talent offers through equity ownership, and implementing enterprise-scale technology. His private-equity backed platform has already completed over three dozen acquisitions.

Inside QuickBooks Online’s Biggest Transformation Since Going Cloud-Based

Alicia Katz Pollock and Dan DeLong reveal QuickBooks’ revolutionary July 2025 AI-powered update on The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast. With AI agents that explain anomalies, auto-process bank statements, and streamline client communication, this mandatory September transition will reshape accounting forever. Learn how to influence the platform before it’s finalized!

The Secret to Turning Fear Into Career Fuel

Nancy McClelland and Questian Telka reveal why “don’t be afraid” is terrible career advice. Through personal stories of go-go dancing at 40 and unexpected presentations to 500 people, they share how successful women in accounting don’t overcome fears—they harness them as powerful career accelerators.

Faith, Fraud, and False Promises: The “Doc” Gallagher Story

In the latest Oh My Fraud episode, Caleb Newquist reveals how “The Money Doctor” William Gallagher used Christian faith to swindle seniors out of $20 million through modest promises and scripture-wrapped trust. Despite victims defending him, this religious Ponzi scheme eventually earned Gallagher life sentences, with victims recovering only 20% of their money.

The Legal Default Every Tax Pro Gets Backwards About Married Filing Status

Tax pro Jeremy Wells reveals on his “Tax in Action” podcast that filing separately is actually the legal default, not joint filing. While joint returns often save taxes, separate filing can be financially advantageous for student loan repayments, protecting refunds, and avoiding joint liability—despite tax software defaults suggesting otherwise.

Why S Corporation Elections Backfire More Often Than You Think

In Tax in Action’s “S-Corporation Reality Check,” CPA Jeremy Wells dismantles oversimplified S corp advice flooding social media. While helping one client escape tax debt through an S election, Wells warns about debt basis misconceptions, operating agreement conflicts, and hidden costs that can transform supposed tax benefits into costly mistakes.

QuickBooks Online’s Latest AI Update Could Save You Hours of Detective Work

In this episode of The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, Jim Dzundza reveals how AI agents are revolutionizing accounting workflows. Discover how QuickBooks’ new anomaly detection can spot a 624% travel expense increase, trace it to duplicate hotel charges, and deliver actionable recommendations—all without replacing human expertise.

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