Blog – Full Posts

Embracing the Cloud: Sage’s Transformation and What It Means for CPAs

Earmark Team · September 23, 2024 ·

“Everything is going to the cloud,” says Emily Madere in the latest episode of the Unofficial Sage podcast. For Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), this shift isn’t just a trend—it’s a fundamental change reshaping the future of financial management and analysis.

As Sage, a leading accounting software provider, transitions to a cloud-centric, partner-rich ecosystem, CPAs find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. Real-time financial analysis and automated compliance tools promise to revolutionize client services. However, leveraging these advancements requires carefully reevaluating firm technology strategies and service models.

In this podcast episode, industry experts Doug Lewis, Emily Madere, and Matt Lescault delve into the intricacies of Sage’s cloud transformation. They explore how this shift is reshaping Sage’s core products, expanding the role of Marketplace Partners, and reflecting broader trends in cloud migration across the accounting software landscape.

Sage’s Shift to a Cloud-Centric Ecosystem

The Rise of Sage Intacct

At the heart of Sage’s cloud strategy is Sage Intacct, a product synonymous with modern, cloud-based financial management. Acquired by Sage in 2017, Intacct was built from the ground up as a cloud solution, offering real-time data access and automated updates without needing on-premises infrastructure.

Initially strong in the nonprofit sector, Sage Intacct has rapidly expanded its reach. Matt notes, “It quickly turned into a valuable product in SaaS, financial services, family offices, professional services, and healthcare. It expanded quickly into other industries.”

Competing in the Mid-Market Space

In the mid-market arena, Sage Intacct now competes with products like NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics. Matt says, “Sage continues to win from a functionality, capability, and user experience perspective.” This competitive edge is crucial for CPAs evaluating which platform to recommend to clients or adopt in their practices.

The Role of Marketplace Partners

A key component of Sage’s evolving ecosystem is the Marketplace Partners (MMPs)—third-party solutions that integrate with Sage products to extend functionality and create customized solutions.

“The Sage marketplace has tripled or quadrupled in size over the past six years,” says Matt. This rapid expansion reflects the growing demand for specialized, integrated solutions in accounting.

Benefits for CPAs

This partner-rich ecosystem offers several advantages for CPAs:

Flexibility: Firms can choose the exact combination of tools that best fit their or their clients’ needs.
Specialization: MMPs provide deep functionality in specific areas beyond the core Sage products.
Innovation: The marketplace model encourages continuous innovation as partners compete to offer the best solutions.

The Cloud Migration Paradigm Shift

Sage’s ecosystem evolution is part of a larger paradigm shift in the accounting industry: the widespread migration to cloud-based solutions. This shift profoundly impacts product development strategies, and many competitors are following suit.

Opportunities and Challenges for CPAs

For CPAs, cloud migration presents significant opportunities and challenges:

Real-time Financial Analysis: Cloud-based solutions enable instant access to up-to-date financial data, allowing for timely and accurate advice.
Automated Compliance Tools: Many cloud platforms offer built-in compliance features, streamlining regulatory adherence.
Remote Work Capabilities: Cloud solutions facilitate seamless remote work, expanding a firm’s talent pool and client base beyond geographical constraints.
Continuous Learning: The rapidly evolving technology landscape requires ongoing education and adaptation.

Looking Ahead: Global Expansion and Future Developments

As Sage continues to invest in its cloud-based ecosystem, the company is expanding its global footprint. Sage Intacct has been launched in several countries beyond the U.S., with more on the horizon. This global expansion drives further investment in the product’s capabilities, benefiting users across all markets.

While Sage Intacct remains the flagship product for mid-market businesses, Sage X3 is the company’s offering for larger enterprises, particularly in manufacturing and distribution. Though less prominent in the US market, X3 competes with major ERP systems from SAP and Oracle in other regions.

Sage’s transition to a cloud-centric, partner-rich ecosystem represents a paradigm shift for CPAs. It offers powerful tools for real-time financial analysis and automated compliance while demanding a reevaluation of firm technology strategies and client service models.

To maximize return on investment and position their practices for future success, CPAs should:

Embrace Cloud-Based Tools: Enhance efficiency and client service through cloud solutions.
Integrate Marketplace Partners: Carefully evaluate and incorporate MMPs to create tailored solutions.
Invest in Continuous Learning: Stay ahead of technological advancements through ongoing education.
Reimagine Service Offerings: Leverage real-time data and analytics capabilities to transform client services.

The cloud-centric future of accounting is not just about adopting new technology—it’s about transforming how CPAs deliver value to their clients. As the Sage ecosystem continues to evolve, staying informed and adaptable will be key to success in this new era of cloud-based accounting.

Listen to the Latest Episode of the Unofficial Sage Podcast

Stay current by listening to the latest episode of the Unofficial Sage podcast. Click here to listen.

Fan-Centric KPIs: The Secret Behind Savannah Bananas’ Explosive Growth

Earmark Team · September 17, 2024 ·

In a recent Earmark podcast episode, Dr. Tim Naddy, CFO of the Savannah Bananas, shared the team’s unconventional approach to sports entertainment and finance. With a background in accounting and education, Tim brings a unique perspective to sports finance, blending traditional accounting principles with innovative tactics prioritizing fan experience.

By analyzing the financial strategies behind the Savannah Bananas’ success, accounting professionals can learn how to implement and measure the effectiveness of all-inclusive pricing models, non-traditional revenue streams, and customer-centric KPIs in other industries to drive customer satisfaction and business growth.

The Savannah Bananas’ Revolutionary Business Model

The Savannah Bananas have revolutionized sports entertainment by blending circus-like excitement with baseball tradition. Tim explains that they’ve found a “secret sauce” that makes the game less stressful and more enjoyable for fans.

The team creates a fun, family-friendly environment with unconventional elements like choreographed player dances and unique cheerleading squads. This approach yielded impressive results: over 3 million social media followers, 200 consecutive sold-out games, and a million-fan waitlist.

Their model emphasizes creating a total fan experience that drives long-term loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing. By prioritizing customer experience, the Bananas demonstrate how businesses can create a “flywheel” effect, where positive experiences drive demand and sustainable growth. Their results are a case study for incorporating customer satisfaction metrics into financial strategies.

All-Inclusive Pricing: A Game-Changing Strategy

One of the most revolutionary aspects of the Savannah Bananas’ business model is their all-inclusive pricing strategy. As Tim explains, “What we found very, very interesting is, when you give away the food for free, and people aren’t worried about whether or not their six-year-old is fed, they are happily taking that money and saying, well, shoot, I had such a great time. I think I want to buy a hat or a T-shirt. Because I know at the end of the game there will be 40 players out there all signing that ball.”

The Savannah Bananas include all food in the ticket price, allowing fans to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks without additional cost. A family of four can attend a game for about $140, enjoying four to five hours of entertainment with all food included. Alcohol and specialty items are not included in the ticket price, maintaining an additional revenue stream.

Initially met with skepticism from industry consultants who viewed food sales as a crucial revenue stream, the Bananas persisted with their vision. The results have been remarkable. By removing the stress of additional food costs, fans are more likely to spend money on merchandise, turning attendees into “walking billboards” for the team.

For accounting professionals, this case study demonstrates the importance of looking beyond traditional revenue streams and considering how pricing strategies impact customer behavior and long-term brand loyalty.

The all-inclusive model also presents exciting challenges for financial reporting and analysis. Accountants must consider how to accurately allocate revenue between ticket sales, food costs, and merchandise and how to measure the true impact of this strategy on the bottom line. This requires a shift in thinking from traditional cost-center approaches to viewing food as part of the overall entertainment experience.

Fan-Centric KPIs: Redefining Financial Success

The Savannah Bananas focus on fan-centric Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), particularly the “per cap” metric. This metric, calculated by dividing total sales by attendees, helps identify trends and issues in various business aspects.

As Tim explains: “The per cap is almost a universal KPI. It’s something that you absolutely need to watch. Because once you start seeing a flip in the per cap, whether that be in merchandise or food and beverage, that’s a lead indicator for you. Now, let’s say merchandise falls. We might look at that and say, was it because it rained this evening? Were we not offering the right products? Is there a certain product that isn’t selling? We investigate why we had that slippage because we know where we should be based on the per cap average.”

On the other hand, if they see an increase in their per cap, they can determine whether the bump came from a particularly popular piece of merchandise.

“It’s a great bellwether for us to look at because, ultimately, what it comes down to is if we don’t know our fans, then we’re going to miss out and it will show in the cap. It will absolutely show,” Tim says.

By adopting similar customer-centric KPIs, businesses in other industries can gain deeper insights into their financial drivers and make informed decisions about resource allocation and strategic planning.

Adapting Financial Systems for Innovative Business Models

To support their unconventional business model, the Savannah Bananas have had to adapt their financial systems and technology stack. As Tim explains, “We actually just made the move to NetSuite. We were originally using QuickBooks and we knew at some point we were starting to get a little too big. QuickBooks is a wonderful platform, but it’s not built for the volume of transactions we were running through it.”

The move to NetSuite ultimately improved processes like credit card allocations and cash allocations, streamlining daily financial operations.

The Bananas’ financial ecosystem combines specialized tools: Shopify for merchandise sales and inventory management, Toast for food and beverage operations, and proprietary software for their ticketing platform. This best-of-breed approach allows them to track and analyze fan behavior across different touchpoints, supporting their fan-centric business model.

They’re also building a data warehouse to integrate data from these different systems, aiming to provide more comprehensive insights into their operations and fan engagement. The goal is to be able to support a more sophisticated analysis of how different aspects of the fan experience contribute to overall financial performance.

Reimagining Financial Strategies for Customer-Centric Businesses

The Savannah Bananas’ success story offers a playbook for accounting professionals across industries to reimagine financial strategies in the context of customer-centric business models. The team has achieved remarkable success and customer loyalty by implementing innovative pricing strategies, focusing on fan-centric KPIs, and adapting financial systems to support these approaches.

To gain more in-depth insights into the Savannah Bananas’ innovative financial strategies and how you can apply them in your practice, listen to the full Earmark Podcast episode featuring CFO Tim Naddy. His story offers a valuable perspective that can help you drive innovation in your financial practices and deliver greater value to your clients and organization.

Are Your Remote Accountants Thriving? Learn from This Firm’s Game-Changing Approach

Earmark Team · September 11, 2024 ·

Marcus and Rachel Dillon, hosts of the “Who’s Really the Boss” podcast, have transformed their virtual accounting firm, Dillon Business Advisors, with innovative strategies for motivating remote teams. Their approach reimagines compensation, leadership opportunities, and team engagement in a virtual team.

In a recent episode, they offered valuable insights for CPA firm owners and accounting professionals looking to thrive in a remote environment.

Incentivizing the Right Behaviors

The Dillons recently overhauled their bonus structure to align more closely with client expectations and give team members more control over their compensation. Previously, bonuses were tied to bringing in new Client Accounting Services (CAS) clients. While this structure helped the firm grow its CAS engagements, the system had limitations. As Marcus explains, “There was some disconnect. People could not calculate what their bonus was going to be at any one point, and they didn’t have control over the sales process.”

The new structure offers each team member a $25 bonus for every client whose financials are delivered by the 15th of the following month. With teams of three serving each client, that’s a potential $75 bonus per client per month. This system directly rewards the timely delivery of financial data, a fundamental client expectation.

The impact was almost immediate. In a client meeting, a Client Service Manager proactively addressed the new system: “We’re going to change up what we issue to you because we’ve got this new incentive plan at DBA, and I get a little bonus if we issue the core financials by the 15th. But some of the budget reports might go out after the 15th, but as close to the 15th as possible.”

To help increase buy-in and address potential concerns, the Dillons used an “optimist/pessimist” activity during the rollout. Team members were paired up and asked to share positive and negative aspects of the new structure. This approach encouraged open dialogue and allowed the Dillons to address concerns directly and immediately.

Fostering Leadership and Expertise in a Virtual Environment

Recognizing the need for clear career advancement paths and leadership opportunities in a remote setting, Dillon Business Advisors introduced two innovative programs: Subject Matter Expert roles and an Onboarding bonus system.

The Dillons designated subject matter experts in three primary areas: accounting, tax, and payroll. These roles come with an additional stipend of about $900 per year. As Marcus explains, “That’s the person. If you’ve got a tax question or an accounting question or a payroll question, that’s who you go to. I’m not saying they know all the answers, but they’re going to help find them. And they’re also going to help educate the team throughout the year.”

The Onboarding bonus system incentivizes efficient client onboarding. Teams can earn up to 50% of the onboarding fee as a bonus, with the percentage decreasing on a sliding scale based on how quickly the onboarding is completed. This encourages team members to streamline the process and quickly get new clients up and running.

The impact of these changes was immediate. In a test run before the full rollout, team members began proactively analyzing new client data and preparing recommendations before the kickoff call. Marcus notes, “What came out of the conversation was, ‘Well, I’m going to go ahead and go into their QBO file and really look at it, really analyze it first. And then I’m also going to proforma their tax returns and look at those ahead of the client kickoff call.’ Then we can make recommendations at the kickoff call versus saying we’re going to look them over in the next few days.”

Investing in Team Engagement: The Power of Strategic Retreats

While innovative compensation structures and career development opportunities lay the foundation for a high-performing remote team, the Dillons recognized the importance of face-to-face interaction. Their solution? Strategic team retreats that complement and reinforce their other motivational strategies.

Dillon Business Advisors’ recent retreat in Florida included a team meeting to roll out new bonus structures and leadership opportunities, followed by group activities like a boat trip to Crab Island. The investment is significant—the recent domestic trip cost about $6,000 per couple or $3,000 per person. However, the Dillons view this as crucial for team performance and retention.

The benefits of these retreats align perfectly to create high-performing remote teams:

They strengthen team bonds and company culture, which is crucial for collaborative remote work
They provide face-to-face time for meaningful discussions and feedback on new initiatives
They increase employee satisfaction and retention, supporting the firm’s investment in talent
They offer a tangible reward for meeting company goals, reinforcing the performance-based culture

At the final dinner, Marcus highlighted each team member’s contributions in front of their colleagues and spouses, reinforcing the appreciation culture. He also provided handwritten cards to each team member, a personal touch that made a significant impact.

Transforming Remote CPA Teams into High-Performing Units

By tying bonuses to client-centric metrics, creating new opportunities for innovation and leadership, and investing in team engagement through retreats, the Dillons have transformed their remote team into a high-performing, self-motivated unit. As Marcus aptly puts it, “If you’re kind of scratching your head on how to make your employees do what you want them to do, throw some dollars where it matters most.”

These strategies drive individual performance by fostering a collaborative culture that consistently exceeds client expectations and contributes to firm growth. With remote work becoming the norm rather than the exception, such approaches are crucial for CPA firms looking to thrive.

As more firms transition to remote or hybrid models, those that can effectively motivate and engage their virtual teams will have a distinct competitive advantage. The Dillons’ experience demonstrates that remote teams can be just as effective—if not more so—with the right incentives and opportunities than traditional office-based teams. Listen to the full episode of the “Who’s Really the Boss” podcast for all the details.

Rachel and Marcus Dillon, CPA, own a Texas-based, remote client accounting and advisory services firm, Dillon Business Advisors, with a team of 15 professionals. Their latest organization, Collective by DBA , supports and guides accounting firm owners and leaders with firm resources, education, and operational strategy through community, groups, and one-on-one advisory.

80% of Businesses Overpay Property Taxes by 20%: Here’s How to Fix It

Blake Oliver · September 10, 2024 ·

What if I told you that your business could be overpaying millions in property taxes? It’s not just possible—it’s probable, according to property tax expert Josh Malancuk, President of JM Tax Advocates. In a recent episode of the Earmark podcast, Josh, drawing on his 28 years of experience in the field, reveals a startling statistic: about 80% of the commercial properties his firm evaluates are overvalued by 20% or more.

Uncovering these overpayments isn’t as simple as glancing at a tax bill. It requires an approach that most businesses—and even many tax professionals—overlook. “Most of the time, county and state assessors are kind of flying blind with their assessments, which is why we see about 80% of the time, large commercial properties are overvalued by 20%,” Josh explains.

During the podcast, Josh outlined the flaws of commercial property assessments, explained the property tax appeal process, and shared a real-world case study in which his firm slashed a $25 million assessment down to $9 million, saving the client over seven figures in taxes.

The Hidden Flaws in Commercial Property Assessment

The stark differences between residential and commercial property assessments create a perfect storm for overvaluation. For residential properties, assessors have a wealth of comparable sales data. Josh explains, “With certain property types, like a home, you’re going to have lots and lots of sales, probably sales right across the street, so it’s relatively easy to predict what your home value should be on a per-bedroom or per-square-foot basis.”

Commercial properties, however, present a unique challenge. Consider a 1,000,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in a small town. Josh says, “You’re lucky to see sales of any sort within three years.” This scarcity of comparable sales data forces assessors to rely on mass appraisal models.

As Josh describes, these models are “a one-size-fits-all” approach. They are typically based on reproduction cost or construction cost trends, with little consideration for the specific characteristics and market conditions of individual properties.

Josh’s firm uses comprehensive databases and sophisticated market analysis to combat these inaccuracies. They expand their search for comparable transactions to a regional or even national level, mirroring what a typical market participant would consider when evaluating a property.

The capability gap is significant. Josh notes, “99% of the time your county and your state assessors do not have that same capability.”

Navigating the Property Tax Appeal Process

Discovering an overvaluation is just the first step. Navigating the appeal process requires careful attention to varying deadlines and jurisdictional rules. Josh explains, “Each jurisdiction has its own period to appeal the property assessment. So once you get the notice, the appeal deadline can be as short as ten days or 30 days, or there may be no notice at all.”

The appeal process can involve multiple stages, from informal discussions with the assessor to county board hearings and, in some cases, escalating to state-level appeals or litigation. Each step requires a deep understanding of procedural rules to avoid disqualification.

Successful appeals rely on customized analysis, taking into account factors such as:

Age and condition of the property
Size and layout
Specific use and any functional obsolescence
Land size and characteristics
Truly comparable properties in the area or region

“Once we figure out the best approach, we build our market data and bring that into an organized message to the assessor to basically support our contention that the market value is different than their assessment,” Josh says.

Case Study: Uncovering Millions in Savings for a Food Processing Plant

Picture a sprawling food processing plant, its buildings a patchwork of structures dating back to the early 1900s. Josh’s team tackled this real case, starting with a staggering $25 million assessment and a tax bill of around $1 million annually.

Their approach? A month-long deep dive into every nook and cranny of the facility. “I spent about a month hiking around this manufacturing plant, discovering all of the nuances and all of the ages and the sizes and ceiling heights and the like.”

Donning hard hats, safety glasses, and brightly colored vests, the team pored over dusty blueprints, traced the facility’s tangled construction history, and scrutinized every square foot of the million-plus square-foot complex.

Their approach unearthed a treasure trove of assessment inaccuracies:

Entire sections of demolished buildings are still being taxed.
Incorrectly recorded ages of structures.
Outdated layouts and obsolete features are impacting market value.

The result? “We filed a protest, and in the end, we took that assessment down from $25 million to $9 million,” Josh proudly states. “It ended up saving the company seven digits over the years that we appealed.”

Impressed by the millions saved, the client entrusted Josh’s firm with reviewing their properties across an entire state—some 30 additional sites.

Unlocking Hidden Value in Property Tax Assessments

This examination of the intricacies of property tax assessment reveals a surprising truth: significant savings are hiding in plain sight, waiting to be uncovered by those willing to look closely enough.

Let’s recap the key insights:

Mass appraisal models often lead to widespread overvaluation of commercial properties.
Customized, property-by-property evaluation can reveal substantial inaccuracies.
Navigating the appeal process requires expertise and attention to detail.
On-site inspections can lead to millions in savings.

For businesses, these insights represent an opportunity to free up capital for growth and innovation. For tax professionals, it’s a chance to deliver immense value to your clients, potentially saving them millions of dollars.

Some jurisdictions even allow for retroactive relief, potentially multiplying the savings across previous tax years.

To gain even more insights that could revolutionize how you approach property tax assessments, listen to the full Earmark podcast episode featuring Josh Malancuk.

Then ask yourself: How much-hidden value might be lurking in your property tax assessments? The answer could be worth millions. Isn’t it time you took a closer look?

From Cash Flow Concerns to Acquisition Strategies: Real-World Financial Advisory in Action

Earmark Team · September 9, 2024 ·

“How do you deliver $2,000 to $8,000 per month in value to your advisory clients?” Many CPA firm owners looking to get into high-level advisory services are looking for an answer to this question. Marcus and Rachel Dillon, hosts of the “Who’s Really the Boss” podcast, answered this question in a recent episode. In short, they take a carefully tailored approach that combines industry knowledge, relationship management, and adaptive communication.

The Art of Tailoring Client Advisory Services

Effective client advisory requires a structured yet flexible approach to client meetings. Marcus, who provides outsourced CFO services for several clients, outlines a framework that allows customization while covering crucial bases: connection time, priority investigation, financial analysis, strategy discussion, and action planning.

“Those five points give a structure to the meeting. Otherwise, the clients might direct the meeting the whole time and let you sprinkle in some words of wisdom,” Rachel explains, highlighting the importance of having a structure, especially with new clients.

The key to successful advisory meetings lies in thorough preparation. Marcus describes his process: “I have a Chrome browser pulled up just for the client. I’ve got three tabs open from the client’s QuickBooks Online file, so I’ve got their balance sheet through today, their P&L, and their AR aging because that’s usually a talking point.”

However, flexibility is equally crucial. As client relationships mature, the approach can become more fluid. Marcus might focus more on immediate concerns or recent financial changes for established clients while still touching on all key areas.

Case Study: Navigating Growth in a Marketing Agency

To demonstrate the power of tailored advisory services, Marcus and Rachel shared a case study of a marketing agency client with an annual revenue of $3-3.5 million. This client was considering acquiring a vendor to bring research capabilities in-house.

Marcus tailors his preparation for this client: “They use Google Sheets, while we use Excel.. So we’ve had to find that balance. He’ll keep his internal stuff and invite us into his Google Sheets for the projections.” It is important to consider disruption to firm workflows when determining if or when to go outside your standard tech stack based on an individual client’s needs.

The advisory meetings focus heavily on cash flow management and acquisition planning. Marcus notes, “We’ve seen pull back in that industry over the last year and a half to two years in response to the overall economy.” To address this, Marcus uses a combination of tools, including QuickBooks Online for historical data and a specialized cash flow tool for 90-day projections.

A key challenge is balancing the focus between core business operations and the potential acquisition. It’s easy for the owner to focus so intently on the acquisition that he neglects sales. But Marcus addresses this by emphasizing the importance of maintaining sales efforts and closely monitoring accounts receivable, even as the client explores growth opportunities.

Case Study: Managing Cash Flow in a Dental Practice

The Dillons’ second case study focuses on a dental practice with an annual revenue of $2.4-2.5 million. This client was experiencing cash flow concerns, presenting a different set of challenges than the marketing agency’s.

Marcus approaches this client’s situation with a deep understanding of the dental industry. He explains, “I looked at distributions and at the P&L. I know collections in his industry are a little bit soft since people aren’t doing some of the elective procedures. But production was about the same and collections were only down about $5,000 compared to last year.”

The advisory approach involves a careful balance of personal and business financial considerations. Marcus knew this client took significant distributions from the company to pay for a home remodel. Marcus notes, “Having that data, I was able to say, ‘Okay, you’ve pulled out $200,000, in distributions. Did all that go to that remodel project?’ Yeah. Pretty much.” By highlighting how personal financial decisions impact business cash flow, Marcus helps clients understand their financial situation.

Strategic advice for this client includes considering price increases, focusing on AR collections, and considering a membership program as an alternative to accepting traditional dental insurance, where reimbursements continue to go down for doctors and the cost to the insurer continues to increase.

Building Relationships Over Time

Marcus emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients over time: “It takes about a year, probably a year and a half, to really get comfortable with a client, meeting on a quarterly basis. So I would say 4 to 6 meetings in, you get to know the other person on the other side of the screen and can anticipate their points of concerns.”

As relationships deepen, advisors can anticipate client needs, provide more nuanced advice, and adapt their communication style to best suit each client. For example, Marcus notes that with long-standing clients, he can often predict their concerns before a meeting, allowing for more targeted and efficient discussions.

Key Takeaways for Financial Advisors

So, what can accountants do to replicate Dillon Business Advisors’ success in having advisory-focused client conversations?

Invest in industry-specific knowledge to provide contextual, relevant advice
Build solid and lasting relationships with clients that go beyond numbers
Develop a flexible advisory framework that can be tailored to each client’s needs
Continuously adapt your approach as client relationships evolve

Listen to the full “Who’s Really the Boss” podcast episode featuring Marcus and Rachel Dillon for more practical tips for elevating your advisory services. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of client interactions, learn about specific tools and techniques for enhancing your advisory approach, and gain valuable perspectives on building a successful advisory practice. Whether you’re just starting to offer advisory services or looking to take your existing practice to the next level, this episode offers actionable insights you won’t want to miss.

Rachel and Marcus Dillon, CPA own a Texas-based, remote client accounting and advisory services firm, Dillon Business Advisors, with a team of 15 professionals. Their latest organization, Collective by DBA, is a community for accounting firms to get operational support in strategy, structure, and systems.