Episodes

  • Jen Cryder: Rewrite the Rules | Accounting Influencers

    Jen Cryder: Rewrite the Rules | Accounting Influencers

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    As the first woman CEO of PICPA, Cryder shares how she’s tackling the CPA pipeline crisis and why it’s time to re-evaluate long-standing licensure rules.

    Accounting Influencers
    with Rob Brown

    In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Jen Cryder, CPA, CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), opens up about her unexpected path to leadership, the challenges shaping the accounting profession today, and why she believes this is one of the most exciting times to be a CPA.

    More Rob Brown

    With oversight of 20,000 accounting and finance professionals, Cryder is not just a figurehead—she’s a force behind reshaping the profession’s image and strategy. From the CPA pipeline crisis to questions about the 150-hour rule, she addresses head-on the systemic changes needed to secure the future of the profession.

    “The perception remains that accounting is boring work. It couldn’t be farther from the truth,” says Cryder. She believes the profession suffers from an image problem impacting student enrollment and career choice, especially as finance and tech roles compete for top talent.

  • Paul Dunn: Ditch the Clock, Lead with Heart | Gear Up For Growth

    Paul Dunn: Ditch the Clock, Lead with Heart | Gear Up For Growth

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Stop billing. Start thrilling.

    Gear Up for Growth
    With Jean Caragher
    For CPA Trendlines

    In a persuasive new episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Paul Dunn – four-time TEDx speaker, cofounder of B1G1, and longtime champion of transformational leadership in the accounting profession – delivered a clear call to action for firm leaders: Ditch the billable hour and lead with purpose.

    Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

    Speaking with host Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, Dunn emphasizes that the profession's future lies not in tracking time but in creating lasting client outcomes and standing for something greater than profit.

    “It’s not about the inputs. It’s about the outcomes,” Dunn says. “When your vision becomes more powerful than your memories, your future becomes more powerful than your past.”

    More than 20 years after coauthoring The Firm of the Future, Dunn remains a fierce critic of time-based billing. He points to recent studies showing firms are beginning to move away from six-minute increments, but progress remains slow.

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  • Cancel Culture or Curious Culture? You Choose. | Transformation Talks

    Cancel Culture or Curious Culture? You Choose. | Transformation Talks

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Turn communication breakdowns into trust-building moments.

    Transformation Talks
    With Donny Shimamoto
    Center for Accounting Transformation

    In the latest episode of Transformation Talks, host Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, leads a powerful discussion on “assumed discrimination”—the cultural collisions that happen when others project bias onto someone’s words or actions.

    MORE TRANSFORMATION TALKS

    Joining him are Arianna Campbell, COO of Boomer Consulting; Ed Kless, co-founder of THRESHOLD and co-host of The Soul of Enterprise; and Amy Welch, APR, CAE, mission advocacy strategist with the Center for Accounting Transformation and SVP/executive producer for CPA Trendlines.

    The episode begins by reframing how we talk. “Discussion” implies conflict, while “dialogue” is about listening. “The origin of ‘discussion’ is literally ‘to strike,’” says Kless. “But dialogue means ‘twin telling.’ That shift in mindset is everything.”

  • Art Werner: The Hidden Retirement Perk Most Taxpayers Miss | Quick Tax Tip

    Art Werner: The Hidden Retirement Perk Most Taxpayers Miss | Quick Tax Tip

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    The retirement planning hack can be a secret weapon for tax-free growth.

    Quick Tax Tip
    With Art Werner
    CPE Today

    When most people hear “HSA,” they think of medical expenses and high-deductible health plans. But in the latest episode of Quick Tax Tip, tax educator and attorney Art Werner urges tax professionals—and their clients—to look deeper.

    Click here for more Art Werner

    In his signature style, Werner reframes the Health Savings Account (HSA) as one of the most underrated retirement planning tools available today.

    “I don’t look at the HSA as a way to pay for medical bills,” says Werner. “I look at it as a disguised retirement plan.”

    Many taxpayers—and even some practitioners—limit their view of the HSA to a reimbursement vehicle for immediate out-of-pocket costs. But Werner explains that this account can function much like a Roth IRA, offering triple-tax benefits: contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and qualified withdrawals for medical expenses are also tax-free.

    Here’s the twist: You don’t have to take reimbursements immediately.

  • Ditching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | The Disruptors

    Ditching Corporate America: The Bold Story Behind PBS Accounting’s Rapid Rise | The Disruptors

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    After years in corporate roles, Samantha Hallburn created a firm where people come before profits—and business thrives because of it.

    The Disruptors
    With Liz Farr

    Samantha Hallburn, founder of PBS Accounting and Tax, didn’t set out to be an accountant. After a progression through sales, marketing, HR, PR, and a stint as ops manager for a telecom company, she was working in banking. Her business owner clients needed loans, but when she asked for financials, “they had no idea what I was even talking about,” she recalls.

    MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Jean Zick: Happy Team = Happy Clients | Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Dave Kersting: Collaborate with Co-Firming | Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition | Ira Rosenbloom: M&A Numbers Are Easy - Culture Fit Is Hard | Roman Villard: Ditch the Suit & Shine | Monique Swansen: Align Firm Values with Services | Tina McGill: How to Create Lasting Client Impact | Stefan van Duyvendijk: Develop Operational Mindset | Steve Evans: Why Traditional Hiring Methods Fail

    Instead of turning them away, she offered to help. “I started helping my banking clients by going to their offices on my lunch break, after work, before work, on the weekends, days off to help them be able to get me what I needed.” After one particularly bad day in the corporate world, she decided to “roll the dice” and create a full-time venture.

    “I absolutely had no idea what I was really getting into, and that it was just going to be this snowball. And we grew so fast because there was such a need and such a demand,” Hallburn says.

    She built her firm “to be the antithesis of everything I hated about corporate America, and one of the things I did hate was that you were just a number, your real life didn't matter,” she says. The very name of her firm, PBS, stands for People – Business – Service.

  • Amy Vetter: How Professionals Can Reclaim Their Time, Energy, and Purpose | The Concierge CPA

    Amy Vetter: How Professionals Can Reclaim Their Time, Energy, and Purpose | The Concierge CPA

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    “We’re afraid to communicate, we’re afraid to speak up.”

    The Concierge CPA
    With Jackie Meyer
    For CPA Trendlines

    In a profession known for long hours and technical precision, Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP, CGMA, CSP, RYT, offers a refreshing message.

    There’s more to success than climbing the traditional career ladder.

    More Jackie Meyer

    The founder of the B3 Method Institute joins Jackie Meyer on The Concierge CPA to share her journey from audit partner to yogi and mindful tech advisor—challenging firm owners to prioritize purpose and personal well-being.

    “Once I made partner, I thought I’d feel happier,” Vetter says. “But success without alignment isn’t really success.”

    Vetter’s career began traditionally—Big Four audit work, a stint in tax, and an early partnership. But as she juggled young children and mounting burnout, she realized something was missing.

    “I had pushed down the creative, intuitive parts of myself,” she explains. “So I started a journey to bring those back—through yoga, reflection, and eventually, the creation of the B3 Method.”

  • Adam Lean: Why Accountants Are Stuck—and How to Escape the Trap | Accounting Influencers

    Adam Lean: Why Accountants Are Stuck—and How to Escape the Trap | Accounting Influencers

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    "This is your chance to make a real difference."

    Accounting Influencers
    with Rob Brown

    Millions of accountants and bookkeepers are stuck in a cycle of overwork, undercharging, and undervaluation. In this episode of the Accounting Influencers podcast, Adam Lean, CEO and co-founder of TheCFOProject.com, delivers a wake-up call: The compliance model is broken—and the profession must change course to remain relevant.

    More Rob Brown

    Lean explains that for most clients, every accountant “looks the same.” They expect the books to be done and the taxes to be filed, and they rarely see the difference between high-quality and mediocre service. This makes it nearly impossible for accountants to raise prices or grow sustainably.

    “Your clients don’t understand how to evaluate your work,” Lean says. “So they see you as interchangeable. That’s the trap.”

    To earn more, accountants often take on more clients or work longer hours—neither of which leads to long-term career satisfaction or better client outcomes. And because software tools and tech companies now offer “automated accounting,” competition is intensifying.

  • Aprio CEO: Culture and Capital Fuel Firm’s Rapid Growth | Gear Up For Growth

    Aprio CEO: Culture and Capital Fuel Firm’s Rapid Growth | Gear Up For Growth

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    PE doesn't have to strip your culture.

    With Jean Caragher
    For CPA Trendlines

    On a recent episode of Gear Up for Growth, powered by CPA Trendlines, Aprio CEO Richard Kopelman offered a behind-the-scenes look at what’s powering his firm’s remarkable trajectory—from a traditional CPA firm to a diversified advisory powerhouse. In conversation with Jean Caragher, president of Capstone Marketing, Kopelman credited Aprio’s sustained momentum to two key drivers: a relentlessly reinforced culture and a bold leap into private equity.

    Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

    Since stepping into the CEO role in 2013, Kopelman has steered Aprio into the ranks of the top 25 U.S. accounting firms. At the heart of that rise? A set of “31 Fundamentals” that shape everything from team interactions to client engagements.

  • The Ultimate Business Hack You’re Probably Ignoring | ARC

    The Ultimate Business Hack You’re Probably Ignoring | ARC

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    “Leaders should model respect, not just expect it.”

    Accounting ARC

    With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto

    Center for Accounting Transformation

    In the age of digital disruption and hybrid work, professional etiquette often feels like an afterthought. But in the latest episode of Accounting ARC, hosts Liz Mason, CPA; Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA; and Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA, argue the opposite: manners are more relevant—and strategic—than ever.

    MORE Accounting ARC: Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service | Ron Baker: Surviving Tariff Turmoil | Are We Ready for the Hidden Risks of AI in Accounting? | The Research Imperative: Why Data Drives Accounting Success | How Coaching Can Unlock Professional Success | Demystifying Accounting Governance | Top 10 Red Flags to Watch for in Accounting Offices | Jeremy Dubow: Private Equity as a Catalyst for Growth

    “Manners make a difference,” says Patrick, CEO of VERIFYiQ and co-founder of TB Academy. “They impact hiring, client service, team dynamics—everything.”



  • Crypto Caution: Be Wary of Digital Assets | Quick Tax Tip

    Crypto Caution: Be Wary of Digital Assets | Quick Tax Tip

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Treat cryptocurrencies like the next dot-com bubble.

    Quick Tax Tip
    With Art Werner
    CPE Today

    As cryptocurrencies continue to infiltrate everyday investment portfolios and client conversations, seasoned tax educator and CPA Art Werner offers a stark warning to practitioners: “Crypto concerns me—and I think it should concern accountants.”

    Click here for more Art Werner

    In a recent episode of Quick Tax Tips with Art Werner, the well-respected tax advisor and educator peels back the hype to expose the risks tax professionals and their clients face when navigating the unpredictable world of digital currency. With over 20,000 cryptocurrencies in existence globally and little regulation governing many of them, Werner believes the speculative nature of crypto investments resembles past financial manias—with potentially devastating consequences.

  • Donny Shimamoto: Reimagining Diversity and Belonging in the Accounting Profession | MOVE Like This

    Donny Shimamoto: Reimagining Diversity and Belonging in the Accounting Profession | MOVE Like This

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    “The real question isn’t whether a firm is diverse enough. It's whether the people in that firm feel like they truly belong there.”

    MOVE Like This
    With Bonnie Buol Ruszcyk
    For CPA Trendlines

    In this episode of MOVE Like This, host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk and guest Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, explore the complex landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the accounting profession, specifically in the current political climate.

    Shimamoto, founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC and founder and inspiration architect for the Center for Accounting Transformation, shares insights into the challenges faced by underrepresented professionals, drawing from his personal experiences as an Asian male in leadership roles. They discuss the persistent barriers that prevent women and people of color from advancing to top leadership positions despite making up a significant portion of accounting graduates.

    More MOVE

    The discussion delves into the current political climate surrounding DEI efforts, acknowledging the pushback and misconceptions about diversity initiatives. Shimamoto emphasizes that these efforts are not about quotas or tokenism but about creating genuine opportunities and a sense of belonging for all professionals. The conversation highlights the importance of moving beyond mere inclusion to fostering an environment where every team member feels they truly belong and can contribute meaningfully.

  • Jean Zick: Happy Team Members Lead to Happy Clients | The Disruptors

    Jean Zick: Happy Team Members Lead to Happy Clients | The Disruptors

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Flexible schedules, remote culture, and ‘durable skills’ are reshaping the accounting profession.

    The Disruptors
    With Liz Farr

    The traditional accounting firm model is under pressure—and The Disruptors podcast is highlighting the pioneers who are rewriting the rules. In this episode, host Liz Farr talks with Jean Zick, CEO and co-founder of Juna Financial, about how she’s building a different kind of accounting firm: remote, people-first, and future-ready.

    MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Breslin & Greathead: Be a Client Advocate | Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Dave Kersting: Collaborate with Co-Firming | Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition | Ira Rosenbloom: M&A Numbers Are Easy - Culture Fit Is Hard | Roman Villard: Ditch the Suit & Shine | Monique Swansen: Align Firm Values with Services | Tina McGill: How to Create Lasting Client Impact | Stefan van Duyvendijk: Develop Operational Mindset | Steve Evans: Why Traditional Hiring Methods Fail | Roger Knecht: Can You Be an Accountrepreneur?

    “We wanted to create a company we would have wanted to work for earlier in our careers,” says Zick, who launched Juna in 2016 to fill what she saw as a gap in the market: companies paying CFO-level fees for basic bookkeeping tasks. “Every company deserves great accounting, no matter their size.”

  • David Podell: Use Strategic Retirement Planning to Build Net Worth | The Concierge CPA

    David Podell: Use Strategic Retirement Planning to Build Net Worth | The Concierge CPA

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    "If you're not putting your clients into retirement plans, you're missing one of the biggest value-adds in tax advisory."

    The Concierge CPA
    With Jackie Meyer
    For CPA Trendlines

    In a recent episode of The Concierge CPA, host Dr. Jackie Meyer welcomes back David Podell, CEO and founder of Business Benefits Consultants, for a deep-dive on retirement strategies that are often overlooked by small business owners, CPAs, and even seasoned financial professionals.

    More Jackie Meyer

    Kicking off with sharp-witted tax news, Meyer touches on IRS free file expansions, refund reductions, and the hiring of thousands of new auditors—before jumping into a topic that directly connects tax strategy to future financial health: retirement planning.

    Podell, with more than two decades of experience designing retirement plans, returns to emphasize a crucial point: "If you're not putting your clients into retirement plans, you're missing one of the biggest value-adds in tax advisory."

  • The Profession’s Future Amid Talent Gaps, Tech Disruption, and Evolving Business Models | Accounting Influencers

    The Profession’s Future Amid Talent Gaps, Tech Disruption, and Evolving Business Models | Accounting Influencers

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Global accounting leaders call for mindset shifts, better storytelling, and a redefined brand.

    Accounting Influencers
    with Rob Brown

    In this edition of Accounting Influencers, four of the profession’s most prominent voices gather for a candid discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the accounting world. From evolving business models to deep talent shortages, the conversation explores how firms must adapt—or risk irrelevance.

    The panel includes Randy Johnston, co-founder of K2 Enterprises and a long-time tech strategist for CPAs; Trevor Greenway, CEO of Interval, a software firm helping accountants uncover real-time advisory opportunities; Harry Blum, managing partner at RSM Canada; and Jennifer O’Carroll, CEO of ERP vendor HansaWorld and former tax advisor.

    More Rob Brown

    “The knowledge is there,” says Greenway. “The question is—do firms have the people and bandwidth to act on it?” He warns that while accountants understand the changes required—like the shift to advisory services and the adoption of AI—the labor shortage is the primary obstacle.

    Blum agrees, calling today’s environment “an experiment in change management,” where firms have never had more opportunity but also never faced more complexity. “The mindset shift needed to transform is the biggest challenge,” he says.

  • Matt Criss: Forget the Grind; Grow Intentionally | Gear Up For Growth

    Matt Criss: Forget the Grind; Grow Intentionally | Gear Up For Growth

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Stop drifting and start leading.

    Gear Up for Growth
    With Jean Caragher
    For CPA Trendlines

    In a high-stress profession like accounting, intentional growth isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary. In this episode of Gear Up For Growth, business coach and author Matt Criss joins host Jean Caragher to share how accountants can build resilience, reflection, and renewed purpose by growing with intention.

    Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and efficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth here | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here

    As the author of Conscious Growth, Moss Adams executive Criss brings decades of insight and a refreshing perspective: that growth shouldn’t be accidental. In this inspiring conversation, Criss dives deep into the principles behind his book and shares how CPAs and firm leaders can grow consciously—not just to advance their careers but to lead more fulfilling lives.

  • Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | ARC

    Resilience, Real Talk, and the Road to Mental Wellness | ARC

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    From mindful walking to redefining worth, this conversation reveals what it really takes to thrive.

    Accounting ARC
    With Arpan Grewal
    Center for Accounting Transformation

    In the latest Student-Led Conversations episode of Accounting ARC, high school business student Arpan Grewal steps in as guest host for a raw, reflective episode centered on mental health and resilience. In conversation with Jina Etienne, CPA, CGMA, CDE, CEO of Etienne Consulting; Rafael Casas, senior consultant with Workday; and Kiera Speed, inspiration logistician for the Center for Accounting Transformation, the episode marks a powerful contribution to Mental Health Awareness Month.

    MORE Accounting ARC: Blockchain Could Still Reshape Accounting | What Gen Z Wants from Business | Firm Differentiation Depends Upon Client Service | Ron Baker: Surviving Tariff Turmoil | Are We Ready for the Hidden Risks of AI in Accounting? | The Research Imperative: Why Data Drives Accounting Success | How Coaching Can Unlock Professional Success | Demystifying Accounting Governance | Top 10 Red Flags to Watch for in Accounting Offices | Jeremy Dubow: Private Equity as a Catalyst for Growth | Break the Burnout Cycle in Accounting | Accounting in Transition: 2024 Reflections & the Road Ahead | Ron Baker: Visions for the Accounting Profession |

    “Mental health is something we all struggle with, whether we’re students or seasoned professionals,” says Grewal. “It’s not talked about enough, especially in accounting.”

  • SMBs Are Overwhelmed by Tax Complexity — Here’s What They Need Most | Quick Tax Tip

    SMBs Are Overwhelmed by Tax Complexity — Here’s What They Need Most | Quick Tax Tip

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Small businesses face a storm of tax pressures, but trusted advisors can offer calm amid the chaos.

    Quick Tax Tip
    With Art Werner
    CPE Today

    In the latest episode of Quick Tax Tip, Art Werner delivers an insightful update for small and midsized business (SMB) owners — many of whom are feeling overwhelmed by a growing list of tax and regulatory pressures.

    Click here for more Art Werner

    “I think that a number of small businesses are a little scared,” Werner says, pointing to the combination of federal, state, and local tax compliance as a mounting source of stress. “They’re trying to coordinate this all
 but more importantly, they look at all this as being just ancillary to why they’re in business.”

    According to Werner, business owners don’t launch companies to become tax experts. They do it to pursue a vision — to offer a product, provide a service, and ultimately earn a living. But the growing complexity of tax obligations has become a distracting burden.




  • Beyond the Numbers: Be Your Client's Advocate | The Disruptors

    Beyond the Numbers: Be Your Client's Advocate | The Disruptors

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    Provide clients with actionable information they can use to move their businesses forward.

    The Disruptors
    With Liz Farr

    Back in 2013, before CAS became part of the accounting vernacular, Penny Breslin and Damien Greathead taught a roomful of accountants how to do what Breslin called bookkeeping and back office support, or BOS. “We had 200 accountants sitting in the room wanting to know how to grow this part of their business,” Greathead recalls. Cloud-based accounting tools like Xero and QuickBooks Online were just entering the U.S. market, and the two recognized an opportunity for firms.

    MORE PODCASTS and VIDEOS: Dominic Piscopo: Clear Pay=Bargaining Power | Debbie Kilsheimer: Stop Thinking Small | Dave Kersting: Collaborate with Co-Firming | Ashley Francis: AI's a Partner, Not a Replacement | Richard Roppa-Roberts: Collaboration Over Competition | Ira Rosenbloom: M&A Numbers Are Easy - Culture Fit Is Hard | Roman Villard: Ditch the Suit & Shine | Monique Swansen: Align Firm Values with Services | Tina McGill: How to Create Lasting Client Impact | Stefan van Duyvendijk: Develop Operational Mindset |

    Out of that seminar emerged a book, which was recently updated to create the current handbook, It’s Not Just the Numbers [full disclosure: Liz Farr served as editor]. The handbook's title reflects a fundamental truth about client relationships that many accountants overlook. As Greathead explains, “It's about what your client wants. And more often than not, the client doesn't care about the numbers. The client cares about the story that sits underneath the numbers.”

  • Van Carlson: Why 831(b) Risk Management Strategies Are Gaining Ground | The Concierge CPA

    Van Carlson: Why 831(b) Risk Management Strategies Are Gaining Ground | The Concierge CPA

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    What once was seen as a tax loophole is now becoming a mainstream strategy for business continuity—if done right.

    The Concierge CPA
    With Jackie Meyer
    For CPA Trendlines

    The world of business risk has changed drastically since 1986, and so has the way innovative entrepreneurs protect themselves. In a recent episode of The Concierge CPA, host Dr. Jackie Meyer sits down with Van Carlson, founder and CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin, to demystify one of the most misunderstood tools in modern financial planning: the 831(b) captive.

    More Jackie Meyer

    At its core, the 831(b) tax code allows business owners to form small insurance companies to self-insure specific risks. But as Carlson explains, “It’s not just about taxes—it’s about protecting your business from the risks no one else will cover.”

    Originally created during the 1986 Tax Reform Act to help farmers and businesses insure against unique or underwritten risks, the 831(b) structure has evolved into a modern enterprise risk solution. And for Carlson, who’s led audits and compliance for hundreds of captives, this is not a loophole—it’s a legitimate strategy. “We embolden business owners through innovative risk management,” he says. “And the risks they face now—cybersecurity, supply chain failure, brand damage—are unlike anything we saw in the 1980s.”

  • Okorie Ramsey: Diversity's About Building Bigger Tables | Accounting Influencers

    Okorie Ramsey: Diversity's About Building Bigger Tables | Accounting Influencers

    · CPA Trendlines Podcasts

    “Diversity is about building bigger tables, not just filling seats.”


    Accounting Influencers
    with Rob Brown

    As past chair of AICPA and CIMA, Okorie Ramsey represented nearly 700,000 members worldwide. But in his view, leadership isn’t about wielding power—it’s about partnership, innovation, and service to the public.

    More Rob Brown

    In a wide-ranging conversation on the Accounting Influencers podcast, Ramsey reflects on his tenure, the profession’s most significant challenges, and what excites him most about the future.

    “It’s a huge role,” Ramsey says, “but it’s also a wonderful opportunity."

    Ramsey challenges the perception of accounting as static or resistant to change. While he acknowledges that legacy systems and outdated incentive structures persist—particularly in large firms—he sees momentum building. “If organizations are not utilizing technology to advance how they do their work, they will go by the way of the dinosaur,” he warns.

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