Welcome to the Beyond Tax Season Podcast! In each episode, host Trow Trowbridge connects with experienced accounting professionals to uncover real stories, practical strategies, and fresh perspectives on running a thriving firm. This show is dedicated to helping you manage clients smarter, boost profitability, and build long-term success. So whether you’re navigating the busy season or aiming to grow beyond it, this podcast is for you.
In this episode of Beyond Tax Season, Trow sits down with Tom Angelo of HBK to explore what buyers actually look for when evaluating accounting firms. Tom shares lessons from his own journey, from joining a small three-partner firm out of college and helping grow it into a multimillion-dollar practice, to eventually merging with HBK and now sitting on the other side of the acquisition table.
They discuss what separates an attractive firm from one a buyer may walk away from, including strong client service, modern technology and workflows, reduced owner dependency, a healthy culture, and a team capable of carrying client relationships forward.
Tom also breaks down why advisory works best when firms develop industry expertise, how HBK develops future partners through its Accelerate leadership program, why succession planning needs to begin long before retirement, and how AI is changing the work young accountants should be doing.
Whether you plan to sell, merge, build an internal succession plan, or simply create a stronger firm, this conversation offers a practical look at building a business that can thrive beyond its owner.
24 Aug 2026
Become What You Believe
Nicole D. Rosa, CPA and Director of Tax at SKC, shares her journey of redefining success in accounting and building a career that aligns with her passions and values.
Nicole discusses the future of the accounting profession, the role of AI, and why human connection, trust, and relationships will always remain essential. She shares how SKC is creating a modern accounting experience through collaboration, proactive client service, and a focus on helping business owners achieve their goals.
From breaking outdated stereotypes about accounting to developing the next generation of professionals, Nicole explains why the future of the profession belongs to those who combine technical expertise with curiosity, creativity, and genuine connection.
27 Apr 2026
Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity
Gary Thompson joins Beyond Tax Season to share how he built and scaled a CPA firm from a sole proprietorship to a top national firm and what today’s accountants must do to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.
From accidental beginnings in accounting to leading transformational growth, Gary unpacks the real drivers behind firm success: mindset, client relationships, and the shift from compliance to true advisory. He dives into why most firms struggle with proactivity, how to price for value (not time), and what it actually takes to become indispensable to clients.
17 Feb 2026
Burnout Ends Here
What if growing your firm didn’t require sacrificing yourself?
In this episode of Beyond Tax $ZN, Trow sits down with Lauren Baptiste, founder of Acheloa Wellness, to talk about burnout in accounting and how to overcome it without leaving the profession.
After burning out herself, Lauren now helps professionals in accounting, consulting, law, and finance overcome burnout in 6 months or less while continuing to advance their careers. Her approach blends tactical skills (boundaries, time management, goal setting) with the mindset shifts required to grow without compromise.
Lauren has worked with organizations including IBM, EY, the NFL, Warner Music, Estée Lauder, Standard Chartered Bank, and the United Nations. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Thrive Global.
She is currently onboarding firms into her program, Retained by Choice, focused on closing the middle-management retention gap in accounting.
If you feel successful on paper but exhausted in reality this episode is for you.
Resources:
Stress quiz
AICPA Burnout Prevention Toolkit
Burnout Prevention and Burnout Recovery Support
Stay connected with Lauren:
website
linkedin
instagram
3 Feb 2026
Scratching Your Niche
Carrie shares how she transformed a traditional accounting career into a mission-driven advisory practice helping contractors understand their numbers, scale smart, and actually achieve the dreams behind their business. From discovering Profit Mastery to tripling client bonding capacity, Carrie breaks down why education, empowerment, and niche expertise are changing public accounting.
29 Jan 2026
Get Paid For Your Excellence
Pricing expert Casey Brown breaks down why so many CPAs undercharge and how to change it. She explains the psychology behind pricing, how to communicate value without feeling “salesy,” and why mastering discomfort in negotiation is key to earning what you’re worth. A powerful episode for firm owners ready to raise prices confidently and serve clients at a higher level.
23 Jan 2026
The Right Tools Make a Big Difference
Peter, former CPA and founder of Tally4, breaks down why tax firms fall behind on technology and how modern tools can eliminate hours of manual work, streamline trial balances, and unlock true tax planning. He shares how real-time tax estimation, QBI automation, and clean data help firms move from compliance to meaningful advisory. Perfect for million-dollar firms ready to scale smarter, not heavier.
13 Jan 2026
Stickiness is Mutually Beneficial
Trow speaks with specialty tax advisor Michael Lauer about how small and mid-sized accounting firms can responsibly uncover R&D tax credit opportunities for their clients.
They discuss who actually qualifies (beyond tech startups), common industries accountants overlook, and why strong accounting systems not just bookkeeping are critical to maximizing tax outcomes. The conversation also explores how firms can work with specialists, create recurring advisory value, and build deeper client relationships in a changing profession.
A practical discussion for accountants looking to increase firm revenue, retain better clients, and move from transactional work to long-term advisory relationships.
4 Dec 2025
In, Out, And Around The Box
Trow talks with Mark A. Stiles, CPA and founder of MAS CPA, about why real advisory isn’t dashboards it’s behavioral change. Mark breaks down his “box method,” balancing gut instinct with financial clarity, and how small firms can tell the story behind the numbers. They dive into value pricing, communication skills, and how AI helps his team build a “memory lake” that keeps client insights sharp and meetings impactful.
1 Dec 2025
Automation Works Best With Education
Trow talks with Mike Sylvester, CPA and co-founder of The Collaboration Room, whose background as an electrician, Navy veteran, and factory manager shaped his blunt, systems-driven approach to running a firm. Mike shares why most accounting firms stay stuck, why tracking everything matters, how to modernize processes, and why certainty and alignment among partners are the foundation of meaningful change.
28 Nov 2025
Tax Season Is A Choice
Trow sits down with Andrea MacDonald, CPA, who rebuilt her firm from burnout to a subscription model where tax season is calm, deadlines are scheduled, and no one works weekends. Andrea shares the 10 things she wishes she knew when starting her firm including the bold move that lost 44% of her clients overnight but increased revenue by 23%. A candid look at pricing, boundaries, scheduling tax season, and building a people-first practice.
26 Nov 2025
Making Your Client The Expert
Trow sits down with Geni, an advisor and former CPA who left a tax partnership after realizing she couldn’t help clients the way she wanted to. They talk about burnout, why compliance work hides deeper client needs, and the mindset shift that unlocks real advisory: make your client the expert. Geni shares simple tools, better questions, and the approach that turned a Napa Valley firm into an advisory-driven practice.
1 Sept 2025
Embrace Tech To Empower Clients
Trow talks with Blake Oliver, CPA, co-host of the Accounting Podcast and founder of Earmark. Blake shares his unusual journey from classical musician to accountant, why accounting is really an information system, and how firms can escape the “Sally” (same as last year) mindset. They dive into value pricing, building sustainable firms, and how AI is already reshaping bookkeeping, tax prep, and advisory services. Blake also discusses Earmark’s mission to transform CPE into something flexible, accessible, and actually useful
31 Aug 2025
Advisory First
Trow talks with John from Anomaly CPA about building a modern firm through value pricing, tax planning, and advisory services. John shares how his team of 32 has grown 20–30% year over year, the three client buckets they serve (startups, digital businesses, and real estate investors), and why proactive tax strategy delivers huge ROI. They also dive into hiring challenges, using social media to attract talent, and what the future of CPA firms looks like in 2030
31 Aug 2025
The Art of Selling CPA Firms
Trow sits down with Brannon Poe, founder of Poe Group Advisors, to unpack what separates firms stuck at $1–2M from those that scale to $5–10M. Brannon shares his journey from CPA to M&A advisor, the importance of building a strong hiring process, how culture “spits out” bad fits, and why transition coaching is critical in firm sales. They also dive into the “seamless succession” approach, the ceiling of complexity, and how intentional focus on what matters helps firms grow without burning out.
31 Aug 2025
A Business Plan is Vital
Trow talks with David Bergstein, a 40-year veteran of the accounting profession, about what it really takes to grow beyond a million-dollar firm. They cover practical strategies for marketing, pricing on value, building a team of A-players, and leveraging AI all with one goal: helping firm owners achieve their dreams.
31 Aug 2025
Mindsets Can Drive Pricing
Trow and Loren Fogelman dive into why firm owners undercharge, how money beliefs impact rates, and Loren’s simple “Good, Better, Best” model to confidently raise prices without losing clients
30 Aug 2025
Taking A Different Route
Trow talks with Mathew Owens, a CPA turned real estate investor who’s raised $200M in equity and structured over $500M in deals. He shares lessons from the 2008 crash, why due diligence matters, and how strategies like 1031 exchanges, cost segregation, and seller financing help investors build wealth and cut taxes.
30 Aug 2025
A Fresh Accounting Perspective
Trow sits down with Seth to share what it really takes for accounting and tax firm owners to break past the $1M mark.
They cover the mindset shifts, common mistakes, and proven strategies that help firms grow without burning out. If you’re ready to scale your firm while creating more freedom, this episode is for you.
Contact Beyond Tax Season
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Beyond Tax Season?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
