four more years: clients delay retirement

“boomers have been scarred.”

half of baby boomer clients who have postponed retirement due to the economic downturn expect to work at least four years longer than they originally planned, according to cpa financial planners.

fifty-two percent of cpa financial planners said their clients – who typically have between $500,000 and $5 million in assets – are at least somewhat confident in the stock market now — a turnaround from a year ago when 54 percent said their clients were not very confident.

more highlights:

  • 48 percent of cpa financial planners said their typical client is somewhat or very pessimistic about the u.s. economy amid gaping budget deficits and high unemployment.
  • 51 percent of cpa financial planners said at least one client was turned down for a mortgage or refinance in the past year. the most common reasons: lower home values and higher underwriting standards.
  • 44 percent of cpa financial planners said their average client emerged from the recession with increased net worth and 17 percent saw their net worth stay the same.

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john ezell: the new m&a race for clients

remember when it used to be about a staff shortage?

john r ezell
john r. ezell

but when we asked john r. ezell, the veteran accounting firm mergers and acquisitions broker, about key trends for local firms, this is what he said:

john r. ezell, cpa
prohorizons network, inc

there is still a lot of uncertainty in the economy right now.

access to clients is the number one driver behind most of the merger and acquisition activity we are seeing.  a broader client base means greater client diversity which translates to more stability for an accounting firm.

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