build a seven-figure firm in four hours a week

welcome to the crossroads of advisory.

by jackie meyer

are you an accountant, tax advisor or financial consultant who’s feeling overwhelmed by long hours, endless compliance work and ever-increasing client demands? or maybe you’re in a corporate job dreaming of entrepreneurial freedom. are you tired of trading hours for dollars, only to find yourself burned out and undervalued? do you dream of a practice that generates significant revenue and provides you with the freedom to live a balanced, impactful and fulfilling life?

more: jackie meyer: earn more with fewer clients
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you’re not alone. in fact, according to a 2023 report by the illinois cpa society, 41 percent of accounting and finance professionals are either looking for a new job or plan to start looking by the end of the year, citing factors such as salary, burnout and lack of work-life balance. many advisors report working 60 to 80 hours a week, only to see their income plateau while their stress levels skyrocket. this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a fundamental shift in how we define success and build our practices. if you relate to these struggles, you’re in the right place.
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annuities and insurance growing more attractive

lau
david lau is the founder and ceo of dpl financial partners, a privately held financial services firm that specializes in the development and distribution of low-cost, commission-free insurance and annuity products, for registered investment advisors (rias) and individual investors.

plus four common misconceptions.

by david lau, founder and ceo of dpl financial partners, and 
ross mcgoodwin, regional vice president at dpl financial partners
the holistic guide to wealth management

after the stock market swooned (-22% s&p 500) and the majority of bond indices suffered double-digit losses in 2022, protection and income solutions are at the forefront of planning discussions. instead of these principal protection and income solutions being offered only by commission-based agents, however, now they can be offered by fiduciaries for planning discussions and appropriate implementation.

more: bridge the advice gap for better financial futures | help clients manage and embrace investment risk | tax advisory services: a pathway to greater financial freedom | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | what multiples mean to accounting firms | how wealth management has evolved | why now is the time for cpas to embrace wealth management
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according to limra (life insurance marketing and research association), retail annuity sales in 2022 shattered the annual sales records set during the global financial crisis of 2008. for instance, fixed-rate deferred annuities totaled $113 billion, more than double the sales in 2021, limra reported. cd alternatives, such as fixed-rate deferred annuities, provide security and tax-deferred growth. i have found this helps clients guarantee upside return, something they are actively seeking after one of the worst years in combined equity and bond performance since world war ii. i’ve also found that fee-only options will provide higher rates compared to traditional, commission-based solutions.
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bridge the advice gap for better financial futures

timeline
source: bento engine

 

portrait of philipp hecker
hecker
philipp hecker is a co-founder and the ceo of bento engine, a fintech at the intersection of technology and impactful wealth management advice. at j.p. morgan he founded and led the wealth planning & advice organization. he holds an mba from harvard business school.

fifteen age-based client milestones for advisors to note.

by philipp hecker
the holistic guide to wealth management

despite the significant growth of the u.s. wealth management industry over the past few decades, the state of advice in this country falls short of its potential. americans deserve more and better advice beyond just investment-related matters. several concerning statistics highlight this issue:

  • a caring.com survey finds that a staggering 67 percent of americans pass away without a will, lacking even the most fundamental trust and estate documents.
  • an edward jones survey finds just one in five u.s. parents have saved, or are planning to save, for their children’s education using a 529 plan. in fact, two thirds (67%) of survey respondents said they were not aware of the features and potential tax benefits of 529 plans.
  • vanguard data finds that just one in six retirement account holders over age 50 are making catchup contributions to which they are eligible.

more: help clients manage and embrace investment risk | quantifying the value of an advisor | subscriptions beat aum and hourly fees for wealth management | tax advisory services: a pathway to greater financial freedom | raise your rates to change your clientele | pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | what multiples mean to accounting firms
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our firm’s research found that three in five investors (60%) who have advisors are not getting the guidance they need about making retirement catchup contributions, while two in five (40%) lack clarity about fundamental decisions around the optimal timing for initiating social security benefits.

imagine what it’s like for the majority of americans who don’t have financial advisors.
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quantifying the value of an advisor

two happy businessmen looking at digital tablet at desk in office

three p’s for helping investors make rational decisions.

by rory henry
the holistic guide to wealth management

malcolm forbes liked to say, “advice is more fun to give than to receive.” but the right advice in the right framework can be invaluable. and sometimes, the best advice you’ll ever receive is what prevents you from engaging in harmful behaviors.

more: subscriptions beat aum and hourly fees for wealth management | tax advisory services: a pathway to greater financial freedom | raise your rates to change your clientele | pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision
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michael dijoseph, cfa, a senior strategist at vanguard investment advisory research center, has spent a large portion of his career studying how financial advisors advise clients, how they can get better at providing advice and how we can measure the value of advice because these days, everyone from salesclerks at the mall to nasa rocket consultants seem to have the word “advisor” attached to their job title. more on that in a minute.
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subscriptions beat aum and hourly fees for wealth management

man talking to pair of people seated across from him

make clients feel like members.

by rory henry
the holistic guide to wealth management

recently i listened to a lively debate about financial advisor compensation between ramit sethi, author of the best seller “i will teach you to be rich,” and michael kitces, host of the financial advisor success podcast. sethi was highly critical of the traditional 1 percent of assets under management (aum) model that so many wealth advisors charge. instead of 1 percent of aum, sethi argued that advisors should think of themselves as accountability partners (i.e., personal trainers for clients’ money) and instead charge them based on how they help them modify their behaviors to produce better outcomes.

more: tax advisory services: a pathway to greater financial freedom | raise your rates to change your clientele | pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | why cpas are best positioned to become financial advisors | introducing you to a fulfilling return on relationships | rory henry upends the traditional accounting firm | why now is the time for cpas to embrace wealth management
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for instance, a good advisor can help clients adopt good behaviors such as saving more of every paycheck and sticking to their investment plan during volatile times. good advisors, said sethi, also help clients from engaging in their old wealth-destructive behaviors such as speculating on hot stocks in the news or cashing out of the market at the first sign of trouble. by the way, helping clients modify behaviors and produce better outcomes is what an advis-ror™ does.

let’s explore how an aum/subscription model using a virtual family office is a win for both firms and the clients they serve.
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tax advisory: new pathway to financial freedom 

five kpis to measure success.

portrait of jackie meyer
meyer
jackie meyer, cpa, ctc, msa, is president and founder of meyer tax consulting llc, taxplaniq, and concierge accountant coaching programs in southlake, texas. she offers concierge tax and accounting services to assist clients with anything from income-shifting strategies to managing a family business in qbo.

by jackie meyer
the holistic guide to wealth management

revenue growth isn’t just a metric; it’s at the heart of financial well-being for financial professionals and their clients. when a firm grows its revenue, the balance sheet isn’t the only thing that benefits. it enables the firm to invest in advanced technologies and education, to offer more comprehensive services, to fulfill philanthropic goals and to attract top-tier talent. expanding revenue also benefits the firm’s clients by availing them of more strategic advice, faster response times and ultimately, a more secure financial future.

more: raise your rates to change your clientele | pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | what multiples mean to accounting firms | why cpas are best positioned to become financial advisors | introducing you to a fulfilling return on relationships
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according to an american psychological association’s stress in america survey, money worries and inflation have raised our collective stress to the highest level since 2015. financial stress is detrimental to mental health and leads to higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
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raise your rates to change your clientele

portrait of loren fogelman
fogelman
loren fogelman, founder of business success solution, is an expert in pricing strategy and sales for accounting firms. a sought-after keynote speaker, she is continually listed among america’s top-ranked business coaches.

the fees you charge make a statement about your firm.

by loren fogelman
the holistic guide to wealth management

setting your fees appropriately is one of the primary challenges that accounting professionals face. according to mckinsey, 80 to 90 percent of services are priced too low. throughout my career, i too have found that most firm owners don’t know how much to charge for their services – and too often they undercharge.

more: pursue excellence to win the battle for talent | leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | what multiples mean to accounting firms
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many firm owners tell me that setting fees can feel like tiptoeing through a pricing minefield. and pricing shouldn’t be taken lightly. this is especially true for wealth management services. the prices you set today will impact your firm’s profit margin as well as your growth for years to come.
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pursue excellence to win the battle for talent

portrait of john fenton
fenton
john fenton, cpa, mba is the ceo of john j. fenton executive coaching, which he launched following a successful 30+ year career as a managing partner and cpa. he is a certified success principles™ trainer, an award-winning speaker, best-selling author and leading authority in leadership.

the roles that purpose, vision and culture play.

by john fenton
the holistic guide to wealth management

some call it a battle, some call it a war. whatever you call it, there’s no arguing that competition for talent in our industry is fierce. accounting firms, like most other businesses, are struggling to find qualified workers to meet the growing needs of their clients and customers. at the same time, opportunities to grow revenue are abundant.

more: leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps | how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | what multiples mean to accounting firms | tsunami of m&a, pe is disrupting the accounting profession | why cpas are best positioned to become financial advisors | how wealth management has evolved
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according to mckinsey data, voluntary “quit rates” are 25 percent higher than they were before the pandemic. at some firms, attrition rates have been as high as 20 percent to 25 percent. meanwhile, a recent gallup survey found that only one-third of employees (32%) felt “engaged” in their jobs. meanwhile, mid-level professionals who would normally be on track for long careers at their employer are leaving in droves to pursue something else.

the aforementioned mckinsey report identified the motivating factors that keep people in their jobs and the demotivating factors that drive them away.
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america’s running short of financial advisors

bar chart
note: values are estimates. source: mckinsey analysis

 

guess who can fill that gap.

by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

good news for accountants: america’s running short of financial advisors.

bad news for accounting: america’s running short of financial advisors.

more: maybe the pipeline problem is technologywhat if the staffing shortage is just a myth? | staffing, tech, prices top tax pros’ concerns | five ways to fill the staffing gap | top 10 red flags to watch for in accounting offices | arc | deals 2024: over 100 cpa firm mergers and acquisitions | barry melancon: private equity and the partnership | gear up for growth | does your firm suffer cultural deficiencies? | opportunity awaits incoming aicpa ceo | salary guides for accountants vary widely: whom do you believe? | are you earning what you deserve?
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110,000 short

as if the accounting industry didn’t have enough of a talent shortage, the financial advice industry may soon be looking to scarf up money-savvy professionals from other financial areas. and cpas will be a perfect fit.
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leverage ai to grow and protect revenue: six steps

portrait of davyde wachell
wachell
davyde “day” wachell is the co-founder and ceo of responsive ai. he studied ai in the symsys program at stanford and film at columbia. their innovative thinking drives the company’s success by bridging technology and the arts, leading to a culture of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

artificial intelligence can be a financial advisor’s ally, or it can be your competitor.

by davyde wachell
the holistic guide to wealth management

“there are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” – vladimir ilyich lenin

lenin’s quip resonates deeply with any seasoned advice professional. black friday, 9/11, the great recession and covid-19 kept us on our toes when it came to the markets and our clients. big outlier events that disrupt “business as usual” can arise at any moment. these moments can change the lives of our clients, and as a result, the growth and stability of our businesses. our clients can lose their trust in us in the blink of an eye if we haven’t positioned those clients correctly, or if we do not respond effectively to changes in the market.

more: how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice | seven tech keys to a holistic service model | four ways to provide wealth management in your accounting practice | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | what multiples mean to accounting firms | tsunami of m&a, pe is disrupting the accounting profession | why cpas are best positioned to become financial advisors | how wealth management has evolved | introducing you to a fulfilling return on relationships | rory henry upends the traditional accounting firm | why now is the time for cpas to embrace wealth management
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how we prepare our business for the unexpected determines our ability to respond to outlier events. how we respond to those events determines how we perform under pressure. staying competitive isn’t about performing well when the sun is shining; it’s about executing and gaining clarity in the fog of war.
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how wealthtech is reshaping the future of holistic advice 

portrait of david knoch
knoch
david knoch has 20+ years of high-profile leadership in the financial advice industry. he joined docupace as ceo in april 2020 and has spearheaded the company’s strategic transformation – marked by double-digit revenue growth, product/capability expansion, multiple acquisitions and numerous industry accolades.

five key areas where firms can make inroads; three areas in which wealthtech has a disproportionate impact.

by david knoch and ryan george
the holistic guide to wealth management

leveraging the power of technology has never been more accessible, or more important, for wealth management firms. as client priorities and goals shift, old delivery models and outdated tools are no longer enough to keep up in the current market.

so how does a wealth management firm differentiate itself? they lean toward technology and embrace the right wealthtech solutions to deliver holistic advice.

 

portrait of ryan george
george
ryan george is the chief marketing officer at docupace and a leader in both financial services and marketing communications. he is a member of the forbes communications council, an invitation-only, fee-based organization of senior-level communications and public relations executives and the cmo council.

more: seven tech keys to a holistic service model | profile of a modern firm: putting the vision into practice | toward a 21st-century cpa: a dynamic vision | what multiples mean to accounting firms | tsunami of m&a, pe is disrupting the accounting profession | how wealth management has evolved | introducing you to a fulfilling return on relationships
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

read on as we break down the context, problems and solutions of wealthtech in the financial services space.

why wealthtech?

the last few years have brought a world of change to the financial advice and investment industry. between volatile markets, shifting client demands and an ever-growing technology landscape, the entire wealth management ecosystem is evolving.
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