Business Strategies

The story of James J. Maggard has some interesting and possibly valuable lessons. The one that strikes me as particularly important is that it makes it crystal clear that disproportionate distributions contrary to a corporation’s governing documents will not blow its S election. That does not mean that disproportionate distributions are just fine and that you don’t need to address them. There is a practical lesson about being careful who you take on as fellow shareholders. And there is another slightly odd lesson, that almost makes me want to create a new law of tax planning: Don’t deliberately involve the IRS in your business disputes. Their job is not to help you.

Networking has transcended physical boundaries into a digital world in the last five years. Of all the social media platforms, LinkedIn stands out as ideal for professionals across industries to connect, engage, and build meaningful relationships. For accountants, leveraging LinkedIn effectively can be a game-changer in expanding their professional network, attracting clients, and establishing thought leadership. In this article, I will discuss how accountants can harness LinkedIn's power to enhance their visibility, credibility, and business success. Some features are only available in Business or premium membership. Still, I am providing you with all the resources LinkedIn offers. Let's get started.

Twice in my four-decade career, two special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) entered my office armed with a search warrant, firearms at their side. In both cases, it started the same way.

Are you aware of your responsibilities when it comes to securing data? Do you know what your software vendor is doing with your data—and, more importantly, your client’s data? Signing up for a new service or software is often done without any thought of the consequences to the data that you are legally required to protect. The average tax professional uses many different types of software and services when working with a client. Many tax pros are unaware that this often requires consent to be obtained prior to using their client’s information and that failure to do so can result in significant fines and even criminal penalties.

M&A activity during Q1 2024 has experienced the strongest start in two years, with over $549B in global deal volumes, representing a 28% increase from Q1 of 2023. However, gone are the days of easy financing and 0% interest rates – the federal funds rate is currently between 5.25% - 5.50%, forcing taxpayers to rethink their deal structures and consider certain tax cost optimizing strategies, which are discussed in this article.

Digital marketing is always changing, and as accountants, we must find innovative ways to connect with our prospects and clients. Enter video marketing—a dynamic tool revolutionizing how financial professionals communicate complex concepts, build trust, and cultivate lasting client relationships. In this article, I will expand on the key benefits of video content, its transformative power for accountants, practical implementation tips, and strategies for measuring impact.

Cutting some clients loose is challenging yet vital. You can only hope for so long that a difficult client will improve before you have to make the decision that he or she simply isn’t worth it to your bottom line. Some clients also make it harder to service your good clients – if not risk your reputation and expose you to a malpractice claim. When you consider firing a client, you do have to trust your gut – but some objective measurements can point you to the right decision. Here are the signs of a bad (and potentially bad) client and formulas and tips to tell if you can do without their business.

The rise of chatbots and AI assistants has blurred the lines between traditional search engines and conversational AI. Tools like ChatGPT and its latest iteration, GPT-4o, are reshaping how Certified Tax Planners (CTPs) search for tax information. A new and fragmented multi-search universe has emerged that offers CTPs a broader array of tools tailored to their specific needs for due diligence. Let's take a look at 10 new AI search tools that can maximize your efficiency today!