Dave Haase sits down with Yehuda Tenenbaum, EA and founder of Y10 Tax Solutions, to explore his journey from reluctant do-it-yourselfer to successful tax professional. Yehuda shares how he transitioned from running finances for his wife's summer camp to building his own accounting firm, making the leap to full-time practice in December 2023. Their conversation reveals why the current landscape offers unprecedented opportunities for new tax professionals willing to carve out their own niche.

The discussion dives deep into client management strategies that separate successful practices from struggling ones. Yehuda and Dave explore the critical importance of setting boundaries, firing problem clients, and how A-plus clients who pay on time and communicate well often receive unlimited access to their accountants. They also tackle the role of AI in tax preparation, explaining why professional expertise remains irreplaceable for complex tax situations and behavioral change management, even as technology advances.

Key topics covered:

[00:00] Intro

[01:00] From Summer Camp CFO to Tax Pro

[02:13] Choose Your Own Adventure in Accounting

[03:37] Why AI Won't Replace Tax Professionals

[05:20] The Value Proposition of Professional Tax Help

[08:10] Building Client Relationships Through Results

[10:20] Setting Boundaries with A-Plus Clients

[12:04] The Emotional Impact of Financial Services

[14:50] Energy Management and Difficult Clients

[17:26] Specialization vs Complex Tax Returns

[20:12] Building Professional Networks for Support

[22:00] Deep Learning and Reading IRS Instructions

[24:27] Meeting the Guy Who Writes Form 1116

[25:47] Practical Continuing Education with Real Returns

[27:05] Connect with Yehuda and Final Thoughts

This episode offers practical insights for both new and experienced tax professionals looking to build sustainable, profitable practices while maintaining their sanity during tax season.

The Modern Tax Pros Podcast is brought to you by Juno, AI tax prep software built for tax pros who are sick of 60-hour weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Haase sits down with Joel Yaeger, CPA and Founder of CMPD Wealth Advisory & Tax, to explore how modern tax firms are evolving beyond traditional compliance work. Joel shares his vision of creating a true one stop shop that integrates tax planning, wealth management, and eventually legal services under one roof, eliminating the coordination challenges clients face when working with separate advisors.

The conversation dives into Joel's acquisition strategy for accounting and RIA firms, revealing what he looks for in potential targets and how AI tools are changing the economics of firm rollups. Joel explains how his team uses technology to elevate junior staff from mundane document processing to meaningful tax preparation work, creating better career paths while improving client service. They discuss the shift from tax season being a frantic compliance rush to a more strategic year round planning approach, where the real value lies in advisory services rather than just filing returns.

Key topics covered:

[00:00] Intro

[01:30] Integrated Tax and Wealth Planning Vision

[03:26] One Stop Shop Strategy for Clients

[06:07] Cross Selling Wealth Management to Tax Clients

[08:41] Real Estate Professional Strategy Example

[11:22] Acquisition Criteria for Accounting Firms

[14:54] Tech Stack Requirements for M&A

[18:37] AI Transforms Lower Level Staff Into Heroes

[23:03] Admin Team Speaks Client Language Better

[26:19] Clean Data Entry Reduces Mental Stress

[31:01] AI Enables Volume Based M&A Strategy

[34:27] Showing Prospects Your AI Process

[36:42] Tax Season vs Tax Planning Season Split

[39:02] AI Suggests Strategies Staff Wouldn't Know

This episode offers practical insights for any tax professional considering how to position their firm for the future of the industry.

The Modern Tax Pros Podcast is brought to you by Juno, AI tax prep software built for tax pros who are sick of 60-hour weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Dave sits down with the father son team of Tony and Zach Amatore to discuss their remarkable journey building a multi-generational tax practice. Tony started his firm from scratch in 1985 after his mentor passed away, growing it to 750 clients before selling and eventually getting it back. Now he and Zach are rapidly scaling through strategic acquisitions, going from 400 to 2000 clients by January.

The Amatores share their approach to client management, including their A through F grading system where they actively fire D and F clients to focus on quality relationships. They discuss how AI tools like Juno have transformed their training process, turning mediocre preparers into efficient reviewers and helping new college graduates become productive much faster. Tony and Zach also dive into their tax planning success stories, including saving clients over 7 million dollars across 22 planning engagements in 2024.

The Modern Tax Pros Podcast is brought to you by Juno, AI tax prep software built for tax pros who are sick of 60-hour weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Haase sits down with Brad Wooten, CPA and owner of a growing Orlando practice, to discuss the realities of building and scaling a tax-focused firm. Brad shares his journey from launching in 2019 with low fees and a take-any-client approach to developing a focused practice serving individual and S corporation clients through 3-tier value pricing.

The conversation covers Brad's practical approach to staff development, moving his brother and sister from administrative roles into tax preparation and review positions without formal training programs. They explore the challenges of implementing AI technology in tax practices, including Brad's initial skepticism about Juno and how feedback-driven product development changed his perspective. Dave and Brad also discuss the importance of solid processes before automation, the economics of AI versus human staff, and why both believe AI will enhance rather than replace tax professionals.

Key topics covered:

[00:00] Intro

[01:25] Building a Solo Practice from Scratch

[03:49] 3 Tier Pricing Strategy Implementation

[07:50] Growing Team with Family Members

[11:07] Training Staff Without Formal Teaching

[13:14] Tax Dome Automation Impact

[14:05] Becoming the Review Bottleneck

[16:41] Moving Staff from Preparer to Reviewer

[18:17] Initial Juno Demo Feedback

[19:32] Cost vs Human Labor Analysis

[23:15] Tax Practice as Data Stream

[24:32] 50% Margin Increase Breakdown

[27:51] Schedule A Processing Challenges

[30:16] Ideal Juno Implementation Strategy

[32:00] Target Market for AI Tools

[34:01] Data Training and Security Concerns

[35:46] AI Limitations in Tax Prep

A candid look at small firm growth, family staffing, and the practical realities of adopting new technology in tax practices.

The Modern Tax Pros Podcast is brought to you by Juno, AI tax prep software built for tax pros who are sick of 60-hour weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Haase, Founder of Juno, reveals why the tax industry is decades behind in technology adoption and what it's costing both practitioners and clients. From 20-year-old software to manual data entry from image files, discover the inefficiencies that are keeping tax professionals trapped in outdated processes.

Dave shares his journey from buying his first firm in 2015 to starting an AI automation company focused on modernizing tax preparation and review. Learn why the current technology landscape makes it harder for tax pros to work efficiently, get paid well for their expertise, and ultimately leads to burnout.

This episode kicks off a series dedicated to improving processes, adopting new technology, and bringing the tax profession into the modern age. Whether you're a firm owner, work in a tax practice, or are involved in tax technology, this conversation explores the path forward for the industry.

Key topics covered:

[00:00] Intro

[00:27] Why tax software remains 20 years outdated

[00:40] Manual data entry costs clients more

[00:54] Technology traps firm owners daily

[01:10] Breaking free from inefficient processes

[01:26] Moving beyond compliance to advisory services

[01:39] Guest lineup spans firm owners to tech leaders

[01:54] Community driven topic suggestions welcome

Subscribe to Modern Tax Pros for insights on improving tax practice efficiency, adopting new technology, and transitioning to advisory services.

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