let tech make communication easier

man seated at laptop talking on phone

how to create effective systems.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

open and clear communication is essential when you provide back office support (bos) services. you cannot take on this type of work and not stay on top of it. previous examples have shown what happens when you do it right. here’s what happens when you don’t.

more: how to craft a service level agreement | three examples: pricing your bos value add | use timesheets for productivity, not billing | revisit your back office support procedures | federated search: what it is, why it matters | accounting tech tools to minimize your pain | do your apps play well with others? | it’s ok to have favorite clients | ten questions for teamwork | yes, you can be an outsourcer
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

case study: when you don’t keep up your side of the agreement

a cpa wanting to provide bos services to his clients contacted us to help with the first setup. the software of choice by the business owner was quickbooks.
read more →

when clients want to manage their own wealth

businessman sitting on stacks of paper currency

can they? maybe. but should they?

by anthony glomski

i have told you that your business owner clients will face new challenges, new transitions and new opportunities as they navigate their way through a liquidity event and emerge on the other side. i also have emphasized that you must do everything in your power to help them preserve, protect and maintain the wealth that they have worked so hard to build.

more: four attributes your experts need | your wealth management team needs these five people | there’s more to giving than tax implications | eight questions for estate planning | clients who don’t listen | how to outline your client’s big picture
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

nassim taleb, author of the bestselling book “the black swan: the impact of the highly improbable,” argues that we can not only learn to navigate these frightening and overwhelming events, but learn to become stronger as a result of them and to take advantage of the opportunities they provide.

by helping your clients prepare the right way to withstand the next black swan event, you can help ensure that they’ll be able to have a huge impact not only in their life, but in their family’s life, in their community and even in the world at large.
read more →

how to craft a service level agreement

man and woman at table in client meeting

bonus: a sample checklist.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

anytime there is a business relationship between entities, expect to see a contract or some form of written agreement. in outsourcing, as in many other relationships, this is called a service level agreement (sla). this agreement is used to establish the scope of the engagement. it clearly states who is responsible for what, when, where and how. it provides a quid pro quo that you can verify with the business owner(s), so that both parties are fully aware of their obligations.

more: three examples: pricing your bos value add | how to assess needs for a client proposal | best practices for source doc permissions and handling | every back office support client needs a playbook | strengthen client ties with workflow tools | understand your online marketing options | narrow your prospects by choosing a vertical | build your team, then choose your clients | how back office support adds value
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the important thing is to go through each function and each area with the business owners(s), have them read it with you together and check off each item so that they are clear on what you expect from them, and so you are clear on what deliverables you are promising.
read more →

four attributes your experts need

flow chart

 

plus more tips on building your team.

by anthony glomski
your $5 million high-net-worth practice

take a look at the chart above showing an example of the type of professional network to use in your client’s financial life. you can see that the personal cfo is at the center, acting as the coordinator of the team and the single point of contact. his or her primary relationships are with the four other core experts: private client lawyer, accountant, life insurance specialist and the property and casualty agent. these team members then have relationships with the other types of specialists you may need from time to time.

more: your wealth management team needs these five people | wealth management calls for a team of experts | see your client to a graceful exit | check tax effects before liquifying | why you should function as a fiduciary | your entrepreneurs need advice, but which kind?
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

finding the right people to help

if you are building your own expert team from scratch, you will need to do your homework and identify good candidates in the key areas in which you need help.
read more →

three examples: pricing your bos value add

 

woman examining document

how to take that big first step.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

the big part of pricing is the value added. how do we go from fixed to value-added pricing where the firm actually can really make a difference and move from just back-office support to client advisory services? the steps to get there mean providing the base of bos so that you have the needed knowledge to perform client advisory services.

more: how to assess needs for a client proposal | how to maximize on-site client meetings | sixteen guidelines for naming conventions | you have to manage three kinds of procedures | tech tips for back office support | decoding accounting tech (and all those acronyms) | digital marketing strategies level the playing field | eight tasks to delegate today
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the u.s. bureau of labor statistics states that about 20 percent of small businesses will fail in their first year and by the end of the fifth year 50 percent will fail.
read more →

your wealth management team needs these five people

woman's hand pressing words "ask an expert"

details on each, plus 10 other specialists to consider for occasional circumstances.

by anthony glomski

entrepreneurs and other successful people typically have complex and varied financial needs. the most successful among them typically work with five key professionals on a regular basis (see below). these are the experts who have the capabilities to solve the majority of the investment and advanced planning issues your clients are likely to face as they pursue the next stage of their lives:

more: wealth management calls for a team of experts | how a virtual family office can serve your wealthy clients | is your client’s wealth truly protected? | control the level of risk | how to flip the switch to wealth preservation | three ways to work together on wealth | how to implement collaborative wealth management | five challenges of liquidating a business
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

  1. wealth manager
  2. private client lawyer
  3. accountant/cpa firm – ideally, a firm large enough to have multiple partners and a deep bench
  4. life insurance specialist, who is knowledgeable about current estate tax mitigation strategies
  5. property and casualty specialist

expert #1: wealth manager. wealth managers who use the collaborative wealth management process we’ve described focus mainly on helping investors grow and preserve their wealth through the investment consulting process. then, to help clients meet their advanced planning needs, these wealth managers develop strong relationships with the other professionals listed below.
read more →

how to assess needs for a client proposal

businesswoman using a tablet

use an anticipatory set to make things easier for both sides.

by penny breslin
it’s not just the numbers

in 2000, our company created a quickbooks training dvd. the owner wanted it done professionally and hired a movie company and rented a studio. the rfp went out. all proposals received had a fee for discovery.

more: how to maximize on-site client meetings | use timesheets for productivity, not billing | revisit your back office support procedures | federated search: what it is, why it matters | accounting tech tools to minimize your pain | do your apps play well with others? | it’s ok to have favorite clients | ten questions for teamwork
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

today, if you were to hire a development team to create, update or install code, they would charge you a certain amount for discovery before they would do any actual coding. what you are paying for is the development of the anticipatory set and a clear definition of the scope.
read more →

wealth management calls for a team of experts

five businesspeople shaking hands under a skylight

you don’t know everything … and you don’t need to.

by anthony glomski
your $5 million high-net-worth practice

by now, you’ve gained a solid understanding of the many financial issues and challenges that your clients face, especially entrepreneurs who may be approaching a liquidity event. what’s more, you have seen the process that goes into addressing those challenges in a manner that coordinates each client’s entire financial life – from their investments through their broader non-investment issues. it’s not just about their taxes and their company’s financial statements.

more: how a virtual family office can serve your wealthy clients | there’s more to giving than tax implications | eight questions for estate planning | clients who don’t listen | how to outline your client’s big picture | target the family ceo | how to implement collaborative wealth management
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

as you seek to implement solutions in these areas, consider all the tasks that must be accomplished in order to maximize the probability of achieving what is most important to your clients and their families. among other responsibilities, it is essential to do the following seven steps:
read more →