Client strategies

Your clients’ complex financial lives offer major opportunities.

As the trusted advisor, you need to assume the role of the point person, or integrator.

Auditors need to provide value beyond the compliance function.

Next time you meet with a client, instead of just making small talk or asking, “How’s the family doing?” take it a step further.

CPA firms have lost sight of their central mission: building client value.

Setting a growth goal is about much more than picking a percentage -- firms need to dive deeper to understand what it will really take to hit that goal, says Bob Lewis of The Visionary Group -- and they need to make sure they have people who can bring in the new business they need.

With a little bit of data analysis, accountants can help small businesses develop more profitable approaches.

I always prepare for client meetings. Sometimes I overprepare because I don’t want to be unprepared and also because I want to control the pace, direction and timing of the meeting.

Accountants should be ‘ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.’

Tax pros share how they handle estimate-seekers and price shoppers.

As your client’s most trusted advisor, you probably spend a lot of time on their business balance sheet. But how much focus is dedicated to their personal balance sheet?

To help individuals and businesses prepare for filing season, Grant Thornton has released a collection of year-end tax tips.

To get a better handle on your client’s personal cash flow situation, you need to go beyond their business and understand their family financial dynamics.

Taxpayers are more than twice as likely to use DIY tax preparation software as an accountant to do their taxes, but they’re 38 percent less satisfied with the results, according to a new survey.

Tax pros share their strategies for dealing with cost-conscious clients.

Accountants also report relatively low churn among their client base.

How much money will you leave on the table this busy season?

Frequently we are asked to prepare a formal proposal. This is usually done when the client or prospect is considering multiple firms and the decision will either be made by a board of directors or when the person making the decision feels the need to tangibly back up their decision.