Business owners can accumulate significant wealth by making use of a combination of defined benefit and defined contribution plans. In this PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, interviews actuarial expert Neil Shore. Neil provides insight into the most effective way to help your business owner clients build their retirement nest egg. Neil responds to the following questions: What are the advantages for the business to sponsor a qualified retirement plan? What are the possibilities when you combine a defined contribution and defined benefit plan? Should the costs of these plans give a bu ..read more

Too often estate planning is done without careful consideration for the surviving spouse. This can lead to unintended consequences that may be very damaging. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Paul Hood, JD, LLM, provides pointers that will support CPA financial planners to work effectively with attorneys to protect the long-term best interest of the surviving spouse. Paul discusses: What to pay special attention to that is often missed in planning for the surviving spouse How to make sure the surviving spouse has a solid plan that provides peace of mind Using disclaimers and other t ..read more

As we have heard often in this podcast series, Lori Luck, CPA/PFS, didn’t take a straight path to becoming a CPA financial planner. Though the knowledge and skills she learned along the way developed her into a CPA financial planner who has clients for life. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast guided by Lyle Benson, CPA/PFS, Lori shares her story and her wisdom by answering the following questions: Why do the business, finance, and tax skills of CPAs make them strong personal financial planners? How did your own life events play a role in becoming a financial planner? How do you offer ..read more

Clients who have large IRAs and are charitably inclined may benefit from making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) or naming a charity as the beneficiary of their IRA. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, JG Gassman, CPA/PFS, and Rick Peck, ChFC, discuss how to approach these opportunities with clients. They share: What QCDs are, how they work, and the tax benefits The clients who are best suited to use this strategy The options for setting up endowments or scholarship funds with a QCD Tips for making QCD and beneficiary designations seamless with charities Access resources rel ..read more

There may be subconscious internal barriers to wealth that are getting in the way of the goals and lifestyle that your clients say they want most. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, helps you identify when these money stories have taken control and how to help your clients see the truth of the matter so they can shift their behavior. Kelley shares: The three most common money mindsets for those who work with CPA financial planners What to say and do to help your clients see and go beyond their limiting beliefs When you may need to give the opposite of traditiona ..read more

Howard Safer, CPA/PFS, fell into financial planning when he worked for business owners who valued Howard’s ability to respond to personal finance questions and bring balance to their lives above all other services. He shares his story and nuggets of wisdom in this PFP Section podcast guided by Lyle Benson, CPA/PFS. Howard discusses: Why trust companies are a great platform for CPAs to provide these services How CPA tax professionals can provide value in the investment area Why tax expertise is second to none in being able to provide sound financial planning advice How he integrates lifestyle ..read more

Divorce is often extremely difficult for all parties involved. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Dave Stolz, CPA/PFS, shares how to support clients through this challenging time. He discusses: Lessons in divorce he learned by surveying his clients How to be with your clients during this emotional time Roles that CPAs can play and the conflicts to avoid Why this work is more fulfilling than you may imagine Access resources related to this podcast: Note: If you’re using a podcast app that does not hyperlink to the resources, visit http://pfplanning.libsyn.com/ to access show notes wi ..read more

Estate planning is a hot topic with potential law changes on the horizon and sunset back to the pre Tax Cut & Jobs Act amounts in 2026. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, JG Gassman, CPA/PFS, talks with Frazer Rice, J.D., about effective questions to use to engage with clients to make sure their plan is in order. Some may sense for new clients only and others are good to use to check in with ongoing clients. The questions are: Do you have an estate plan? Who prepared the estate plan? Was your family involved in the estate plan development? When was the last time you reviewed your ..read more

Even if you’re not managing money for your clients, they likely look to you as their CPA to provide a sounding board and peace of mind when they see their hard-earned money in the hands of volatile markets. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, shares how she talks her clients off the ledge so that they don’t make decisions they regret or that aren’t in their long-term best interest. Kelley shares: Words of wisdom from Psychology of Money author Morgan Housel Why it’s not effective to get too technical and share statistics from the past when clients are emotional H ..read more

Scott Sprinkle, CPA/PFS, learned early in his career that financial planning was his passion because of the difference it made for his clients. He plays the role of financial quarterback, touching the ball with every interaction and decision. Tune in and gain ideas for your own practice as Lyle Benson, CPA/PFS, interviews Scott in this episode of the PFP Section podcast.  They discuss:   How Scott creates stickiness and long-term relationships with his clients How he balances doing tax, investment, and financial planning work for multiple generations What he did to access the networ ..read more