Pulse of the Practice

Hosted by Thomson Reuters

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Episodes

148

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

We all love free… But tax and accounting firms love it so much that they give their brain away for free! Everything is changing in our profession but the future is bright. Tune in to turn pain points into opportunities. Join Paul Miller and Thomson Reuters Advisory Consultants as they have real and relevant conversations to provide you with inspirational and actionable ideas to move your firm forward. Expect to hear from your peers as well as they share their experiences and discuss relevant topics you're all familiar with; leadership, client relationships, firm culture, staffing, technology, and much more! Learn more about Practice Forward at http://tax.tr.com/practice-forward

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June 16, 2026Episode 656 min

The Future of Advisory: Client Intelligence, Firm Intelligence & AI-Powered Workflows | Pulse of the Practice LIVE at Advisory Symposium 2026

Recorded live at the Thomson Reuters Advisory Symposium 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA on June 2, 2026, this special live episode of Pulse of the Practice features hosts Paul Miller (founder and owner of Business by Design, a firm specializing in advisory services and tax strategies for small business entrepreneurs) and Mo Arbas (Advisory Services Lead and thought-leadership presenter at Thomson Reuters events, passionate about challenge and change in the advisory space).In this high-energy, audience-driven session, Paul and Mo tackle the most pressing challenges facing tax and accounting firms right now — and lay out a compelling vision for what's coming next. They walk through a firm life cycle framework built around three concurrent cycles: the client cycle, the firm cycle, and a pre-cycle focused on prospecting — including the often-overlooked reality that your existing clients are prospects too.The conversation dives deep into three critical observations shaping the future of accounting firms:Capacity vs. Complexity — Client and firm complexity is increasing faster than most firms can keep up with, creating a bandwidth crisis that no amount of hustle alone can solve.The Knowledge Transfer Problem — Decades of expertise live in people's heads, and there's no easy way to transfer that institutional knowledge to new staff — until now.The AI Inflection Point — AI is no longer a future concept. It is actively reshaping firm workflows, and the next wave of agentic AI will bring more advancement in the next six months than the past ten years combined.Paul and Mo introduce the concept of Client Intelligence and Firm Intelligence — a framework for capturing unstructured conversational data, client context, and firm-specific knowledge to power smarter advisory workflows. They also preview Playbooks inside Ready to Advise, a feature designed to help firms standardize their advisory strategies by client persona, and discuss the vision of being able to speak a proposal into existence — letting AI do 80–90% of the scoping, pricing, and packaging work based on context gathered from real client conversations.Whether you're a solo practitioner or running a multi-office firm, this episode will challenge you to rethink your firm's life cycle, reclaim lost revenue opportunities, and start building toward a scalable, intelligent advisory practice.Topics covered:Firm and client life cycle frameworksAdvisory prospecting for new and existing clientsBandwidth and capacity challenges in accounting firmsAI and agentic workflows in tax and accountingClient Intelligence vs. Firm IntelligenceKnowledge transfer and staff training with AIAdvisory playbooks and client personasSpeaking a proposal into existencePricing strategy and scope definitionReady to Advise product updatesThomson Reuters Advisory Symposium 2026Join Paul Miller and Thomson Reuters Advisory Consultants as they have real and relevant conversations to provide you with inspirational and actionable ideas to move your firm forward — covering leadership, client relationships, firm culture, staffing, technology, and much more.🎙️ Pulse of the Practice | A Thomson Reuters Podcast | Live from Advisory Symposium 2026, Huntington Beach, CAA few notes on the choices made here:The title leads with the core content themes (Client Intelligence, Firm Intelligence, AI) which are the most searchable and relevant terms for the target audience."LIVE at Advisory Symposium 2026" signals event-specific content, which tends to perform well for community searches.The description front-loads the hosts' credentials, then unpacks the episode's value proposition in a structured way that mirrors how podcast platforms and search engines index content.The bulleted topic list at the end serves as a keyword-rich tag section that improves discoverability without feeling spammy.

May 5, 2026Episode 532 min

Beyond Tax Season: Staffing, Standards, and Strategy in a Rapidly Changing Firm

What really happens inside a firm after April 15?In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas sits down with Paul Miller of Business by Design for an inside look at what forward-thinking accounting and advisory firms are doing once the tax deadline passes—but before the next one hits.Paul breaks down how his 23-person firm uses the summer months to focus on what truly drives long-term success: training, standardization, staffing strategy, and technology adoption. They explore why tax returns are no longer “the event,” how firms are shifting bandwidth away from pure technical work and toward client experience, and why non-technical advisory support roles are quickly becoming essential.You’ll hear practical insights on:How modern firms structure teams across client success, advisory, and technical tax rolesWhat to look for when hiring non-technical staff—and why curiosity matters more than resumesBuilding a firm-wide “playbook” to replace one-off decision-makingWhy summer is the ideal window for training, internal resets, and process refinementHow firm leaders should think about AI and technology adoption—and why delegating that responsibility can be a costly mistakeThe growing cost of “doing nothing” as the pace of industry change acceleratesIf you’re a small to mid-sized firm owner, partner, or manager who feels busy all year but still wants to build something intentional, this episode is a clear reminder that the work between deadlines may matter most.

April 21, 2026Episode 56 min

Pulse of the Practice: Advisory Symposium 2026 Preview from Huntington Beach

In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller are joined by Therese "T on the Street" to preview this year's Advisory Symposium in Huntington Beach, California, happening June 2–4. They share what attendees can expect, including more than 40 breakout sessions covering advisory, AI, new technology, and thought leadership, plus appearances from keynote speakers Tom Hood and John Kriesel. The team also highlights the event's live podcast kickoff, networking, and a Beach Boys-themed party that promises to make this year's symposium both insightful and unforgettable.

March 26, 2026Episode 427 min

Time, Tech, and Tax Season: Why the Future of Prep Is Changing Fast

n this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller dig into the real-world pressures of tax season — from the grind of long days and missed spring weather to the growing chaos of client document habits. They explore why multitasking is a myth, how time seems to “collapse” in modern firms, and why protecting your schedule has become essential.But the conversation quickly expands to the bigger shift happening in the profession. Mo and Paul break down how technology, automation, and emerging AI-driven agents are rapidly reshaping tax prep, document handling, staffing needs, and client expectations. They discuss why traditional tax preparation is no longer the “bread and butter,” what firms must standardize to scale, and how the role of the accountant is evolving toward advisory and year‑round financial insight.It’s an honest, forward‑looking conversation about the pressures firms face today — and the opportunities that lie ahead for those willing to rethink their workflows, client relationships, and service models.

March 10, 2026Episode 327 min

From Extensions to Expertise: How Firms Grow by Capturing What They Know

In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller dive deep into the real challenges firms face during the busiest part of tax season—from extensions and deadlines to client expectations and team bandwidth. But the conversation quickly expands into something much bigger: how firms can scale smarter by building systems for knowledge sharing, pattern recognition, and staff development.Mo and Paul explore how recorded meetings, AI tools, and intentional review processes can transform scattered expertise into a firm-wide advantage. They unpack how advisory work follows recognizable patterns, why client interactions often repeat across firms, and how identifying those similarities can dramatically speed up staff training and reduce burnout.They also discuss:Why early, uncomfortable client conversations save time laterHow to use AI recordings to improve—not just document—client meetingsThe difference between memorizing steps and understanding core conceptsHow to build a “client intelligence” library that outlives any single team memberWhy transparency and shared knowledge strengthen firm culture and retentionPacked with insight and practical ideas, this episode connects the dots between workflow efficiency, advisory growth, team development, and long-term scalability.

February 17, 2026Episode 236 min

Building a Tax-Ready Firm: Processes, People, and the Power of Structure

In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller dive deep into what truly keeps an accounting firm running smoothly during tax season—clear processes, intentional workflows, and the right questions asked at the right time. From the realities of client data chaos to the importance of firm-wide standards, Paul breaks down how his multi-team firm handles data intake, “tax-ready” checklists, questionnaires, and internal workflow guardrails.Mo compares this to the challenges solo practitioners face, sparking a conversation about scaling, staff development, knowledge transfer, and why younger team members learn differently today. The duo also discuss evolving technology, AI-powered knowledge bases, and the importance of documenting firm methodologies—one decision tree at a time.Whether you’re a firm leader, a growing practitioner, or someone looking to streamline your processes, this episode offers a practical, behind-the-scenes look at building a more efficient, consistent, and scalable practice.

January 27, 202633 min

The Advisory Mindset Shift: AI, FP&A, and the Future of Accounting Firms

In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller sit down with Fady Hawatmeh, founder of Clockwork, to explore what advisory really means in today’s accounting landscape—and what it will take to scale it successfully.Fady shares the origin story behind Clockwork, why he built an AI‑native FP&A platform from the ground up, and how firms can move from rear‑view reporting to forward‑looking insight. The conversation dives into mindset shifts, why most “AI hype” misses the mark, and how agentic AI will soon function as a true financial planning team—not just a tool.If you’re an accounting firm looking to modernize advisory services, improve client experience, and understand where AI truly adds value, this episode is packed with practical insight and honest perspective.

December 23, 2025Episode 2229 min

Year in Review: Predictions, AI Insights, and the Future of Accounting

In this final episode of the year, Mo Arbas and Paul Miller take a reflective dive into what shaped the accounting profession in 2025 and what’s next. From the reality that uncertainty is permanent to why advisory isn’t just a service line but a mindset shift, they explore leadership bottlenecks, talent challenges, and the evolving role of technology. The conversation also touches on AI’s growing influence, firm sustainability, and how client expectations are changing. And for a fun twist, Mo shares what ChatGPT had to say about their strengths! If you’re looking for insights, laughs, and a roadmap for the future, this episode delivers.

December 2, 2025Episode 2128 min

ear-End Planning: Retirement Accounts, Real Estate, and Proactive Advisory

In this episode of Pulse of the Practice, hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller dive into the realities of year-end planning for firms and their clients. They discuss the evolving nature of tax seasons, the importance of standardizing retirement account advice, and how proactive education can help clients make better financial decisions. The conversation covers prioritizing HSA contributions, navigating health insurance options, and the nuances of retirement plans for business owners—with or without employees. Paul shares insights on balancing client goals, whether it’s maximizing tax deductions through retirement accounts or investing in real estate, and emphasizes the value of anticipating client needs rather than simply answering questions. The episode wraps up with practical tips for closing the loop on planning decisions and highlights the difference between reactive and proactive advisory.

November 11, 2025Episode 1838 min

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Gary Boomer's Playbook to Rebuild CPA Firms with AI by 2026

Is the accounting talent shortage your biggest problem—or your biggest opportunity? In this episode of Pulse of the Practice (2025, E19), hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller sit down with L. Gary Boomer—founder, visionary, and strategist at Boomer Consulting—to unpack how AI, advisory services, and a new business model will redefine CPA firms by 2026.Boomer explains why the next five years could deliver a century's worth of technology change, and how firm leaders can turn anxiety and burnout into momentum with mindset, purpose, and process. You'll learn the concrete steps to move from compliance to high‑value advisory, ditch the hour‑based model for results‑driven pricing, and build an Agenic Workforce that scales expertise with AI "agents," staff‑on‑demand, and fractional C‑suite talent.What you'll learn:How to pivot from tax/audit compliance to recurring, scalable Client Advisory Services (CAS) clients actually valueThe business case for value pricing vs. billable hours—and why clients buy outcomes, not timeThe EXO (Exponential Organizations) framework applied to CPA firms: staff‑on‑demand, community, algorithms, and moreBoomer's prediction for 2026: why the "labor shortage" worry will be replaced by super‑workers augmented by AIA practical talent strategy: onboard grads directly into advisory, use coaching (not just mentoring), and implement the 3×3 relationship ruleTech you can use now: AI note‑taking/meeting tools (Fathom/Otter) and Google's NotebookLM for knowledge capture, training, and faster knowledge transferHow to clean data, document processes, and build internal knowledge bases so AI actually worksThe leadership shift: set a massively transformative purpose (MTP), align clients and staff to your vision, and create a cadence of continuous improvementIf you're a managing partner, CAS leader, or firm owner ready to modernize your practice, this conversation is your roadmap to healthier margins, happier teams, and stickier client relationships.Subscribe for more practical playbooks on modern firm leadership, AI adoption, CAS growth, and pricing strategy—and share this episode with a partner who's still billing by the hour.Keywords: accounting firm transformation, CPA firm strategy, Client Advisory Services, CAS, AI in accounting, accounting burnout, talent shortage accounting, value pricing for CPAs, Boomer Consulting, Gary Boomer, EXO framework, Agenic Workforce, NotebookLM, meeting AI tools, fractional CFO/COO/CIO, accounting firm processes, shift from compliance to advisory