From Reactive to Intentional: What’s Emerging Across the Profession

Why Hourly Billing No Longer Works

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] For decades, hourly billing has been the foundation of the accounting profession. But as AI accelerates efficiency and firms continue expanding advisory services, many leaders are questioning whether the traditional pricing model still works. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Michelle Golden-River, founder of Fore LLC, about the evolution of pricing inside CPA firms and why worth-based pricing is gaining attention across the profession. The conversation explores why firms struggle to move away from hourly billing, how pricing models shape firm culture and operations and why AI is putting pressure on firms to rethink the relationship between time and revenue. Michelle also shares practical advice on scope management, client communication and how firms can begin experimenting with new pricing approaches without overhauling everything overnight. Throughout the episode, Michelle offers a grounded perspective on the mindset shifts, leadership and confidence required to modernize pricing in today’s accounting environment.

Advisory Reality, AI Results and the Metrics That Matter

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers unpack key findings from the June IPA Insights Report. They discuss early practice management survey results, including slowing growth, rising technology investments and an unexpected decline in advisory revenue. They also explore findings from a joint advisory survey with Rosenberg Associates, revealing that talent and partner alignment, not client demand, are the biggest barriers to advisory growth. The conversation examines rapidly growing niche practice areas, the current reality of AI adoption, overlooked KPI metrics such as net revenue retention and concerning succession planning trends across firms. Whether you're evaluating advisory services, considering niche specialization or preparing your firm for leadership transitions, this episode provides practical insights grounded in IPA's latest data. Learn more and order the IPA Insights Hot Topics Report at: https://insidepublicaccounting.com/about/ipa-quarterly-insights/

The Confidence Gap in Advisory Services

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] Advisory services continue to be one of the biggest growth opportunities for firms, but many firms are still struggling to scale them effectively. In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Eric Eager, CEO and co-founder of 4impactdata, about the “confidence gap” that may be holding firms back. The conversation explores why advisory work feels different from traditional compliance services, how AI is changing the pace of learning inside firms and why many professionals hesitate to make forward-looking recommendations. Eric also discusses the growing importance of human guidance in an increasingly automated environment and explains how emerging technologies like decision intelligence may help firms scale advisory while also accelerating staff development. Throughout the episode, Eric shares practical advice for firm leaders looking to strengthen client relationships, improve confidence across teams and rethink the role of CPA firms in the future business landscape.

A First Look at Early Data from the 2026 IPA Survey

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] What are the latest numbers telling us about the accounting profession? In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Sarah Noonan joins Chelsea Summers to discuss preliminary findings from the 2026 IPA Practice Management Survey. With more than 350 firms already participating, the early data offers a glimpse into some of the profession’s biggest trends. The conversation explores slowing revenue growth, rising technology investments, increasing profitability and continued shifts away from traditional hourly billing. Chelsea also shares insights into turnover, advisory services and the impact of AI on firm operations and pricing strategies. While the data is still preliminary, the discussion highlights where firms appear to be gaining momentum and where important questions remain unanswered. For firm leaders looking to benchmark their performance and better understand where the profession may be headed, this episode offers an early look at the trends shaping public accounting today.

Designing a Firm for the Future

Earn free CPE with Earmark! Take your learning on the go and earn NASBA-approved CPE just for listening to The INSIDE Public Accounting Podcast. Simply listen, take a short quiz, and download your certificate. Start now on the IPA channel in the Earmark app: INSIDE Public Accounting | Earmark CPE [https://www.earmark.app/channels/c5717392-a994-407c-9f27-7f09a08a4b7c] What does it actually look like to build an accounting firm designed for the future? In this episode of the INSIDE Public Accounting podcast, Chelsea Summers talks with Rachel Farris, CPA, founder of a boutique advisory firm and TaxStack AI, about specialization, talent, pricing, AI adoption, and the evolving narrative around accounting careers. Rachel shares why narrowing a firm’s focus can strengthen client relationships and reduce operational friction, how firms can rethink hiring and onboarding, and why the profession’s talent challenges are about more than compensation alone. The conversation also explores fixed-fee pricing, responsible AI adoption, and the importance of building firms around flexibility, curiosity, and people-first leadership. Rachel offers a candid perspective on what accounting firms may need to rethink over the next decade: From the way they recruit talent to the way they define value for both employees and clients.