How CPA Firms Are Solving the Talent Crisis, Automating Growth, and Surviving the PE Fallout

WHAT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING RECRUITERS ACTUALLY LOOK FOR IN 2026 (Tax Manager & Senior Manager Edition)

If you're a tax manager or senior manager in public accounting thinking about your next move, this episode is the honest conversation most recruiters won't have with you.Bryce Hollingsworth, Recruiting Manager at White Tiger Connections, joins Rich Romero on The Nexus Point to break down what the job market actually looks like right now, what mistakes candidates make that cost them the right role, and what the placements that worked long term all had in common.Topics covered:Why tax manager and senior manager roles are the most in-demand positions in public accounting right nowHow opening your search to remote roles changes everything about what's available to youThe most common mistakes candidates make during job searches and what they actually costWhy talking about compensation early is an advantage, not a riskHow cultural alignment matters more than work-life balance as a search criteriaWhy the CPA and RIA integrated model is creating a completely new kind of partner track for accounting professionalsWhat early career CPA professionals should be doing right now to set themselves up for promotionWhat the candidates who thrived long term had in common that had nothing to do with their resumeIf you're a CPA, tax manager, or senior manager considering a move in 2026, this episode gives you a clear picture of what actually works.Hosted by Rich Romero with Bryce Hollingsworth, Recruiting Manager at White Tiger Connections.Connect with White Tiger Connections: whitetigerconnections.com

AUM VS AUA: Which Model Is Right for Your Wealth Management Firm in 2026

AUM vs.AUM vs. AUA Explained: Choosing the Right Wealth Management Fee Model (and Why CPA Firms Matter)On this episode of The Nexus Point Podcast, host Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner and CEO of White Tiger Connections, compare assets under management (AUM) and assets under advisory (AUA), explaining how each fee model works and when it makes sense based on client net worth, liquidity, firm monetization, and brand narrative. They discuss typical basis-point fee schedules under AUM, how AUA can support more holistic financial advice and reduce incentives tied to where assets are held, and why AUA is more common among ultra-high net worth families with significant illiquid holdings. Geoff suggests wealth management firms should evolve rather than switch models outright, potentially serving multiple market segments with different fee structures. The episode closes with a case for integrating tax and accounting capabilities into RIAs and broker-dealers, enabled by fully remote CPA talent, to improve client outcomes and drive growth.00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k] Welcome and Setup00:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=18s] AUM Explained: Basis Points and Fee Schedules02:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=135s] AUA Explained: Net Worth and Flat Fee Structures03:49 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=229s] Choosing Between AUM and AUA Based on Client Profile05:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=355s] Fiduciary Narrative, Fee Conflicts, and Incentive Structures08:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=505s] Fee Model Advice for CPA Firms Starting an RIA09:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=586s] Should Wealth Management Firms Switch Fee Models12:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=728s] Remote CPA Talent and the Integrated Wealth Management Thesis15:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI393b8Kp4k&t=910s] Wrap Up and Where to Find White Tiger ConnectionsHow this was made

WHY TOP 100 FIRM TAX PARTNERS ARE DONE - Episode 22

Are you a CPA tax partner at a top 100 firm feeling burned out, underpaid, or stuck with no control over your book of business?In this episode of The Nexus Point, Geoff Bruskin and Rich Romero break down why large firm tax partners are the most disillusioned professionals in public accounting right now, and what your real options look like in 2026.If you're a big firm tax partner running a $1M, $2M, or $3M+ book of business, this episode will show you what the market actually thinks you're worth.Topics covered:Top signs a large firm tax partner is ready to make a moveWhy golden handcuffs, infrastructure, and client retention fears are weaker than you thinkHow to merge a tax book of business into an existing wealth management firmThe step-by-step math behind launching an affiliated RIA as a CPA partnerHow to structure a CPA and RIA partnership with minority ownership and alternative practice structuresWhy tax partner compensation at large firms is severely undervalued compared to independent and integrated platformsThe fear vs. satisfaction framework for deciding when to leave a big firmWhether you're considering going independent, joining a smaller CPA firm, partnering with a private equity backed platform, or integrating your tax practice into a wealth management firm, this episode gives you the blueprint.Hosted by Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin, Managing Partner of White Tiger Connections, a leading M&A advisory and recruiting firm specializing in CPA firms and RIA wealth management practices.Connect with Geoff Bruskin: geoff@whitetigerconnections.comWhite Tiger Connections: whitetigerconnections.com00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI] Welcome to Nexus Point00:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=25s] Who This Episode Is For00:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=48s] Signs You're Ready to Leave a Large Firm02:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=148s] What's Holding Big Firm Tax Partners Back05:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=309s] Myths About Leaving and Better Moves06:34 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=394s] Tax as the Quarterback of Integrated Services09:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=553s] How to Merge a Tax Book Into a Wealth Firm09:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=588s] Blueprint for Your Next Step as a CPA Partner11:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=712s] Starting Your Own RIA as a Tax Partner13:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=782s] RIA Ownership Structure and Revenue Math16:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=1011s] One Move CPA Partners Should Make Before Year End18:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUd-7R_hLEI&t=1130s] Wrap Up and Call to Action

When and What to Invest in Your CPA/Accounting Firm

When to Reinvest in Your CPA Firm: Talent, Tech, Marketing & Remote Hiring | Nexus PointAre you taking too much cash out of your CPA firm — or not enough? In this episode of Nexus Point, Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin break down how accounting firm owners should approach reinvestment decisions: when to pull the trigger, how to rank ROI priorities, and how to avoid reactive, band-aid spending that doesn't move the needle.Geoff shares a proven reinvestment framework — talent first, then workflow and technology, then marketing, then service line expansion — and explains why the sequence matters. You'll also learn how remote hiring is reshaping the CPA talent market, why it's now a top-tier investment for firm scalability and buyer appeal, and how to think about offense vs. defense when your firm's North Star is exit planning or long-term growth.What you'll learn:When to reinvest vs. take cash out of your CPA firmHow to reduce owner hours without sacrificing revenueWhy talent always comes before tech and marketingHow to evaluate safe bets vs. strategic risksWhy remote hiring expands your candidate pool and increases firm valueWhether you're a solo practitioner or running a multi-partner firm, this episode will help you reinvest with intention — not reaction.Subscribe to Nexus Point for weekly conversations on M&A, succession, and the future of public accounting.Chapters00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug] Welcome to Nexus Point00:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=27s] Why Reinvest Now01:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=64s] Signals to Reinvest01:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=86s] Hours vs. Profit04:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=240s] Ranking ROI Priorities04:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=294s] Talent First Always05:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=342s] Tech, Workflow & Marketing09:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=547s] Safe vs. Risky Bets11:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=717s] Offense and Defense15:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=901s] Remote Hiring Advantage17:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycZRzQzOeug&t=1059s] Wrap Up & Next StepsNexus Point is hosted by Rich Romero and Geoff Bruskin of White Tiger Connections — M&A advisors and business brokers specializing in CPA firms and RIA/wealth management practices

How CPA Firms Are Solving the Talent Crisis, Automating Growth, and Surviving the PE Fallout

How do next-generation CPA firms fix their biggest operational bottlenecks? In this episode of The Nexus Point Podcast, Rich Romero sits down with Geoff Bruskin, fractional COO and managing partner of White Tiger Connections, to dig into the real operational challenges inside accounting firms today and what it actually takes to fix them.Geoff breaks down the three pain points he sees most often: unclear firm destiny (exit strategy, M&A, AI anxiety), task-based bottlenecks that AI can automate across the full client lifecycle, and the urgent need to move away from time-based billing toward subscription and value-based models.They also get into why building an automated CRM-driven go-to-market engine has become a game-changer, how remote talent eliminates the geography-based talent crisis, and Geoff's step-by-step change management playbook for getting staff, managers, and partners actually on board with transformation.If your firm is asking "what should we be doing differently right now?" this episode gives you the playbook.🔗 Learn more about White Tiger Connections: [your link here]🔗 Subscribe to The Nexus Point Podcast: [your link here]📌 Timestamps:00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8] Welcome and introductions00:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=59s] Top operational pain points in CPA firms01:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=104s] AI automation across the client lifecycle03:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=213s] Billing and pricing overhaul05:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=325s] Automated CRM and go-to-market engine09:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=552s] Change management playbook13:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=826s] How remote talent fixes bottlenecks18:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=1132s] The one operational shift for 202620:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjTq7YOc5x8&t=1257s] Wrap-up and farewell#AccountingFirms [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/accountingfirms] #CPAFirms [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/cpafirms] #FractionalCOO [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fractionalcoo] #AccountingOperations [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/accountingoperations] #NexusPointPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nexuspointpodcast] #PublicAccounting [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/publicaccounting] #AIinAccounting [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/aiinaccounting] #RemoteWork [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/remotework] #BillingStrategy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/billingstrategy] #ChangeManagement [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/changemanagement]