Bill Reeb, CPA

This electronic newsletter is prepared especially for public practitioners and is sent bimonthly to members of the Texas Society of CPAs. This e-newsletter features regular commentary from TSCPA Member Bill Reeb, a CPA firm consultant based in Austin. For questions or comments concerning the articles featured in this issue or to suggest future topics, please e-mail Reeb at bill@tscpa.net.

From the BILLiverse
Client transition is a hot topic when it comes to succession planning. Bill Reeb’s summer commentary encourages firms to not let partners retire and collect monthly retirement payments if they still own key client relationships. With years of CPA firm consultation under his belt, Reeb offers tremendous insight and practical tips for client transition, including the establishment of a mandatory partner retirement age and implementation of a three-year transition plan.
Read the Article.

Technology Tools and Gadgets in Your Future
Make sure your firm is as efficient as possible by implementing the right technology. Whether it’s at the office, at a client site or on an airplane, check out the latest technology tools and gadgets best suited for CPA firms and professionals on the go. Written by Roman Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, this article covers dual monitors, scanners, laptops, tablet PCs, voice command functionality, USB storage, security filters, and more.
Read the Article.

Participate in 2006 National MAP Survey
Ever wish you could sneak a peek into other accounting firms your size? Curious about the competition and how you stack up? If so, participate in the biennial National Management of an Accounting Practice (MAP) Survey, sponsored by TSCPA and the American Institute of CPAs’ Alliance for CPA Firms (PCPS). Firms who complete the online survey by Sept. 1 will receive results in the form of benchmarking statistics in key practice management areas, including detailed information about size-specific and practice-specific areas. The online MAP survey should take about one hour to complete.
Learn More and Take the Survey.

Member Benefit: New Audio and Web Conferencing Provider
Put technology to work for you the next time you need to be connected to a client or your firm’s satellite office. TSCPA is pleased to introduce Genesys Conferencing, a new audio and Web conferencing provider to give you low rates on communication. Thanks to this member benefit, you can use audio-only conference calls or audio/Web meetings. Plus, with Genesys Conferencing’s flagship service, reservationless Genesys Meeting Center, you can access an integrated on-demand audio and Web collaboration tool that allows you to conduct productive meetings over the phone, the Web or both.
Genesys Conferencing.
TSCPA Member Benefits Marketplace.

What CPA Firm Staff Require to Join and Stay with Your Firm
If you’ve tried to hire staff recently, you know there’s a shortage of candidates. This article from The Institute of Management and Administration highlights the stories of three “typical” staff and provides lessons about what firms do right and wrong and reasons why they have stayed or left various firms. This article also provides suggested changes firms can make to attract and retain staff – changes that satisfy both staff desires and firm needs.
Read the Article.

Put Money Management U. into Play This Summer
With the summer season in full swing, you may finally have a little extra time around the office. If so, check out TSCPA’s Money Management U. workplace financial literacy program and make the public service resources available to your non-CPA staff and/or your clients’ staff members. Money Management U. provides free downloadable personal finance-themed materials like articles for employee newsletters, table tents for break rooms and paycheck inserts. There are even speeches and PowerPoint presentations so you can conduct an employee seminar. Consider putting your expertise to work for the public good this summer with TSCPA’s Money Management U. resources.
Download Money Management U. Resources.