If your best accountants are walking out the door, it's probably not about the money.

In this episode, Tim Schurrer (CEO of David Novak Leadership and author of "The Secret Society of Success") reveals the leadership principle that grew Yum! Brands from $4 billion to $32 billion, and it has everything to do with solving what's plaguing CPA firms right now: the talent crisis.

Here's the reality: when your senior accountant flawlessly closes out another month, files returns ahead of deadline, or navigates a complex client situation without you even knowing there was a problem, they become invisible.

That's the curse of excellence in accounting.

And while you're focused on billable hours and realization rates, your best people are quietly wondering if anyone actually notices the value they bring.

We talk to Tim about how his company studied companies that built decades-long dynasties (Walmart, Southwest Airlines), and found one non-negotiable: they created cultures where everyone counted. Not through pizza parties during busy season or casual Friday perks, but through systematic recognition that made people feel genuinely seen for their contributions.

Tim breaks down how this translates directly to CPA firms struggling to keep talent.

In this episode, we cover:

• The two reasons people quit (spoiler: your compensation package isn't fixing either of these)
• The danger of taking "the joy of the decision" away from your team, especially during tax season when you're tempted to control every client interaction
• How firm owners can stop micromanaging review notes and start empowering staff to own client relationships (with the right training framework)
• Why so many managing partners hit burnout chasing revenue targets that don't actually align with what success means to them personally
• The "empowerment is an earned right" framework that lets you delegate without losing quality control

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.

You've spent years developing your next generation of partners, but what happens when they don't want to lead, can't secure financing, or simply aren't the right fit to take over?

In this episode, our Ontario Market Leader Darryl Boyd, reveals why so many multi-partner firms are discovering that their "default" internal succession plan isn't working, and why external sales often deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.

Over his decade with Poe Group Advisors, Darryl has helped the Canadian M&A landscape transform from earnout-heavy transactions to all-cash deals that prioritize fit over spreadsheets.

We explore the uncomfortable truth about internal succession: technical excellence doesn't equal business leadership, and the partner who's great at client work may have zero interest or aptitude for running the firm.

The conversation highlights that:

• Why exhausted accounting firm owners often just need better systems, not an exit strategy
• How private equity is slowly earning trust in Canada, and why most CPA firm sellers still choose CPA buyers
• The hidden assumptions killing Accounting M&A deals (like the "25% client loss" myth with zero data behind it)
• Why the best transactions happen when both parties forget about price and focus on whether the handoff will actually work

We also tackle the massive variability across firms that makes a cookie-cutter valuation worthless: profitability, owner workload, geographic markets, and cultural dynamics all impact valuation more than sellers realize. Whether you're a multi-partner firm wrestling with succession, a solo tax practitioner planning your exit, or a buyer trying to understand what sellers really care about, this episode will challenge your assumptions about how accounting practice transitions actually work.

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa Smith who is a functional medicine dietitian, gut-health expert, and founder of Lisa Smith Wellness. We explore the realities of deep stress and the health impacts that so many accounting firm owners quietly carry. We start by talking about the concept of “deep stress,” how it differs from everyday overwhelm, and why professionals who juggle multiple roles often don’t realize their bodies are stuck in long-term survival mode. Lisa breaks down the signs many CPAs ignore: waking up tired, constant tension, reliance on caffeine or wine, disrupted sleep, brain fog, and that ever-present feeling of being “on.”

Timestamps:
03:55: Introducing the concept of deep stress
05:58: How stress impacts sleep and cortisol
07:57: What entrepreneurs consistently overlook in wellness
10:50: Habit change and understanding personal motivators
12:52: Redesigning your life and business through intentionality
16:34: Long-term health implications of unmanaged stress
18:59: Feeling trapped in your business and how to begin unwinding it
23:05: Reducing stress and improving clarity
24:26: Price’s Law, the Pareto Principle, and understanding real productivity
29:14: Pre-tax-season tips for improving energy and well-being
30:46: The “campfire method” for stabilizing daily energy
34:29: Lisa’s book recommendations for leaders and entrepreneurs

Lisa’s Resource Recommendations:

• Prepare Your CPA Firm for A Sale by Brannon Poe [https://poegroupadvisors.com/prepare/]
• Atomic Habits by James Clear [https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299]
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson [https://www.amazon.com/Slight-Edge-Turning-Disciplines-Happiness/dp/1626340463]
• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151]
• Traction by Gino Wickman [https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837]
• The Common Path to Uncommon Success by John Lee Dumas [https://www.amazon.com/Common-Path-Uncommon-Success-Fulfillment/dp/1400221099]
• Journaling Guide: [http://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal]

Connecting with Lisa:

• Listen to my Pretty Well PODCAST https://apple.co/3Y2IbSZ
• Visit my Website https://lisasmithwellness.com
• Read my Wellness BLOG https://lisasmithwellness.com/blog/
• Find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/
• lisa.lsw@outlook.com

Link to full listing: https://poegroupadvisors.com/practice/sc2038/

Firm Highlights:
- Young, energetic owner committed to staying 10+ years to run and grow the firm.
- Selling 70–100% equity, with plans to offer key employees an ownership stake.
- 3+ CPAs on staff and over 20 employees.
- High-net-worth clients with strong loyalty and consistent referrals.
- 78% of services tied to business clients.