AJ Zepeda joins Yuri to share how he went from small business accounting, big firms, and a COO role to co-founding Maverick CPA, a three-partner firm based in East Texas. 

AJ explains why he wanted the freedom to make decisions without red tape, how his partners keep him from implementing too many tools too fast, and why Maverick started on budget-friendly software before moving to Karbon once cash flow and team size made sense. 

They also break down Maverick’s full tech stack, including Karbon, StanfordTax, Ping, Quo, ProConnect, Anchor, Notion, Slack, Make, and Claude. AJ shares how these tools connect so that documents, phone calls, meeting notes, and workflow updates move through the firm with little manual effort. 

The conversation also explores why AJ would rather build a $2–3 million firm than a massive one, his plans to niche into construction and law firms, and how he’s using podcasting and content as AJ the Accountant to help other firm owners grow. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Introduction and AJ’s background 

2:26 - Living in East Texas and local insights 

3:12 - AJ’s experience at big and small firms 

4:10 - Deciding to start Maverick CPA 

5:30 - Initial tech stack and budget considerations 

8:07 - Tech choices at startup and scaling 

11:18 - Switching from initial to more advanced tools 

12:00 - Deep dive into StanfordTax and Karbon integration 

14:02 - Using Ping and Quo for communication and phone 

16:09 - Integrating phone calls and meeting notes 

19:25 - Full tech stack overview and automation 

21:40 - Workflow management and client tracking 

23:03 - ProConnect and client process automation 

25:16 - Tech frustrations and future improvements 

28:50 - Firm growth goals and scaling strategy 

32:10 - Marketing, niching, and podcasting 

37:08 - AJ’s personal brand and social media 

39:41 - Closing thoughts and future plans 

SPONSOR

Today's episode sponsor is Ping Assistant, a note taker made for accountants, so go check them out here:

https://www.pingassistant.com/

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH AJ ZEPEDA 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajtheaccountant/ 

Website: AJaccountant.com 

Nick Vernon joins Yuri to share how he left a successful career as a controller and launched a tax firm without any public accounting experience.

Nick explains how he built confidence one return at a time, learned to separate a healthy challenge from work he wasn’t prepared to handle, and used savings and contract work to make the transition less risky.

They also break down the technology behind Nick’s solo firm, including TaxDome, StanfordTax, Drake, and Claude. Nick shares how these tools help him collect documents, research tax questions, communicate with clients, and operate without an administrative employee.

The conversation also explores the tradeoffs between scaling and staying small, why freedom requires discipline, and how to build a firm around the life you actually want.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Using AI and automation in a tax firm

1:07 - Meet Nick Vernon

3:10 - Starting a firm without public accounting experience

5:45 - Learning tax without knowing every rule

7:16 - Knowing which clients and returns to decline

11:30 - What gave Nick the confidence to leave his job

16:04 - Deciding when it was finally time to quit

18:53 - Using contract work to ease the transition

20:40 - Nick’s technology stack

24:22 - TaxDome versus StanfordTax organizers

34:01 - Walking away from the golden handcuffs

35:00 - Creating a financial runway before leaving

36:44 - Why freedom requires structure and discipline

39:58 - Competing with bad tax advice online

45:38 - Scaling a firm versus staying intentionally small

50:14 - Building the firm you actually want

53:22 - How networking can shape your business

54:50 - Where to connect with Nick

56:18 - Closing thoughts 

SPONSORS

Today's episode is sponsored by StanfordTax: Helping you manage tax document collection in the smoothest way possible. 

Go check them out: https://stanfordtax.com/

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

CONNECT WITH NICHOLAS VERNON

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-vernon-cpa-mba-0281b734/

After years of juggling tax work, kids, and a growing client list, Marit realized she was doing far more for clients than she was actually getting paid for. Once she learned how to package that value, her firm went from earning roughly $50,000 to $60,000 a year to bringing in at least $10,000 a month.

She and Yuri talk about pricing the knowledge accountants tend to give away for free, creating recurring revenue, and recognizing when a client is no longer worth the stress. They also share how they use TaxDome, what they have learned from building personal brands online, and why growing a successful firm does not have to mean building a massive one.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Meet Marit Burmood

5:04 - How different generations communicate with their accountants

11:59 - The decision that transformed Marit’s firm

16:05 - Pricing the knowledge accountants give away for free

19:36 - What CAS services actually include

24:50 - Finding the clients who need more than tax preparation

31:36 - Packaging tax prep into multiple service tiers

34:10 - Using TaxDome to automate workflows and centralize communication

38:21 - Building a personal brand as an accountant

47:26 - What is the actual goal of social media?

54:28 - Why accountants do not need a huge firm or online following

1:00:16 - Marit’s book, Think Before You S Corp

1:02:31 - Final advice and where to connect with Marit 

SPONSOR

Today's episode is sponsored by TaxDome

Check them out and book a demo: https://taxdome.com/

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

CONNECT WITH MARIT BURMOOD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marit-burmood/

Website: https://www.maritburmoodcpa.com/

Petar joins Yuri to talk about the shift from running a practice to building a business. What is the “standard”? What should you know, or prioritize? 

They also get into how Petar would build an accounting firm from scratch, why he would choose a specific niche, and how he would handle everything from finding leads to onboarding and retaining clients. 

Along the way, Petar shares some practical ideas around pricing, communication, automation, and AI that firm owners can start applying without completely rebuilding their businesses. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - How TaxDome identifies high-intent leads 

0:50 - Meet Petar Iliev 

3:14 - Electronic music and European work culture 

9:00 - What successful accounting firms do differently 

14:38 - Building a business that can run without you 

20:40 - How Petar would build an accounting firm 

28:20 - Niche marketing, industry events, and SEO 

30:12 - Using lead scoring to find serious prospects 

36:46 - Why speed wins accounting clients 

40:30 - How successful firms use AI and automation 

46:25 - Creating a better client experience 

53:14 - Retention, pricing, and service packages 

1:02:00 - Turning feedback into reviews and referrals 

1:06:40 - Building a client status tracker with AI 

1:07:38 - Balancing business and Brazilian jiu-jitsu 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH PETAR ILIEV 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/p-iliev/ 

Website: https://taxdome.com/ 

Jasmine DiLucci is a tax attorney, CPA, and enrolled agent who has built a large online following by calling out illegal strategies and the people selling them.

She joins Yuri to talk about why unqualified influencers gain so much credibility online, why disproving their claims takes far more work than making them, and what people misunderstand about the tax strategies used by the wealthy.

Jasmine also shares how she took over her parents’ firm, fixed its billing and client problems, and grew it into a team of 45 people. They get into pricing, firing bad clients, building the right team, and how educational content helped Jasmine establish trust with better clients.

The wealthy still plan around taxes. They just understand that saving money is rarely worth risking the entire business.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:53 - Meet Jasmine DiLucci

2:42 - Becoming a tax professional in high school

4:28 - Why bad tax advice wins online

9:08 - Growing up in a family tax firm

14:07 - Taking over and fixing her parents’ firm

17:36 - Why accountants struggle to communicate their value

19:07 - How better clients eliminate most firm problems

27:20 - Growing the firm to a team of 45

28:40 - Jasmine’s accounting firm technology

31:55 - How Jasmine started creating tax videos

36:00 - Managing the demands of social media

40:07 - Creating a roadmap for legal tax planning

43:31 - The real risk behind viral tax strategies

45:48 - How wealthy people make tax decisions

49:32 - Closing thoughts and where to find Jasmine 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Newsletter: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JASMINE DILUCCI

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@taxleverage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taxleverage/

Website: https://jasminedilucci.com/

Aaron Zimmerman joins Yuri to talk honestly about that tradeoff and the kind of accounting firm he actually wants to build. After leaving his job and launching Brickhouse CPAs, Aaron grew the firm to roughly 75 clients and 120 tax returns while developing a niche serving real estate investors.

Rather than chasing headcount or revenue for its own sake, Aaron has focused on strong pricing, better-fit clients, and enough flexibility to spend time with his family. He shares how he found his first clients, why he started with three-tiered pricing, and how a solid financial foundation gave him the freedom to turn down work that didn’t make sense.

Aaron and Yuri also compare their technology, workflows, and client experience before digging into the bigger question facing many firm owners: once the business provides a great income and lifestyle, what exactly are you scaling toward?

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:41 - Meet Aaron Zimmerman

2:13 - The reality of owning a CPA firm

4:10 - Building a niche around real estate investors

6:21 - Aaron’s path from employee to firm owner

9:18 - Cutting through information overload and technology choices

11:30 - Preparing financially to launch a firm

15:36 - Finding clients through local real estate communities

20:48 - Raising prices as the firm approaches capacity

22:49 - The tradeoffs of hiring and scaling

28:22 - Projecting $250,000 to $300,000 in revenue

30:27 - Reducing administrative work before tax season

31:39 - Aaron’s accounting technology stack

40:51 - Managing workflows and creating a better client experience

43:55 - Aaron’s four-and-a-half-month honeymoon

47:16 - Controlling the workload instead of chasing more revenue

49:00 - Building a firm without building a large company

51:43 - Final advice and where to connect with Aaron 

SPONSORS

Today' episode is sponsored by Stanford Tax: Helping you manage tax document collection in the smoothest way possible. Aaron does a deeper dive on how he uses Stanford Tax in his firm around 31 minute marker. 

Go check them out: https://stanfordtax.com/

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Newsletter: https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

CONNECT WITH AARON ZIMMERMAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondzimmerman/

Website: https://www.brickhousecpas.com/

Mike shares how the firm grew, why hiring an operations manager changed what he believed was possible, and how he gradually removed himself from client work to focus on strategy, technology, and growth. He also explains why firm owners should document their processes before they need to hire, even if that means simply turning on Loom and talking through the work as they do it.

The conversation also looks at AI’s rapidly expanding role in accounting. After building roughly 40 internal and client-facing apps, Mike believes the profession’s future is not simply about producing tax returns faster. It is about using technology to become a more deeply integrated financial partner while continuing to provide the judgment and peace of mind clients actually value.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:44 - Meet Mike Libbey

2:16 - Joining his father’s accounting firm

5:16 - Growing up around the accounting grind

10:50 - From two people to a 30-person firm

13:13 - Building a modern firm without the traditional CPA path

18:17 - Early hiring mistakes and the importance of operations

24:01 - How to document, delegate, and escape client work

31:11 - Knowing when the firm can afford its next hire

35:05 - Revenue, profit, and defining the firm you actually want

39:25 - Creating space to experiment with AI

41:43 - Building useful apps without knowing how to code

46:38 - What AI means for the future of accounting

52:02 - The changing role of entry-level accountants

55:12 - Protecting work-life balance while running the firm

58:15 - Building a public presence through YouTube and social media

1:02:05 - Final thoughts on making accounting more fun 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH MIKE LIBBEY

LinkedIn: Mike Libbey | LinkedIn 

Website: https://mikelibbey.ybl.ca/

Matt Fizell, CFP® and founder of Harmony Wealth, joins Yuri to explore the human side of financial planning. Matt shares how early experiences shape the way people save, spend, and invest, and why even highly successful clients can struggle to enjoy what they have built. The real goal is not always maximizing the number. Sometimes it is understanding what “enough” looks like and creating a plan that gives someone permission to live. 

The conversation also turns to the relationship between financial planners and CPAs. Matt and Yuri discuss how better communication, clearer expectations, and thoughtful pricing can create stronger partnerships for everyone involved. They also examine what it means to build a firm intentionally, work with the right clients, and charge enough to make the work sustainable. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Why more money does not eliminate financial anxiety
 0:55 - Meet Matt Fizell of Harmony Wealth
 2:18 - Leaving commission-based insurance for fee-only planning
 6:39 - How wealth magnifies your relationship with money
 11:57 - When disciplined savers struggle to enjoy their success
 15:25 - Financial planning beyond investments
 20:44 - Bitcoin, speculation, and investment regret
 25:58 - Building a comprehensive financial plan
 30:28 - Better partnerships between CPAs and financial planners
 38:22 - Advisory work, communication, and fair compensation
 43:36 - Setting minimum fees and qualifying referrals
 45:14 - Designing the firm and client base you actually want
 52:14 - The problem with complicated pricing models
 55:43 - Wake surfing with country singer Jake Owen
 59:01 - The future of CPA and financial planner collaboration 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT FIZELL 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fizell-0606134a/ 

Website: https://planwithharmony.com/ 

They talk about why client document collection still creates so much friction for CPA firms, how Truss is trying to make that process easier, and why the best software should remove headaches instead of creating another system to manage.

Daniel also shares the story behind building Truss, from entering the accounting space as an outsider to bootstrapping the company through some very real founder pressure. It’s a conversation about better systems, better client experiences, and building something that actually solves the problems firm owners deal with every day.

Join my new newsletter here:  https://thefuncpa.beehiiv.com/

Learn about Truss here: https://gettruss.link/thefuncpa

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:03 - Meet Daniel Pinkous and Truss

2:52 - How Daniel found the CPA workflow problem

5:15 - What Truss does for tax firms

7:04 - Why client intake breaks down every year

13:41 - Replacing the traditional portal experience

16:30 - Using AI to clean up document collection

20:50 - Smarter questionnaires and client checklists

25:19 - Automating workpapers and tax organization

30:00 - Prep partnerships and outsourcing options

36:23 - Max AI, transcripts, and reducing missed items

41:02 - Making return delivery easier for clients

44:10 - Building Truss without outside funding

49:40 - The hard moments of bootstrapping

53:14 - Faith, support, and staying grounded

57:36 - Where to find Daniel and Truss 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH DANIEL PINKOUS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-p376152/

Website: https://gettruss.link/thefuncpa

They discuss how Mike combined accounting and legal services under one roof, landed a major client during his first week in business and dealt with the pressure that came with the firm’s growth. Mike also shares what led him to sell, how he chose the right buyer and what life has looked like since the acquisition. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Working 36 hours straight and hitting burnout 

0:50 - Meet Mike Payne 

1:18 - Combining accounting and legal services 

8:28 - Starting BOSS Advisors and landing a major client 

15:07 - Reaching the firm’s next growth ceiling 

19:51 - The personal cost of building the business 

29:27 - Finding the right buyer and selling the firm 

36:13 - Making more time for family 

39:57 - Creating healthier boundaries with work 

43:04 - Building an audience and professional community 

50:22 - Where to connect with Mike 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH MIKE PAYNE 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpaynejdcpa/ 

Website: https://themikepayne.com/ 

In this episode, Erin shares what it actually looked like to build her firm, grow a team, and figure things out without ever feeling completely ready. She and Yuri talk honestly about the pressure to scale, the challenge of hiring before there is enough work, and why success does not have to mean building the biggest firm possible.

The conversation also gets into a difficult season of burnout caused largely by one high-paying client. Erin explains how the work began affecting her health and family life, why walking away from the revenue felt terrifying, and how that decision ultimately gave her more freedom without hurting the business long term.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:57 - Erin’s background and the start of Upkeeping

3:21 - Going from employee to firm owner

10:46 - Why you may never feel ready to launch

14:42 - Hiring your first team member

19:47 - What does success actually look like?

23:42 - Setting boundaries with clients

27:22 - Erin’s vision for her firm

30:00 - Burnout, overwork, and one major client

36:11 - What burnout looked like physically and emotionally

39:52 - Letting go of misaligned clients

43:09 - The financial upside of owning a firm

49:11 - Building community through accounting events

54:20 - The hidden costs of hosting events

1:03:47 - Imposter syndrome and finding your lane

1:08:13 - Where to find Erin

1:08:46 - Episode wrap-up 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH ERIN POHAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/

Website: https://www.upkeeping.co/

• Breakdown of the 2026 tax season experience and key challenges faced
• Document collection pitfalls and exploring new tech solutions
• Software considerations: Drake, ProConnect, Stanford Tax, Soroban, Truss
• Strategies for managing workload, burnout, and client communication

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview
 01:10 - Reflecting on the confidence at the start of the season
 04:00 - Highlights: $140K revenue and billing methods
 05:22 - Business entity handling: 60 S-corps, 93 1040s, and 60 1065s
 07:47 - Podcasting and balancing workload
 08:48 - The main issue: Document collection breakdown
 09:42 - Challenges with Tax Dome and new features
 11:23 - The importance of team access and oversight
 12:47 - Workflow issues: Tracking submission and missing documents
 13:42 - Burnout from managing incomplete document submissions
 15:18 - Exploring alternative software solutions
 16:55 - Comparing Drake, ProConnect, Stanford Tax, Soroban, and Truss
 21:21 - Features of Soroban and AI document integration
 22:23 - Truss: All-in-one platform with robust features
 25:09 - Stanford Tax’s efficient work paper generation
 27:02 - The power of automation and AI in modern tax prep
 28:28 - Concerns with multiple platforms and risk diversification
 29:23 - The importance of starting lean and growing with tools
 30:52 - The value of tackling challenges step-by-step
 33:01 - Considering ProConnect and its features
 34:23 - Potential benefits of ProConnect’s auto-import
 35:40 - Personal insights on transitioning software and managing risk
 37:57 - Evolution of the firm: From Google Drive to advanced PM tools
 40:04 - Final thoughts: Keep it simple, start small, grow smart
 42:13 - Upcoming projects and personal life updates
 43:11 - Closing remarks and thank you to listeners

Isaac shares why firms do not need to overhaul everything at once, and why the best place to begin is usually with the painful, repetitive work they are already doing every day. From client reminders to workflow tracking to simple AI-powered daily prep, the conversation focuses on practical ways firm owners can save time without making things more complicated. 

They also talk about the challenge of getting teams to adopt new tools, how to test automations safely, and why small improvements can make a real difference during tax season. It’s a practical conversation for firm owners who know they need better systems but are not sure where to begin. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:46 - Meet Isaac Perdomo 

1:44 - How Isaac got into accounting automation 

3:08 - Where firms should start with automation 

4:44 - Why accountants tolerate broken processes 

6:32 - Tax season pain points and client intake 

8:59 - Using automation to improve follow-up and workflow 

11:23 - How to test automations without breaking things 

12:30 - Why DIY automation can feel overwhelming 

15:18 - Choosing what is worth automating 

16:15 - Simple AI use cases for email and daily planning 

18:28 - Setting up Claude tasks and meeting prep 

24:26 - Isaac’s process for finding automation opportunities 

27:04 - Conferences, relationships, and accounting communities 

31:14 - Content, YouTube, and sharing what he is learning 

32:44 - Where to find Isaac and Opzer 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH ISAAC PERDOMO 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-perdomo/ 

Website: https://opzer.co/ 

Credit card points can feel like a complicated game, but for business owners with regular expenses, there can be real upside if the math makes sense. 

Yuri sits down with Nadia Groen, founder of Points Advisors, to break down how business owners can turn everyday spending into flights, hotel stays, and better travel experiences. They talk through Yuri’s actual credit card setup, how to think about fees versus rewards, why sticking to one points ecosystem can make life easier, and when it may or may not make sense to put taxes, contractors, or payroll on a card. 

They also get into travel flexibility, booking strategy, premium card perks, and why points are only valuable if you actually know how to use them. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Introduction 

1:13 - Meet Nadia Groen of Points Advisors 

2:24 - Why most people leave points on the table 

3:15 - How Nadia got into the points game 

5:30 - Flexibility, flights, and getting better redemptions 

8:04 - Yuri’s business credit card case study 

13:37 - Choosing the right card ecosystem 

18:12 - Should you pay a mortgage, taxes, or contractors with a card? 

23:35 - How far ahead to plan travel with points 

26:08 - Capital One, Chase, AmEx, and premium card tradeoffs 

30:34 - Why families may want to stay in one points ecosystem 

34:54 - Using points for lay-flat seats and better travel 

37:16 - Hotel points, Hyatt, Marriott, and redemption strategies 

40:18 - Are credit card points taxable? 

41:11 - How to connect with Nadia 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH NADIA GROEN 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-volkova/ 

Website: https://www.points-advisors.com 

Yuri sits down with Drew Carrick, also known as The Rapping CPA, to talk about how a public accounting career turned into rap videos, conference hosting, content strategy, and a bigger conversation about where the accounting profession is headed.

They get into Drew’s path from audit to entertainment, the story behind the Public Accounting Anthem, why originality matters, and how creative skills can become a real advantage in a profession that is being reshaped by AI. The big theme: as technology becomes table stakes, client experience, human connection, and personality are going to matter more than ever.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:12 - Yuri introduces Drew Carrick, The Rapping CPA

5:20 - Drew’s early influences and how rap entered the picture

11:03 - Writing original accounting music instead of only doing parodies

18:32 - Blending accounting, creativity, and personal brand

25:56 - Why Drew is leaning into strategy and experience

27:48 - How AI makes client experience more important for CPA firms

36:37 - What actually makes events memorable

44:17 - How Drew and Scotty created “Accounting Buddies”

50:09 - Where to find Drew online 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH DREW CARRICK

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewcarrick/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRappingCPA

Yuri sits down with Carlos Garcia, co-founder of Reframe, to talk about value, confidence, communication, and why so many accountants underprice themselves even when they know they are delivering real results. 

They get into the mindset behind pricing, how to handle fee increase conversations, why niche positioning makes selling easier, and what firm owners need to understand about clients who see accounting as a cost versus an investment. 

Carlos also shares the story behind Reframe, his work helping accountants communicate with more confidence, and why community matters so much for firm owners building something on their own. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:54 - Meet Carlos Garcia 

5:01 - The accounting profession’s pricing problem 

7:13 - Why accountants undercharge 

9:31 - How to communicate value to clients 

13:00 - Competing on price vs. positioning 

18:21 - Why niching down does not shut every other door 

21:39 - Raising fees with existing clients 

29:20 - A mock fee increase conversation 

38:48 - Simple tax returns, minimum fees, and client fit 

46:20 - What Reframe is building for accountants 

54:14 - Carlos’ book and learning how to fail forward 

57:39 - Where to connect with Carlos 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH CARLOS GARCIA 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/failblazer/ 

Website: https://reframeaccounting.com/ 

Yuri sits down with Anomaly CPA owners John Malone and Greg O’Brien to talk about what it actually takes to grow from a solo firm into a 40-person, multi-million-dollar operation.

They get into the early decisions that shaped Anomaly, why Greg moved away from the traditional hourly model, how John’s non-accounting background became an advantage, and why the $1M to $2M range can be one of the hardest stages for firm owners.

They also break down hiring ahead of growth, building a marketing engine, qualifying leads, pricing with recurring packages, using AI inside the firm, and why owners eventually have to stop being the hero if they want the team to scale.

If you’re building a firm and trying to decide whether to stay lean or push for something bigger, this conversation gives a real look at the tradeoffs.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Why owners become the bottleneck
 0:46 - Meet John Malone and Greg O’Brien of Anomaly CPA
 3:46 - Starting the firm and moving away from the traditional model
 6:01 - Taking on early work without building the wrong firm
 8:42 - How John and Greg partnered up
 12:10 - Why a non-accountant perspective helped the firm scale
 14:18 - Growing to 40 people and $4M+ in revenue
 17:17 - The “awkward teenage stage” between $1M and $2M
 22:18 - Hiring ahead of growth and protecting payroll
 27:17 - Building a digital marketing engine
 32:56 - Qualifying leads and filtering out bad-fit prospects
 36:26 - Why Anomaly uses monthly packages
 39:23 - How the team is implementing AI
 40:56 - Tech stack, ClickUp, Drake, and change management
 51:08 - What’s next for Anomaly CPA

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH GREG O’BRIEN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-o-brien-cpa-88a3472b/

Website: https://www.anomalycpa.com/team

CONNECT WITH JOHN MALONE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-malone-019ba827/

Website: https://www.anomalycpa.com/team

Yuri sits down with Mike Mazzanna to talk about the real path from big firm tax work to launching a solo CPA firm. 

Mike shares the 109-hour billable week that pushed him toward firm ownership, why flexibility mattered more than simply working fewer hours, and how he built his practice with contracting revenue, LinkedIn relationships, and a clear focus on systems. 

They also get into tax software decisions, ProConnect vs. Access, TaxDome workflows, client onboarding pain points, pricing goals, and why connecting with other accountants can be one of the best ways to grow a firm. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Introduction
 0:56 - Mike Mazzanna joins the show
 2:00 - Mike’s background and path into accounting
 4:32 - Moving from internal audit into tax
 6:25 - The 3 a.m. California return meeting
 8:16 - Why Mike wanted to start his own firm
 11:45 - Launching with a plan and avoiding bad clients
 14:38 - The LinkedIn post that brought early momentum
 18:17 - Moving from Drake to ProConnect
 20:47 - Why Mike started looking at Access
 25:50 - How to think about tax software decisions
 29:10 - Mike’s first full tax season as a solo firm owner
 31:33 - Practice management, TaxDome, and billing
 35:45 - Building workflows before automations
 37:07 - AI tools, Juno, and tax season pain points
 44:00 - Revenue goals and client retention
 45:51 - The value of accounting communities
 50:50 - Where to find Mike 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH Mike Mazzanna 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mazzanna-cpa/ 

Website: https://www.mazzcpa.com/ 

AI isn’t coming for tax. It’s already changing how tax professionals research, review, and deliver advice. 

Yuri sits down with Benjamin Alarie, tax law professor at the University of Toronto and founder of Blue J, to talk about the future of tax research, why AI became an existential question for him, and what it took to build a tax technology company long before AI became the thing everyone was talking about. 

They get into the differences between U.S. and Canadian tax systems, the reality of building a startup from academia, how Blue J raised a $122 million Series D, why culture matters so much in a growing tech company, and how small firms can use AI as a second set of eyes on tax work, advisory opportunities, and client questions. 

This is a nerdy tax conversation in the best possible way. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro
 1:04 - Meet Benjamin Alarie
 3:12 - How Ben got into tax law
 6:18 - U.S. vs. Canadian tax systems
 11:49 - Why Ben started Blue J
 19:39 - Leaving academia to build a tech company
 29:15 - Raising capital and scaling Blue J
 32:26 - Building culture in a growing company
 43:02 - How Blue J is changing tax research
 53:03 - How small firms can use AI in tax work
 56:25 - Security, planning, and what’s next for Blue J
 1:00:45 - Where to find Ben and Blue J 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH BENJAMIN ALARIE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aitaxman/?originalSubdomain=ca 

Website: https://www.bluej.com/ 

They talk about why time tracking sucks, how AI can remove manual timesheets, and how firm owners can use better time data to understand client profitability, pricing, interruptions, and focus.

Macgill also shares the story of shutting down a previous VC-backed startup, what that taught him about niching down, and how Rize eventually became a “Whoop for your work.”

Episode Highlights:

 0:00 - Episode open

1:01 - Meet Macgill Davis, CEO and co-founder of Rize

2:01 - How Rize uses AI to automate time tracking

3:02 - Yuri’s experience using Rize to understand his workweek

7:37 - How Macgill got into the time tracking space

10:00 - Shutting down a VC-backed startup and starting over

12:30 - The biggest lesson: stop building for everyone

14:38 - Testing demand before building the product

16:41 - Who Rize is really built for today

19:02 - Why client-level time data matters for firm profitability

20:30 - How Rize tracks client work without screenshots

23:15 - Tracking task switching, interruptions, and focus

27:11 - Moving from the U.S. to Portugal

29:47 - Life in Lisbon and Portugal’s quality of life

32:41 - Castles, history, and the European lifestyle

36:03 - Wrapping up and where to find Macgill 

A SPECIAL FROM RIZE

Discounted rates for the first 3 months with this link: https://rize.io/?via=yuri

Go check out where your time on the computer is being spent 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH Macgill

Website: rize.io

Email: macgill@rize.io 

Yuri sits down with Logan Graf to talk through the real decisions behind firm ownership, from taking the leap into entrepreneurship to figuring out whether buying a firm even makes sense. 

They get into pricing, hiring, content creation, social media addiction, and the tension between making more money and actually enjoying your life. They also discuss Logan’s community Counter and how it helps firm owners feel less isolated.

Like always, this conversation goes past ‘tax talk’. It’s an honest discussion about growth, pressure, faith, family, and what happens when success starts to cost more than you expected.

Episode Highlights:

 0:00 - Logan’s early entrepreneurial streak
 5:09 - Who Logan is and how he built his firm
 12:11 - Buying a firm vs. starting from scratch
 21:45 - How to know if you’re ready for firm ownership
 25:36 - The reality of content and social media
 33:18 - Sponsored content, brand fit, and authenticity
 38:44 - Hiring help and knowing when it’s time
 45:44 - Why an admin hire might be the smartest next move
 51:36 - Faith, family, and balancing it all
 53:29 - More money, more problems
 1:03:46 - What Logan would do differently starting over
 1:05:33 - The shift from compliance to advisory
 1:08:43 - Building a modern firm in an old-school profession

1:10:58 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH LOGAN GRAF

Website: https://www.graftaxco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangraf/

TRY COUNTER COMMUNITY FOR FREE

https://counter.circle.so/checkout/thefuncpa

In this episode, Yuri sits down with Jonathan Shkolnik, a developer turned founder building Portali, an AI bookkeeping tool designed to take the pain out of cleanups and month-end work. They talk through why accountants are so change resistant, how to evaluate new tools without getting burned, and what “automation” actually means when accuracy still matters and someone has to own the final review.

They also get into the practical stuff people actually worry about, how bank connections break, when uploading statements is a better workflow, what happens with credit card activity, and why “just export it to Excel” is still a real need for tax focused firms.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:33 - Meet Jonathan + his background

4:16 - Building products for accountants

6:40 - Resistance and pushback

9:30 - Bringing on new tech (don’t wait for the pain)

13:10 - What does Portali do? (and how does it help)

24:11 - Addressing pain points around file sharing, docs and Excel

30:50 - Connecting banks and cards to Portali

36:35 - Being a digital nomad

40:55 - Wrap-up, where you can find Jonathan

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN SHKOLNIK

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jshkolnik/

Website: https://portali.tech

Blake shares his unique journey from professional cellist to firm owner, and eventually to a leading voice in accounting technology and media. Blake also shares his POV on automation and AI, firm management, scaling, the technology of it all and of course – where the profession itself is headed.

Whether you are a seasoned CPA, a firm owner, or an accounting student, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on navigating technology and building a successful career in the modern accounting world

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:45 - Episode open and intro to Blake Oliver

3:14 - How Blake got into accounting

7:00 - How Blake got clients in the beginning

9:00 - Reasoning for selling

13:58 - Advice for those looking to sell their firm

16:07 - Post-sale

20:00 - Blake’s podcast (and how it became his ‘job’)

24:20 - Balancing authenticity in your brand while taking on sponsors

27:21 - 150 Hour Credit, what’s next to help the profession grow

35:33 - How do you vet your apps?

41:20 - “Are you optimistic about the profession?”

47:00 - Advice for students

50:00 - Firm growth

52:00 - Standing out at conferences

53:31 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH BLAKE OLIVER

Website: https://www.blakeoliver.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver/

 0:00 - Trailer
 00:52 - Why this is a solo episode
 2:52 - Tax season reflections so far
 6:23 - The spreadsheet that runs the firm
 9:23 - Pricing structure and payment process
 11:15 - Why spreadsheets still work (for now)
 15:47 - Why hiring too quickly can backfire
 19:20 - Managing the schedule under 40 hours
 21:07 - How Yuri chooses which clients to work with
 24:41 - Why solo firm tax seasons feel different
 27:24 - Closing thoughts

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

Yuri is joined by Karen Reyburn, a CPA turned Scotland based agency owner who’s spent 15 years helping accountants and bookkeepers attract better clients without forcing themselves into content or marketing activities they hate. 

They dig into why “niching” usually misses the point, how to pick marketing channels your audience actually uses, and why trust is built through consistency, not one big burst of effort. Plus, Karen does a live, first impression website teardown of Yuri’s site and explains the small copy and layout tweaks that can quietly boost conversions and filter out the wrong leads.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:50 - Meet Karen Reyburn!

5:13 - What CPAs consistently struggle with (in marketing)

9:02 - Niching

11:17 - How should CPAs approach marketing?

20:27 - Any marketing activity takes time

21:18 - The best way to identify which (marketing) direction to take

29:11 - How Karen determines what firm owners should do

37:06 - Karen looks at Yuri’s website

45:56 - Scheduling and moving people to the next step

58:03 - Closing thoughts and wrap-up

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ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH KAREN REYBURN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlreyburn/

Website: https://wearepf.com/people/karen-reyburn/

In this episode of The Fun CPA, Yuri sits down with Cassie and Brandon Christensen from Modern Therapy to talk about the intersection of burnout, anxiety, and the culture of overwork in the profession. They unpack why being “always available” doesn’t make you a better accountant, how people pleasing turns into constant stress, and why the phone, email, and social apps are built to keep you stuck in the cycle.

You’ll hear practical, realistic ways to start creating boundaries, protect your limited downtime, and rebuild an identity that isn’t 100% tied to work, even if you’re still logging long hours right now. If you’ve been feeling that dread in the morning and the same spiral at night, this conversation will hit home.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:46 - Episode open and intro to Cassie and Brandon

4:19 - Defining anxiety, importance of taking a step back

11:15 - Separating from work (especially when you’re WFH)

15:45 - The ‘intersection’ between burnout and anxiety

19:09 - Symptoms of burnout

23:20 - Steps you can take

29:38 - Maximizing ‘Quality Time’

31:15 - Family time and being present

35:53 - Boundaries and fighting the people-pleasing urge

40:12 - Know what you value, scheduling and isolation

52:15 - Closing thoughts and wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH BRANDON AND CASSIE

Modern Therapy – Based in Eatontown NJ

Website: https://moderntherapy.online/

On the Fun CPA Podcast, Sharrin, CEO and founder of Glass Wallet Ventures, breaks down the real story behind her journey, how she engineered a highly automated firm that was actually easy to sell, and the one mistake she sees firm owners make over and over again: not getting paid upfront.

They also get into the less-talked-about side of firm growth, like what it’s like being an accountant with personality in a traditionally “stuffy” industry, why creating content can feel awkward when you don’t fit the mold, and how to build a team and systems that position your firm for scale and eventual acquisition.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:39 - Episode open, meet Sharrin

5:15 - Sharrin’s journey

9:12 - Sharrin’s firm, the structure and sale

14:43 - Building to sell vs. building for longevity

17:11 - Developing your firm, implementing new software

28:28 - Zapier and getting fancy with it

33:13 - How do you decide what to automate?

38:40 - Talking about apps and being an influencer

43:06 - Sharrin’s book, her process for writing it

46:28 - A big mistake Sharrin made in the past

53:15 - “What does a successful 2026 look like?”

1:01:14 - Where you can find Sharrin and closing thoughts

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH SHARRIN FULLER

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharrinfuller/

Website: https://glasswalletventures.com/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

1:28 - Meet Nick Boscia

4:10 - Going from PWC to Dad’s firm

7:19 - Learning to become an accountant and working with your dad

13:41 - Taking over an ‘old school’ firm

18:29 - Adding more tech

24:10 - Invoicing and payment (before Anchor)

27:20 - Financial Cents, using multiple tools

35:37 - “When did you make your first hire?”

42:59 - Diving deeper into process automation

49:15 - Nick’s journey to become a speaker

52:11 - Favorite gig (so far), what’s next?

56:21 - LinkedIn, haters, what you ‘get’ out of it

1:03:35 - Travel and getting deals

1:06:55 - Episode wrap-up

 A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

Today’s episode sponsor is Cloud Accountant Staffing (CAS). CAS is your go-to partner for finding talented offshore staffing to help you scale and grow your firm efficiently and effectively.

Check them out here and use code YURIAINTFUN for $500 off

https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/lp/yuri

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH NICK BOSCIA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickboscia/

Website: https://www.thebalancedcpa.life/about-5

Jason and Ian combine anecdotal experience with data, exploring the common struggle where growth stalls or reverses when firms reach "about eight people". They also discuss the challenges of technology adoption, a detailed, mathematical process for solo firm owners to evaluate and select new technology, the human element of growth and much more.
 
 You can find Ian and Jason’s book, “Scale With Purpose” at: https://www.scalewithpurpose.info/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:36 - Episode open

1:17 - Meet [guests]

2:17 - How Ian and Jason met

3:34 - Sponsorship, working with them and choosing them

9:10 - The pressure around events and sponsorship

11:25 - What is ‘Karbon’?

13:22 - Picking a practice management platform

16:16 - The most difficult thing about selling to CPAs

19:21 - Growth, technology and “adding complexity”

26:20 - How do owners decide what change(s) to make?

33:52 - Decision-making and scaling

40:17 - Diving into Ian and Jason’s book

44:41 - Their process for writing the book

48:33 - The biggest takeaway from

52:10 - The most common problems Ian and Jason hear (as coaches)

57:37 - A mistake Ian and Jason made along the way

1:00:32 - Episode wrap-up

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

Today’s episode sponsor is Cloud Accountant Staffing (CAS). CAS is your go-to partner for finding talented offshore staffing to help you scale and grow your firm efficiently and effectively.

Check them out here and use code YURIAINTFUN for $500 off

https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/lp/yuri

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH IAN AND JASON

LinkedIn (Ian): linkedin.com/in/ianvacin

LinkedIn (Jason): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonblumer/

Book: https://www.scalewithpurpose.info/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:42 - Episode open

1:17 - Intro to Nick and his background

3:41 - What drew Nick’s focus to tax and bookkeeping

5:48 - “You gotta make it easy for them”

9:50 - Data breaches, how do they happen?

14:35 - Social engineering

19:30 - Security and off-shore staff

26:08 - Tips for establishing a basic level of security

30:12 - Remote desktops

35:31 - Ransom, what Nick does when there is a breach

43:25 - Where you can find Nick!

 A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

The sponsor of today's episode is Abacor - The notetaker tailored for accountants specifically! No more chicken scratch, no more lost notes, everything is now online and recorded and easy to integrate with your PM!

Here is an extra goody for the listeners of this show: 2 FREE months!

Follow these instructions and you shall get 2 months free :)

1. Schedule a demo with Abacor at https://www.abacor.com/
2. Once the demo is complete, they will receive an invitation to trial Abacor for two weeks.
3. Once the trial is over, at checkout, use the code, THEFUNCPA, to receive two months free on their preferred plan when subscribing.

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH NICK MULLEN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rnmullen/

Website: https://www.entoosecurity.com/

 If you’re on the edge of beginning your own entrepreneurial journey, this is the perfect episode to get you pointed in the right direction.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:37 - Episode open

0:51 - Kendall’s background + entry in the profession

3:22 - Kendall’s ‘itch’ to go out on his own

5:42 - After being let go / before launch

8:14 - Educating, “being a one man army”

11:32 - Getting started, bringing people in, pricing

16:00 - Cost of entry, collecting money and software

19:38 - Balancing year 1 w/ future scaling

21:39 - The firm’s trajectory, adjusting client volume

26:25 - What Kendall’s days look like

28:32 - Kendall’s advice to new business owners

30:10 - Getting clients, how Kendall plans to scale

31:59 - Wrap-up, where you can find Kendall

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

The sponsor of today's episode is Abacor - The notetaker tailored for accountants specifically! No more chicken scratch, no more lost notes, everything is now online and recorded and easy to integrate with your PM!

Here is an extra goody for the listeners of this show: 2 FREE months!

Follow these instructions and you shall get 2 months free :)

1. Schedule a demo with Abacor at https://www.abacor.com/
2. Once the demo is complete, they will receive an invitation to trial Abacor for two weeks.
3. Once the trial is over, at checkout, use the code, THEFUNCPA, to receive two months free on their preferred plan when subscribing.

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH KENDALL CASTRO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-castro-cpa-realtor/

Website: https://castrocpaadvisory.com/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:35 - Episode open

1:13 - Meet Blake

3:08 - Blake’s early career

6:49 - The process of being promoted (when you’re starting out)

11:34 - Scheduling, saying “no”

17:20 - Promotion and pay raises

20:14 - Are bigger firms concerned about pipeline?

23:01 - AI and Credentialling

25:45 - Coaching for the CPA exam

29:41 - Social media and comparisons

32:05 - “The sooner you can start the better”

35:01 - What has changed now (trackers and studying)

38:35 - Wrap up: Where you can find Blake

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH BLAKE CARROLL

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-carroll-cpa-03690b98/

Website: https://www.blakecarrollcoaching.com/

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:36 - Episode beginning 

3:16 - Mike’s journey and background 

9:14 - What made Mike a “travelling accountant” 

11:02 - Taking on clients and protecting your time 

15:39 - LinkedIn, tech and getting business 

18:11 - LinkedIn cringe stories 

21:20 - Minimum fees, setting it and increasing it 

26:43 - Mike’s goal for LinkedIn 

34:45 - A day in the life of Michael Eckstein 

37:46 - Biggest ‘beef’ with taxes 

43:35 - Perfectionism in the industry, value-pricing 

51:41 - Network building, client horror stories 

1:03:11 - Wrap-up 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL ECKSTEIN 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-eckstein 

Website: https://restingbusinessface.com/about/#about 

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:37 - Episode beginning, Top-5 rappers

3:12 - Meet Kenji

8:17 - What made Kenji want to leave

13:46 - Taking the leap

23:29 - The early days of Acuity

28:57 - “would you do it the same way?”

31:14 - Where is the bottleneck?

36:13 - “Should everyone scale?”

42:45 - Balancing your life + the business/scaling

51:35 - Kenji’s post-exit mission

53:58 - If you’re an early-stage founder…

56:16 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH KENJI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:36 - 

1:17 - WorkflowCon and how it was created

4:40 - Meet 

7:30 - Starting Financial Sense

15:32 - How he built it

20:50 - “What’s most difficult about selling to accountants?”

31:03 - The culture @ FinancialCents

37:46 - Shahram’s approach to conferences

40:17 - Disconnecting, social media use

51:40 - Where you can find Shahram, wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH SHAHRAM 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahramzarshenas/

Website: https://financial-cents.com/

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:51 - Meet Chad Davis

4:15 - How Chad’s first firm “broke” and what he changed

8:32 - AI use in the industry

10:52 - “Leaning away” from AI

14:06 - When should you consider AI?

20:30 - Security issues

27:09 - Tax OCR software

37:40 - Recommendations for the tech-averse

44:58 - Chad’s favorite conference

47:46 - How you can reach out to Chad (and who should)

49:16 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH CHAD DAVIS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavis1/

Website: https://www.liveca.ca/

In today's special release episode, Yuri shares his presentation to a group of  students at Rutgers Business School from October 30th, 2025. In this presentation Yuri helps college students understand what their journey will look like after graduating and how to best succeed in their accounting career.

Here are a few highlights:

✅Yuri's journey after graduation

✅How to interview well

✅Audit Vs. Tax

✅How to succeed at the new job

✅Much more!

Additionally, Yuri and Steven discuss why most sales happen by email (not social), and how he 4×’d a conference in a year without losing his mind (or his margins). They get honest about switching from audit to tax, when entrepreneurship is a bad idea, building teams and setting expectations at work and at home so you can actually enjoy the wins.
 

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:35 - Meet Steven Jarvis

1:32 - Steven’s career journey, how we started

5:42 - Moving from audit to tax

13:57 - “If you want a dramatic shift…”

17:09 - Turning down the partnership (and what happened)

20:50 - What happened

27:15 - Steven’s take on social media, LinkedIn

31:11 - Tips for running and creating events

41:45 - Steven’s firm now

44:47 - Offshoring and AI

49:38 - “Why should someone become an accountant?”

51:19 - Work life balance

54:50 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH STEVEN JARVIS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenajarvis/

Website: https://retirementtaxservices.com/memberships/

From LinkedIn “beef”, to a real conversation about building modern accounting teams.
 
 This week, I’m joined by Connor Bland and Caleb Johnson of Cloud Accountant Staffing. Cloud focuses on building global careers for accounting professionals across the Philippines, South Africa, and Central/South America – and connecting these folks to firms here in the US.
 
 Connor and Caleb dive a little more into this process in this episode, why it’s not as scary as it sounds, as well as their thoughts on offshoring and how it can offer firms a way to grow in a way that doesn’t grind it’s employees to dust.
 
 Additionally we do a little post-game on our recent rap battle and the internet of it all: “haters”, posting, positioning and the playbook for those of you in the accounting industry.
 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:35 - Episode beginning 

3:46 - Meet Connor and Caleb 

8:09 - Being yourself on LinkedIn and in your content 

12:38 - “What’s most difficult about selling to accountants?” 

17:25 - What objections Connor and Caleb are seeing 

20:18 - Challenges to finding offshore talent 

26:37 - Rap battles and DINK posting 

32:47 - The key to social media 

51:35 - Re-positioning, focusing on the youth 

57:06 - What does accounting look like in the future? 

1:02:15 - Episode wrap-up 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH CONNOR BLAND 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connerbland/ 

Website: https://www.cloudaccountantstaffing.com/
 
CONNECT WITH CALEB JOHNSON 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebjohnsonofindianapolis/ 

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser

0:55 - Meet Mario

3:12 - The difficulty of the ‘first venture’

6:58 - What made Mario go out on his own

12:01 - Offshoring

18:24 - How do we fix hollowed-out pipelines?

27:45 - Mario’s take on billable hours

33:53 - Work stress and the grind starting out

40:12 - The realities of moving to tax (and your own firm)

41:24 - Mario’s take on private equity

50:52 - Why forward-thinking boutiques can win

51:30 - Closing thoughts and wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH MARIO CASTRO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioacastro/

Website: https://castrocpas.com/

Marcus Rien joins Yuri to unpack public vs. private realities,  the 150/120 debate, and why the profession’s future depends on changing the narrative and the model. 
 
 We get into his journey, the creation of Waves CPAs—a marketplace + back office for CPAs who want flexibility and ownership—and how PE roll-ups, AI, and small-city growth are reshaping opportunities. 

Marcus also shares the story behind his motto “Belief Inspires Success” and how this mentality levels up CPAs and non-CPAs alike.
 
 

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:35 - Episode beginning, meet Marcus

10:24 - Moving from public to private

13:23 - Marcus’ take on the talent shortage

18:20 - Lack of ‘direct ROI’

19:58 - A more flexible path

28:26 - Is there a tax component to ‘Waves’?

31:03 - Client and talent distribution and how ‘PE’ factors in

35:20 - Belief inspires success

40:54 - More about Marcus (and more about ‘Waves’)

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH MARCUS RIEN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-rien/

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-rien/

Daniel is the owner of RightExit helping firms sell and helping buyers find the right match when it comes to their firm purchase.

If you are considering starting your accounting entrepreneurship journey and are not sure if you should buy an accounting firm this is the episode for you where we cover so much about the journey

✅How to value an accounting firm?

✅What it takes to buy a firm?

✅Which SBA programs are out there?

✅Should I build a firm or should I buy a firm? 

✅So much more 

We discuss everything from 

✅ Private vs public accounting careers
✅Challenges woman face in the profession
✅Launching a firm centered around YOUR lifestyle
✅Deep burnout and its impacts
✅Raising kids while working 

I am truly humbled to be able to bring you this incredibly valuable episode and a big thank you to Erica for joining us today 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH ERICA GOODE 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-goode-cpa-00205616/

Erica's FREE Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ericagoode/15hr-email-referral

CPA + yogi Amy Vetter joins the Fun CPA Podcast to share how she built a career across KPMG, CAS (before it had a name), and Intuit. THEN created the B3 Method (Business + Balance = Bliss) to help firms rethink culture, burnout, and what “success” looks like now.
 
 We dig into how COVID accelerated tech and remote work, why belief systems at the top shape everything, and practical ways new staff, seniors, and emerging partners can build meaningful careers without losing themselves.
 
 
 
 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Introduction 

0:38 - Episode beginning and intro to Amy 

2:09 - How Amy got started in accounting 

7:55 - Amy’s big pivot 

12:25 - Where the profession has gone 

25:36 - The ‘B3 Method’ and getting your joy back 

34:00 - Assessing whether firms are open to the process 

37:59 - “Do you have a favorite conference?” 

40:24 - Episode wrap-up 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH AMY VETTER 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyvettercpa/ 

Website: https://www.amyvetter.com/ 

John sits down with Yuri to talk about the pitfalls of the corporate world and how consistently it will try to bleed into your personal and family life. Additionally, they focus in on how John ‘climbed’ his way to the top and what he learned from a leadership perspective, as well as a peer-to-peer POV.
 
 And as always on The Fun CPA, Yuri explores the accounting world with John to see where it’s failing, and most importantly: where it can be improved and made better.
 
 
 
 

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

0:36 - Episode beginning

1:04 - Introduction to John and his background

3:40 - The challenges John faced ‘climbing up’

6:47 -“What was the hardest level for you?”

9:02 - Advice for those who get a big promotion?

18:35 - Then vs. now

20:45 - Coaching the generational gap

32:34 - Mixing public accounting and family

40:14 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

Recently, Yuri also launched Mentors Count a community for accountants struggling to find true mentorship in the profession. With tax technical and soft skills we cover it all!

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JOHN FENTON

Website: https://www.johnjfenton.com/aboutjohn

This week, Yuri invites Daniel Steinberg – speaking, communications, marketing extraordinaire and Rabbi..

Daniel combines his comedic and religious background to create an approach that is uniquely him, which is to say, authentic and attention-grabbing.

Daniel joins Yuri to discuss his unusual journey from funny man, to marketer, to Rabbi and how that has informed his current business and outlook on communication. Daniel shares the basics to storytelling, shares some of his biggest flops, drops some tips on self-assessement and much more!

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Teaser
0:37 - Episode beginning and intro to Daniel
6:15 - Daniel’s time with SNL, what drew him to comedy
12:56 - “How do you recover from a flop?”
16:23 - Public speaking deep dive
23:11 - Storytelling, advice to be a better communicator
27:24 - Self-assessment
32:30 - Authenticity
37:48 - Present day, Daniel’s business, public speaking
47:51 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

Recently, Yuri also launched Mentors Count a community for accountants struggling to find true mentorship in the profession. With tax technical and soft skills we cover it all!

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH DANIEL STEINBERG
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealdanielsteinberg/
Website: https://maggidmethod.com/

Nate brings his trademark clarity and technical depth as they unpack what this new bill brings to the table for high income earners, home owners, business owners, those in real estate and more.

They also cover some of what’s changing and staying the same with the bill and what you (the tax pro) can do to better serve clients or a business owner trying to navigate the latest policy changes.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser
1:06 - Episode beginning and intro to Nate
4:21 - What’s changed?
6:01 - State and property tax changes (explained)
11:07 - What’s stayed the same
12:36 - Depreciation and the real estate space
17:45 - Tax rates in general
22:22 - If you’re tax planning…
27:09 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

Recently, Yuri also launched Mentors Count a community for accountants struggling to find true mentorship in the profession. With tax technical and soft skills we cover it all!

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

Mentors Count: https://mentorscount.com/ 

CONNECT WITH NATE SOSA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansosacpa/
Website: https://www.therealestatecpa.com/

This week, Yuri is joined by Dominic Piscopo the founder of Big4Transparency.com, a widely used resource for salary transparency in the accounting industry, reaching nearly 250,000 accounting professionals. This data source was developed by Dominic himself, and helps professionals across the industry navigate the job market, pick the right employer and get paid what they’re worth.

Dominic joins Yuri to share what drove him to create such a game-changing tool – and why he felt the need to create more clarity in an industry that is notorious for being slippery on the details of compensation.

Dominic also covers his time as an entrepreneur, the challenges (and benefits) he’s
experienced and the secret sauce behind his slightly unusual, yet potent marketing strategy.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Teaser
0:41 - Intro to Dom
2:43 - Dom’s early journey with firms
8:05 - Working on exciting projects
9:55 - The main driver behind going private
12:23 - “Jumping” firms and how it relates to your salary
17:10 - Dom’s take on people “jumping ship”
21:07 - Asking for a raise
27:37 - How Dom is helping increase pay clarity
34:27 - Being an entrepreneur full time
38:14 - Social media
45:41 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

Recently, Yuri also launched Mentors Count a community for accountants struggling to find true mentorship in the profession. With tax technical and soft skills we cover it all!

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

Mentors Count: https://mentorscount.com/

CONNECT WITH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dopiscopo/
Website: Big4Transparency.com

This week, Yuri is joined by Jonathan Kern. Professor Kern is an instructor at the University of Oklahoma and is single handedly bringing enjoyment and passion to the next generation of accountants.

With the pipeline issue being so prevalent in the industry, it’s important to understand where students are coming from and what we – as professionals – can do to not only entice more to join, but also make sure that those that do are happy with their career choice.

This episode strikes at the very core of that issue, and Professor Kern is on the front lines. Not only does he share his experience in the classroom and what he is seeing with his students, he also describes how he is bringing life to a subject and profession that is historically pretty dry.

Additionally, Jonathan shares his journey and why he got involved in academia in the first place, his view on the industry as a whole, what we can do better and much more!

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Intro
1:09 - Introduction to Jonathan Kern
4:32 - Jonathan’s experience with a firm
8:14 - “What got you into academia?”
11:42 - How do we make accounting fun?
14:23 - Instilling trust and inspiring the next generation
20:04 - The issue with starting salaries
23:16 - Jonathan’s favorite accounting jingle and breaking down concepts
31:13 - Education and accounting’s pipeline
37:35 - Jonathan’s advice to who’s hesitating on studying accounting
40:18 - Advice to those who feel lost in the profession
46:29 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH
Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN KERN
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan--kern/
Email: jkern@ou.edu

After performing at countless accounting conferences and experiencing some of the highest highs, Scotty realized that all the fame and glory meant nothing if he wasn’t spending time with what truly mattered – his family. 

The name of the episode is Life’s Chapters because as Scotty went from being an accounting firm owner named Scott, to being Scotty to being OKR, we dive down to what is next and what this journey entails. 

This episode is truly one for the books and I am incredibly thankful and blessed to be able to bring you this value-packed episode!

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH SCOTTY SCARANO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottscarano/

Tim is the CEO of HD Growth Partners and White Glove Payroll, where he leads with a mission to redefine the accounting industry through empathy, innovation, and community impact.

Starting his journey at HD Growth Partners (formerly HD Davis CPAs) in 2008, Tim took the helm as Managing Partner at just 25 years old. Under his leadership, the firm expanded from a small team to over 70 employees, earning accolades such as Accounting Today's #1 Firm in the Country for Women in 2021 and Karbon’s Breakthrough Firm of the Year in 2024.

In this episode, Tim shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading a transformative firm, offering valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and the importance of putting people first in business – as well as more technical topics like his experience with merging and what to look for in a partner.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Teaser
1:21 - Episode beginning
2:37 - Intro to Tim Petrey
5:58 - How Tim got started
7:17 - Transitioning to running a firm
11:22 - Diving deeper into when Tim took over the firm
14:57 - Making changes right away, scaling
23:30 - Adding partners, growth and the income split
26:58 - Tim’s secret, “merging up”
33:55 - How do you find the right partner?
41:45 - Steps you can take to get your time back
47:14 - At what point should you hire someone?
51:20 - Tim’s advice for the profession as a whole
54:20 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/
CONNECT WITH TIM PETREY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petreycpa/
Website: https://hdgrowthpartners.com/tim-petrey/

Together, Jesse and Tom have a substantial level of insight and experience in the accounting field – specifically in developing software that make posting accruals, keeping up with monthly journal entries, and financial reporting easier than ever for founders, owners, executives and accountants alike.

The fellas join Yuri this week to discuss the future of accounting – more specifically, where automation, AI and apps in general are taking the space. From a business ownership POV, Jesse and Tom also share their views on addressing competition in software development, finding your ‘perfect fit’ and both of their approaches to the vital mixture of personality and brand.

For aspiring coders or those of you working on your own piece of tech, this is a great episode to get a sneak peek into just what it takes to create a successful product – as well as ways that you can disrupt the field at large and contend with tech skepticism.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Teaser
0:45 - Episode beginning and introduction to Jesse and Tom
3:59 - Jesse’s experience with LimeWire
7:02 - Tom’s interest in automation
9:31 - Tech skepticism and bad automation
17:13 - “How do you find your ideal client?”
21:40 - “Where do you see tech and accounting taking that next leap?”
27:24 - Deciding what to focus on and addressing the competition
33:52 - Trying out different areas of the profession
41:33 - Jesse’s approach to personality and brand
47:18 - Episode wrap-up, where you can find Tom and Jesse

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 


CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH TOM ZEHENTER
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-zehentner-cpa-a0591b5b/
Website: https://www.finoptimal.com/

CONNECT WITH JESSE RUBENFELD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesserubenfeld/
Website: https://www.finoptimal.com/

Reza Hooda is the founder of Capture Accounting and a serious authority in the accounting industry. Reza delivers an invaluable service to his clients: He gets their time back and simplifies their processes so that they can focus on scaling, growing and generating revenue.

Additionally, Reza coaches others like him on how they can grow their own firm – everything from pricing, generating leads, closing deals and much more. You can check him out on his website, LinkedIn or podcast giving advice to shot-callers, accountants and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

Yuri explores Reza’s come-up and experience that pushed him to go out and create his very own business where he can control (and design) his experience. You’ll also get a sneak peek into Reza’s POV on differentiation, the importance of niching down or specializing, and much more!

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser
0:53 - Introduction
2:43 - What surprised Reza when he went out on his own
8:46 - Reza’s “a-ha” moment
10:49 - Zooming in on Reza’s pricing experience
18:20 - Differentiating yourself w/o using price
21:15 - Building your dream team
26:34 - For new firm owners: how to successfully start right from the beginning
29:12 - How you can start and be like Reza’s example
31:53 - “Going deeper” and why you should specialize
35:05 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH REZA HOODA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezahooda/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://www.rezahooda.com/

Come listen to an episode chalk-full of value as we really drill down on the ups and down of private equity in the accounting space.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser

0:59 - Episode beginning and intro to Allan

7:22 - Allan dives into PE and accounting

14:33 - “How do we move autonomy to accountability?”

18:56 - What PE ownership brings (and takes away)

28:08 - Managing staff and seniors as PE money comes in

34:20 - Who are the true winners and losers?

39:02 - “What is the threshold at which we stop flipping?”

45:20 - Maintaining (and combining) culture

52:30 - Allan’s suggestion to people uneasy with PE

54:51 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

 Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH ALLAN D. KOLTIN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-koltin-24a8181
 
 Website: https://koltin.com/

Nikole is the founder and CEO of Momentum Accounting – a firm built for founder led, self-funded businesses doing $1M–$10M in revenue.

Like Yuri, Nikole has always sought to have more control of her career through ownership of her own firm. Not only does she share her journey to build this successful business, she also details what pushed her to go out and get her very own shingle. Much like other accounting origin stories – it isn’t
pretty.

Additionally, the two discuss the ups and downs they’ve experienced in running their own business, the industry at large, what ‘CAS’ is and why it’s Nikole’s bread-and-butter and much more!

Like many of the guests on “The Fun CPA” – Nikole is an inspiration for those of you out there feeling disillusioned with “the grind” and a reminder that there are other paths that in this business that can lead to more fulfillment and balance.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser
1:11 - Introduction
3:20 - Where Nikole first discovered CAS
4:44 - Nicole’s “OG” public accounting days
8:21 - “The moment”
12:49 - What CAS is
16:19 - Nikole’s ideal client
19:15 - “Spent a bunch of money on the wrong things”
24:40 - Losing a big client
27:10 - The ups and downs of having your own business
34:22 - Advice to CPAs that feel lost
37:56 - What can smaller firms do to enrich their careers?
42:46 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 


CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH NIKOLE MACKENZIE
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolemackenzie/
Website: https://momentumaccounting.com/

Randy is co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals and an author, lecturer and host of The Unique CPA podcast.
 
 His aptly named “Unique CPA” podcast is the perfect descriptor for Randy’s journey – not only to become a CPA – but also his path towards business ownership. His experience in toxic, corporate environments inspired him to build his own ideal firm with a focus on an employee-first culture.
 
 Randy’s career has yielded many insights both big and small that have informed his business practices and POV on the industry, such as the importance of networking and conferences, why you should root for other people, and much more.
 
 For you would-be owners out there or even soloprenuers trying to get their first client – this episode will be sure to inspire you AND give you concrete advice on how you can grow and evolve in an industry that has a complicated reputation for burnout and poor mental health management.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Teaser

0:57 - Episode beginning

4:45 - How Randy discovered accounting

9:23 - What Randy experienced vs. what he expected

20:35 - What happened after Randy left the firm

24:35 - Habits of never leaving, celebrating colleagues

27:35 - What made Randy sure he needed to move on

30:50 - Randy’s approach when he started out

33:27 - Is organic growth still relevant?

34:30 - Randy’s firm and why he sold

39:08 - Randy post-sale

43:20 - How Randy started another firm, what he did different
 49:17 - A significant mindset shift in how the business is run

52:05 - How to get intentional about sales

55:39 - Avoiding the same mistakes while building a business

1:03:48 - The desire to start doing conferences

1:09:45 - Randy’s advice to the new school

1:13:45 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

 Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH RANDY CRABTREE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-crabtree-1945a67/
 
 Website: https://tri-merit.com/

Jason Staats is a large proponent of bringing technology into the accounting profession and revolutionizing what businesses and their teams are able to accomplish on a daily basis.

Jason’s experience running a $5M accounting firm and launching and exiting a couple SAAS companies has informed his considerable insight into the accounting industry and what it takes for these businesses to thrive in today’s digital economy.

Additionally, Jason has a considerable online following and is a known authority on both accounting and A.I. He sits down with Yuri to discuss where A.I. and accounting are headed, the challenges and triumphs he had while running his accounting business – and what it has taken him to become such a successful online brand.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Teaser
1:26 - Intro to Jason Staats
2:33 - Biggest challenge w/ accounting and A.I.
4:53 - Lack of incentive
8:26 - Jason’s experience buying an 80-year old firm
13:10 - Jason’s partnership experience
14:23 - Managing the broader organization
16:14 - Structuring the buyout
20:33 - How long did it take to see growth?
22:09 - From firm owner to content creator
24:56 - “You gotta do it for yourself”
28:26 - Jason’s breakthrough moment
30:05 - “There is so much value in simply being visible”
34:54 - “The bar is so low on LinkedIn”
36:43 - The best gift Jason was ever given
38:34 - “What even is flopping?”
39:39 - What tech should solo accountants use?
46:27 - Freedom of time
49:55 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JASON STAATS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
Website: https://www.jasononfirms.com/

Rory is a Certified Financial Planner™ and a Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™), is a director at Arrowroot Family Office and co-founder of AFO Wealth Management Forward. 

Originator of the Advis-ROR®, methodology (Return on Relationship). Rory has been in the tax and financial advisory profession for nearly two decades. He has created a unique program to help accounting professionals incorporate holistic wealth management and proactive planning services into their practices.

He is the author of the forthcoming book "Holistic Guide to Wealth Management," a comprehensive resource with contributions from over 24+ thought leaders in accounting, wealth management, and behavioral finance. He hosts the AFO Wealth Management Forward podcast, and has been published in numerous financial and accounting media outlets, including Accounting Today, CPA Trendlines, Intuit Tax Pro Connect, and Financial Advisor Magazine,
among others.

In this week’s episode, Yuri and Rory explore Rory’s unique positioning as a family office director. Rory isn’t your average family office operator, however – and he details what he does and how what he’s doing will soon be the future for small to medium-sized businesses.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction
1:08 - Episode beginning and intro to Rory
3:42 - What a family office is
8:23 - “You are the financial first responder”
9:41 - Behavioral finance and making decisions
13:42 - Focusing on your “future state”
15:14 - Rory’s “values exercise”
21:33 - “The 4 R’s”
23:58 - Private equity and accounting
28:29 - “Every client is different”, AI and customer service
29:57 - Why accountants are positioned well now
33:09 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH RORY HENRY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roryshenry/
Website: https://advisror.com/

Amber is a CPA (inactive), Professional Certified Coach and is the Chief Enlightenment Officer and Executive Leadership Coach at Conscious Public Accountants. Amber's clients are often high-achieving professionals seeking deeper education and transformation. From ways to cope with burnout, career transition and much more – Amber is crucial to the development and emotion and mental well-being of numerous high-performers.

Amber sits down with Yuri to discuss the industry at large – and the issues she has experienced first-hand and seen in her client sessions. They also examine what it would take to retain more people in accounting, what could garner more interest and what can be improved – from company cultures and “old mentalities” to compensation and time-requirements.

Episode Highlights:
0:00 - Introduction
1:08 - Intro to guest Amber Setter
4:42 - How Amber helps her clients
8:18 - “Being a human”
10:58 - Dissecting Yuri’s partner problem
19:15 - The role of a coach
24:12 - “People have a hard time removing their anxieties”
25:57 - Replaying old habits
27:57 - Some of the main issues plaguing the profession
37:25 - The “old school” mentalities
39:04 - Getting more interest in the profession
45:41 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/
Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH AMBER SETTER
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambersetter/
Website: https://conscious.cpa/

In today’s digital world, your online presence is your business card. Whether you’re looking to attract leads, establish industry authority, or turn engagement into real revenue, Yuri and Mando share their proven tactics for growing influence, managing time, and making an impact—without burning out.

If you're ready to level up your LinkedIn game, CPA, accountant or not – this episode is a must-listen!

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Introduction

1:28 - Intro to Mando

3:29 - Mando’s LinkedIn journey and approach

6:46 - “Did you ever feel like it was not working?”

11:03 - The REAL value of LinkedIn

14:12 - Managing time and engagement

18:46 - When did you start saying “no”?

21:54 - Weeding out a “bad fit” client?

24:58 - “Where do you see yourself in the future?”

27:30 - Mando’s advice to newcomers

31:02 - Chasing passion

32:55 - Podcast + book recommendations

34:21 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

 Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH MANDO SALLAVANTI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallavanti/

A brilliant entrepreneur and strategic mind, Rahul has also led the growth and development of a number of other successful business ventures, including his role as Founder of Five Fitness Group, a flourishing fitness management firm, as well as PG Commercial, a real estate development firm focused on strategic commercial development opportunities in the South Texas region. 

As a dynamic communicator and visionary leader, Rahul is also a sought-out speaker. He thrives on making a difference through his strategic entrepreneurial ventures. As a mentor to many young professionals, Rahul is motivated by educating and inspiring others. 

Rahul is a leading attorney and entrepreneur in the state of Texas. He’s been recognized through numerous awards including, Super Lawyer and Top 100 Lawyers, San Antonio Business Journal Man of the Year, 40 Under 40, Best Places to Work, and San Antonio Magazine Faces of San Antonio, among others