The Growth Minded Accountant

Lee Reams II from CountingWorks PRO
  • 5.0 (6)
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Hosted by Lee Reams II and CountingWorks PRO, "The Growth Minded Accountant" is your go-to podcast for independent tax and accounting pros ready to level up. We’re here to show you how AI, digital marketing, and cutting-edge tools — the kind that only the big guys had access to — can help you save time, win new clients, and keep your practice thriving. From leveraging AI agents to boosting ROI on every client interaction, we cover it all. Tune in to stay sharp, learn strategies that work, and make sure you’re always one step ahead. The playing field just got a lot more level — let’s go!

  1. The One Question That Turns Tax Prep Into Advisory Revenue

    1D AGO

    The One Question That Turns Tax Prep Into Advisory Revenue

    There’s a moment at the end of every tax interview that most firms rush through. And it’s quietly costing them six figures a year. In this episode of The Growth-Minded Accountant, Lee Reams shares a simple but powerful framework — the Post-Tax Bridge — that helps tax and accounting firms turn compliance conversations into advisory opportunities without selling, pitching, or slowing down tax season. You’ll learn: • Why most firms unintentionally close advisory doors in March  • The exact question to ask that creates continuity instead of closure  • How to sequence the conversation so the proposal comes after tax season  • The psychology behind pre-seeding advisory through your marketing  • How small behavioral shifts during tax interviews compound into meaningful revenue This episode is for firm owners who want to grow beyond compliance — not by adding pressure, but by building systems. Tax season isn’t just filing season. It’s pipeline season. If you’re building an advisory-forward accounting firm, this is a conversation you’ll want your entire team to hear.

    16 min
  2. The Tax Interview Mistake That Keeps You Stuck in Compliance

    FEB 11

    The Tax Interview Mistake That Keeps You Stuck in Compliance

    Most firms treat the tax interview like data collection. The smartest firms treat it like positioning. In this micro episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee breaks down a simple shift that can fundamentally change how clients see you. Not after tax season. Not when you launch a new advisory package. But in the first few minutes of your tax interview. Clients decide what you are very quickly. If the conversation starts with forms, documents, and checklists, you are framed as a processor. If it starts with context, change, and forward-looking questions, you are framed as an advisor. Same tax return. Completely different perceived value. In this episode, you will learn: • Why the opening minutes of the tax interview matter more than you think  • The subtle mistake that keeps firms stuck in compliance positioning  • The simple three-minute shift that elevates the entire client relationship  • How consistent messaging through blogs, newsletters, and social reinforces your advisory role Advisory is not a service you sell after April 15. It is a narrative you repeat everywhere. If you want to move from compliance to advisory, this is where it starts. The Growth Minded Accountant is for firm owners who want to build firms that scale smarter, position stronger, and evolve beyond compliance. Subscribe for weekly conversations on growth, advisory strategy, positioning, and building a firm that runs differently.

    11 min
  3. Capital Advisory for Accountants: How Smart Businesses Actually Fund Growth

    FEB 10

    Capital Advisory for Accountants: How Smart Businesses Actually Fund Growth

    Capital decisions are some of the most important—and irreversible—choices a business owner will ever make. Yet many tax and accounting professionals don’t get pulled into the conversation until after the deal is already done. In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, we break down how small and mid-sized businesses actually access capital today—and why accountants are uniquely positioned to guide these decisions before funding is locked in. Host Lee Reams is joined by Sven Nelson, Founder & Owner of Aevi Business Capital, who brings over 20 years of experience in commercial finance. Sven shares how small business lending has evolved, why traditional banks leave so many healthy businesses behind, and where brokers fit into the modern capital landscape. You’ll learn: Why “I need a loan” means very different things todayThe real differences between term loans, lines of credit, SBA loans, and alternative fundingWhen higher-cost capital can make sense—and when it creates long-term riskCommon mistakes business owners make before applying for fundingWhy payment structure often matters more than interest rateWhere accountants fit into capital advisory without becoming lendersHow early involvement helps protect cash flow, tax efficiency, and exit optionsThis episode is designed for growth minded accountants, advisory-focused firms, and business owners who want a clearer understanding of capital—without the hype or confusion. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Become an Aevi Business Capital Partner https://www.countingworkspro.com/part ...Take a Tour of the Capital Advisory Playbook https://www.countingworkspro.com/demo If capital conversations are already happening with your clients—or happening without you—this episode will help you understand where you belong in the process and how to add meaningful advisory value. 🎙️ Thanks for listening to The Growth Minded Accountant.

    39 min
  4. Positioning Gets You Found. Relatability Gets You Chosen.

    FEB 4

    Positioning Gets You Found. Relatability Gets You Chosen.

    In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, host Lee Reams II is joined by Rebekah Barton, Chief Visibility Officer, for a timely conversation on what actually drives firm growth in 2026—and why positioning alone is no longer enough. Most tax and accounting firms understand positioning. They’ve defined their services, clarified who they serve, and invested in looking professional. But in a market crowded with competent options and shaped by AI-driven discovery, clarity alone doesn’t convert. Once a prospect knows a firm might be for them, the real decision begins: Do I trust these people? Do I like how they think? Would I confidently refer them? This episode explores why relatability has become the missing layer—the factor that turns relevance into selection and good clients into consistent referrals. Lee and Rebekah break down how buying decisions now happen long before a first conversation, why safe and neutral messaging often leads to being forgettable, and how firms that feel human, easy to describe, and aligned with their clients’ mindset stand out in a crowded market. They also clarify a common misconception: relatability isn’t oversharing or personal branding fluff. It’s a deliberate system—built into messaging, content, reviews, and client experience—that helps the right people feel confident choosing and recommending your firm. This conversation is especially relevant for small and mid-sized tax and accounting firms that rely on referrals, want better-fit clients, and are navigating how marketing, trust, and AI intersect in today’s buying environment. As the profession becomes more automated, this episode makes one thing clear: being unmistakably human isn’t a risk—it’s an advantage.

    42 min
  5. Why Pricing Keeps Breaking in Tax & Accounting Firms (It’s Not Your Rates)

    JAN 28

    Why Pricing Keeps Breaking in Tax & Accounting Firms (It’s Not Your Rates)

    Most tax and accounting firms don’t actually have a pricing problem. They have a pricing system problem. In this episode of Growth Minded Accountant, we break down why traditional pricing models — hourly billing, fixed fees, even “value pricing” — keep breaking as firms grow, adopt AI, and move toward advisory services. 👉 Download the Pricing System Playbook (Free PDF): https://tinyurl.com/CWPwhitepaper You’ll learn: Why hourly billing collapses as efficiency increasesThe hidden costs of broken pricing systems, including partner bottlenecks, advisory burnout, and revenue without leverageWhy pricing without clear positioning creates resistanceHow narrative, education, and content prepare clients to expect higher-value pricingThe difference between pricing models and pricing architectureHow modern firms price outcomes instead of effortThis episode is for small to mid-sized tax and accounting firms that want to: Move beyond hourly billingOffer tax advisory or CFO advisory servicesScale without burning out partnersAttract better-fit clients who understand their valueIf your firm feels busy but not scalable, this episode explains why — and what to do next. Pricing isn’t a rate card. It’s an architecture. 🔗 RESOURCES The Pricing System Playbook (Free PDF): https://tinyurl.com/CWPwhitepaper 📌 WHO SHOULD LISTEN CPA firms Enrolled Agents & Tax professionals Accounting & Bookkeeping firm owners Advisory-focused firms If you’re interested in building a pricing system that actually scales with your firm, this episode lays the foundation.

    35 min
  6. Overtime Deductions, Client Confusion & Smarter Tax Prep

    JAN 27

    Overtime Deductions, Client Confusion & Smarter Tax Prep

    Overtime deductions became one of the most misunderstood tax topics coming out of the last election cycle—and that confusion is heading straight into tax season. In this episode, Lee Reams II and Lee Reams Sr. break down what actually qualifies as deductible overtime, why state overtime rules don’t automatically apply for federal tax purposes, and why the 2025 tax season will be far more labor-intensive for firms than most people expect. This isn’t about complicated tax law. It’s about time, communication, and preparation. What we cover: • Why not all overtime qualifies for the federal deduction • State overtime rules vs. FLSA rules—and why the difference matters • Why weekly overtime analysis creates major prep bottlenecks • A real-world example where “earned OT” still results in no deduction • The hidden trap with time-and-a-half vs. double-time pay • Why 2025 puts the burden on firms—not employers • How structured worksheets and standardized intake save hours per return • The curveball many firms miss: tipped occupations • The advisory opportunity hiding inside a compliance headache The big takeaway: Firms that educate clients early, collect cleaner data, and use smarter systems will avoid chaos—and have better advisory conversations with better outcomes. This episode is a must-listen for tax and accounting professionals who want fewer surprises, better client experiences, and stronger margins heading into the 2025 tax season. Download the overtime worksheets: PDF: https://images.client-sites.com/WS-OvertimeDeduction.pdf Google / Excel: https://images.client-sites.com/Overtime_Deduction_Worksheet.xlsx Learn more about tech-enabled firm growth at CountingWorks PRO: https://www.countingworkspro.com/ Thanks for listening—and for doing the work to build a smarter, more proactive firm.

    16 min
  7. Your Best Advisory Revenue Is Already on Your Client List

    JAN 21

    Your Best Advisory Revenue Is Already on Your Client List

    It’s 2026—and most accounting firms are still trying to grow advisory revenue by chasing new clients. More leads. More traffic. More strangers. But the most profitable advisory opportunity most firms have isn’t out there. It’s already inside their client list. In this episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II and Rebekah Barton explain why existing clients are your biggest advisory advantage—and why firms that understand this grow faster, charge more confidently, and build advisory practices that actually scale. You’ll learn: Why current clients are 3–5x more likely to buy advisory servicesThe real difference between compliance and advisory, and why it changes how you sellWhy most advisory proposals fail—even with trusted clientsHow education “foams the runway” before advisory conversationsWhy advisory works best as a portfolio of client moments, not a single offeringHow systems and playbooks make advisory predictable instead of effort-basedIf advisory feels harder to sell than it should, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do differently in 2026. Your best advisory revenue isn’t in future leads. It’s already in your relationships.

    23 min
  8. Your Tech Stack Isn’t the Problem — The Experience Is (2026 Reality Check)

    JAN 14

    Your Tech Stack Isn’t the Problem — The Experience Is (2026 Reality Check)

    In 2026, most tax and accounting firms don’t have a software problem. They have an experience problem. In this solo episode of The Growth Minded Accountant, Lee Reams II explains why stacking “good tools” has quietly become the biggest source of friction inside modern firms—and why AI-first firms are already pulling away. You’ll hear why: Most firms only use 20–30% of the software they pay forTraining doesn’t compound—it resetsClients aren’t difficult—they’re overwhelmedStaff has become the invisible integration layerTraditional software is becoming the bottleneckAI-first thinking simplifies everything clients touchThis episode isn’t about replacing your tax software or chasing the latest tool. It’s about rethinking the experience your clients and staff live inside every day—and asking what no longer needs to exist in 2026. If your firm only works because you know how to navigate the mess, that’s not scale. That’s risk. 🎧 The Growth Minded Accountant explores what it really takes to build a modern, scalable firm—covering AI, client experience, growth strategy, and the systems that separate firms pulling ahead from those stuck maintaining complexity. Subscribe for weekly episodes.

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hosted by Lee Reams II and CountingWorks PRO, "The Growth Minded Accountant" is your go-to podcast for independent tax and accounting pros ready to level up. We’re here to show you how AI, digital marketing, and cutting-edge tools — the kind that only the big guys had access to — can help you save time, win new clients, and keep your practice thriving. From leveraging AI agents to boosting ROI on every client interaction, we cover it all. Tune in to stay sharp, learn strategies that work, and make sure you’re always one step ahead. The playing field just got a lot more level — let’s go!

Information

  • Creator
    Lee Reams II from CountingWorks PRO
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CountingWorks, Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Growth Minded Accountant