AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP)

AICPA & CIMA

Welcome to the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Section podcast. Follow us to receive unlimited access to free podcasts from nationally known experts on topics such as retirement, estate, tax, investment planning, and more. Visit us online at aicpa-cima.com/pfp to join our community and gain access to valuable member-only benefits.

  1. The Ripple Effect: How Financial Literacy Shapes Generations

    MAY 1

    The Ripple Effect: How Financial Literacy Shapes Generations

    Cary Sinnett sits down with Jackie Koski to challenge a core assumption in financial planning: strategy isn't the starting point—literacy is. They explore how foundational knowledge shapes better decisions, why behavior often overrides logic, and how financial professionals can expand their impact beyond client engagements. Questions Answered How does financial literacy change a client's path to financial independence?  Why do money beliefs derail sound financial decisions?  How can advisors scale their impact beyond their client base?  Key Themes Literacy as the foundation for better planning outcomes  Behavior, beliefs, and decision-making gaps  Rethinking FIRE for real-world clients  The late starter journey: from shame to action  Expanding your role from advisor to educator  Why It Matters Better-informed clients make better decisions—and better clients. Your knowledge doesn't need to stop at your client list. AICPA Resources: Financial Literacy resources  Financial Literacy Month Spotlight CPAs role in Financial Literacy PFP Champion Program This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    22 min

  2. APR 17

    Transform Tax Season into Year-Round Client Value with Dr. Brianne Smith

    In this episode, Cary Sinnett sits down with Dr. Brianne Smith to explore how CPAs can turn tax work into fully integrated personal financial planning. Drawing on decades of experience leading both a CPA firm and an advisory practice, Brianne breaks down what really changes when you move beyond compliance and step into ongoing client relationships. They unpack the real barriers holding professionals back, how the PFS credential accelerates the shift, and why the future belongs to advisors who can connect tax and planning into one seamless client experience. Key answers you'll get: How can financial planning shift from an add-on to a core part of a CPA's value proposition? What is one of the pricing models that can reshape both client behavior and advisor relationships?  What practical first steps could a CPA take to integrate planning without disrupting their existing practice?  AICPA resources: Pathways to Practicing Personal Financial Planning Checklist: Building a PFP business Analysis of a Tax Return for Financial Planning Opportunities Guide to Investment Advisory Business Models This episode is brought to you by the  AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    19 min
  3. The Inflection Point for CPA Financial Planners: Why Now Matters

    APR 3

    The Inflection Point for CPA Financial Planners: Why Now Matters

    This is a pivotal moment for CPA financial planners. In this episode, Leonard Wright joins Cary to break down why the convergence of tax, technology, and client expectations is accelerating the shift toward integrated financial planning. They explore how AI is reshaping compliance, why tax is the natural gateway to deeper planning conversations, and what the PFP movement means for firms of all sizes. Leonard also shares the work happening behind the scenes at the AICPA, from global fiduciary standards to the evolution of financial planning frameworks and offers a clear call to action for CPAs ready to expand their role and impact. Key Questions Answered: What are the best firms doing differently that others still haven't figured out? Why do so many clients say, "I wish my CPA would go further," and what does "further" actually look like? What actually changes when you move from giving answers to guiding decisions? If you started over today, how would you build financial planning into your practice from day one? AICPA Resources: Pathways to Practicing Personal Financial Planning Five tips for generating new service opportunities during busy season PFP Resources From Busy Season to Better Seasons: A CPA's Path to Planning with Deb Meyer This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    27 min

  4. MAR 20

    Millions at 18, Broke at 30 (Unless a CPA/PFS Gets Involved)

    Your client's kid just signed a D1 scholarship and an NIL deal. Now what? In this episode, Cary Sinnett sits down with Cameron Caprio, CPA/PFS and Founder of Venture Multi-Family Office, to unpack one of the fastest-growing planning challenges in the profession: helping young athletes (and their families) manage sudden, complex wealth before it slips through their fingers. The numbers are staggering. The NIL market is projected to top $2.5 billion in 2026. Yet 60% of former NBA players are reportedly broke within two years of retirement. The opportunity and the urgency couldn't be clearer. You'll hear Cameron and Cary dig into: What NIL actually is and why it's exploding The ideal advisory team for a rising athlete client How to build values-based plans that outlast the contract Why "self-limiting liquidity" might be the smartest move you make The behavioral risks that sink even the biggest payday Whether your client is an NIL athlete, a founder closing a liquidity event, or a spouse inheriting life-changing money, this episode is your playbook for sudden wealth done right. AICPA Resources: Article: The quarterback for client services Learning: Estate Planning Article: CPAs shape the future of financial planning Article: Don't Waste that Windfall! This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    25 min

  5. MAR 9

    From Knowledge to Impact: The CPA's Role in Financial Literacy with Julia Bush

    Financial literacy is not just a client issue; it is a national opportunity for CPA financial planners to lead. With only half of Americans understanding basic financial principles and many households living paycheck to paycheck, the profession is uniquely positioned to step beyond the conference room and into classrooms, community groups, and public conversations. In this episode, host Cary Sinnett discusses with Julia Bush how CPAs can turn technical expertise into measurable impact. Julia explains why financial literacy remains one of the most critical life skills Americans are often expected to "teach themselves" and why that model continues to fall short, particularly for students. While 30 states now require personal finance education in high schools, funding and implementation gaps persist. The conversation explores: The behavioral gap between knowing and doing in personal finance Why accountability and small actionable steps matter How CPAs can partner with schools, nonprofits, and community groups The impact of organizations like Junior Achievement Practical first steps financial professionals can take to create measurable change For CPA financial planners, this episode is both a call to action and a roadmap for engagement. AICPA Resources: Financial Literacy Junior Achievement Volunteer Invest in girls Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    17 min

  6. FEB 20

    What's Next for the CPA Financial Planner with Matt Kidd

    What is really happening with the PFS? In this episode, Cary Sinnett talks with Matt Kidd, Chair of the AICPA PFS Credential Committee, about the modernization of the PFS Credential, including updating the PFS experienced exam, building the PFP Champions program, expanding avenues to earn the PFS Credential like the PFS Live workshop, growing the visibility of the PFS credential nationwide by highlighting CPA/PFS Financial Planners. They discuss why tax is becoming the gravitational center of financial planning, how CPA financial planners are uniquely positioned to deliver integrated advice, and what both seasoned CPAs and the next generation should understand about the power of adding the PFS. Top Takeaways •    The PFS exam and Body of Knowledge are being updated to reflect real-world, tax-integrated planning. •    CPA financial planners have a structural advantage in delivering holistic advice. •    Raising awareness starts with proudly displaying the CPA/PFS credential. PFS Resources: •    PFS Credential •    PFS Live Workshop •    PFS Handbook  •    PFS Business Experience •    PFS Infographic •    Earning your credential info •    Engage 2026  This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    19 min

  7. FEB 6

    Trump Accounts are Coming - and You Need to be Ready

    Trump Accounts are here, and they come with a mix of opportunity and complexity. In this episode, Cary Sinnett (PFP Podcast) and April Walker (Tax Odyssey) team up with Sebrina Ivey, CPA/PFS, to break down the key rules and planning implications CPA Financial Planners need to understand. What's covered: ·       What Trump Accounts are and how they differ from 529s, UTMA/UGMA, and ABLE accounts ·       The contribution, investment, and trustee rules during the "growth period" ·       Key decisions at age 18, and how estate and tax planning converge ·       How to compare Trump Accounts with traditional irrevocable trusts ·       Planning actions to consider before the tax-free window closes If you're advising families, this is one account structure you can't afford to overlook.  AICPA Resources: ·       Trump Accounts under Sec. 530A — Timeline and insights ·       IRS Form 4547 ·       IRS Notice 2025-68 ·       Planning for tax changes This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    20 min

  8. JAN 23

    Bob Keebler on The Renaissance of Income Tax Planning

    Non-grantor trusts are stepping into the spotlight, not for estate tax, but for income tax planning. In this episode, Cary Sinnett sits down with tax expert Bob Keebler to explore how the One Big Beautiful Act (H.R.1) reshapes the planning landscape. You'll hear how you can use trusts to reclaim lost SALT deductions, stack §199A benefits, shift income across generations, and even layer in QSBS exemptions. If your clients are hitting phaseouts or facing high state taxes, this episode delivers advanced strategies to optimize their tax position now and into the future. Non-Grantor Trusts: Keebler explains how trust structures can sidestep phaseouts and help clients reclaim deductions previously lost due to high AGI. The "Tax Trifecta Trust" Explained: Learn how to stack SALT deductions, layer multiple §199A deductions, and shift income strategically using non-grantor trust planning. Five Strategies You Can Use Today Income shifting to lower-bracket heirs Stacking SALT deductions across multiple trusts Boosting §199A deductions with trust-level taxpayers Expanding QSBS exemptions via strategic trust ownership Reducing or deferring state income tax through out-of-state trust situs Real-World Implementation Advice: Bob outlines guardrails around IRC §643(f) to avoid having multiple trusts collapsed into one. Hear how to structure trusts legally and practically for high-impact planning, and how to identify ideal client profiles for this approach. What CPA Financial Planners Need to Watch For: Bob discusses state-specific issues, kiddie tax complications, trust drafting must-haves, and how CPAs can lead the planning process with confidence. AICPA Resources: Video: Decoding Trusts and Wills: Provisions for PFP Practitioners Video: Year-End Planning Through the Lens of H.R. 1 Resource: Charitable planning post OBBBA rules This episode is brought to you by the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program. Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search "AICPA Personal Financial Planning" on your favorite podcast app.

    18 min
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4.6
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About

Welcome to the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Section podcast. Follow us to receive unlimited access to free podcasts from nationally known experts on topics such as retirement, estate, tax, investment planning, and more. Visit us online at aicpa-cima.com/pfp to join our community and gain access to valuable member-only benefits.

Information

  • Creator
    AICPA & CIMA
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    341
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2026 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    AICPA Personal Financial Planning (PFP)

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