Advisory Conversations with Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday

Deb Halliday
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Advisory Conversations with Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday is a podcast for accounting professionals and financial coaches who are stepping into advisory and building something beyond compliance. This isn’t theory, and it’s not surface-level advice. Each episode is a real conversation between Tim and Deb, sharing their experience of moving from technician work into advisory, and what it actually takes to make that shift stick. From leading better client conversations, to developing commercial thinking, to building a team that can deliver advisory without the business owner being the bottleneck. You’ll also hear from occasional guests, including industry specialists, suppliers, and fellow professionals, offering practical insights you can apply straight away. If you’re looking to strengthen your advisory skills, build confidence in client conversations, and create a more scalable, team-led practice, this podcast will give you the perspective and direction to do it. Simple, honest, and grounded in real experience.

  1. 6d ago

    What Happens to Your Clients When You Have to Step Away?

    What happens to your clients, your team and your business when you’re not there? In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim and Deb share their real-life experiences of building teams capable of delivering advisory without the practice owner at the centre of everything. From taking a planned month away from the business to dealing with an unexpected personal crisis, Deb explains how having the right people, systems and processes in place meant her clients continued to be supported without everything falling back on her. They also explore why developing an advisory team is about more than freeing up your time. It’s about building resilience, empowering your people and ensuring your clients can continue moving forward — even when life doesn’t go to plan. If you’re still the person everyone relies on, this conversation might give you something to think about.

  2. Sep 8

    Can you really teach advisory?

    “I’m good with numbers, but I’m not sure I’m good with people.”It’s something we hear from accountants and bookkeepers who know they want to move into advisory, but aren’t quite sure they have the skills to do it. Here’s the thing: Being a good advisor isn’t something you’re simply born knowing how to do. It can be learned. In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday explore what it really takes to move from technician to advisor — and why the skills that made you good at compliance aren’t necessarily the same skills you need to have meaningful advisory conversations. As accountants and bookkeepers, we already have an enormous amount of information about our clients and their businesses. The question is: what are we doing with it? If we’re simply collecting the numbers, processing them and reporting them to HMRC, we’re missing an opportunity. Those same numbers can help us spot patterns, identify problems, ask better questions and help clients understand what is really happening in their business. That’s where advisory begins. But knowing the numbers is only part of it. Advisory also requires communication, listening, curiosity and emotional intelligence. It means learning how to ask the right questions, uncover what’s really going on and turn financial information into something a client can actually understand and act upon. And these are all skills that can be developed. Tim and Deb also discuss what AI means for the future of the profession. Technology can process information faster than we ever could. AI can analyse data, identify patterns and produce reports. But there’s still something incredibly important that sits on the human side of advisory: The conversation. Understanding the person behind the business. Recognising when what they’re saying isn’t necessarily the whole story. Asking another question. Listening. Building trust. And helping someone make a decision when the answer isn’t always obvious. That human connection matters. And if we want advisory to become part of the way a practice works — rather than something only the owner can deliver — those skills need to be developed across the team. In this episode:What really changes when you move from technician to advisorWhy advisory skills can be learnedUsing the financial information you already have more effectivelyMoving beyond reporting the numbers to helping clients use themDeveloping better questioning, listening and communication skillsWhy emotional intelligence matters in advisoryWhat AI can — and can’t — replaceDeveloping advisory capability across the whole teamCreating a more consistent, collaborative approach to client advisory You already understand the numbers. The next step is learning how to use them to start better conversations, create meaningful insights and help your clients make better business decisions. That’s the journey from Technician → Advisor. Find out moreRead more about Advisory Teams: https://advisoryteams.co.uk Explore APX Training: https://apxtraining.co.uk Join our free Advisory Teams community: https://facebook.com/groups/advisoryteams

  3. Sep 4

    This is Your "Business" life . With Lynn Graham

    In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday are joined by Dublin-based bookkeeper and Xero specialist Lynn Graham to talk about her own journey from hospitality into bookkeeping — and how her practice has evolved over the last decade. Lynn’s story will be familiar to many bookkeepers and accountants. You start by doing the work. You build your technical knowledge. You take on clients. You get busier. But eventually you realise that technology and automation can do much of the heavy lifting — and that creates an opportunity to do something far more valuable with your time. Talk to your clients. Lynn shares how embracing cloud accounting and Xero helped her streamline the compliance work and create more space for the conversations that really matter: helping clients understand their numbers, what they mean and what they could do next. And that transition isn’t simply about adding “advisory” to an already busy workload. If everything still relies on you, you’ve just created another bottleneck. Tim, Deb and Lynn talk about building better systems, using technology intelligently and developing the skills and confidence needed to move beyond simply producing the numbers. They also discuss something that can be overlooked when you’re building a practice — you don’t have to do it alone. Mentorship, training, community and having other people around you to share experiences, ideas and challenges can make an enormous difference. Because moving into advisory isn’t about suddenly having all the answers. It’s about learning to have better conversations, explaining financial information in a way clients actually understand and using the numbers to help them make better decisions. In this episode:Lynn’s journey from hospitality into bookkeepingHow her practice has evolved over the last decadeMoving from compliance work towards advisory conversationsUsing Xero, cloud accounting and automation to create capacityWhy becoming more efficient shouldn’t simply mean taking on more workHelping clients understand their numbers without unnecessary jargonAvoiding the owner becoming the bottleneckThe value of mentorship, training and professional communityWhy collaboration matters when you’re building and growing a practice Technology can process the numbers. The real opportunity is what you do with the time, information and conversations it creates.

  4. Sep 1

    Does Advisory Entirely depend upon you?

    Are You the Bottleneck in Your Advisory Practice?You want to grow advisory. You know your clients need more than compliance. But there’s a problem that catches out a lot of accounting and bookkeeping practice owners: All the advisory still depends on you. You’re the person having the conversations, spotting the opportunities, asking the questions and helping clients make decisions. And as more clients want that support, your workload grows with it. Instead of advisory creating a more valuable, scalable practice, you’ve simply created another job for yourself. In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday talk about the advisory bottleneck — why it happens, how they’ve experienced it in their own practices, and why the answer isn’t simply for the owner to work harder. It’s about building an advisory team. A team where advisory capability doesn’t sit with one person. Where technicians can develop into advisors, conversations can be shared, and different members of the team can contribute their skills, experience and perspective to create better outcomes for clients. Tim and Deb also explore what needs to change when you move from an owner-led advisory model to a team-delivered one — from developing people and building confidence to creating a shared approach to the way advisory is delivered. Because there’s one very simple question every practice owner should be able to answer: What happens to your advisory service when you’re not there? If the answer is “it stops”, you haven’t built a scalable advisory service yet. You’ve built an advisory bottleneck. In this episode:Why practice owners so easily become the advisory bottleneckWhy adding advisory to an already full workload isn’t sustainableThe difference between owner-led and team-delivered advisoryHow developing your team creates capacity for growthWhy advisory doesn’t need to be delivered by one “expert”The importance of communication and collaboration across the teamTim and Deb’s own experiences of moving beyond owner dependencyThe question every practice owner should ask about what happens when they’re absent Advisory shouldn’t depend on one person. Build the capability across the team, and you can create something far more valuable — for your clients, your people and your practice. Find out moreAPX Training: https://apxtraining.co.uk Join our free Advisory Teams community: https://facebook.com/groups/advisoryteams

  5. Aug 25

    Empowering Your Team: How to Eliminate the Bottleneck

    In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday discuss one of the biggest barriers preventing advisory firms from growing. The owner becomes the bottleneck. For many accountants, bookkeepers, and financial professionals, the move into advisory starts with good intentions. You begin having better conversations, delivering more value, and becoming increasingly involved in helping clients make decisions. The problem is that every client conversation, every recommendation, and every strategic decision starts flowing through one person. You. Eventually, growth slows, response times increase, and the business becomes dependent on the owner's time, knowledge, and availability. That's not advisory. That's simply creating a different type of compliance business. Throughout this episode, we explore why scalable advisory cannot sit with one individual and why the future belongs to advisory teams rather than individual advisors. We share lessons from our own experiences of building and selling advisory practices, and the mistakes we made when trying to do everything ourselves. We discuss how to identify future advisors within your team, create clear development pathways, and build systems that allow clients to receive consistent support without relying on the practice owner for every conversation. Because the goal isn't to become a better bottleneck. The goal is to remove the bottleneck altogether. In this episode you'll learn: • Why so many advisory firms hit a growth ceiling. • How owners unintentionally become the biggest constraint in their business. • Why advisory delivered by one person is difficult to scale. • The benefits of building advisory teams rather than relying on individual advisors. • How training, systems, and processes create consistency across the client experience. • How to develop team members into confident client-facing advisors. • Why removing yourself from delivery creates better outcomes for both clients and business owners. The businesses that thrive in the future won't be built around one expert holding all the knowledge. They'll be built around teams that collaborate, communicate, and deliver great advisory together. Because the goal isn't simply to build an advisory business. It's to build one that works without you being at the centre of every decision. Mentioned in this episode: APX Advert Business Course Library

  6. Aug 18

    Unlocking Advisory Potential: How to Price with Assurance

    In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday tackle one of the questions they hear more than almost any other. How do you price advisory services with confidence? For many accountants, bookkeepers, and financial professionals, pricing advisory can feel uncomfortable. There's often uncertainty around what to charge, whether clients will see the value, and whether you're experienced enough to justify the fee. The reality is that confidence in pricing rarely comes first. Confidence comes from experience, results, and seeing the impact your advice has on clients over time. Throughout this episode, we explore why advisory pricing is not about copying what someone else charges or trying to jump straight to premium monthly fees. Instead, it's about building confidence, capability, and value gradually. We also discuss the important difference between education and advisory. Education gives clients knowledge, frameworks, and understanding that can be applied by many businesses. Advisory is different. Advisory is bespoke. It focuses on the individual challenges, opportunities, and decisions facing a specific business at a specific point in time. When practitioners blur the lines between the two, clients can struggle to understand why one conversation is free while another carries a fee. We explore practical ways to introduce advisory conversations, create value for clients, and begin building an advisory offering that feels both commercially viable and personally comfortable. Because advisory isn't about charging more for the work you're already doing. It's about creating outcomes that clients value enough to invest in. In this episode you'll learn: • Why so many professionals struggle with pricing advisory confidently. • Why confidence usually follows experience rather than preceding it. • The difference between educational support and bespoke advisory services. • Why comparing your fees to others can hold you back. • How strategy sessions can help introduce advisory conversations naturally. • The role of case studies and client outcomes in building pricing confidence. • How to increase advisory fees over time as your experience and impact grow. Most successful advisory firms didn't start by charging premium fees from day one. They built confidence, created results, developed case studies, and increased value over time. If pricing advisory has ever felt uncomfortable or uncertain, this episode will give you a practical framework for getting started and growing your confidence along the way. Mentioned in this episode: APX Advert Business Course Library

  7. Aug 11

    Beyond Reports: Delivering True Advisory Value to Business Owners

    In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday explore one of the biggest misconceptions in advisory. Management accounts are not advisory. Neither are KPI dashboards, spreadsheets, or beautifully designed reports. Because if a client doesn't understand what they're looking at or know what action to take next, the report itself has very little value. For many accountants and bookkeepers, producing management accounts has traditionally been seen as the end of the process. The reports are prepared, sent to the client, and the job is considered complete. But true advisory starts where the reports finish. The real value comes from helping clients understand what the numbers are telling them, why they matter, and what decisions they should make next. Throughout this episode, we discuss the difference between delivering information and creating understanding. We explore how better conversations around the numbers lead to better decisions, stronger businesses, and deeper client relationships. We also look at the role of education in advisory. Business owners don't need more reports. They need clarity, confidence, and context. Whether you're reviewing profitability, cashflow, margins, or growth plans, your role as an advisor is not simply to present the numbers. It's to translate them into meaningful actions that move the business forward. Because advisory isn't about producing reports. It's about creating better decisions. In this episode you'll learn: • Why management accounts alone do not create advisory value. • The difference between reporting information and creating understanding. • How to turn financial data into meaningful conversations. • Why client education sits at the heart of great advisory. • How regular conversations create stronger client relationships and better outcomes. • Why the future of advisory lies in interpretation, leadership, and action rather than reporting alone. If you've ever wondered why clients aren't excited by the reports you produce, this episode may change the way you think about management accounts forever.

  8. Aug 4

    The Art of Encouraging Client Action in Advisory Services

    In this episode of Advisory Conversations, Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday tackle one of the biggest frustrations for advisors everywhere. Why do clients agree with the advice, leave the meeting motivated, and then do absolutely nothing? As advisors, it's easy to assume that if a client isn't taking action, they don't value the advice. In reality, the reasons are usually far more complex. Business owners are juggling competing priorities, constant interruptions, operational pressures, and an endless list of decisions. Even when they know exactly what they should do, implementation often gets pushed down the list as urgent issues take over. Throughout this episode, we explore why great advisory is not simply about giving good advice. It's about creating the accountability, structure, and support that help clients turn decisions into action. We discuss the importance of breaking larger goals into manageable steps, creating clear ownership around actions, and helping clients build momentum through small wins rather than overwhelming change. We also explore the role of the advisor in creating accountability without creating dependency. True advisory should empower clients to move forward confidently rather than relying on the advisor to drive every decision. Ultimately, advisory is not measured by the quality of the recommendations we make. It's measured by the actions clients take and the results they achieve. In this episode you'll learn: • Why clients often fail to implement advisory recommendations, even when they agree with them. • The psychological and operational barriers that prevent business owners from taking action. • How accountability can dramatically improve implementation and results. • Why breaking actions into smaller steps creates greater momentum. • How to support clients without becoming the bottleneck in their progress. • The difference between giving advice and creating lasting change. If you've ever left an advisory meeting wondering why nothing happened afterwards, this episode will help you understand what may be getting in the way and what you can do differently to help clients move forward. Mentioned in this episode: APX Advert Business Course Library

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Advisory Conversations with Tim Seymour and Deb Halliday is a podcast for accounting professionals and financial coaches who are stepping into advisory and building something beyond compliance. This isn’t theory, and it’s not surface-level advice. Each episode is a real conversation between Tim and Deb, sharing their experience of moving from technician work into advisory, and what it actually takes to make that shift stick. From leading better client conversations, to developing commercial thinking, to building a team that can deliver advisory without the business owner being the bottleneck. You’ll also hear from occasional guests, including industry specialists, suppliers, and fellow professionals, offering practical insights you can apply straight away. If you’re looking to strengthen your advisory skills, build confidence in client conversations, and create a more scalable, team-led practice, this podcast will give you the perspective and direction to do it. Simple, honest, and grounded in real experience.

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