The Wize Way

Wize Mentoring for Accountants and Bookkeepers
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Feeling stuck in your firm or on the edge of rapid growth but don't know how to build the business so that it’s not reliant on you?  Join Bren Ward as he shares the insights, stories, strategies and tools that have helped transform the businesses and lives of our Wize Guys and hundreds of Accounting, CPA and bookkeeping firm owners around the world.  In each episode, Bren dives into the leadership, marketing, sales, systems and mindset tactics that'll get you to your goals without burning out.  His interviews with his Wize co-founders and community of Wize firm owners are inspiring and transformational.  Subscribe to transform your challenges into opportunities and build a business that can run without you. 

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 184: The Real Legacy of Leadership with Jane Pollard

    Most firm owners think leadership is about driving harder, fixing problems faster, and holding everything together themselves. But real freedom doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from lifting others to lead. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Jane Pollard shares an honest reflection on leadership, legacy, and what changes when a firm owner stops centering the business around themselves and starts building people instead. You’ll hear Jane unpack: Why leadership is about impact, not controlThe mindset shift from serving clients to developing leadersWhat it means to paint a future your team can’t yet seeHow building yourself first creates a better life for everyone around youWhy it’s never “too late” to lead differently - or more meaningfullyIf you’re building a firm and wondering what your work is really for, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, success, and the legacy you’re creating through your team. This is one for firm owners who want their business to mean something, not just run. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    28 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    Episode 183: The Four Step Pricing Playbook for Accounting Firms

    Most firm owners think pricing is a “numbers problem”… so they copy what the last accountant charged, slap on a fixed fee, and hope it works out. The result? Scope creep, shrinking margins, and a team that’s flat-out busy while the profit quietly disappears. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Bren Ward sits down with Jamie Johns to break down the Wize approach to pricing, including: ✅ Why COGS % is the KPI that decides whether you live or die  ✅ The real truth about value pricing vs fixed fees vs time billing (all can work, if you do it right)  ✅ The 4-step pricing playbook to price jobs with confidence  ✅ Why timesheets aren’t “dead” - they’re your efficiency and accountability dashboard  ✅ How to increase fees without shocking clients (and why annual rises matter) If you want pricing that protects profit, sets expectations, and scales with your team, this conversation is a must-listen. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    28 min

  3. 12/11/2025

    Episode 182: If You Want Better SOPs, Listen to Your Team's Questions

    Most firm owners try to improve performance by pushing harder, hiring more, or firefighting their way through the week. But the real bottleneck isn’t effort - it’s the lack of structure. Without clear systems and consistent meetings, your team is left guessing, and you end up carrying the weight alone. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, we break down how effective meetings become the backbone of your SOPs and your leadership. You’ll learn: ✅ Why meetings are the fastest way to uncover missing SOPs  ✅ How 1:1s help new hires settle in and reveal process gaps  ✅ The role meetings play in accountability, delegation, and culture  ✅ How structured rhythms give you visibility across every part of the firm If you’re ready to stop running your business in the dark and start leading with clarity and confidence, this episode is a must-listen. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    36 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    Episode 181: The Scalable Firm Blueprint: Structure, SOPs, Teams, and the Fab 5

    Most firm owners try to “scale the business” by working harder or hiring faster - but never fix the structural ceiling that keeps them stuck.  The result? Constant firefighting, team bottlenecks, unpredictable results, and a firm that can’t run without them. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, we break down the real blueprint behind building a scalable, self-running firm - the same principles used inside $7M practices. You’ll learn: ✅ Why growth stalls when there’s no deep-and-narrow team structure  ✅ How weak SOPs and unclear roles quietly destroy capacity  ✅ The two divisions that determine whether you scale or spin your wheels  ✅ Why the Fab 5 is the only KPI system that shows whether your firm is truly healthy  ✅ The mindset shift every owner must make to step out of the day-to-day If you’re ready to stop doing more and finally build a business that grows without you, this episode is a must-listen. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    56 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    Episode 180: The Most Dangerous Myth Accountants Believe About AI

    Most firm owners hear the noise about AI and panic. They’re told their jobs are disappearing and the industry is on borrowed time. But the reality is simpler: AI isn’t replacing accountants,  it’s reshaping how firms think, make decisions, and deliver value. In this episode, Brenton Ward and Thomas Phabmixay break down what AI actually does in a firm, why it’s more “translation engine” than threat, and how it can scale judgement, not just automate tasks. Thomas shares how he uses AI inside his own practice to analyse work, improve communication, and speed up decision-making and why the biggest wins come when AI is woven into workflows so the team barely notices it’s there. You’ll learn: ✅ Why “AI will replace accountants” is a myth that’s been repeated for decades ✅ How AI turns financial and client data into instant insight ✅ Where AI creates real leverage in a firm’s workflow ✅ Practical ways firms can use AI today without building custom tools ✅ Why critical thinking matters more than ever in an AI-enabled world If you’ve been overwhelmed by the hype or unsure where to start, this conversation gives you a grounded view of how AI can strengthen your firm, not threaten it. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    30 min

  6. 11/13/2025

    Episode 178: Your Time Costs More Than Any Client Will Ever Pay

    Most firm owners don’t realise they’re the most expensive employee in their own business. They jump into client work thinking they’re helping — but every time they do, the firm’s most valuable time is spent on the least leveraged task. In this episode, Ed Chan breaks down why firm owners should never be billable. He explains how doing client work turns your time into the most expensive cost in the business — and why your real value lies in coaching the team, not doing the work. You’ll learn: ✅ Why the owner’s time is the most expensive line item in the firm ✅ How doing billable work kills profit and scalability ✅ What a “deep and narrow” team structure looks like (and why it works) ✅ How to shift from doing to directing — like a coach, not a player If you’ve ever felt trapped in client work or wondered how to step back without losing control, this episode will change the way you think about your time — and your role.  ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    11 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    Episode 179: “It’s Faster If I Do It” Solves a Moment and Sets Up a Mess

    Firm owners don’t realise they’re building a business that depends on them because they never truly delegate. They hand off tasks thinking they’re freeing themselves but without training, clarity, and follow-up, the work boomerangs right back, and the cycle of overwhelm continues. In this episode, Ed Chan breaks down the difference between delegation and abdication. He explains why doing 100 percent of a task or giving it away with no guidance keeps owners stuck, stressed, and unable to scale. And he shares the 20% Rule he used to reduce his workload, build a high-performing team, and grow a firm that runs without him. You’ll learn: ✅ Why doing work from start to finish destroys productivity and growth ✅ How abdicating (instead of delegating) creates inconsistency and rework ✅ Why investing time in training is the only path to real freedom ✅ How to balance P&L thinking with “balance sheet thinking” that builds capability ✅ The right way to decide whether to hire an admin, a senior accountant, or a junior If you’ve ever felt like training takes too long, or worried that delegating will slow things down, this episode will change the way you think about leadership — and the role you’re meant to play in your firm. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    18 min

  8. 10/30/2025

    Episode 177: The Bad Habit Every Firm Owner Must Break to Scale

    Most firm owners don’t realize they’ve built habits that keep them trapped inside their own business. They’re working harder, staying later, and solving every problem themselves - but every time they step in, they take the job back. In this episode of The Wize Way Podcast, Ed Chan breaks down the #1 habit that’s holding firm owners back - bypassing their team. He explains why every time you answer a client directly or fix an issue for your staff, you’re actually stopping your business from working without you. You’ll learn: ✅ Why the “No Bypass Policy” is the hardest rule to follow but the one that sets you free ✅ How to stop being the bottleneck in your own firm ✅ The mindset shift that turns chaos into calm ✅ Practical ways to retrain yourself (and your team) to lead, not do If you’re serious about scaling a business that runs without you, this conversation will hit home. ________________ PS: Whenever you’re ready… here are the fastest 4 ways we can help you fix and grow your accounting firm: 1. Download our famous Wize Freedom Strategy Map for FREE - Find out the 96 projects every firm owner must implement to build a $5M+ firm that can run without them - Download here 2. Need to Hire right now? Book a 1:1 FREE discovery call with our WizeTalent hiring coaches to help find your next team member the Wize Way – Click Here 3. Book a 1:1 Wize Discovery Session – Spend 30mins with our Wize CEO, Jamie Johns, a $7M firm owner who is ready to give you his entire business plan to build a firm that can run without you – Find out more here 4. Work with Jamie and our mentors for 8 weeks - Build a custom business plan for your firm - Apply here

    14 min
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out of 5
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About

Feeling stuck in your firm or on the edge of rapid growth but don't know how to build the business so that it’s not reliant on you?  Join Bren Ward as he shares the insights, stories, strategies and tools that have helped transform the businesses and lives of our Wize Guys and hundreds of Accounting, CPA and bookkeeping firm owners around the world.  In each episode, Bren dives into the leadership, marketing, sales, systems and mindset tactics that'll get you to your goals without burning out.  His interviews with his Wize co-founders and community of Wize firm owners are inspiring and transformational.  Subscribe to transform your challenges into opportunities and build a business that can run without you. 

Information

  • Creator
    Wize Mentoring for Accountants and Bookkeepers
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Wize Way
  • Show Website
    The Wize Way