Stand Out in a Crowded Market

From Compliance to Strategic Advisory

As a CPA, differentiating yourself from the myriad of options available to business owners requires more than just providing tax returns and audits. In a crowded marketplace, CPAs must evolve beyond being viewed as commodities, offering merely compliance-driven services. Instead, they must proactively engage clients with strategic advice, transforming their role from transactional to indispensable.

Imagine the profound impact of understanding your clients' deepest motivations and long-term goals. By leveraging the ISPA suite of member resources, you can offer holistic consulting advice from a deeply informed position, transforming your role from a transactional service provider to a trusted advisor who guides clients toward their dreams. This comprehensive approach not only enhances client loyalty but also positions you as an indispensable partner in their journey to success.

Drive Client Loyalty and Practice Growth

Business owners today demand more than just number crunching from their CPAs; they seek trusted advisors who grasp their aspirations and the underlying motivations driving them. Embracing a holistic approach, CPAs can redefine their advisory services through the lens of the Succession Matrix, enabling a deep exploration of clients' personal and business goals.

This proactive approach goes beyond traditional boundaries, offering comprehensive services that address both immediate needs and long-term visions alike.

INTEGRATED SERVICE OFFERING

Integrating holistic planning positions CPAs as a strategic partner with the tools to expertly advise clients whose businesses are their primary assets. Leveraging the Succession Matrix methodology, CPAs can harmonize tax, personal, family and business strategies, ensuring sustained growth, wealth preservation, and fulfillment of client goals.

Seamlessly deploy the full scope of the firms’ services such as fractional CFO, technology, recruiting, wealth management etc.

FACILITATING BUSINESS & PRACTICE GROWTH

Partner with clients to develop tax-aware business strategies that enhance profitability and ensure sustained growth. Offer integrated performance metrics, providing a comprehensive view of the business's financial health in alignment with their long-term goals.

As your clients' businesses grow, so do your opportunities to deliver value-added advisory services, which in turn drives the growth of your practice.

NAVIGATING FAMILY & BUSINESS ISSUES

Navigate intricate family and business dynamics with tailored strategies to align expectations.. Expertise in strategic succession planning offers deep insights into pressures affecting family relationships and business partnerships, providing guidelines to mitigate family tensions and enhance operational harmony.

CLIENT LOYALTY & REFERRALS

Generate referrals from satisfied clients and professionals by comprehensively understanding their financial needs and personal motivations. By fulfilling their business and personal aspirations, you not only foster loyalty but also create new opportunities for growth.

Enhance Your Team's Potential with ISPA®

Transform Technicians Into Advisors

In today's competitive job market, finding top-tier talent has become increasingly challenging difficult. ISPA® resources can be leveraged as a turnkey recruitment and advisory development program specifically designed for junior associates. Junior associates want to see a clear pathway for growth, and ISPA® resources provide multiple career development opportunities. These resources offer your team advisory options beyond just tax returns or audits, allowing them to expand their skills and expertise.

Comprehensive Advisory Development Resources:

Equip your team with:

Marketing and Sales Guides: Attract and retain clients effortlessly.
Implementation Tools: Simplify and streamline the advisory process.
Advisory Strategies: Tailored strategies for business advisory, growth & succession planning.

Elevate your firm with ISPA®, differentiate your practice, attract top talent, and provide a clear development path. Integrate our resources to become a leader in business advisory. Join ISPA® and watch your firm thrive.

ISPA Advanced Planning Tools

Maximize Practice Growth

In today's dynamic professional landscape, the International Succession Planning Association (ISPA®) is revolutionizing business advisory services. By joining ISPA®, you can unlock unparalleled opportunities through our Certified Succession Planner™ (CSP™) credential and the innovative Succession Planning Assessment™ (SPA™). Elevate your practice, boost client satisfaction, and drive revenue growth.

Our comprehensive suite of resources, including marketing and sales guides, along with implementation tools for the Succession Matrix®, empowers you to generate additional billable hours and consulting fees. As a CPA, you play a crucial role in guiding capital-intensive family businesses through change and complexity. These businesses require proactive, highly skilled advisors to help them seize strategic opportunities and navigate emerging challenges.

Integrating ISPA’s advanced planning tools into your practice positions you as a forward-thinking advisor dedicated to your clients' long-term success. Our specialized resources not only broaden your perspective but also equip you with a process-driven approach, enabling you to provide unparalleled value. Join ISPA® today and reshape the future of business advisory.

Your Gateway to
Specialized Expertise

Position yourself as an industry authority by exploring the unique benefits of our CSP credential. Elevate your credibility, solidify your expertise, and become the go-to expert in the competitive market of succession planning.

Beyond Certification, An Analytical Tool on Steroids

Uncover the depth of our SPA™, an analytical powerhouse that goes beyond certification. Foster meaningful client engagement and gain actionable insights.

Not Just Tools, a
Strategic Partnership

Experience the immediate impact of joining ISPA® through the Succession News & Applied Practice Resources. Hit the ground running, positioning yourself as a highly experienced value-add succession planner.

Strategies for Practice Growth & Stability

To truly stand out as a CPA, it's crucial to adopt a proactive mindset rather than a reactive one. By anticipating potential challenges before they arise, and collaborating closely with clients and other advisors, you can offer proactive solutions that keep your clients ahead of the curve. This forward-thinking approach not only mitigates risks but also uncovers new opportunities for growth and innovation.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, where constant change and complex challenges are the norm, CPAs who set themselves apart by providing comprehensive, forward-looking services will capture the attention of business owners. These modern CPAs earn lasting trust and loyalty by not just following trends, but by shaping them, leaving a significant impact on the lives and legacies of their clients

Join the ISPA Today!

Ready to revolutionize your approach to succession planning? Join ISPA® today and embark on a transformative journey.

Elevate your practice, distinguish yourself in the market, and achieve unparalleled success in the dynamic landscape of succession planning. Succession planning has never been this transformative—seize the opportunity and revolutionize your future as a member of the International Succession Planning Association®.

Key Benefits of Leveraging ISPA Resources:

Fortify client relationships for enhanced retention and satisfaction.
Catalyst for revenue growth through various avenues.
Differentiate yourself, offering a unique value proposition to clients.

The Benefits Add Up and Make Sense

Transform Your Accounting Practice with Business Advisory Excellence

Are You Looking to Grow Your Practice?

Check Out These Other Free Downloads

16 HIDDEN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Multi-generational clients grow your business. Whether you are a lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, or consultant, we have a list of actionable strategies you can test today to motivate your clients to work with you long term.

12 QUESTIONS TO CREATE CLIENT OPPORTUNITIES

Get this free resource of 12 powerful questions you can ask to identify client motivations and influence business owners to take action. Grow your business by having better discussions with prospects and clients immediately.

20 YEAR
CASE STUDY

Want to get into the specifics of what it takes in succession planning? Gain insights into the inner-workings of a real long-term family business succession planning case study and a business engagement that was worth over $75,000 per year.

3 STRATEGIC PROJECT EXAMPLES

You need to have a plan. We outlined three of our best examples of projects you could learn from and potentially apply in your business. From objective to successful outcome, these family business examples help you build strategies.

"The most important item I gained by obtaining training in succession planning was an understanding of the legion of drivers that impact a successful succession plan. It gave me the ability to understand my clients’ motives better (which in many instances are not fully articulated). I did not pursue succession planning as a separate business endeavor but used the knowledge to assist my clients in engaging professionals that could help them move forward.

New business and retaining clients are not an issue. Influencing clients to act was. The more I know about building, operating, valuing, protecting, and eventually passing on a business, the better I can serve my clients in achieving their goals."

Leon M Rogers, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFE, CVA, CSP
Managing Member, Tetrick and Bartlett

JOIN US ON LINKED IN

This group is dedicated to connecting advisors, consultants & counselors who are or have an interest in working in the business succession planning field to globally promote the key concepts and to help the succession planning community learn, leverage resources & outperform. This group will promote an environment for sharing ideas, leveraging resources and will provide access to cutting edge professional development and planning resources.

VISIT THE LINKEDIN GROUP

"I was always trying to find better ways to speak with business owners about succession planning. This training helped me transition from selling to asking better questions. This also enhanced my listening skills and I pivoted to teaching/consulting to their issues. I was better able to help privately held businesses move through the process of Succession, Exit and Transition.

The majority of a business owners wealth is locked in their business. To help them move, spend, transfer and distribute their wealth you need to be able to address and serve them where they need you. Our future is dependent of the continued success and growth of our Entrepreneurs."

Michael C. Valdez, AIF, CLU
Founder & President- Business Transition Council

SHOULD YOU JOIN THE ISPA MEMBERSHIP?

Succession planning is a major priority for business owners right now. Are you prepared to help your clients navigate their long term needs as effefictively as possible?

LEARN MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

What will the online learning experience be like?

We know that learning online can be tough sometimes, which is why we brought in experts in virtual training to help us build more than just videos over powerpoint. You will have a wide variety of methods to learn including videos, interactive lessons, quizzes, and surveys. Our goal is to ensure that you grow through the learning, not just go through it.

Can I learn at my own pace?

The Certified Succession Planner program will be delivered on-demand and as a continuous enrollment model which means you can enroll any time and learn at your convenience.

Who is providing the training?

Training has been developed by the Authors and Contributors of numerous succession planning textbooks and training programs. Additionally, the ISPA Board has contributed feedback, time, and resources to help ensure the success of the programs. Learn more about the ISPA and team here.

Are there assignments or deliverables?

The program does not have any deliverables for you to complete and submit directly to the ISPA, however as you go along, you will need to demonstrate your comprehension through ongoing competency tests which will allow you to progress further.

What is the expected time commitment?

You can expect that each module should take you approximately 1-2 weeks to complete, depending on the time you put in. We suggest you commit to 1-2 hours per day and around 10-15 hours per module in total. We also understand that each learner will work at their own pace.

What are the requirements to join the program?

The topics covered in the Certified Succession Planner program are not entry-level, meaning that we recommend that you have a combination of both professional and educational experience in executive coaching, law, finance, or accounting.

What technology do I need to access my materials?

The CSP program has been built on a platform that is both desktop and mobile friendly, so most laptops and desktop computers will be sufficient to work through the materials. While you may access the content easily on your mobile device, we do recommend a desktop computer. You also might want to use a printer to print out the supplemental resources like textbooks, guides, workbooks, etc.

Is there support if I get stuck?

Anytime you need help, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and we will do our best to work with you on your challenges.

BEYOND TAX RETURNS