Rosenberg Associates Blog

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Difficult Partner Dynamics Part 2: Compensation Effects and Silver Linings

Kristen Rampe HeadshotKristen Rampe, CPA / September 3, 2025

Welcome back to our analysis of insights from the Difficult Partner Dynamics Quick Poll conducted in August 2025. If you missed our first blog in this series, catch up here. In this post, we explore how unresolved partner issues affect compensation and, more importantly, look at ways to resolve them. We’ll also share real-life examples…

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Untangling the Knot: Why One Solution to CPA Firm Challenges Can’t Stand Alone

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / May 21, 2025

If you decide to run for political office, is it over when you register? Of course not. You need money, a campaign office, staff, the endorsement of a political party and a strategy. If you want to open a restaurant, is it sufficient to hang out a nice sign and be a good cook? Of…

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Michael Horowitz

A Morning with a Luminary of the CPA Profession

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / April 22, 2025

We are talking about none other than Michael Horwitz, the Executive Director of BDO Alliance USA, the largest association of US-based independent accounting, tax and advisory firms. The Alliance comprises more than 250 CPA firms and 150 advisory firms and vendors that serve CPA firms. Ninety percent of the BDO firms are under $30M, reflecting…

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Treneds

What’s Happening in the CPA Ecosystem?

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / January 14, 2025

By Marc Rosenberg, CPA, with contributions from Kristen Rampe, CPA; Matt Rampe, ASA, PCC; Amanda Lilley, CPA, SHRM-CP, PHR; and Jeff Arnol, CPA, JD Ask random people on the street—or, even better, business executives—if there have been profound changes in the accounting profession over the past 10–20 years. The answer you’ll most likely get is,…

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pros and cons on post its

Should Your CPA Firm Consider Private Equity? The Pros, Cons, and Key Questions to Ask

Matt Rampe HeadshotMatt Rampe / December 3, 2024

Private equity (PE) is moving into the accounting industry, elevating pressure on firms large and small to consider their next move. While direct investments in larger firms began several years ago, PE is now active and likely to keep expanding with targets in the mid-sized firms and even smaller ones (under $30M). To determine whether…

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small to large piggy banks

Is Your CPA Firm a Small, Mid-Sized or Large Firm? How Is This Properly Measured?

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / November 20, 2024

There is a little devil in me that will come out as you read my blog today. Devilish because this is a blog that will likely cause some readers to question some of my assumptions and statements. That’s okay. I love it. I can take it. This blog was inspired by two experiences: (1) First,…

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Meeting around a conference table

How 20 Chicago Mid-Size Firms Saw the 2023 Tax Season

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / May 24, 2023

My colleague, Art Kuesel of Kuesel Consulting (art@kueselconsulting.com), and I have been leading three roundtables in the Chicago area for over 20 years. Each group has about 25 partners, mostly MPs. The group that this blog reports on comprises roughly 75% of the largest local firms in Chicago. Revenues range from $7M to $35M. We…

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Partner Coaching: Why is it beneficial?

Matt Rampe HeadshotMatt Rampe / February 1, 2023

I coached a managing partner recently – let’s call him Chad – who was standing on a proverbial burning platform when I met him. Chad had lots of clients who loved his firm, but was short staffed at the lower levels and partner level. He had a succession problem that needed to be handled now….

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Professional with head down writing at desk.

Are Staff’s Poor Writing Skills Causing Problems?

Avatar photoMarc Rosenberg, CPA / August 2, 2022

Why it’s important to write correctly Written communication takes several forms: emails, texts, letters (to clients and the IRS, for example), client reports, performance evaluations, etc. Thoughtful writing of these messages is important because: It shows that the author is thinking clearly. The way you write says as much about you as the way you…

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Upgrade

Three Critical Upgrades for Your Firm’s Management

Kristen Rampe HeadshotKristen Rampe, CPA / October 5, 2021

It’s no secret that small to mid-sized CPA firms don’t have the same resources to manage their firms that the Top 100 do. Plus, smaller firm owners enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to do what they want and not be subject to corporate policies, red tape, bureaucracy, and other negative aspects of…

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