A Different Kind of Year-End Reflection for CPA Firm Owners

This week is different. 

The emails slow down.

Client calls pause.

The noise of the year finally quiets — even if just for a moment. 

For many CPA firm owners, this is the rare window when you’re not reacting, fixing, or pushing. You’re simply present. And that makes this a powerful time to reflect — not on numbers, but on meaning. 

So instead of another checklist or tactical post, I want to offer a different kind of year-end reflection. 

 

Beyond Revenue and Busy Seasons 

Most year-end conversations in our profession revolve around: 

• how busy the year was 
• how challenging staffing continues to be 
• how intense the upcoming tax season looks 

Those things matter — but they’re not the whole story. 

This time of year invites a deeper question: 

What has this firm given you… and what has it taken from you? 

Not just financially.

But personally. 

Your time.

Your energy.

Your attention.

Your presence with the people who matter most. 

 

The Quiet Truth Many Owners Feel (But Rarely Say) 

After working with hundreds of CPA firm owners, I’ve noticed something consistent — especially around the holidays. 

Many owners are proud of what they’ve built.

And yet… quietly wondering: 

• Is this how I want to keep spending my time? 
• How much longer do I want to carry everything myself? 
• What would “enough” actually look like for me? 

These aren’t signs of weakness.

They’re signs of wisdom. 

They usually show up before a transition — not after. 

 

A Gentle Exercise for the Holiday Week 

Sometime over the next few days — maybe with a cup of coffee, maybe during a walk — consider these three questions: 

1. What am I most grateful for in my firm today? 
   (Clients, people, flexibility, income, impact — be specific.) 
2. What part of my firm feels heavier than it should? 
   (Responsibility, decision-making, hours, stress, dependence on you.) 
3. If I fast-forward three years, what do I hope has changed? 
   (Your role, your time, your involvement, your freedom.) 

You don’t need answers yet.

Just honesty. 

 

Why This Matters — Especially Now 

The best transitions don’t start with urgency.

They start with clarity. 

They begin when an owner gives themselves permission to reflect — not because something is wrong, but because they want something better aligned with the life they’re building. 

Holiday moments like this are often where that clarity begins. 

 

A Straight Talk Closing Thought 

This season is about more than rest. 

It’s about perspective. 

And perspective is what allows firm owners to make thoughtful, unhurried decisions about the future — decisions that protect what they’ve built and honor who they are becoming. 

Wherever you are in your journey, I hope this week gives you space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect — with your people, your values, and your vision. 

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a thoughtful close to the year.