In a recent episode of The Concierge CPA, Jackie Meyer, CPA, President of TaxPlanIQ, interviewed Paul G. McManus, founder of More Clients, More Fun. Their conversation highlighted valuable insights on writing a book, tax planning, and running a successful firm while maintaining work-life balance. They discussed how writing a book can help CPAs and financial advisors position themselves as thought leaders and attract ideal clients.
You can listen to the full episode here, or on your favorite podcast platform.
How to Publish a Book: Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
Paul shared his expertise on how to publish a book, emphasizing the differences between traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing. He explained that while traditional publishing is often seen as prestigious, it can be a long and rigorous process. For professionals looking to use their book as a tool for authority positioning, self-publishing offers greater control and flexibility. Paul mentioned that with today’s tools like Amazon, publishing a book can be done in as little as six weeks.
The discussion also delved into the pros and cons of each publishing route, with Paul recommending self-publishing for professionals who want to quickly establish credibility and use their book for business development. Jackie shared her experience writing her own book, highlighting the importance of choosing the right publishing path depending on your goals.
How Writing a Book Can Transform Client Relationships
A major theme of the interview was how writing a book can radically transform client relationships. Both Jackie and Paul agreed that books serve as a powerful tool to convey your expertise and thought leadership to potential clients. Paul emphasized that writing a book allows you to present your ideas and strategies in a structured way, giving clients a chance to “meet” you through your writing before any face-to-face interaction.
For accountants and tax advisors, this can be especially beneficial, as it helps clients better understand your value proposition and positions you as an educator rather than just a salesperson. As Paul put it, “authorship flips the script” and allows clients to come to you already primed to work together, minimizing the sales pitch and focusing on whether you’re the right fit.
Balancing Firm Ownership and Personal Life
The conversation also touched on a common challenge for tax professionals: work-life balance. As firm owners, Jackie and Paul both highlighted the importance of building systems that reduce the day-to-day grind and allow for more personal time. Jackie shared her own journey of establishing balance while growing her firm, including the importance of investing in tools and strategies that make the firm run more efficiently.
Paul added that for many financial professionals, time is the biggest barrier to writing a book. However, by creating a book as a tool for business development, professionals can save significant time on sales and client outreach in the long run. Paul explained how his method, which involves a six-week structured process, helps professionals get their ideas onto the page without overwhelming their already busy schedules.
How TaxPlanIQ Can Help Grow Your Tax Firm
For tax professionals seeking to take their firms to the next level, TaxPlanIQ offers an innovative solution. With TaxPlanIQ, you can easily create custom-branded tax plans, identify potential tax savings for clients, and implement strategies with just a few clicks. The software allows you to leverage tax planning as a high-value, scalable service for your firm, helping you grow your business while reducing your workload. Sign up for a free demo of TaxPlanIQ today to see how it can help you transform your tax practice and better serve your clients.
