Capstan Live Podcast

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Herb Baker

When you think of NASA, you probably picture space shuttles and moon launches -- that's the glamorous stuff. But the innovation happening at NASA is underpinned by a group of dedicated accountants and professionals who are crucial to the organization's mission. Today's guest, Herb Baker, is one of those people.

 

In his 42 years at NASA, Herb worked in contracts and procurement and was key in building relationships with firms like Grumman, Boeing, and SpaceX. While in management, he served as NASA's liaison to vendors, Congress, and the IRS.

 

Prepare for leadership lessons that are literally out of this world:

 

• You can only control your piece, and you have to trust your team — especially when the stakes are the highest

• Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is get out of the way — and a master-class example that saved the Apollo 13 astronauts

• Why "failure is not an option" makes great movie dialogue, but doesn't always play in real life

 

Plus much more, including insider tales of life on the space station and the secret of astronaut ice cream..

 

To learn more about Herb, please visit www.herbbaker.space. Keep your eye out for his memoir, From Apollo to Artemis: Stories From My 50 Years with NASA, set to be published at year's end.

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Jody Padar, The Radical CPA

Jody Padar is one of the most disruptive and impactful pioneers in the accounting industry. An early adopter of technology and social media, Jody's been shaking things up for decades now, shepherding our industry forward through her conception of the “New Firm.” There's a reason she's known as The Radical CPA.

 

This episode is packed with thoughtful insight, delivered with Jody's inimitable wit and energy:

 

1. Why social media is really social business

2. How to fully leverage technology while retaining the personal touch

3. The reason that value-based pricing is the key to success as firms evolve

4. What Jody predicts our industry will look like in 10 years - and how to avoid behind left behind

 

Jody's most recent book, Radical Pricing: How to Optimize Profits, Delight Customers and Build a Top Value Firm is available at cpatrendlines.com, where you can also read excerpts and download a free bonus toolkit. You can also reach out to Jody directly at Jody@TheRadicalCPA.com or visit her website at theradicalcpa.com.

 

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Bryan Cogliano and Frank Hanna Jr. of Revolution X

Ready to hear something revolutionary?

Bryan Cogliano and Frank Hanna Jr. are the founders of Revolution X, a real estate consulting firm providing cutting-edge investment options with a personal approach. In this episode, Bryan and Frank introduce two new strategies that add flexibility and agility to real estate, allowing investors to control their destiny.

Listen in to discover:

1. Why all investors should identify a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) as a potential replacement property during a 1031 Exchange

2. Ways to avoid dealing with the "Three T's"

3. How to leverage a "Bonus Depreciation Fund" to offset passive income

4. Why CPAs should add these tools to their toolbox, and offer clients new and thoughtful options for consideration

To learn more about 1031 Exchanges, DSTs, or Bonus Depreciation Funds, reach out to *Frank Hanna, ChFC (frankhanna@revxwealth.com) and *Bryan Cogliano, CFP (bryancogliano@revxwealth.com) or visit www.revxwealth.com.

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Leendert Enthoven

Utility rebates may be the energy world's best kept secret. Thousands of incentives benefit property owners who install energy-efficient equipment like LED lighting, HVAC systems, EV (electrical vehicle) chargers and more.

 

Leendert Enthoven, founder of BriteSwitch (briteswitch.com), is here to give us a primer on this little-known opportunity, explaining:

 

1. Why utilities are willing to "give money away"

2. How he created a rebate database to help identify, maximize, and capture rebates for energy-efficiency products

3. The future of the rebate industry in a world turning to electrification

4. How multifamily property owners can strategically leverage rebates to offset the costs of installing equipment, especially the uber-popular EV charging station

 

If you'd like to learn more about benefiting from utility rebates, Leendert (leendert.enthoven@briteswitch.com) is the man to see.

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Angie Grissom

Angie Grissom, MBA, has been consistently named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for the last decade. She's an author, a speaker, a coach, and a visionary who believes in people. One thing she's not? An accountant. Listen in as Angie discusses:

1. How she paved her own path (and how you can too!)

2. The importance of firm culture in employee retention

3. Why change management and partner accountability are key to growing your firm

4. The crucial mindset shift from the transactional approach to the relational approach

If you want to grow your firm, retain your talent, and enjoy your work — this is an episode not to be missed.  

To learn more about Angie and The Rainmaker Companies, visit therainmakercompanies.com.  Angie can be reached at angie@therainmakercompanies.com

 

Beyond the Spreadsheet with George Burchlaw, MBA

Having worked in real estate for decades, George Burchlaw noticed that regardless of size, real estate investment firms seemed to be drowning in data. He realized that firms needed a software platform more nuanced and customizable than a simple Excel spreadsheet, but that they also needed a partner to organize and analyze data on that mythical platform. RE Analytics was born, and George never looked back.

 

Listen in as we discuss:

— How George helps real estate decision-makers make informed decisions

— The challenges of high interest rates and outdated proformas

— How CPAs and real estate advisors can partner to create opportunity

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Ashley Northcutt

Ashley Northcutt is one of the most fascinating and accomplished women we know. Her personal transformation is inspiring — Ashley left a high-powered position in tax to launch the non-profit Women's Affordable Housing Network. Ashley goes to bat each and every day for women working in affordable housing and women living in affordable housing. It's only fitting that this episode of Beyond the Spreadsheet releases on International Women's Day — Ashley and her team are making a genuine difference in the lives of women.   

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Greg Kyte

Greg Kyte is known as "The Comedy CPA" — and we're not kidding. On this episode, Greg talks about the therapeutic effects of finding the humor in our industry. Greg is the author and illustrator of Exposure Drafts Cartoons (https://www.instagram.com/exposuredrafts/), a hilarious single-panel comic that satirizes the daily absurdity. He's also the co-host of Oh My Fraud, a "true crime podcast for accountants" that will have you laughing and learning (https://ohmyfraud.com/). Did we mention you can even get CPE credit if you listen through the Earmark App (https://earmarkcpe.com/)?

 

You can reach the man, the myth, the comedy legend at greg@gregkyte.com. PLUS — we'll be showcasing his inimitable style in a Capstan University webinar this May! Stay tuned...

Beyond the Spreadsheet with Jenny Massey

Welcome to Beyond the Spreadsheet, a special podcast series from Capstan Live. Our goal is to spark authentic conversation about our industry, and we've invited some of the smartest, most influential people we know to join us.   

 

Our first guest, Jenny Massey, CRE, is Director of Site Selection and Business Incentives at Sikich LLP. She's also an archaeologist by training, spent 7 years living and working in Japan, and is an accomplished beekeeper (!). Join us for 20 minutes with the fascinating Jenny Massey as we discuss:

1. The purpose of site selection

2. How local and state business incentives offset expansion costs

3. Which activities should trigger a consultation with a site selection/business incentives professional

4. How success in claiming incentives is all about pitching the right story to the right audience

 

If you're an owner growing your business — or a CPA that advises one — this is a must-listen.

If you'd like to consult with Jenny, feel free to reach out to her at jenny.massey@sikich.com.

Special Episode: Year End Top Ten!

It's the Third Annual Year End Top 10 Podcast, where multiple Capstan stars come out to shine! Join Bruce, Terri, Ziv, and Jacob as they run through this year's must-knows, while sharing a few laughs and some good-natured banter. Unsurprisingly, IRA-related topics take 3 up three spots on this year's list, and even edge out Mandatory Amortization of Sec. 174 Expenses for the coveted top spot. Want to get the scoop on the entire Top 10? Give us a listen — you'll be glad you did.