Your New Title: CPA Financial Planner

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) thinks you need a title upgrade. You know about the full range of services you offer, but some consumers still have a narrowly-defined concept of CPAs. They associate CPAs with April 15th, and aren’t aware of the myriad ways you could assist them. The AICPA thinks you should consider this title: CPA financial planner.

This will help you reach potential clients who may not have considered you for their planning needs. You’re already providing planning services in some capacity, so the AICPA thinks you should market yourself accordingly.

The AICPA reports that “75% of consumers with a net worth of $500,000 to $5 million+ reported that ‘personal financial planning’ is the most appealing term for the services they’re seeking.” The following numbers show that the majority of CPAs perform these services:

• 97% tax planning
• 62% estate planning
• 54% retirement planning
• 48% succession planning (businesses)
• 23% wealth management

To read more, see the AICPA’s resource page.