"Ethics and integrity are a bookkeeper's superpower."
-Heather Smith

Kick off your new year with clarity and momentum in this special Year-In-Review episode!

Host, Michael Palmer brings together an international panel of leaders to unpack the biggest wins, surprises, and lessons from 2025. This conversation gives you a grounded look at what actually changed in the bookkeeping world and what you can expect moving into 2026.

You'll hear real stories from Canada, Australia, and the United States about technology shifts, economic pressures, client transformations, team challenges, and the rising demand for advisory.

Our final episode of 2025 is packed with insights that you don't want to miss!

Thank you so much for listening to our show and being a part of our community!

Your support is the reason this podcast continues to grow.

Wishing you a HAPPY and SUCCESSFUL 2026!

To find out more about our guests, click below:

Lisa Campbell
Teresa Slack
Heather Smith
Christina Springstead

Time Stamp

01:11 – Michael introduces the Year-In-Review panel
03:38 – Biggest surprises from 2025
04:51 – How bookkeepers embraced AI
05:12 – Personal breakthroughs & executing on training
07:04 – Economic pressures & global ripple effects
11:24 – Setbacks bookkeepers faced this year
16:41 – Capacity challenges & communication gaps
19:22 – Heartwarming client wins
23:05 – Helping clients understand their numbers
27:23 – The ripple effect bookkeepers create
30:03 – Why new bookkeepers matter
32:16 – Heartbreaks & financial vulnerability
34:06 – Ethics as a bookkeeper's superpower
39:26 – What worked well in 2025
40:10 – Hiring support to free up time
42:12 – Workflow systems paying off
46:11 – What didn't work & lessons learned
49:26 – Overwhelm from too much change at once
50:59 – Trends shaping 2026
54:58 – The rising need for human connection
1:02:37 – Personal focus areas for 2026
1:05:05 – Closing thoughts & New Year wishes

"You get to a place little by little of just working with these wonderful people that really appreciate what you're doing. They're paying top dollar and you love what you're doing."
-Lisa Campbell

Lisa Campbell, author of Beyond Bookkeeping and bookkeeping mentor, joins host Michael Palmer for part two of this special live series recorded at Accountex Canada 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. She shares how to filter ideal clients, step into advisory with confidence, and build a business that supports your life—not drains it.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• Why most bookkeepers already are doing advisory without realizing it
• One simple step you can take this month to start leading clients
• How boundaries create freedom and stronger client relationships

To learn more about Lisa, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Order a copy of Beyond Bookkeeping.

Time Stamp

01:09 – The biggest myths bookkeepers believe about advisory
02:25 – Why you're more qualified than you think
03:08 – The one conversation that can start your advisory journey
04:40 – How honesty builds trust & opens deeper client relationships
06:32 – Systematization as the path to freedom
07:36 – The emotional toll of staying stuck & overwhelmed
08:13 – Why boundaries matter & how to set them
09:36 – Stopping late-night messages, constant emergencies & scope creep
11:02 – Charging premiums for urgent work
11:50 – Seeing yourself as a leader, not a laborer
12:47 – The mindset shift that unlocks real advisory
13:39 – Why losing the wrong clients makes space for the right ones
15:24 – How ideal clients show up when you raise your standards
20:19 – Building your business mindset through learning and curiosity
22:01 – Differentiating yourself from low-cost competition
24:17 – How niching creates authority & demand
25:08 – The future of bookkeeping and the rise of AI-supported advisory

"You learn, you read, you surround yourself with other people. Don't stay isolated behind your computer. You come to things like this. You join groups, you learn what other people are doing, and a lot of it is just understanding the value yourself."
-Lisa Campbell

Lisa Campbell, author of Beyond Bookkeeping and longtime bookkeeping mentor, joins host Michael Palmer for a special two-episode series recorded live at Accountex Canada 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. She shares how a single "midnight moment" pushed her to rebuild her business, break free from burnout, and step confidently into advisory work.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• What finally broke the cycle of burnout & overwork
• How systemizing business unlocked time, freedom & new opportunities
• Why shifting from compliance to advisory starts with mindset

To learn more about Lisa, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Order a copy of Beyond Bookkeeping.

Time Stamp

01:16 – Lisa shares her "midnight moment" & the push to change everything
03:14 – The shift from having a job to building a business
06:16 – How burnout & overwork showed up in her daily life
07:03 – The mindset change that unlocked growth
08:12 – What "beyond bookkeeping" really means
09:17 – The moment she realized her systems were working
10:26 – How long it took to make the shift & why timing is different for everyone
11:46 – Breaking through time constraints & building structure
12:44 – How she stayed connected to her why during tough seasons
15:11 – How Profit First transformed her business & her clients'
16:20 – Why more clients doesn't equal more profit
18:10 – Moving from hourly work to value & subscription pricing
18:53 – The hidden gold bookkeepers give away for free
20:12 – Why learning, community & awareness help you charge your value
21:23 – Lisa's exercise to uncover value adds
24:12 – How she rewired her thinking & found new opportunities
25:16 – Shifting from compliance work to advisory
26:50 – Building an ecosystem for the entire client journey

" You do not want a business that is entirely dependent on you. You want an independent running business."
-Ron Bester

Ron Bester, VP of Client Experience at Successful Bookkeeper Global, breaks down why so many bookkeepers feel buried in day-to-day work and how the SODA framework helps you reclaim time, reduce stress, and build a business that doesn't rely on you to survive.

In this episode, you'll learn…

• How to spot where your time is leaking & fix it
• Build simple systems that remove bottlenecks
• Use automation to cut repetitive tasks & free up hours

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

00:00 – Why running a business is different from doing work you enjoy
03:00 – The common pitfalls small business owners face
07:00 – Why every business needs a plan, systems & an exit strategy
10:00 – Introduction to the SODA framework
12:00 – Systemize: building processes that create consistency
15:00 – Outsource: letting experts handle non-core work
17:00 – Delegate: breaking the "only I can do it" mindset
20:00 – Automate: using tech to remove repetitive tasks
23:00 – The biggest transformation bookkeepers experience with SODA
26:00 – Early wins & what shifts first
28:00 – Why most owners don't realize they are the bottleneck
30:00 – One small action you can take today
31:00 – How the SODA pre-checklist and intensive work
33:00 – Building a business that runs independently of you

"Like this is not just a gig, but this is my career. You grow into wanting more of that for your clients and you start recognizing if a client isn't about that. The last thing I want is just agree to do a subpar job because a client doesn't really care and then they decide to care in two years and they look back at the history and they're like, 'This has been a mess.'"
-Christina Springstead

Christina Springstead, owner and founder of Springstead Solutions, returns to share what she's learned from handling complex cleanups and growing her business with intention. From refining systems to managing client expectations, Christina explains how bookkeepers can balance quality, communication, and growth—without burning out.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How to spot hidden issues in cleanup projects before you quote
• Why communication & transparency build client trust
• How to manage pushback & set professional boundaries

To learn more about Christina and Springstead Solutions, here.

Connect with her on Linkedin.

Time Stamp

02:13 – Christina shares her background & path back to bookkeeping
04:34 – Lessons learned from recent cleanup projects
06:00 – The hidden costs of missing bank feed data & auto rules
07:42 – When CPA journal entries hide deeper problems
09:51 – How cleanup checklists evolved into better systems
10:51 – Why deeper diagnostic reviews protect both client & bookkeeper
12:06 – Expecting problems: guilty until proven innocent approach
13:01 – When "accurate" AR & AP numbers aren't accurate at all
14:45 – The danger of ignoring small errors today
15:34 – How to handle client pushback with transparency & purpose
16:22 – Choosing clients who care about accurate books
17:13 – Why clean books protect long-term business value
18:20 – Setting boundaries & recognizing red flags in clients
19:47 – The difference between hobby clients & business-minded ones
20:26 – Holding clients accountable for financial quality
21:02 – Managing stress & staying flexible during heavy work periods
22:45 – Communicating delays honestly with clients
23:57 – Building trust through consistency & openness
25:41 – Why clear communication increases client value perception
27:01 – Real client story: turning nonprofit chaos into clarity
28:55 – How bookkeeping education empowers boards & leaders
31:21 – Hiring a VA and assistant to buy back time & focus
32:53 – Building a business around your lifestyle, not fear
33:41 – Manifesting growth & designing your dream business
35:03 – Recommended books: Who Not How & Buy Back Your Time
37:33 – Why mindset, focus& vision drive real success
40:12 – How the new Summit experience connects the bookkeeping community

This episode is brought to you by our amazing friends at Hub Analytics!

Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips.

Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you'll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials!

Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level?

Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!

"Do not be tempted to undervalue yourself just because it happens to be something that's fast or easy for you to produce."
-Casey Brown

In the finale of this two-part series, pricing expert and president of Boost Pricing, Casey Brown, returns to share how bookkeepers can move from fear-based pricing to confident, value-driven conversations. She explains how to stop pre-discounting, test your true pricing ceiling, and communicate your worth with clarity and confidence.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• Why pre-discounting hurts your profits
• How to identify & attract better, higher-value clients
• How to package & present your services with confidence

Connect with Casey on LinkedIn.

To buy her book, Fearless Pricing, click here.

Watch her TED Talk, or video on 12 things I Hate About Hourly Billing.

To learn more about Boost Pricing, click this link.

Time Stamp

02:03 – The two types of discounting: negotiated & pre-discounting
03:52 – How to test your true price ceiling
04:54 – Overcoming scarcity mindset & fear of losing clients
06:02 – Why fewer clients at higher prices can be more profitable
08:44 – Letting go of price-sensitive clients who drain your energy
10:43 – Why bad clients cost more than they're worth
11:13 – The gender gap in business pricing & confidence
12:45 – How women undervalue their services & why it costs them
13:52 – Messaging & packaging your services for higher value
15:17 – Half of pricing success is the number; half is how you frame it
16:52 – Stop obsessing over numbers & focus on context
17:47 – The problems with hourly billing models
18:47 – Why fixed-fee & value-based pricing work better
19:26 – When & how to offer pricing packages
20:47 – Avoid overwhelming clients with too many choices
22:28 – Be the expert—guide your client's decision
24:31 – Why clear messaging builds trust & confidence
25:57 – The Picasso lesson: charge for your experience, not your time
26:58 – How to articulate the process & value you deliver
27:21 – Where to find Casey's free resources, book & programs
28:42 – Fearless Pricing community & how to join

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext!

Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.

Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch.

If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you!

Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!

"Bookkeeping is a commodity. My accounting software can be a commodity. So how do we strike that emotional cord and how do we give the confidence that we are the right choice going forward? We're not a commodity. We are differentiating. We're building that difference."
-Melanie Spillman

Melanie Spillman, Vice President of Sales for Sage US Medium Businesses, shares practical ways bookkeepers can build stronger client relationships—through listening, follow-up, and authenticity. She explores how trust is earned, why active listening matters, and how to keep human connection alive in an increasingly automated industry.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How to build trust quickly & consistently with clients
• The art of active listening & letting silence do the work
• Why understanding your client's past & future builds connection

Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn.

To learn more about Sage, click here.

Time Stamp

01:41 – How to build trust quickly with clients
03:34 – The power of timely follow-up
05:19 – Setting expectations & communicating clearly
06:33 – Teach, tailor & take control in client conversations
07:53 – How to ask better questions & listen actively
09:23 – Staying present & focused during meetings
12:22 – The value of silence in communication
13:54 – Showing authenticity & passion with clients
15:53 – How to build trust in the first meeting
17:22 – Asking about a client's past & future to deepen connection
20:09 – Why focusing only on history limits your impact
21:15 – How to stand out in a competitive market
22:29 – The "front door" story: lessons in emotional connection
25:39 – Why people buy with emotion & justify with logic
27:31 – Turning services from a commodity into a connection
29:34 – Keeping the human touch in an automated world
31:27 – Using AI to free time for more meaningful client work
33:22 – Understanding what really motivates clients
36:48 – Make every client interaction meaningful
38:46 – How Sage uses AI to empower bookkeepers

"It's the bookkeeper who has to sell his or her own services, and so they're not a professional salesperson. So a lot of times there's a lot of fear and we get in our heads, we get in our gut, we feel pushy, we feel salesy, we feel weird and we discount. And so to me, it's about arming the person whose job it is to sell this value with the skills and tools to do it."
-Casey Brown

In part one of this two-part conversation, pricing expert and resident of Boost Pricing, Casey Brown, joins the podcast to help bookkeepers overcome fear, self-doubt, and hesitation around pricing their services. Drawing from her journey as an engineer turned pricing strategist, she explains how your "money story" shapes your pricing decisions—and how to change it.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How mindset & money stories limit what you charge
• The biggest pricing mistake small firms make
• How to handle pricing objections without discounting

Connect with Casey on LinkedIn.

To buy her book, Fearless Pricing, click here.

Watch her TED Talk, or video on 12 things I Hate About Hourly Billing.

To learn more about Boost Pricing, click this link.

Time Stamp

00:00 – Why pricing confidence matters for bookkeepers
02:10 – Casey's journey from engineer to pricing strategist
04:38 – Lessons from working at GE & entering the pricing world
05:56 – Shifting from big corporations to small businesses
07:14 – Why analytical pricing models don't work for small firms
08:13 – Helping bookkeepers sell their own value with confidence
10:24 – From pricing analytics to pricing mindset training
12:31 – How training teams led to massive profit increases
13:36 – Why pricing problems start between your ears, not in spreadsheets
15:14 – Common sales beliefs that hold business owners back
17:19 – The myth that "the market sets the price"
18:52 – How changing beliefs can boost profitability
20:18 – Why most people fear talking about price
21:01 – Understanding your personal money story
22:41 – How emotions affect pricing decisions
23:13 – Exercises to detach emotion from pricing
24:22 – Casey's advice for bookkeepers ready to charge more

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext!

Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place.

Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch.

If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you!

Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!