The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is no longer a proposal, it’s the law. That means CPA financial planners must shift gears fast.

In this special crossover episode of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Podcast and the AICPA Tax Odyssey Podcast, host Cary Sinnett is joined by nationally recognized experts Bob Keebler and Mark Gallegos to break down what the new law really means for your clients and your planning strategies.

From the permanent TCJA tax brackets and QBI deduction to enhanced SALT caps, PTET elections, and new income exclusions for tips and overtime, this episode delivers high-level insights you can act on immediately. You’ll also hear forward-looking guidance on Roth conversions, entity structure decisions, estate and gifting strategies, and what Medicaid reforms mean for clients with multigenerational care responsibilities.

This is the must-listen briefing every CPA financial planner needs right now.

Resources:

• 2025 Reconciliation charts
• Planning for tax changes and tax reform
• 2025 House tax bill

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.

Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search “AICPA Personal Financial Planning” on your favorite podcast app.

In this special crossover episode between the AICPA’s Tax Section Odyssey and PFP Section podcasts, April Walker is joined by Bob Keebler and Mark Gallegos to break down the fast-moving tax legislation landscape. They walk through key provisions in both the House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the Senate’s proposal, sharing what matters most for client conversations right now.

Topics include:

• Timing and reconciliation process in Congress
• Section 199A and SALT cap updates
• PTET deduction differences and planning impact
• Section 174 R&D expensing changes
• Bonus depreciation and Section 179 updates
• Opportunity Zones and energy credits
• Why now is the “opportunity season” for proactive client outreach

This episode is your go-to briefing for what’s in motion and how to stay ahead. Tune in to hear what tax advisors need to know — and how to start client conversations before the final bill hits the President’s desk.

Resource:

PFP considerations across 2025 legislative proposals

When markets are volatile, your clients look to you for clarity—but before they can truly hear your technical advice, they may need something deeper: to feel emotionally steady and heard. In this episode, Dr. Meghaan Lurtz, behavioral scientist and partner at Shaping Wealth, joins host Cary Sinnett to explore the power of a question-led approach for CPA financial planners.

You’ll learn how leading with well-timed questions—not immediate answers—can reduce client panic, build trust, and actually enhance the effectiveness of your financial guidance.

💡 Key Takeaways for CPA Financial Planners:

• Why Questions Matter First: Jumping straight to solutions can trigger resistance. Asking grounding questions reduces panic and restores agency.
• Think Like a 911 Dispatcher: Just like emergency responders, planners can help clients regain control by starting with calm, relevant questions.
• Examples That Work: Dr. Lurtz shares specific questions that uncover what’s really driving client fear—and how to tie responses back to values and long-term goals.
• From Emotion to Action: How to transition from emotional support to technical advice without losing momentum or empathy.

🛠️ Tools & Resources:

• ✅ Download Dr. Lurtz’s Question-led Approach Handout
• ✅ How emotions affect financial decisions

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.

Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search “AICPA Personal Financial Planning” on your favorite podcast app.

When the markets swing, smart estate planning can make or break your client’s legacy. In this episode, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, joins Cary Sinnett to reveal the overlooked tax moves CPA financial planners need to know—from the strategic use of the Alternate Valuation Date (AVD) to avoiding costly missteps with the Kenan Doctrine.

Learn how the 645 election can shift tax treatment in your favor, why timing and valuation matter more than ever, and how to deliver sharp planning with empathy during emotional times. If you advise estates in a volatile market, these insights could reshape your postmortem playbook.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Alternate Valuation Date: when and how it reduces estate tax
• Kenan Doctrine: the hidden capital gain trap in bequests
• 645 Election: unlocking more favorable tax treatment for trusts
• Managing concentrated positions and planning for liquidity
• Balancing technical expertise with compassionate client communication

🔗 Resources & More:

• Guide: Vol. 1 - The Adviser’s Guide to Financial & Estate Planning – 15th Ed
• Webcast: Critical Income, Estate and Trust Planning for 2023 and Beyond
• Article: NumberCruncher for Financial Planners

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.

Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search “AICPA Personal Financial Planning” on your favorite podcast app.

As CPA financial planners, we often encounter a painful reality: adult children who are surprised, or even hurt, by their parents’ estate plans—after it’s too late for discussion. In this episode, Cary Sinnett speaks with Kelley Long, a respected fee-only financial wellness coach and former bank trust officer, about how proactive communication can help families preserve relationships and honor intentions.

Kelley offers practical, thoughtful strategies for advisors to help clients initiate and navigate these conversations. Topics include:

• The ideal timing for involving heirs in estate planning discussions
• Balancing fairness and transparency, especially when distributions are unequal
• How to help clients overcome the fear of conflict or entitlement
• The importance of framing the conversation around values and legacy, rather than specific financial details
• The role of ethical wills in clarifying intent and reducing misunderstandings

Key Insight:

Estate planning is not just a legal or financial process—it’s a relational one. When clients are supported in sharing their intentions and values clearly, the outcome is not just a smoother transition of wealth, but a stronger foundation for family unity.

Resources:

Guide: The Adviser’s Guide to Financial & Estate Planning – 15th Ed – Vol. 1

Podcast: Estate planning conversations all clients need to have now

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.

Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search “AICPA Personal Financial Planning” on your favorite podcast app.

Host Cary Sinnett and business transition advisor Mike Benedict discuss how to prepare business owners for one of their largest lifetime transactions—exiting their business. The conversation covers key aspects of pre-transaction preparation, valuation methods, building a sell-ready business, and leveraging tax strategies to maximize outcomes.

Key Insights

1. Pre-Transaction Preparation:
   Use a thorough quality of earnings review—similar to staging a home—to highlight strengths and avoid surprises during due diligence.
2. Integrated Planning:
   Blend exit strategies with overall financial and estate planning to manage tax implications and valuation challenges seamlessly.
3. Realistic Valuation:
   Rely on recast financials and market comparable to determine a fair, median value that avoids skew from outlier offers.
4. Sell-Ready Business:
   Aim for a business that operates independently, with strong margins and a robust management team, to attract quality buyers.
5. Strategic Tax Optimization:
   Apply targeted tax strategies and leverage specific IRS elections to minimize capital gains and enhance the net proceeds from a sale.

Access resources related to this podcast: Note: If you’re using a podcast app that does not hyperlink to the resources, visit Libsyn (PFP) to access show notes with direct links.

• Guide: The Adviser’s Guide to Financial & Estate Planning – 15th Ed
• Podcast: Building business owner wealth with tax advantaged plans
• Podcast: Deeper CPA financial planner connections with Mackey McNeill

This episode is brought to you by the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Section, the premier provider of information, tools, advocacy, and guidance for professionals who specialize in providing tax, estate, retirement, risk management and investment planning advice. Also, by the CPA/PFS credential program, which allows CPAs to demonstrate competence and confidence in providing these services to their clients. Visit us online at www.aicpa.org/pfp to join our community, gain access to valuable member-only benefits or learn about our PFP certificate program.

Subscribe to the PFP Podcast channel at Libsyn to find all the latest episodes or search “AICPA Personal Financial Planning” on your favorite podcast app.