What does it actually look like to build a modern CPA firm without losing yourself in the process?

Yuri sits down with Logan Graf to talk through the real decisions behind firm ownership, from taking the leap into entrepreneurship to figuring out whether buying a firm even makes sense.

They get into pricing, hiring, content creation, social media addiction, and the tension between making more money and actually enjoying your life. They also discuss Logan’s community Counter and how it helps firm owners feel less isolated.

Like always, this conversation goes past ‘tax talk’. It’s an honest discussion about growth, pressure, faith, family, and what happens when success starts to cost more than you expected.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Logan’s early entrepreneurial streak
5:09 - Who Logan is and how he built his firm
12:11 - Buying a firm vs. starting from scratch
21:45 - How to know if you’re ready for firm ownership
25:36 - The reality of content and social media
33:18 - Sponsored content, brand fit, and authenticity
38:44 - Hiring help and knowing when it’s time
45:44 - Why an admin hire might be the smartest next move
51:36 - Faith, family, and balancing it all
53:29 - More money, more problems
1:03:46 - What Logan would do differently starting over
1:05:33 - The shift from compliance to advisory
1:08:43 - Building a modern firm in an old-school profession

1:10:58 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH LOGAN GRAF

Website: https://www.graftaxco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangraf/

TRY COUNTER COMMUNITY FOR FREE

https://counter.circle.so/checkout/thefuncpa

Most accounting firms don’t have a tech problem. They have a trust problem.

In this episode, Yuri sits down with Jonathan Shkolnik, a developer turned founder building Portali, an AI bookkeeping tool designed to take the pain out of cleanups and month-end work. They talk through why accountants are so change resistant, how to evaluate new tools without getting burned, and what “automation” actually means when accuracy still matters and someone has to own the final review.

They also get into the practical stuff people actually worry about, how bank connections break, when uploading statements is a better workflow, what happens with credit card activity, and why “just export it to Excel” is still a real need for tax focused firms.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:33 - Meet Jonathan + his background

4:16 - Building products for accountants

6:40 - Resistance and pushback

9:30 - Bringing on new tech (don’t wait for the pain)

13:10 - What does Portali do? (and how does it help)

24:11 - Addressing pain points around file sharing, docs and Excel

30:50 - Connecting banks and cards to Portali

36:35 - Being a digital nomad

40:55 - Wrap-up, where you can find Jonathan

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH JONATHAN SHKOLNIK

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jshkolnik/

Website: https://portali.tech

In this episode of the Fun CPA podcast, Yuri sits down with Blake Oliver, CPA and host of "The Accounting Podcast," to discuss the evolving landscape of the accounting profession.

Blake shares his unique journey from professional cellist to firm owner, and eventually to a leading voice in accounting technology and media. Blake also shares his POV on automation and AI, firm management, scaling, the technology of it all and of course – where the profession itself is headed.

Whether you are a seasoned CPA, a firm owner, or an accounting student, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on navigating technology and building a successful career in the modern accounting world

Episode Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

0:45 - Episode open and intro to Blake Oliver

3:14 - How Blake got into accounting

7:00 - How Blake got clients in the beginning

9:00 - Reasoning for selling

13:58 - Advice for those looking to sell their firm

16:07 - Post-sale

20:00 - Blake’s podcast (and how it became his ‘job’)

24:20 - Balancing authenticity in your brand while taking on sponsors

27:21 - 150 Hour Credit, what’s next to help the profession grow

35:33 - How do you vet your apps?

41:20 - “Are you optimistic about the profession?”

47:00 - Advice for students

50:00 - Firm growth

52:00 - Standing out at conferences

53:31 - Episode wrap-up

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end.

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all.

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/

CONNECT WITH BLAKE OLIVER

Website: https://www.blakeoliver.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaketoliver/