This issue's commentary is based on the 2008 Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) Succession Survey Research Report. Bill Reeb's piece looks at the PCPS survey data for firms' succession planning progress, expected owners' retirement and current buyouts.

Want to learn even more about succession planning? Then check out a free Webcast on succession planning and how to develop a practical plan that’s available online for download. The American Institute of CPAs' Mark Koziel, CPA, and Jim Metzler, CPA, discuss succession planning options and how to plan for a firm's future. The Webcast is moderated by Liz Gold, associate editor of Accounting Today. It is archived, so register and watch anytime.

In this article, ConvergenceCoaching is lending its marketing prowess to help your firm recruit employees by pointing out potential avenues and creative approaches for finding top talent for your firm.

In her article, Leita Hart-Fanta, CPA, lists the buzzwords for a strong budget effort as accountability, transparency and focus. She offers success tips for those subjected to a budget or tasked with a budget, including holding people accountable, sharing significant information and focusing on what matters.

Looking to grow your firm or for a succession plan alternative? If so, a merger may be for you. Learn all about mergers and acquisitions from J.H. Cohn, a New Jersey accounting firm that has grown from a $19 million firm to today's approximately $215 million in just 13 years by pursuing mergers as a growth strategy. This article provides an eight-step checklist for merger success, including looking at your culture and conducting due diligence.

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CPA and technology guru Roman Kepczyk, CPA, CITP, recently attended the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and found top office technologies for your firm to watch. With over 140,000 attendees visiting 2,700 vendors in a show space equivalent to 35 football fields, Kepczyk culled some of the most innovative tools for accounting firms. If you couldn't make the big event, read this article about new and future technologies concerning displays, image capture and more.