- The Family Meeting Blueprint: Avoiding the Cost of Silence
This week we are sharing an episode of Paul’s other Podcast “Connected Advice” because it is important to everyone interested in creating a legacy.
Find Connected Advice wherever you get podcasts, or here:
https://redcircle.com/connected-advice
Or on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTlwsQ-t9QaEJ5mITCUCC3nxvlouBZ9Rc&si=dTEAmpd1eNfEoayT
Host Paul Redmond tackles one of the most crucial yet avoided conversations for business owners: discussing wealth and succession with their families. He reveals why having a perfectly drafted will or tax plan is not enough and how silence can lead to financial fallout and emotional strife.
Paul provides a practical, four-step blueprint for running a productive family meeting that fosters clarity and protects relationships, emphasizing that the most powerful inheritance you can leave isn't money—it's clarity.
Avoiding the conversation about wealth and succession guarantees future problems. Having the difficult discussion now, using a structured and empathetic approach, is an act of love that protects both your family's financial future and their relationships.
Key Takeaways
1. Documents Do Not Replace Conversations
- A common mistake is believing a perfectly drafted will, trust, or tax plan is sufficient. These documents are tools for execution, but they cannot prevent family conflict if the intentions and reasons behind them are not clearly communicated and understood.
2. The "Cost of Silence" is Immense
- Avoiding the conversation leads to a dual fallout:
- Financial: Wasted structures, missed tax reliefs, assets getting tied up, and wealth being eroded by advisory fees to fix problems.
- Emotional: Resentment, confusion, mistrust, and long-lasting family conflict after you're gone.
3. The Goal is Clarity, Not Just Distribution
- The most powerful inheritance you can leave your family is not money, but clarity. Clear communication about your wishes, values, and the "why" behind decisions is the greatest gift for preserving family harmony.
4. Use a Four-Step Blueprint for a Successful Family Meeting
- Frame the Purpose: Clearly state that the meeting is about alignment and reducing future stress, not dividing assets. It's about ensuring everyone understands their role and your wishes.
- Pick the Timing & Setting Carefully: Choose a neutral time and space, not a holiday or birthday. Consider using a neutral third-party facilitator to chair the meeting.
- Use a Neutral Framework: Employ a tool or methodology (e.g., a "Legacy Lens") to provide structure. This shifts the conversation from personal opinions to shared clarity and helps manage emotional resistance.
- Facilitate, Don't Dictate: Approach the meeting as a dialogue. Use phrases like, "Here’s what we’re thinking, we’d love to hear your thoughts." The goal is to listen and make people feel heard.
5. Start with Powerful "Starter Questions"
- Begin the conversation by reflecting on and discussing:
- What kind of legacy do we want to leave as a family?
- What does "fair" look like? (Equitable doesn't always mean equal).
- What is the most important thing to protect: the estate or the family relationships? (The answer should always be family first).
6. Practical Tools: The Legacy Letter and Starting Small
- Write a Legacy Letter: This is a non-legal, personal letter (or video) explaining your hopes, values, and dreams. It provides context and reduces the chance of conflict.
- Start Small: The first meeting is an introduction to the conversation. You don't need to solve everything at once. The objective is to start the dialogue and set a date for the next conversation.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find Dan here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldalyrda/
Find Crunch My Numbers here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulredmond57
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crunch-my-numbers/id1759207774
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lrgwtIPUYTBB5VmZEYm8
Web: https://redcircle.com/shows/crunch-my-numbers
12m - Oct 29, 2025 - Unlock Agent Mode: How Better Questions Can Transform Your Accounting Firm
In this episode of The Accountant's Club, host Paul Redmond introduces a game-changing mindset: "Agent Mode." Moving beyond the Advisory Ladder, Paul reveals how shifting from providing data to asking powerful, insightful questions can redefine your client relationships and elevate your role to a trusted advocate.
Discover the three pivotal questions that can instantly deepen client trust, unlock new revenue streams, and make your firm irreplaceable in the age of AI and automation. Learn how to implement this simple but profound shift starting with just one client this week.
Key Takeaways:
- Agent Mode Defined: Shift from being a service provider to becoming your client's advocate and agent of clarity, sitting beside them rather than across from them.
- The Power of Questions: Move beyond compliance questions ("Is your return filed?") to strategic, advisory questions that uncover the client's real challenges and dreams.
- Three Key Questions to Ask: Learn the simple but powerful questions: "What's the one thing that would make the biggest difference to your business?", "What's keeping you up at night?", and "If we solved that, what would your life look like?"
- Immediate Action: You don't need a complete overhaul; start by testing one agent-mode question with just one client this week and actively listen to the answer.
- The Future of Accounting: The differentiating factor won't be who has the best reports, but who asks the best questions.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Oct 15, 2025 - How to Become Irreplaceable to Your Clients and 10X Your Firm's Value
Are you stuck on the compliance treadmill? In this episode of The Accountant's Club, Paul Redmond introduces a powerful framework: The Advisory Ladder. He breaks down the five distinct rungs—from basic compliance to strategic leadership—that define an accounting firm's value and irreplaceability. Learn how to diagnose where your practice (and your individual clients) currently sit, the critical mistake of trying to jump rungs too quickly, and the one simple action you can take this quarter to climb steadily toward higher fees and deeper client relationships. This is your practical roadmap for the defining decade.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Oct 1, 2025 - Is This the Defining Decade for Accountants? How Accountants Can Prepare for Change
Host Paul Redmond tackles a critical question: are we in the midst of the most pivotal decade for the accounting profession? He argues that the convergence of AI, automation, and post-COVID shifts has created a moment of irreversible change. Paul breaks down why clinging to a compliance-only model is a risk, how to find immense new value in advisory services, and shares a powerful client story that proves the life-changing impact of leading with advice.
This episode is a call to action for every accountant to choose whether they will resist, survive, or lead.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
17m - Sep 17, 2025 - The 97% Problem: Why Accountants Struggle with Software (And How to Fix It)
Why do 97% of accounting firms admit they aren't using their technology to its full potential? In this episode of The Accountant's Club, host Paul Redmond dives deep into the frustrating world of software implementation. He breaks down the "broken promise" of new tech, explores the human and cultural barriers within firms, and outlines a clear framework for moving from costly adoption gaps to transformative outcomes.
If you've ever bought software that ended up collecting digital dust, this episode is your guide to building a true partnership with technology.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
18m - Sep 3, 2025 - Cybersecurity for Accountants: Protecting Your Firm Without the Panic
Host Paul Redmond sits down with Gavin Dixon, cybersecurity expert and founder of Business IT Solutions, to tackle one of the most critical (and often intimidating) topics for accounting firms: how to lock down your data without locking down your team.
In this practical, no-jargon conversation, they break down:
🔹 Why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is non-negotiable—and how to implement it without friction
🔹 The surprising risks of weak passwords (and why a password manager is your new best friend)
🔹 Creating a "no-blame" security culture—how to encourage transparency when breaches happen
🔹 Real-world threats targeting accountants—from phishing to ransomware—and how to spot them
🔹 Simple policies that make a big difference (without overwhelming your team)
Gavin’s down-to-earth advice proves that cybersecurity isn’t just for IT pros—it’s a business-critical priority for every firm. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or managing a team, this episode will give you actionable steps to reduce risk, build trust, and sleep better at night.
Find Gavin Dixon here:
Business IT Solutions https://bits.ie/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavindixon/
Call +353 56 778 6882
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Listen to more episodes here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW6b8toTV5hUBzSDkTC1B1YFUC70-Rs-z
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
39m - Jun 5, 2025 - Marketing for Accountants: Standing Out with Authenticity & Creativity
Host Paul Redmond sits down with Karen Reyburn, founder of PF (The Profitable Firm), a marketing agency dedicated to helping accountants attract their dream clients. In this insightful conversation, they dive into why marketing is no longer optional for accounting firms—and how to do it in a way that feels authentic, creative, and truly you.
🔹 Why most accountants struggle with marketing (and how to fix it)
🔹 The power of storytelling to connect with clients beyond numbers
🔹 Breaking the "boring accountant" stereotype—why creativity is your secret weapon
🔹 How to attract high-value clients (and stop competing on price)
🔹 Practical marketing strategies—from LinkedIn to video content—that actually work
Whether you're a solo practitioner or running a growing firm, Karen’s fresh perspective will inspire you to rethink your brand, messaging, and approach to business growth. Tune in and discover how to make your accounting firm unforgettable!
Find Karen Reyburn here:
PF Website https://wearepf.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlreyburn/
Buy the Book! https://karenlreyburn.com/the-accountant-marketer/
Preorder the new book https://karenlreyburn.com/accountants-you-are-creative/#preorder
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
47m - May 21, 2025 - A Look Back Through 2024
As 2024 comes to a close it’s time for Paul Redmond to take a retrospective look at events and changes that took place in the field of accountancy in 2024.
The pace of technological change continues to increase, and 2024 saw an explosion of automated and AI tools. Accountants have been at the forefront of adopting these tools as they help to do repetitive work and allow people to focus more on broader aspects of serving their clients and giving them value.
And the industry itself has changed as many firms are avoiding auditing due to increased compliance burdens, and the shifting tides of technology mean that recruiting talent has to change.
These and many other things are why the industry of accounting has changed in 2024, and taking control of them will help you face any challenges that are coming.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
8m - Dec 18, 2024 - Let's Make 2025 the Best Year Yet
As 2024 comes to a close, this episode of The Accountants Club focuses on preparing yourself and your accountancy practice for a successful 2025.
Host Paul Redmond dives into the challenges of year-end "fog," where fatigue and reactive planning can hold you back, and introduces a fresh quarterly pivot strategy to create clarity and purpose.
Learn how to renew, refresh, and reinvent your approach to health, wealth, and relationships, and discover actionable steps to make 2025 your best year yet.
Plus, hear about an upcoming webinar on January 9th designed to help you kick off the year with a meaningful plan while supporting a charitable cause.
Join the waitlist for the webinar here, and get your 2025 started right: https://quiz.rda.ie/renew-refresh-reinvent-2025-webinar
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
10m - Dec 11, 2024 - Revolutionary ways of Leveraging AI for Smarter Advisory Services
Many people may feel like AI is a threat, but like many new technologies it also has great potential for benefit to businesses. As accountants a lot of the work can involve repetitive and time consuming data capture and handling, but this is the sort of work that is easily handled by automated tools.
If you leverage the tools in your accounting software to import bank transactions, raise invoices and provide data analysis you can use your time to provide more valuable and nuanced advisory services to your clients by interpreting the data and providing context.
But how do you get started?
In this episode Paul Redmond will walk you through how to decide what tasks to offload to automation and AI, how to choose the tools and provide some insights into the tools he uses in his practice.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Dec 4, 2024 - Mindset Shifts for Advisory Success
When making any big change in life or business one of the most important, and overlooked, factors for success is changing mindset to one that supports the change.
As an accountant, or owner of an accountancy practice, you may be stressed and busy with the compliance work you’re busy with, feel secure in the familiar, or scared of things going wrong. But staying in a limited scope business is a risk, so it’s critical to reframe your perspective and adjust your mindset to truly succeed in changing your business. And Paul Redmond will explain how.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Nov 27, 2024 - Building a Team to Support Advisory Services
Switching from a compliance-based practice and starting to offer advisory services can be a massive burden for a business.
You won’t be able to do it yourself, so you will need a team, but your existing team may already be working as hard as they can, so getting them onboard with the changes will need you to use available tools to train them for the new work, and take the burden of the existing compliance work.
So in this episode your host, Paul Redmond, is going to help you to plan a smooth expansion of your services, uplift your staff, hire if you need to, and take advantage of automation and AI to grow your business.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
9m - Nov 20, 2024 - Creating a Price in Advisory Services
Many services accountants offer are priced based on either hourly work, or specific charges for specific types of compliance work. But with advisory services this is more complicated as often there isn’t a specific number of hours advice takes, or even if it takes a short time the value the advice gives is based on more than that amount of time directly spent advising the client.
Instead, you need to work out the value you provide to the client with your advisory services, what services to offer, and how to put services together in bundles that offer clear value propositions to clients who may not completely understand the potential.
And in this episode Paul Redmond will talk you though how to put together tiered services that make the case for your services.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
9m - Nov 13, 2024 - The Power of Strategic Partnerships
Are you feeling the pressure to offer every service your clients could possibly need? Do you worry about missing opportunities if you don’t have all the answers? It’s a common struggle for accountants, but there’s a smarter way to meet client needs without spreading yourself too thin.
In this episode, Paul Redmond explores the power of strategic partnerships—the key to delivering a full suite of services without overextending yourself. Instead of trying to be an expert in everything, imagine having a network of trusted specialists, from legal advisors to IT consultants, ready to step in when your clients need them most. Paul discusses the fears many accountants face about partnering, like the risk of losing client relationships or navigating compliance concerns, and he shares his own journey in building these valuable connections.
Tune in to hear how partnerships can ease your workload, expand your offerings, and make you the trusted advisor your clients rely on, all while maintaining your focus and freeing up time for what matters most.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
17m - Nov 6, 2024 - Finding Your Ideal Advisory Clients
Finding Your Ideal Advisory Clients
Understanding which clients are truly ready to benefit from advisory services is a common challenge. Not all clients are ideal candidates; some focus solely on compliance, while others may be on the brink of growth and ready to see the value in expert guidance.
Paul shares practical steps to identify clients with the ambition to grow, how to segment your client base, and ways to approach advisory conversations effectively. Discover how to pinpoint the clients who’ll benefit most and make your first conversations impactful and results-driven.
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Oct 30, 2024 - Leveraging Automation to Elevate Your Practice
If you’re wanting to grow your accounting practice and ensure greater profitability you can do so by moving from the typical compliance-based practice to an advisory practice. But how do you do this?
One way is by embracing automation, and in this episode your host Paul Redmond is going to share what work is best automated and how to begin the automation process without disrupting your regular business and at the same time ensuring staff buy in.
Follow Paul’s 4 Steps to automating and free yourself, and your employees up for providing higher value services.
Join The Accountants Club, don’t miss out and sign up for the wait list here:
https://the-accountants-club-community-waitlist.scoreapp.com/
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
13m - Oct 23, 2024 - The Fundamental Shift In The Accounting Industry
As software tools and AI become more useful the Accounting industry is undergoing a major shift as accountants find that the compliance work that has traditionally been their bread and butter is being replaced by software and becoming devalued.
But Join our host Paul Redmond in the first episode of ‘The Accountants Club’ as he lays out the importance of switching your practice from being compliance based to becoming advisory based.
Compliance is still vital, but it needs to be part of a suite of services to help your customers grow their business, and Paul will explain how to immediately grow your services without disrupting your business. You may even find you have begun this without realising it!
So listen and learn and follow and subscribe so you don’t miss out.
Join The Accountants Club, don’t miss out and sign up for the wait list here:
https://the-accountants-club-community-waitlist.scoreapp.com/
Contact Paul here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-redmond-rda/
Email predmond@rda.ie
Find The Accountants Club Podcast here:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AccountantsClubPodcast
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-accountants-club-podcast/id1771653637
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7wWkXrN3WzZNsvftJODsZ7
Web:
https://redcircle.com/shows/the-accountants-club
14m - Oct 16, 2024 - Welcome to 'The Accountants Club Podcast'
The Accountants Club Podcast, hosted by Paul Redmond, is your go-to source for transforming your accounting practice.
Learn how to move beyond compliance to advisory services, leverage automation, and grow with strategic partnerships.
Featuring expert interviews, success stories, and practical guides, this podcast will help accountants build modern, thriving practices.
1m - Oct 8, 2024
