Insight Magazine

 

 

 

Fall 2026
Buying Into Accounting: Why CPA Firms Have Become PE Targets

Features

Buying Into Accounting: Why CPA Firms Have Become PE Targets
As private equity reshapes public accounting, investors and industry insiders explain what’s attracting unprecedented investor interest.
Succession Built to Last: Preparing the Next Generation of Trusted Advisors
The biggest succession challenge facing CPA firms isn’t transferring ownership, it’s preparing the next generation to earn the trust of long-standing clients.
Are Treasury Teams Ready to Fight Fraud?
As payment scams become more sophisticated and difficult to detect, treasury departments are under growing pressure to strengthen controls and serve as a critical line of defense.

Trends

Insights

Geoffrey Brown
CEO Outlook
Geoffrey Brown, CAE President and CEO, Illinois CPA Society
The Pathway to a Resurgent CPA Pipeline?
Expanding access to the CPA credential is paving the way for new talent to enter the profession.
Marty Green
Capitol Report
Marty Green, Esq. Senior VP and Legislative Counsel, Illinois CPA Society
Storm Clouds Build Over Local Government Financial Reporting
Local governments face new pressure to resolve delinquent financial filings. Here’s what CPAs and other stakeholders need to know as renewed enforcement rolls out.
John Lokhorst
Leadership Matters
Jon Lokhorst, CPA, CSP, PCC Leadership Coach, Your Best Leadership LLC
How to Lead Without Overloading Yourself
Sustainable leadership starts with understanding your capacity. These five keys can help you recognize your limits, manage priorities, and build habits that last.
Debits & Developments
Deanna M. Kanosky, CPA Vice President, Corporate Controller, The Planet Group
5 Trends Shaping Corporate Finance Recruitment
Technical expertise still matters, but today’s accounting and finance market demands more from both candidates and the organizations competing to hire them.
Brian Blaha
Growth Perspectives
Brian Blaha, CPA Managing Director, Winding River Consulting
Building a CPA Firm Worth Owning
The next evolution of CPA partnership is about creating enterprise value.
Ethics Engaged
Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Carriage Advisors
Trust in Practice: Preparing Accounting and Finance for 2040
The future of the profession will be determined less by technology and more by the character of the accounting and finance professionals who use it.
Art Kuesel
Practice Perspectives
Art Kuesel President, Kuesel Consulting
Why Tomorrow’s Partners Need Client Relationships Today
Strong client relationships don’t transfer overnight. Here’s how CPA firms can help future leaders become trusted advisors long before retirement forces the issue.
Andrea Wright
Evolving Accountant
Andrea Wright, CPA Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
5 Ways to Strengthen AI Internal Controls
Here’s a practical framework for governing AI risk and scaling innovation with confidence.
Brian Kearns
Appreciating Capital
Brian Kearns, CPA, CFP, RIA Founder, Haddam Road Advisors
The Cost of Caring: Elder Care, Family Dynamics, and Taxes
When aging parents need support, CPAs can help families navigate tax questions, financial strain, and sensitive conversations that come with caregiving.
Keith Staats
Tax Decoded
Keith Staats, JD President, Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois
What the Personal Liability Penalty Means for Business Owners and Employees
Business tax debts don’t always stay with the business. Here’s what owners and employees need to know.

Spotlights

IN PLAY: Nadia Lagen, CPA
For this accounting leader, a love of learning continues to shape how she leads, mentors, and gives back.
GEN NEXT: Michael Currie, CPA
For this young professional, meaningful mentorship is planted in the simple acts of showing up, staying present, listening, and being willing to help.