Launching your dream without an instruction manual: A Business Fable
Chapter 5 - Values Before Volume Welcome back to our series exploring the "Fable Framework," a journey through the hidden pitfalls of growing a professional services firm, told through the story of Bob, a seasoned lawyer, and his wife, Carol. Catch up on the earlier posts here: Beyond "I Can't Take It Anymore", The Cost of a Shortcut, The Cost of Operating Without a Plan and The Payoff of a Plan. When we last left Bob and Carol, Bob was finally making real money after his ro
The First Year-End Under the New Tax Rules: How to Tell Your Fall Story So Donors Act
This is the first year-end giving season under the new federal tax rules, and most of your donors have no idea what changed. Starting in 2026, people who take the standard deduction can write off up to $1,000 in cash gifts ($2,000 for married couples), while itemizers face a new floor that trims part of their charitable deduction. That’s a real opportunity for nonprofits that can explain it clearly, and a missed one for those that don’t. The most effective fall campaigns do t
Stop Planning for Retirement. Start Planning for Succession.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported what many of us in law firm management have known for years: senior partners aren't retiring. Large firms are responding with mandatory retirement ages, pension packages, and even consultants who help partners find a new passion after law. That's one answer. But it assumes the goal is to get the senior partner out the door, and it's built for firms with hundreds of partners and the budget to match. It doesn't do much for the 15-lawyer
