Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Rachel and Marcus pull back the curtain on how DBA rebuilt their accounting firm from the ground up, moving from a structure where everything ran through one person to a three-tiered team model built for scale. They walk through each phase of the transition: defining roles, aligning consistent teams to clients, and building industry specialization that makes advisory conversations sharper and more valuable.

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

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• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (00:39) - Family Updates
• (05:16) - Why Team of Three
• (06:54) - Problems With Silos
• (10:24) - Client Pain Points
• (12:01) - Three Roles Explained
• (15:41) - Model Goals and Benefits
• (21:11) - Phase One Define Roles
• (29:43) - Phase Two Align Teams
• (39:52) - Career Paths and Scaling
• (44:09) - Wrap Up and Listener Challenge

Marcus and Rachel introduce their rally cry for 2026, "lead change, create impact," and share the four Ps framework (Purpose, Picture, Plan, and Part) they've adopted at DBA and Collective to guide their team through rapid change. They get honest about past missteps, from announcing acquisitions without team buy-in to the temptation of initiating change without living through it. Along the way, they also weigh in on AI's impact on accounting firms and why the runway looks very different depending on who your clients are.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Introducing Collective by DBA
https://collective.cpa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivebydba

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (00:53) - Moving to Fort Worth
• (02:19) - Busy Season Chaos
• (04:01) - Move In Surprises
• (06:26) - Leading Change Theme
• (07:11) - Rally Cry for 2026
• (09:15) - Rapid Change Pressures
• (11:53) - AI Job Impact Talk
• (17:18) - Tech Savvy Client Story
• (22:32) - Preparing Team for Change
• (26:25) - Lessons from 2025
• (28:31) - Clarity Beats Resistance
• (29:47) - Early Acquisition Missteps
• (31:13) - Intentional Change Mindset
• (32:16) - Adopting Lencioni Four Ps
• (35:05) - Purpose Align With Values
• (37:52) - Clarity Beats Vagueness
• (44:37) - Picture Define Success
• (47:56) - Optimist Pessimist Exercise
• (53:12) - Plan Roadmap And Owners
• (56:47) - Part Define Everyone Role
• (59:47) - Recap Repeat And Close

Marcus and Rachel Dillon pick up where they left off, walking through the third major chapter of Dillon Business Advisors: from the shift to fully remote work and the development of their Team of Three model, to two strategic acquisitions that pushed the firm past $6 million in revenue. Marcus also pulls back the curtain on the conversations he's having now with firm owners at every size, from $1M to $250M, about succession, technology, and what it really means to build enterprise value. It's a candid look at where DBA has been and the questions every firm owner should be asking about where the industry is headed.

Sponsors
Discover.AI - discover.ai

Learn More About Dillon Business Advisors
https://www.dillonadvisors.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dillonbusinessadvisors

Sign up to get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://earmarkcpe.com

Download the Earmark CPE App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

• (00:00) - Welcome to Who's Really the Boss
• (02:21) - Remote Work Pivot
• (03:33) - Tech Stack for Remote
• (06:02) - Exiting Audit Practice
• (07:27) - PPP and ERC Surge
• (08:24) - Team of Three Model
• (14:45) - Rebrand SEO Fallout
• (18:11) - Capacity and Growth Choices
• (19:21) - Strategic Acquisitions 2025
• (26:18) - Owner Hours and Balance
• (29:47) - Leadership Retreat Insights
• (30:39) - Industry Deal Chatter
• (32:39) - Succession Stewardship Mindset
• (34:43) - Managing Partner Reality Check
• (36:54) - Legacy Firms vs Enterprise Value
• (41:31) - Rollups Create New Niches
• (46:43) - Optionality and Independence
• (51:47) - Short Horizon Strategy
• (53:16) - Team Structure Upskilling
• (56:42) - Closing Advice and Patience