The Modern Firm®

Welcome to The Modern Firm® podcast, hosted by Darren Root, Chief Strategist for Rightworks, founder of Rootworks (now Rightworks Academy) and an accounting firm owner for over 30 years, and John Mitchell, Culture and Workforce Advisor for Rightworks.     In this episode, Darren and John discuss what everyone in the accounting profession has been talking about for years: advisory services. But are...

Welcome to The Modern Firm® podcast, hosted by Darren Root, Chief Strategist for Rightworks, founder of Rootworks (now Rightworks Academy) and an accounting firm owner for over 30 years, and John Mitchell, Culture and Workforce Advisor for Rightworks.    In this episode, Darren and John welcome Terry Offenberger, CPA and Managing Shareholder of Hammerman, Graf, Hughes & Company, Inc. , to disc...

Welcome to The Modern Firm® podcast, hosted by Darren Root, Chief Strategist for Rightworks, founder of Rootworks (now Rightworks Academy) and an accounting firm owner for over 30 years, and John Mitchell, Culture and Workforce Advisor for Rightworks.   In this episode, Darren and John take a deep dive into The Modern Firm Maturity Continuum and walk through the five levels of maturity that occur...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root welcomes Joel Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Rightworks. Darren and Joel review some results from the 2024 Rightworks Accounting Firm Technology Survey and offer insights into the tech firms are—and aren’t—taking advantage of. They also introduce The Modern Firm Maturity Continuum, where firms classify themselves in one of several catego...

How do accounting firms use the cloud and other tech to smooth the points of friction in their collaboration processes? In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell reflect on the surprising results of a new Rightworks survey that answers that question (hint: most firms don’t). But Darren and John are ready with some scenarios (spoiler: don’t miss John’s Chipotle anal...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell welcome TJ Lewis, Innovation Strategist for Rightworks and one of the creators of Spark—Rightworks’ new AI tool built for accountants. Darren, John and TJ discuss the advantages of using a separate, more secure AI like Spark, why you should identify an AI champion for the firm and why it’s so important not to wait for the f...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell explore the intelligent cloud platform. Why is the “intelligent” cloud better than the “regular” cloud everyone’s raved about for so long? Can it really help change—for the better—the way you organize and operate your firm? Join Darren and John for the answers to these questions and more in this don’t-miss installment. 

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) plays an important role in your firm, allowing your staff to focus their time on what matters most—serving your clients holistically.

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell discuss why it’s so important for your firm to simplify, consolidate and vet your technology stack in 2024. They also examine how failing to untangle your tech stack to take charge of your data this year could risk the long-term future of your firm. As a bonus, they lay out the case for how the usual suspect (aka AI) can ta...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell discuss the importance of preparing your firm for the eventual impact of artificial intelligence (AI)—even if you’re an AI skeptic. Darren and John also talk about what you should be doing now to be ready, having the right technology stack to take advantage of AI, and how they themselves are using the technology, along with...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Davis Bell, CEO of Canopy, joins Darren Root and John Mitchell to talk about why unified firm management systems, rather than individual point solutions, are necessary for the future of the accounting profession. Davis and Darren discuss why scalability, security and reliability are easier to achieve with one system—and why that single system can use yo...

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell take a candid look at the growing importance of team culture inside a modern firm. John reveals the number one question he hears from firm owners, while Darren muses on the implications of a great culture—or a not-so-great one—for the firm’s business model and bottom line.

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell discuss Smart Security Management in firms, what you may not realize your clients need from you when it comes to security, and how you can create an ongoing culture of security among your team.

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell consider the impact of identifying and holistically serving your firm’s ideal clients. Darren and John talk candidly about the challenges a firm faces when it hasn’t yet clearly defined and managed its client list, and they also discuss the power of identifying your ideal client.

In this episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, join Darren Root and John Mitchell for an introspective look at the implications of building a firm based on an intentional infrastructure. Darren and John will share their experiences with hundreds of firms across the country, while Darren also relates real-life stories and lessons from his time running his own firm.

In the first episode of The Modern Firm® podcast, Darren Root and John Mitchell kick things off with a detailed look into what it means to be a modern firm, including the history and evolution of The Modern Firm concept. Darren and John introduce the four pillars of a modern firm and also discuss their plans for the podcast, including what you can look forward to in future episodes.