ISSUESWATCH PODCAST

Navigating Succession Planning

June 16, 2025

Succession planning isn’t just about stepping away; it’s about protecting the future of a CPA firm, ensuring smooth leadership transitions, and maintaining client trust and operational continuity. Alvin Fennell and Stan Sterna from Aon join us to discuss how firms can mitigate risk when going through a leadership transition.

Topics discussed:

  • 1:16 — How a strong, proactive succession plan helps small and midsize firms manage professional liability risk
  • 5:07 — Risk considerations for firms entering into a private equity deal
  • 10:40 — How firms can ensure continued client service during a leadership transition
  • 16:46 — The role of legal protections and buy-sell agreements during a firm transition
  • 25:01 — Insurance considerations

Resources:

 


Alvin  Fennell

Alvin Fennell

Alvin Fennell is vice president and senior risk advisor at Aon, the nationally endorsed administrator of the AICPA Insurance and Risk Solutions program.
Don  Meyer

Don Meyer

Don Meyer, CAE, is the chief growth officer of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, where he is responsible for setting the vision, strategy and direction for the organization’s marketing, communications and membership campaigns and for driving the success of a deep and broad swath of organizational initiatives.

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Stanley  Sterna

Stanley Sterna

Stanley D. Sterna, JD, is Aon Affinity's Accountants Risk Control Lead.