Take a minute to envision your retirement. What comes to mind? Hours on the golf course? Travelling with your family? Following a lifelong passion? Now stop and think about where you are today. Chances are you are knee deep in client work and haven't had a chance to think about laying the necessary groundwork in order to actually achieve your retirement dreams. While it can be difficult to break free of everyday burdens to plan ahead, taking the time to do so will make all the difference in the long-run.

Workflow remains a major issue for accounting firms, according to the findings of the third annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey. The recently released results of the study found that workflow efficiency was the biggest technology challenge for 34 percent of respondents, while managing workflow was the third largest issue cited in managing a firm.

Before you consider adopting the cloud or any of the "New Firm" mindset, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to be the change. Once you decide, first things, first. Own it! You have to commit. If you teeter, it will be harder. Jump in feet first and feel the shock of the cold water. I'm not saying it won't work if you wade in, I'm just saying it'll be more of a challenge.

The 10 best CPA Firms for 2016 have been named by the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance and the American Women's Society of CPAs. The organizations also said the 2016 Accounting Move Project found that women represent 23 percent of the partners and principals at the 49 firms participating in Move, which benchmarks the status of women in the leadership pipeline, compared to 17 percent in 2012.