This month’s Ask the CFO session was all about automation—and not just the futuristic kind. We focused on real, practical ways to automate and streamline processes in small and mid-sized businesses using tools that are already available and often underutilized.

For years, I’ve talked about shifting finance teams from being stuck in transactional work to delivering more strategic, value-added insight. The truth is, many businesses still run on spreadsheets, green bar reports, and systems that ha…

We kicked off July’s Ask the CFO with a bit of classic irony — tech issues on a day I planned to talk about… tech. After a brief detour into split screens and microphone mysteries, we got rolling.

And honestly, it felt like the perfect metaphor.

Because when it comes to business operations, most of us are still dealing with a lot of “split screens.” Systems that don’t talk to each other. Processes that eat up valuable time. People working harder than they should just to keep things from fallin…

Let’s talk tariffs.

If you’re like most companies I work with, you’re staring down unclear rules, surprise charges on invoices, and vendors shrugging when you ask what’s going on. Right now, one of my clients is dealing with a 25% tariff—originally aimed at China—but it’s hitting their steel imports from Mexico. We’re asking basic questions like: Do we keep buying from Mexico and eat the tariff, or just shift sourcing to the U.S.? No one’s giving clear answers.

The bottom line? You can’t wait …

Tariffs, Trade Wars, and What Your Business Should Be Doing Right Now: Lessons from the June 3 Ask the CFO Session with Lowell Mora

When it comes to tariffs and trade wars, one thing is clear: no one has all the answers. But during our June 3 “Ask the CFO” session, Lowell Mora didn’t aim to predict the unpredictable—he focused on the actions business leaders can and should take right now to weather tariff uncertainty and strengthen long-term resilience.

A Wake-Up Call for Vendor Strategy

Lowe…

Succession Planning: What Every Family Business Needs to Know
Insights from the April Ask the CFO with Lowell Mora

Our most recent Ask the CFO session focused on a topic that affects nearly every family-owned business at some point: succession planning. And based on the engagement and great questions we received, it’s clear that this issue is top of mind for many business owners.

We kicked off the session with a sobering truth: only 1 in 3 family businesses make it to the second generation, and…