First Steps Financial

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?

In Part 2 of our series, we unpack what a truly growth-focused COO-Accounting relationship looks like in action, from fixing cadence mismatches to preventing multi-million dollar operational blind spots. If you want to turn reactive accounting into a proactive strategic engine, this quick read gives you 5 checks to run in your business today.

Read the full article to transform your operations 👉https://www.firststepsfinancial.com/what-a-growth-focused-coo-accounting-relationship-looks-like

Happy ! 🎧🎙️

Whether you're listening while commuting, doing chores, or relaxing at home, there's nothing quite like discovering a new show that gets you hooked from episode one — what’s on repeat in your headphones right now?

Drop a link to your favorite podcast in the comments below... and let’s build the ultimate playlist together! 👇✨

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁!

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗣𝗔

Ready for your most strategic year-end tax planning ever? Learn what documents to gather and what questions to ask!

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝟭𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 @𝟭 𝗣𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧

Join us for a free “Tax Planning” webinar this October. This free mini online workshop will equip you to make your next CPA meeting a powerhouse of clarity, savings, and growth potential.

Key aspects we’ll cover:

✨ How to Ensure Your Books Are Up to Date
📊 Reviewing What Changed This Year
🧾 Documents Required for Deductions
💸 Cash Flow for Year-End Moves
❓ Smart Questions to Ask

Book your spot here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5zuUP8H8TJCdm7K2OUrKCw

AI in accounting isn't about replacing humans, it's about supercharging them.

In the latest issue of Financial Cents, our Integrator & Chief of Staff, Gena Graziano, breaks down how First Steps Financial uses AI to streamline workflows, elevate client service, and shape the future of accounting.

💬 "When we first started [with AI], our biggest terms were 'trust but verify.' You can’t let it drive. It still needs someone to lead it and to verify the output."

Read the full interview to see how we're blending cutting-edge tech with human expertise: 🔗https://magazine.financial-cents.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TwoCents_Issue02.pdf

(Pg 32-59)

𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘀? 🧾📲

Losing track of business receipts means missing out on valuable tax deductions and messing up your expense tracking. Upgrade your process:

✅Use receipt-scanning apps (like Dext, QuickBooks Mobile, or AutoEntry) to snap photos of receipts immediately.
✅Link software to automatically match receipts with bank feed transactions.
✅Keep digital copies securely backed up in cloud storage for tax season readiness.

Stop hoarding paper and start snapping photos—your bookkeeping will practically handle itself!

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our Chief Resource Officer, Jodi! 🥳✨

Jodi is the backbone of operations here at First Steps Financial. From optimizing our resources to supporting our team every single day, her leadership and vision keep everything running seamlessly.

Thank you, Jodi, for all the hard work, dedication, and positive energy you bring to our team. We hope your year ahead is filled with success, health, and plenty of celebration! 🎂🎉

📚 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲?

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗕𝗔 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝟲-𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿!

If customers don't immediately understand what you can do for them, you’re losing potential sales.

In this series, we’ll explore the 7 universal elements of powerful storytelling so you can clarify your message, connect with customers, and grow your business.

By the end of the 6 weeks, you’ll walk away with a working process to put your brand message out into the world intentionally.

💡 Haven't read the book? Come anyway!

Don't let a busy schedule hold you back. Every session features a summary of the chapters up for discussion so everyone can participate, share insights, and connect with peers.

● 🗓 Format: 𝟲-𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗽 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝟬𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠

🎟 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nxlHwGlOSLer5jS1Xm8ZEA

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗢𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀? Most businesses treat accounting like a reactive cleanup crew rather than an operational partner, causing slow decision-making, budget surprises, and leaking profits.

When your operations and accounting data aren't aligned, even a brilliant strategy will stall out. Read part one of our five-part series to uncover why the COO and Accounting relationship is the missing link to scaling your business effectively.

Read the full blog to fix your operational blind spots: https://www.firststepsfinancial.com/the-missing-relationship-that-is-stifling-your-growth