Take a leaf out of the Three Wise Men’s gift guide

Richard Brewin • December 25, 2018

Christmas, as we all know, is a time for bearing gifts, and many accountants take the opportunity to thank their clients for their business with traditional gifts of alcohol, chocolates, hampers, calendars and the like.

Proactive accountants are very aware of being seen to be different to their competitors. We also know that all of us in business have a few big years coming up, what with Brexit, digitalisation, MTD and so on. So, here’s a chance to be different and to take another step towards tackling the challenges ahead.

The Three Wise Men ignored the usual gifts for a new born baby. Instead, they went for gifts with meaning. On a tangible level Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were expensive gifts, suitable for a present from one king to another, but this was a working class family in a stable.   On a spiritual level however, they represent kingship, a priestly role and death. Another conversation entirely.

We talk often of changing the conversation with clients to move the relationship towards a more advisory, more beneficial one. How about changing your gift selection this year to prompt a different conversation?   Here’s some ideas:

  • A book to get them thinking. Pick a favourite of yours but, if your struggling, I’d recommend Compassionism by Kavitha Chahel or The Fish Rots From the Head by Bob Garratt. If obvious business books aren’t your thing then Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari will get them thinking.
  • A set of noise reduction headphones – ‘we are here to keep you focused and to cut out all the white noise in your business life’.
  • A packet of seeds and a watering can – ‘we’re here to help you flourish’
  • Photo frames – ‘we know what matters to you most and we’re here to focus your actions on them benefitting.

Corny? Maybe, but the point is to start a different conversation with your client that you can then build on during the year. Does a 2019 diary or a bottle of Red do that?

Thank you for reading our blogs this year.

Merry Christmas and a successful New Year to you.

Being proactive is a culture, not a slogan

By Richard Brewin • June 27, 2025
Look at any accounting firm website and there is a fair chance that the word ‘proactive’ will be prominent. Ask some business owners and taxpayers whether they consider their accountant to be proactive.  There is commonly a gap between the two, between the intent of the accountant and the expectations of the client.

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By Richard Brewin • June 23, 2025
The tag ‘Trusted Advisor’ gets bandied around a lot. Without trying to be deliberately contentious, I often challenge its use. Undoubtedly, accountants were once the trusted advisor to their clients. When I came into the profession 44 years ago now, the older partners, especially, were seen by their clients as their trusted advisor, their ‘go to’ person on any issues, business, family or personal, that were troubling them. Without the filing deadlines of today, these clients were with their accountant primarily because they valued the relationship rather than the products.

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By Richard Brewin • June 5, 2025
All accountants are the same! We’ve all heard it said. It’s nonsense, of course, but, when you are asked what it is that your firm does that differentiates it from other accounting firms, it can be a challenge to come up with something tangible.  Accounting firms tend to offer similar services, that’s what makes them accounting firms. Differentiating from competitors based upon services provided is therefore an issue.