The Holistic Accountant
A holistic accountant goes beyond tax returns, aiming to offer proactive advice to maximise clients' wealth after all taxes. Stuart Wemyss and Mena Abraham explore multifaceted considerations weekly, highlighting the need for a holistic approach. Each episode is succinct and to the point with no fluff or sales pitches. For further details, check out www.prosolution.com.au.
Episodes
At some point, every growing business owner faces the same dilemma: how do you get owner-level thinking from key staff without handing over real equity?
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the concept of shadow equity incentive structures designed to drive performance and long-term thinking without introducing governance risk. Because real equity isn’t just upside participation. It comes with voting rights, decision i...
Here’s a confronting question: If you disappeared for 30 days, what actually breaks?
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the Key Person Discount, the invisible valuation penalty applied when a business is overly dependent on its founder. Buyers, banks, and investors assume the worst when continuity relies on one individual, and they price that risk in quietly but aggressively.
They walk through the real failure points ...
Many business owners feel stuck in the uncomfortable middle: too big for basic bookkeeping, but not ready or willing to pay for a full-time CFO. The result? Numbers that exist, but don’t drive decisions.
In this episode, Stuart and Mena break down the three distinct layers of the finance function and why skipping or compressing them causes so many businesses to stall. They explain what bookkeeping is meant to do (and wher...
Philanthropy changes when wealth reaches a certain scale. It stops being about one-off generosity and starts becoming a question of structure, intent, and legacy.
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) and why they are increasingly used by high-net-worth families who want to give back in a deliberate, governed, and sustainable way. They unpack what a PAF actually is, how it works, and why ...
Most business owners believe accounting is a commodity. The tax return gets lodged, the ATO is paid, and everything looks fine, so why pay more?
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack why choosing an accountant purely on price can quietly cost you far more over time, even when nothing appears “wrong”. They explain why tax and accounting stop being mechanical once a business grows, and why judgment, not compliance, is whe...
In the early years of running a business, most financial mistakes aren’t dramatic; they’re subtle, common, and quietly destructive. And by the time many entrepreneurs realise something is wrong, the damage is already done.
In this episode, Stuart and Mena break down the most common financial mistakes entrepreneurs make in their first three years and, more importantly, how a CFO would approach them differently.
We cover why...
Most business owners glance at their financial statements and move on. CFOs do the opposite; they use them as a decision-making tool to spot risks early, improve performance, and protect cash flow.
In this episode, Stuart and Mena break down how CFOs actually read financial statements, in plain English, without jargon or accounting theory. They walk through the three core questions every set of numbers should answer: is ...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore one of the most common and misunderstood questions business owners face: how to tax-effectively get money into and out of a company. Whether you’re starting a business, investing in one, or managing retained profits, understanding the right structure from the outset can save you from costly mistakes later on.
They walk through the key ways to fund a company, either by loaning money...
In this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the ins and outs of Australia’s often misunderstood 6-year CGT exemption rule for main residences. They explore how this powerful tax concession can help homeowners maximise profits when selling a property they no longer live in, particularly those who rent it out after moving. Listeners will learn the exact eligibility criteria, including how to ensure a property still qualifies a...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena take a deep dive into one of the biggest and often most misunderstood taxes investors face, Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Whether you're dealing with property, shares, or business assets, they explain why the smartest CGT strategies begin not at the point of sale, but before you even buy the asset.
They start by breaking down how CGT works, who gets the 50% discount, and why holding struct...
In this episode, Mena and Stuart unpack the latest tax updates for the 2025–26 financial year, helping listeners navigate changes that could impact their personal finances and business planning. They kick off with the Super Guarantee (SG) increase to 12%, highlighting what this means for employers and employees alike. Next, they discuss the end of deductions for ATO interest charges, a significant shift that removes tax ...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the five lessons that kept surfacing across 500+ founder interviews from The School of Hard Knocks, and translate them into actions for ambitious owners. First: persistence beats genius. Treat growth like a “game of doubles,” stacking small wins and showing up long after motivation fades. Second: reframe failure and take calculated risks; each “no” is a step closer to “yes,” provid...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unveil a strategic shortcut for time-poor founders: five questions that cut through noise and pinpoint the few moves that truly move the needle. They start with “Why frameworks matter,” showing how focusing on choosing one or two high-value projects beats juggling 27 “priorities.” Then they work the 5-Question framework: (1) Where will we play? Define tight boundaries (industry, geography...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack ten punchy lessons from Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up, plus a sharp LinkedIn distillation by Jennifer Berkowitz, and translate them for Australian SMEs. They start with the big two: why speed wins (compress decision-to-execution with short cycles, guardrails, and rapid prototypes) and why simplicity scales (a one-page strategy everyone can explain). Then it’s “you can’t grow what you ...
In this candid episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the red flags that signal it’s time to rethink your accountant or business advisor, and what “great” should look like instead. They start with the biggest warning sign: a reactive advisor who only appears at tax time. From there, they cover a checklist of concerns, including advisors who don’t understand your industry or goals, cling to outdated systems, hide behind vague in...
In this thought-provoking episode of The Holistic Accountant, Stuart and Mena challenge the traditional metrics of success in business. While financial milestones like profit, revenue, and market share have long been the gold standard, the question is: Is that really enough? They explore how modern entrepreneurs are redefining success to include personal well-being, work-life balance, purpose-driven impact, and long-term...
In this episode of The Holistic Accountant, Stuart and Mena dive into the complexities of business partnerships, why they’re formed, where they go wrong, and how to prevent them from falling apart. While many partnerships start with good intentions, complementary skills, and a shared vision, they can quickly unravel due to misaligned values, poor communication, unequal contributions, and a lack of role clarity.
Mena unpa...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore the powerful concept of synergy and how strategic integration can fuel sustainable business growth. They start by demystifying what synergy really means: intentional alignment, not accidental collaboration, and why it’s essential for small businesses, even those without large teams. From aligning goals between departments to reducing friction and duplication, synergy is all about ...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena unpack the provocative, but crucial message behind the title “Don’t Trust Your Accountant.” It’s not about questioning your accountant’s integrity, but recognising the limits of what they can (and should) do for your business. Stuart explains why business owners must take full ownership of their financial understanding, because while accountants report the history, it’s up to you to fly t...
In this episode, Stuart and Mena explore why every business owner should conduct regular health checks, not just when things go wrong, but as a proactive strategy for long-term success. They break the health check process into six core areas, starting with financial health, where Mena explains how to assess profitability, cash flow strength, and balance sheet resilience. Stuart then examines client and market health, hig...
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