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Mergers and acquisitions are no longer a side story in public accounting — they’ve become a defining force reshaping the profession. In this episode, Rob Brown and Chelsea Summers unpack the economics, the strategy and the real-world effects of today’s consolidation wave.

They walk through:

• What the numbers show in IPA’s 2025 Practice Management Report
• Why succession, talent challenges and rising technology costs are accelerating deal activity
• How private equity is changing firm structures and leadership models
• The year’s biggest headlines, including the mega-merger in the IPA 100
• What mid-sized firms must do now to stay competitive, independent, or acquisitive
• Integration pitfalls and best practices that separate successful deals from costly missteps

For firms between $20M and $75M especially, this is a moment to define whether you’re a buyer, a seller or an independent competitor with a clear strategy. The landscape is shifting fast and firms that treat M&A as a long-term strategic tool, not a last-minute fix, are the ones that will thrive.