Guest post: CPA Nelson Soh reflects on the professional and personal habits that helped him grow in 2025.
Guest post by Nelson Soh, CPA
Each year, I take time to reflect on what actually moved the needle in my business and personal life. What helped me grow? What slowed me down? And more importantly, what should I double down on going forward?
One theme stood out across everything I do: The power of intentional systems. Whether it’s how I run my practice, manage my routines, or structure my financial life, the biggest improvements came from leveraging tools, building simple habits, and protecting what matters most.
Building Efficiency Through Tools and Better Thinking
The most successful professionals aren’t the ones who work the longest hours. They’re the ones who design smarter workflows and perform every action with intention.
Leveraging Tools for Efficiency
Today, efficiency is more about using the right systems to support your output. Here are examples of tools that can help you level up productivity and decrease (maybe even eliminate) friction:
- Notion: For documenting processes, managing projects, and centralizing client information.
- Asana or Trello: For structured task management and team accountability.
- Zapier: Automates repetitive tasks like sending reminders, updating spreadsheets, or moving data between platforms.
- Calendly: Cuts meeting coordination time in half.
- Loom: Record quick briefings, eliminating long emails, and unnecessary meetings.
- FreshBooks or QuickBooks: Automate invoicing, expense tracking, and financial workflows.
- Grammarly: Smooths written communication (emails, proposals, reports).
- SaneBox or Superhuman: Helps manage the tidal wave of emails.
- AI assistants (like ChatGPT): For drafting, brainstorming, outlining, and accelerating administrative tasks.
- A documented process flow: Not a tech tool, but a critical system. Clear workflows turn “this is how we do things” into consistent actions across a team.
You don’t need to use all the tools listed here. Pick the ones that work best for you and run with them. The goal isn’t to do everything; It’s to design a system where fewer things fall through the cracks and less time gets wasted.
Reframing Client Churn: A Data Point, Not a Failure
Client churn used to feel personal. It almost always felt like a professional shortcoming. But this year, I’ve learned that client churn is actually a powerful source of information.
Instead of asking: “Why did we lose them?” I now ask: “What did we learn from this?”
Sometimes churn reveals:
- A gap in communication.
- A mismatch of expectations.
- A need for clearer onboarding.
- A process that needs systemization.
- A product or service that may no longer fit a client’s stage of life or business.
- A source of validation that we did a great job, and they don’t need us anymore!
Sometimes, client churn simply means that a client’s needs have changed. And that’s okay.
When you treat churn as data rather than defeat, you build a business and a team that grows exponentially stronger with every experience.
The Power of Compounded Habits
Big transformations rarely come from huge, dramatic decisions. Instead, they come from small habits done consistently, long enough for the compounding effect to take over.
Some of the habits that anchored my routine in 2025 include:
- Consistent contributions: Commit to making consistent contributions to your wealth plan. This could mean monthly contributions into your TFSA, RRSP, or savings accounts. For me, it was committing to making monthly contributions to my TFSA. Even small automated deposits grow exponentially with time.
- Paying credit cards on time and in full: This habit protects your credit score, avoids interest, and reinforces discipline. If you miss a payment by mistake, give the bank a call and ask for some grace, but don’t make the same mistake twice!
- Weekly cash-flow reviews: A simple 10 to 15 minute check-in keeps spending aligned with goals and prevents bigger problems from developing. Check your bank accounts, credit card balances, portfolio, and budget frequently. This year, I spotted a fraudulent charge on one of my credit cards for $350. If I didn’t do weekly credit card statement checks, I might have missed it! None of these habits will change your life overnight, but over time, they can help build a strong foundation and create momentum.
- Exercising frequently: The ROI on physical health is immeasurable. No health, no wealth. The energy, clarity, and resilience that are built from physical exercise show up in everything else you do during the day. Staying active has helped me immensely this year!
Protecting Your Financial Future: Life Insurance as a Core Part of Your Plan
Financial security isn’t just about what you earn or invest. It’s also about protecting your family, assets, and income.
Here are five foundational tips for securing your long-term financial stability, including how to incorporate life insurance strategically.
Tip 1: Conduct an Annual Personal Financial Review
Just like businesses complete year-end reviews, you should too. You should assess the following to keep aligned with your goals:
- All types of debt.
- Savings and cash reserves.
- Insurance coverage.
- Investment contributions.
- Major life changes (marriage, kids, mortgage).
Tip 2: Build a Safety Net that Matches Your Lifestyle
Protection is not about living in fear of what could happen. It’s about being prepared. This includes considering:
- An emergency fund consisting of 3–6+ months of expenses.
- Disability insurance if you rely on your income.
- Critical illness coverage to protect against major medical expenses.
- Life insurance if others depend on you for financial support.
Tip 3: Automate Good Financial Behaviours
Systems and automation help make life easier and create consistency. Automation ensures the habits you value most don’t depend on willpower. You can automate:
- TFSA/RRSP contributions.
- Savings deposits.
- Bill payments.
- Investment transfers.
- Premium payments for insurance.
Tip 4: Use Life Insurance Strategically in Your Long-Term Plan
Life insurance isn’t “nice to have.” It’s a financial necessity that secures your future.
For decades, I’ve included life insurance as a core part of my annual planning. As a CPA, I’ve seen firsthand how the right coverage protects families during uncertainty and prevents financial setbacks. One thing that’s made this process incredibly easy is InsureCPA’s online Needs Assessment tool—a simple, clear, and structured way to figure out exactly what coverage you need. It takes 5 minutes! You can visit the Needs Assessment here.
Tip 5: Take Advantage of InsureCPA's Limited-Time Offer
Right now, InsureCPA is offering 50% off Term Life Insurance until January 15, 2026.
There are terms and conditions, so make sure to visit their website for details. It’s an excellent opportunity to secure long-term protection at a significant discount. Remember to use Promo Code 50YEARS.
Final Thoughts: Build the Life You Want, One System at a Time
Success—professionally, personally, and financially—isn’t built on luck. It’s built on:
- The tools we use.
- The habits we build.
- The lessons we learn.
- The protection we put in place for what matters most.
Small decisions, made consistently, transform everything. These four tenants helped me create success in 2025 and will continue to help me thrive in 2026. I hope they help you as well!
Ready to take charge of 2026? We’re offering CPAs 50% off Term Life Insurance until April 30, 2026!
