How accountants and advisors build a second, higher-value planning business alongside their core practice — and collaborate with the VFO's 75+ specialists to add value, deepen relationships, and create new revenue. Based on Paul Latham's "2 Businesses Under 1 Roof" and the Elite Resource Team library.
Whether you're an accountant or an advisor, the breakthrough is to run two distinct businesses under one roof — a backward-looking core business built for efficiency, and a forward-looking VFO planning business built to add value for your best clients. Keeping them clearly separate avoids client confusion about what they're paying for.
The "2 businesses" model applies differently depending on your profession and how constrained you are by compliance. Pick your track.
You have full VFO access and can take revenue shares (Type 1 Advisor), partnering with CPAs whose core is proactive planning but who deliberately keep compliance and execution in-house — using VFO specialists for advanced strategies and added capacity rather than handing the work off. The two highlighted cards below are your starting points.
Most accounting firms fall into one of three models. The VFO-coordinated model commands the highest revenue per client by coordinating a vetted specialist team — without hiring or overhead.
Revenue tied to hours; price-shopping clients; seasonal burnout.
Proactive planning that saves clients real money; strategic-partner status.
Coordinates 75+ vetted specialists as an extension of the team.
For advisors the "2 businesses" idea is more nuanced — what you can do with the VFO (and whether you can take revenue shares) depends on your compliance situation.
Can use the VFO and accept revenue shares from it.
Can use the VFO but cannot always accept revenue shares.
Cannot use the VFO or accept revenue shares directly.
Every member's Vision & Growth Plan is built around these four levers. Where is your key focus?
New AUM and engagements — often via accountant partnerships.
Do more with existing clients through wider VFO services.
Raise the value of each engagement with advanced planning.
Streamline the core "factory" so you can focus on value.
The VFO gives you something concrete to offer: 75+ vetted specialists, a structured partnership system, and a proven joint-client process — with revenue sharing on planning fees.
Ideal partner: 5–15 years in practice, owner-led, HNW/business clients.
Lead with value, not a sales pitch — open with something useful.
Three structured conversations: fit → educate on the VFO → plan.
Run the joint-client process with the VFO specialist team.
Revenue sharing on planning fees — aligned, recurring value.
This page is built from Paul Latham's session and the Elite Resource Team library. Download the originals: