McMurtry Financial Services, LLC

10/07/2026

GONE! This word can bring relief and equally bring a level of anxiety, depending on who or what has transitioned out of your business. Either way, it should not disrupt the ability to operate business as usual.

Unfortunately, I have seen too many organizations struggle to operate effectively when key individuals or resources are no longer available. This is often the result of compromised or weak internal controls and systems. Outdated SOP's, past-due financial records, and a failure to understand the overall financial health of the organization make it challenging to function seamlessly.

Times of transition should be expected, but they do not have to catch us unprepared. With sound financial systems, reliable information, and a proactive strategy, your business or nonprofit organization can navigate change with wisdom, confidence, and resilience.

09/22/2026

As a leader, financial literacy is an important skill set that comes with the responsibility of your role. One statistic shows that fewer than 50% of managers understand corporate finances and are financially illiterate.

You may ask, why is this important when I have an accounting team to handle my organization's financial matters? The accountant is looking backward at previous records when management should be looking forward at the growth of the organization and cash flow. Your financial team is looking at historical compliance, and it is your responsibility as the leader to drive future strategy.

Relying solely on your accountant relinquishes high-level decision-making power and positions you with the full responsibility for outcomes of decisions you were not a part of. Get back in the driver's seat as a leader by becoming financially literate, so you can interpret your financial statements to allocate resources effectively, forecast cash flow, build realistic budgets, and evaluate the ROI on your strategic investments.

Leaders, let's show up strong and knowledgeable to operate at full capacity in our business and organization!

09/17/2026

Your accountant is not the person to whom you relinquish all of your business or organization’s financial responsibilities. Instead, they are an accountability partner to support you in ensuring your financial records are prepared, examined, and compliant with internal and external reporting agencies.

Accountants are trusted advisors to help you with analyzing financial data and provide you with strategic guidance and recommendations on how to reduce costs and increase profitability. It’s a partnership that requires both parties to actively participate in managing the business or organization’s financial matters.

As the business owner or organizational leader, you still have a responsibility to work with your accountant to provide them with what is needed to effectively support you and your team. One effective tool McMurtry Financial Services, LLC has found beneficial for fostering this kind of partnership is scheduling a monthly meeting with clients to ensure we update each other with necessary information and context, allow time to address questions, and provide strategic guidance.

Don't just hand off your financial management; collaborate with your accountant as a true strategic business partner.

09/15/2026

Do you ever wonder which financial indicators will help you identify when your business or organization is at risk?

The top three to pay attention to are:

1. Consistent Negative Cash Flow-Your business or organization spends more cash than it takes in over multiple months.

A profitable business or organization can fail if it runs out of cash to pay bills, run payroll, and pay its vendors.

2. High Debt and Low Liquidity-Your liabilities (what you owe) are greater than your assets (what you own), and your current ratio (assets divided by current liabilities) is less than one.

You've reached the danger zone when you can no longer make your monthly interest or loan payments.

3. Reduced Profit Margins and Losses-Your net profit margins have been persistently decreasing because your operating costs are higher than the revenue you are bringing in.

Revenue may be consistent, but your margins are shrinking, and you are making less for the same product or service.

Keeping a pulse on key financial indicators for your business or organization helps you make informed decisions and is critical to mitigating risk.

09/10/2026

Fall is right around the corner, and it is a great time of year to pause, reflect, and get back to the basics of good financial management to finish the year strong. There are so many daily responsibilities that demand our attention, and it can be easy to delay or minimize the simple financial practices that keep a business and a nonprofit organization strong.

The basics still count: maintaining accurate financial records, reviewing your financial statements regularly, following a budget, managing cash flow, and planning ahead. These practices may not be very exciting, but they will provide the financial foundation needed to make informed decisions and attain future growth.

As the busyness of summer is coming to a close, here are some questions to ask yourself while finishing the year out strong:

Are your books up-to-date?
Do you know where your money is going?
How are you performing against your budget?
Have your financial decisions aligned with your goals?

We still have time to finish strong!

09/08/2026

You may be thinking, “Really? It’s already time to budget for next year?” The answer is yes! Now is a great time to begin planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

Why now? Well, this is the first step for good financial management and enables your business or organization to see its goals accomplished. Your budget is a tool that enables you to look into the future and see your financial goals fulfilled. It's a roadmap (plan or strategy) for spending and quantifies the vision of your organization.

The budgeting process is your opportunity to set revenue projections based on tangible evidence from past trends and market forecasts. You can also estimate fixed and variable expenses and plan for growth by setting achievable goals.

With sufficient time to research and be intentional about your financial plan, your budget can be a useful tool that guides your business or organization in the upcoming year and enables you to reach your goals.

Don’t wait until the new fiscal year begins. Start planning now so your business or nonprofit organization is prepared for the year ahead.

09/03/2026

Our President and Principal Accountant, Cheryl Muldrew McMurtry had the opportunity to sit down with Heather Deaton, CFP®, CSRIC®, at Ellenbecker Investment Group, Inc., to discuss small business financial tools and habits for growth and sustainability.

There were so many great nuggets shared during their conversation, and this episode of the Money Sense podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Enjoy it today!

Building a successful business takes more than passion and determin...

09/01/2026

I love opportunities to be in the community providing tangible information to strengthen the financial viability and longevity of businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Thank you MKE Black and Asha Sawyers for a great evening. The business owners in the room were highly engaged with excellent questions. Always great when you are around individuals looking to learn, grow, and be better!

09/01/2026

This was a great conversation with Heather Deaton at Ellenbecker Investment Group, Inc.

08/27/2026

A great FREE event for children and their families one of our amazing clients are hosting.

Registration is required but you don’t want to miss out on the free books, backpacks with supplies, lunch, so much more!

Don’t Forget to Register for Brunch of Books!

Join BCDI-Wisconsin for a magical morning created especially for children ages 0–8 and their caregivers.

Families will enjoy:

Free booksBack-to-school backpacks and suppliesLunch for children and caregiversStories, literacy activities, and family funSpecial guest Jerry Jordan, illustrator

Saturday, September 5, 2026
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Abundant Faith Church of Integrity7830 W. Good Hope RoadMilwaukee, WI 53223

This event is free, but registration is required. Space is limited, so register today using the the information on the flyer.