WebCE’s Weekly Wrap-Up: February 21

This week’s top stories bring you the latest industry insights, expert perspectives, and professional development strategies shaping the world of business. From boardrooms to ball fields, we’re seeing fascinating crossovers—where top athletes transition into wealth and risk management to apply their unique visions. 

Former baseball top prospect Jacob Turner reveals what drew him to wealth management, while ex-NFL quarterback Sam Hollenback explains how the discipline of football translates to workforce safety. Their journeys offer fresh perspectives on adaptability, leadership, and success beyond the game. 

Beyond the world of sports, the SEC is cracking down on cyber fraud, the IRS is downsizing, and a new path to CPA licensure could be on the horizon. In professional development, we’re tackling the myths of employee motivation, exploring the rising importance of soft skills, and uncovering strategies to retain top talent before the job market shifts. 

And for those looking to wind down, we’ve got a pop-culture crossover from the funeral industry that might surprise you.  

Let’s dive in. 

The Top Stories of the Week

1. IRS Fires 6,000 Employees as Trump Slashes Government (Reuters)

   
   

   “The layoffs are expected to total 6,700, according to a person familiar with the matter, and largely target workers at the agency hired as part of an expansion under Democratic President Joe Biden, who had sought to expand enforcement efforts on wealthy taxpayers. The agency now employs roughly 100,000 people, up from 80,000 when he took office.” 

   
   

2. SEC Forms New Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit To Tackle Crypto Fraud and Cybercrime (Yahoo! News) 

   
   

   “The SEC announced the creation of the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to combat cybercrime and fraud in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. This new unit will replace the SEC's former Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit and will focus on protecting retail investors from fraud and misconduct in the emerging technology space.” 

   
   

3. AICPA, NASBA Propose Additional Path to CPA Licensure, Individual Mobility (Journal of Accountancy) 

   
   

   “The proposal would open up a third educational path alongside the existing pathways of a master's degree plus one year of experience or a bachelor's degree plus 30 additional credits and one year of experience.”

   
   

4. How Former Top Prospect Jacob Turner Left Baseball Behind for Wealth Management (CityWire) 

   
   

   “Turner, who pitched in the major leagues from 2011 to 2018, now co-owns Moment Private Wealth with his younger brother.” 

   
   

5. Former NFL QB Sam Hollenbach Shares His Vision for Amp Health (Risk & Insurance) 

   
   

   “My sport was football, and in football, there’s a concept of being available for your team, both for practice and games. It takes an enormous amount of work – training, stretching, physical therapy, nutrition, and more, just to make it onto the field. We bring that mentality to the industrial workforce.” 

   
   

6. How Insurance Adjusters Bring Stability After Disasters (WebCE Blog) 

   
   

   “Adjusters can offer crucial support when it is needed most. But just how comforted and supported victims feel—and whether policyholders receive all they are entitled to—largely depends on how prepared an adjuster is to help.” 

   
   

7. How to Stock a Homeowner Preparedness Kit (U.S. News & World Report) 

   
   

   “Whether it is an emergency-kit backpack, weatherproof document bag or an all-purpose storage bin, putting together a practical grouping of items that will help take care of your home and family is smart and can be cost effective in the long term, experts say.” 

   
   

8. Teaching “Soft Skills” Now a Necessity (Funeral Director Daily)

   
   

   “‘Soft skills’ are a major part in satisfying clientele with the services that you have provided.  Those ‘soft skills’ such as communications and marketing also play a major factor in customer acquisition leading to profitable funeral homes.” 

   
   

9. What Leaders Get Wrong About Employee Motivation (MIT Sloan Management Review) 

   
   

   “The key to putting self-determination theory into practice is to keep in mind the conditions under which employees are intrinsically motivated to do their best work: autonomy, competence, and relatedness ... Consistently paying attention to all three qualities will help your employees be more engaged, physically and mentally healthier at work, and more proactive and innovative.” 

   
   

10. Research: To Retain Employees, Promote Them Before the Job Market Heats Up (Harvard Business Review) 

    
    

    “Labor markets regularly swing from firm-friendly to job seeker–friendly, causing organizations to fluctuate greatly in terms of the number of employees at hand to meet customers’ needs. But is there a way employers can future-proof their workforce, encouraging talent to stay when jobs are plentiful? [New research offers] suggestions for companies looking to increase talent retention rates and make their workforce more resilient to market changes.” 

Top Podcast of the Week 

What Makes Work Meaningful? (Wharton Business Daily) 

9 minutes 

Bestselling author Daniel Pink joined Wharton Business Daily host Dan Loney for a lively discussion about navigating the changing landscape of professional work. 

Pink said he doesn’t like the terms “personal growth” and “career development” because they are abstract. People are searching for meaning in their lives, which requires combining the professional and the personal into something more concrete. 

Weekend Wind-Down

In their most recent story, the eagle eyes at the funeral industry publication Connecting Directors highlighted the latest pop culture reference to the funeral industry:  

Singer Halsey Cancels “Funeral” in Favor of a 2025 Tour