10 Accounts Payable Best Practices for 2025 Success

For many service-based businesses, managing accounts payable feels like a necessary but cumbersome chore. It’s often a relentless cycle of chasing down invoices, securing approvals, and issuing payments, draining valuable time and resources. This reactive approach, however, leaves significant opportunities on the table. What if your AP process could be more than just a back-office cost center? What if it could become a source of savings, a driver of operational efficiency, and a powerful shield against financial fraud?

By moving beyond outdated, manual methods and embracing modern accounts payable best practices, you can transform this critical function into a genuine strategic asset. A well-oiled AP department provides a clear, real-time view of your liabilities, strengthens vendor relationships through timely and accurate payments, and captures cost-saving opportunities like early payment discounts. It’s the foundation for a more resilient and financially intelligent operation.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 10 actionable strategies tailored for growing service businesses. We’ll provide practical implementation details, with a special focus on leveraging tools like QuickBooks and Gusto, to help you build a scalable, secure, and streamlined AP system. These aren’t just theoretical ideas; they are proven steps you can take to reduce processing costs, enhance internal controls, and unlock the hidden value within your accounts payable function. From invoice automation and fraud prevention to vendor data management and performance analytics, you will gain the insights needed to turn your AP process into a competitive advantage.

1. Invoice Automation and OCR Technology

Manual data entry is one of the most time-consuming and error-prone aspects of accounts payable. Invoice automation, powered by optical character recognition (OCR) and machine learning, directly addresses this challenge by electronically capturing and processing invoice data. This technology eliminates the need for staff to manually type information from a PDF or paper invoice into your accounting system.

The system automatically “reads” key fields like the vendor name, invoice number, due date, and line-item amounts. Once extracted, this data is used to create a bill in your accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online, and is then routed through a pre-defined digital approval workflow. This is a foundational element of modern accounts payable best practices, as it dramatically accelerates processing times and reduces the risk of human error. For instance, some healthcare networks have successfully reduced their invoice processing time by over 70% after implementing such systems.

How to Implement Invoice Automation

To get started, focus on areas with the highest potential for impact.

• Start with High-Volume Vendors: Begin your automation efforts with vendors that send you the most invoices. This strategy delivers a quick return on investment and allows your team to learn the new system with a predictable set of documents.
• Establish Exception Handling: No OCR system is 100% perfect. Define a clear, documented process for handling exceptions, such as when the software cannot read an invoice or flags a potential duplicate.
• Monitor Accuracy: Regularly track the OCR accuracy rates, aiming for continuous improvement. This data will help you identify problematic invoice formats or vendors that may require special handling.
• Ensure Data Quality: The accuracy of automated systems depends on clean source data. Before implementation, ensure your vendor master file in QuickBooks is up-to-date with correct names, contacts, and terms. It’s also important to understand the fundamental differences between document types; you can learn more about invoice and receipt distinctions to ensure you’re processing the correct documents.

2. Purchase Order (PO) Compliance and Pre-Approval Controls

A reactive accounts payable process often deals with surprises, but a proactive one starts much earlier with purchase order (PO) compliance. Implementing a system that requires an approved PO before an invoice is even issued acts as a powerful preventative control. This ensures every purchase is authorized, budgeted for, and aligned with company policy before any financial commitment is made.

This practice is foundational to robust financial governance, as it systematically prevents maverick spending and drastically simplifies the invoice approval process. When an invoice arrives, the bulk of the verification work is already done. The AP team simply needs to match the invoice details to the approved PO and the goods receipt, a process known as two-way or three-way matching. This best practice is a game-changer for control; for example, many pharmaceutical companies have reduced invoice-to-PO discrepancies by over 45% by enforcing strict PO compliance.

How to Implement PO Controls

Effective PO systems require clear rules and consistent enforcement.

• Establish Approval Thresholds: Define clear, tiered approval workflows. A $500 office supply purchase might only need a manager’s approval, while a $50,000 software contract will require executive sign-off. Document these thresholds and build them into your procurement or accounting software.
• Create an Exception Process: Not all spending can be planned. Develop a specific, documented procedure for emergency or non-PO purchases to maintain control without creating operational bottlenecks.
• Audit for Compliance: Don’t just set the policy; enforce it. Regularly audit your payments to identify non-PO invoices. Tracking this metric helps you understand adoption rates and pinpoint departments that may need additional training.
• Train Your Team: Ensure everyone involved in purchasing, from department heads to procurement staff, understands the importance of the PO process, knows how to create a PO, and follows the correct procedures. This training is a critical step for successful implementation.

3. Early Payment Discount Optimization

Failing to capitalize on early payment discounts is like leaving money on the table. Many vendors offer terms like “2/10 Net 30,” which means you receive a 2% discount if you pay the invoice within 10 days instead of the full 30 days. Strategically capturing these discounts can generate significant savings and effectively create a high-return, low-risk investment for your available cash.

This practice involves more than just paying early; it requires a systematic approach to analyze which discounts are most financially beneficial. The annualized return on a 2/10 Net 30 discount is over 36%, a rate of return that is hard to match elsewhere. By optimizing these opportunities, you can directly boost your bottom line while also strengthening vendor relationships through prompt payments. For example, some mid-market companies have improved their cash conversion cycles by over 15% simply by implementing a dynamic discounting strategy.

How to Implement Early Payment Discount Optimization

A successful program requires a balance between capturing savings and managing cash flow.

• Analyze the Annualized ROI: Before paying early, calculate the annualized return for each discount term. This helps you prioritize which discounts to take based on your company’s cost of capital and current cash position.
• Negotiate Favorable Terms: Don’t be afraid to proactively negotiate better discount terms with your high-volume or strategic suppliers. Even a small increase from 1% to 2% can have a major financial impact over time.
• Automate Payment Decisions: Use your accounting software or specialized treasury management platforms like Kyriba to flag invoices with available discounts. You can set up rules to automatically prioritize and schedule payments to capture the most valuable offers without manual intervention.
• Monitor Cash Flow Impact: Regularly review your cash flow forecasts to ensure that taking early payment discounts does not strain your working capital. Maintain a healthy cash buffer to avoid liquidity issues.

4. Vendor Master Data Management (MDM)

Your vendor master file is the single source of truth for all supplier information. Without proper management, this file can quickly become cluttered with duplicate entries, outdated contact information, and inconsistent data, leading to payment errors, compliance risks, and strained vendor relationships. Vendor Master Data Management (MDM) is the practice of creating a centralized, reliable, and governed record of all your vendor data.

This process involves consolidating, cleaning, and enriching supplier information across all systems. By establishing a clean and accurate vendor master file, you prevent duplicate payments, ensure tax information like W-9s is correct, and strengthen internal controls against fraud. For example, a global financial services firm was able to identify and eliminate thousands of duplicate vendor records, saving millions in potential erroneous payments and streamlining procurement operations. Implementing strong MDM is a core tenet of accounts payable best practices that pays dividends in accuracy and efficiency.

How to Implement Vendor Master Data Management

A clean vendor file is maintained, not just created. It requires ongoing governance.

• Define Governance Roles: Designate a specific person or team responsible for creating, approving, and updating vendor records. This accountability prevents unauthorized or incomplete entries from entering your system.
• Establish Onboarding Standards: Create a standardized, documented process for onboarding new vendors. This should include collecting necessary documentation (W-9, banking details, contracts) upfront before any invoices are processed or payments are made.
• Implement Validation Rules: Use the features within your accounting software, like QuickBooks Online, to set up validation rules. For instance, require a unique tax ID for each new vendor to prevent duplicates and ensure mandatory fields are completed.
• Conduct Regular Audits: Schedule quarterly or semi-annual reviews of your vendor master file. Look for inactive suppliers that can be archived, update contact information, and verify payment terms to ensure continued data integrity. Many MDM platforms, like those offered by Informatica, can automate parts of this cleansing process.

5. Centralized Invoice and Document Processing Centers

For businesses with high invoice volumes or multiple locations, managing accounts payable can become fragmented and inefficient. A centralized processing center, often called a shared service center, consolidates all invoice and document handling into one dedicated team. This approach leverages standardized procedures, specialized staff, and unified technology platforms to achieve significant economies of scale and operational excellence.

This model transforms accounts payable from a decentralized, administrative task into a strategic, data-driven function. By concentrating expertise and technology, companies can enforce consistent internal controls, improve visibility into spending, and reduce processing costs. For example, some global financial services firms have successfully reduced their full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount by over 40% after centralizing their AP operations, reallocating resources to more value-added activities.

How to Implement Centralized Processing

Shifting to a centralized model requires careful planning and a phased approach.

• Start with High-Volume Invoices: Begin the transition by moving your most frequent and repetitive invoice types to the central team. This allows the new center to build momentum and prove its value with predictable workflows before tackling more complex exceptions.
• Establish Clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Define and communicate clear performance expectations for the central team. Key metrics should include invoice processing time, accuracy rates, and discount capture rates to ensure accountability and measure success.
• Invest in Staff Training: The centralized team becomes your AP specialist hub. Provide them with in-depth training on your accounting software like QuickBooks Online, vendor management protocols, and specific internal controls to ensure they are equipped for success.
• Maintain Open Communication: Keep business units and department heads informed throughout the transition. Regular communication helps manage expectations, address concerns, and ensures a smooth handoff of responsibilities. For growing companies, this can be an internal project or an external one; you can learn more about outsourcing bookkeeping functions to see if a third-party shared service model is a better fit.

6. Fraud Detection and Prevention Controls

Accounts payable departments are a primary target for both internal and external fraud, from fake invoices to payment diversion schemes. Implementing a multi-layered system of fraud detection and prevention controls is not just a recommendation; it’s an essential safeguard for your company’s assets. These controls combine automated system checks, data analytics, and critical human oversight to identify and stop fraudulent activities before they result in financial loss.

This approach moves beyond simple approvals to proactively monitor for anomalies and red flags. By segregating duties and using technology to analyze payment patterns, you create a robust defense. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) consistently reports that organizations lose an estimated 5% of their annual revenues to occupational fraud, underscoring the high stakes. A strong control environment is a core component of accounts payable best practices, protecting your bottom line and maintaining financial integrity.

How to Implement Fraud Controls

Start by building layers of protection that make it difficult for fraudulent transactions to go unnoticed.

• Implement Segregation of Duties (SoD): Ensure that no single individual has control over the entire AP lifecycle. The person who enters a vendor invoice into QuickBooks should not be the same person who approves the payment or reconciles the bank account. This simple division of responsibility is a powerful deterrent.
• Leverage Data Analytics: Use your accounting software to actively monitor for suspicious patterns. Regularly run reports to identify duplicate invoice numbers, payments made just below an approval threshold, or unusual spikes in payments to a specific vendor.
• Conduct Regular Training: Educate your AP team and other relevant staff on common fraud schemes, such as vendor impersonation and business email compromise (BEC). Awareness is the first line of defense, enabling employees to spot and report suspicious requests.
• Establish Vendor Verification Protocols: Create a strict, multi-step process for verifying any changes to vendor bank account information. This should always include out-of-band verification, such as a phone call to a known contact at the vendor’s office, never replying directly to the email request.

7. Invoice Approval Workflow Automation and Exception Management

Chasing down managers for invoice approvals via email or paper trails creates significant bottlenecks and delays payments. Invoice approval workflow automation eliminates this manual process by electronically routing invoices to the correct approvers based on predefined rules. This system ensures that invoices are reviewed, coded, and authorized efficiently, maintaining a clear and auditable trail of every action taken.

This best practice for accounts payable involves setting up business rules within your AP automation software, such as Concur or NetSuite. For example, invoices under $500 from the marketing department can be automatically routed to the marketing manager, while invoices over $10,000 might require sequential approval from the department head and the CFO. This automation drastically reduces the approval cycle time; some mid-market companies have cut this period by over 60%, enabling them to capture more early payment discounts and improve vendor relationships.

How to Implement Invoice Approval Workflows

A well-designed workflow prevents delays and enforces internal controls without overburdening your team.

• Design Workflows to Match Your Structure: Map out your approval hierarchies based on your actual organizational chart. Define rules by department, project, invoice amount, or vendor to ensure invoices always reach the right person.
• Establish Clear Escalation Procedures: Define what happens when an approver is out of the office or fails to review an invoice within a set time frame. An automated escalation path, which forwards the invoice to a backup approver or a manager, prevents it from getting stuck.
• Enable Mobile and Remote Approval: Choose a system that allows managers to review and approve invoices directly from their mobile devices. This is crucial for maintaining momentum when key personnel are traveling or working remotely.
• Monitor Approval Bottlenecks: Regularly review reports to identify where invoices are getting held up. This data can reveal if certain managers are consistently slow to approve or if a specific workflow rule is inefficient, allowing you to make targeted adjustments.

8. Supplier Payment Terms Optimization and Negotiation

Optimizing supplier payment terms is a strategic financial lever, not just an administrative task. This practice involves proactively negotiating and managing payment schedules with your vendors to improve cash flow, capture early payment discounts, and strengthen supplier relationships. Instead of passively accepting standard “Net 30” terms, your AP team actively seeks arrangements that align with your company’s financial cycle and strategic goals.

This goes beyond simply delaying payments. It’s about finding a mutually beneficial balance. For instance, you might negotiate longer terms like Net 60 with a high-volume supplier to free up working capital, while simultaneously arranging for early payment discounts with a smaller, critical vendor to reduce costs. Large retailers have famously used this accounts payable best practice to extend payment terms, thereby improving their cash conversion cycle and funding operations with supplier capital.

How to Implement Payment Term Optimization

A structured approach is key to successfully renegotiating terms without damaging valuable vendor partnerships.

• Conduct a Spend Analysis: Start by analyzing your total spend by vendor. Identify your top 10-20 suppliers by volume, as these represent the biggest opportunity for impact. Understanding this concentration is the first step toward a targeted negotiation strategy.
• Benchmark Against Industry Standards: Research typical payment terms within your industry. Are your current terms shorter or longer than average? This data provides crucial leverage and context for your negotiation discussions.
• Approach Negotiations Collaboratively: Frame the discussion as a partnership. Explain your goals, whether it’s standardizing terms across suppliers or improving cash flow, and ask what they can offer. Sometimes, a vendor may be willing to extend terms in exchange for a larger order commitment.
• Explore Dynamic Discounting: For vendors unwilling to extend terms, propose a dynamic discounting arrangement. This allows you to pay early in exchange for a discount, providing a “win-win” scenario. For example, offering to pay within 10 days for a 2% discount (2/10 Net 30) can generate a significant annualized return.
• Document and Monitor: Once new terms are agreed upon, ensure they are formally documented and updated in your vendor master file within your accounting system. Regularly monitor payments to ensure your team is complying with these new terms to capture all negotiated benefits.

9. Accounts Payable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Analytics

You cannot improve what you do not measure. Establishing a metrics-driven approach to accounts payable management is crucial for identifying inefficiencies and demonstrating the department’s value. Using key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytics transforms AP from a cost center into a strategic function that provides valuable insights into spending, vendor relationships, and cash flow.

Regularly tracking these metrics allows you to pinpoint bottlenecks, evaluate the impact of process changes, and make data-backed decisions. This is a core component of modern accounts payable best practices, enabling continuous improvement. For example, by focusing on KPIs, many organizations have successfully reduced their average cost per invoice from over $10 down to less than $4 and increased the number of invoices processed per full-time employee (FTE) by over 300%.

How to Implement AP KPIs and Analytics

Begin by selecting a few meaningful metrics that align with your company’s broader financial goals.

• Establish a Baseline: Before implementing new processes or tools, measure your current performance for at least one quarter. This baseline will be the benchmark against which you can accurately measure future improvements.
• Select Core KPIs: Start with essential metrics like Cost Per Invoice Processed, Invoice Processing Time (from receipt to payment), and Invoice Error Rate. These provide a clear picture of efficiency and accuracy.
• Report to Stakeholders: Create a simple dashboard or report to share with finance leadership and other relevant stakeholders regularly. Visualizing trends helps communicate progress and secure buy-in for future initiatives.
• Empower Your Team: Share performance metrics with the AP team. This transparency fosters a sense of ownership and encourages them to contribute ideas for improvement, tying their daily work to strategic goals. Understanding these fundamental metrics is a key part of good financial management, which builds upon the principles of bookkeeping basics for small business.

10. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Straight-Through Processing (STP)

For organizations seeking maximum efficiency, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Straight-Through Processing (STP) represent the pinnacle of accounts payable automation. This method involves the direct, computer-to-computer exchange of structured invoice data between your business and your vendors using standardized formats. This completely bypasses manual entry and even OCR scanning, as the data flows directly from the vendor’s system into your accounting software.

This direct exchange enables true straight-through processing, where an invoice can be received, validated against a purchase order, approved, and scheduled for payment with zero human intervention. Large retail and manufacturing sectors have mastered this; for example, major retailers like Walmart mandate EDI compliance for their suppliers to manage immense invoice volumes. The result is a highly efficient, accurate, and scalable AP system, a key component of advanced accounts payable best practices.

How to Implement EDI and STP

Transitioning to EDI is a significant project that requires careful planning and collaboration with your key vendors.

• Target Key Vendors First: Begin your EDI initiative by partnering with your largest, most technologically sophisticated vendors. They are more likely to have existing EDI capabilities and can help you establish a successful pilot program.
• Provide Clear Specifications: Develop and share clear technical documentation outlining your EDI standards, required data fields, and transmission protocols. This ensures that vendor integrations are smooth and consistent. Platforms like Tradeshift and OpenText offer networks that can simplify this process.
• Offer Implementation Support: Don’t just send vendors a manual. Offer dedicated technical support, testing environments, and resources to help them connect to your system. Incentivizing participation with benefits like faster payment terms can also accelerate adoption.
• Monitor Transmission Success: Implement a robust monitoring system to track the success rates of EDI transmissions. This allows you to quickly identify and resolve any connection or data format issues before they disrupt your AP workflow.

10-Point Accounts Payable Best Practices Comparison

Solution	🔄 Implementation Complexity	💡 Resource Requirements	⭐ Expected Outcomes / 📊 Impact	📊 Ideal Use Cases	⚡ Key Advantages
Invoice Automation and OCR Technology	High — ERP integration, ML tuning, exception flows	OCR/ML software, integration effort, training, clean data	⭐ High — cuts processing time to hours; 80–90% less manual entry; real-time status	High-volume invoice environments (manufacturing, healthcare, enterprise AP)	⚡ Faster processing; improved accuracy; continual learning
Purchase Order (PO) Compliance and Pre-Approval Controls	Moderate — policy design and enforcement required	Procurement system, governance, training, monitoring	⭐ Strong — prevents unauthorized spend; reduces duplicates; better forecasting	Regulated organizations; large procurement teams; budget-controlled spend	⚡ Controls spend; simplifies reconciliation; enforces authorization
Early Payment Discount Optimization	Moderate — needs cash policy and decision rules	Treasury integration, cash forecasting, discount platforms, negotiation effort	⭐ High ROI — captures discount yield (e.g., 24% annualized); improves supplier relations	Firms with predictable cash flows and repetitive supplier discounts	⚡ Generates cash savings; enhances supplier terms
Vendor Master Data Management (MDM)	High — extensive data cleansing and governance	MDM tools, cross-functional team, ongoing maintenance	⭐ High — reduces duplicate payments 20–40%; improves payment accuracy & compliance	Large enterprises, mergers, organizations with many vendors	⚡ Single source of truth; better analytics; fewer duplicate payments
Centralized Invoice and Document Processing Centers	High — significant change management and governance	Shared-service staff, scanning/tech infrastructure, SLAs, training	⭐ Strong — reduces per-invoice cost 50–70%; consistent processing; scalable	Multinational or multi-site companies with high invoice volumes	⚡ Lower costs; consistency; scalable 24/7 processing
Fraud Detection and Prevention Controls	High — analytics, policy, and skilled reviewers needed	Advanced analytics tools, fraud analysts, monitoring systems	⭐ Critical — prevents losses (up to 2–5% of payables); real-time anomaly detection	High-risk industries, large AP volumes, regulated sectors	⚡ Detects/prevents fraud; strengthens audit trails
Invoice Approval Workflow Automation and Exception Management	Moderate — upfront workflow design and rules	Workflow platform, approver training, mobile support, maintenance	⭐ High — approval cycles cut from days to hours; better authorization visibility	Distributed approvers, decentralized spend, mobile-enabled teams	⚡ Faster approvals; fewer emails; clear audit trail
Supplier Payment Terms Optimization and Negotiation	Moderate — strategic planning and negotiations	Spend analytics, procurement resources, negotiation time	⭐ Significant — improves working capital by 10–30 days; lowers costs	Companies seeking working capital improvement and supplier leverage	⚡ Improves cash flow; reduces cost of goods/services
Accounts Payable KPIs and Analytics	Moderate — requires data pipelines and KPI governance	BI/tools, clean data, analysts, reporting cadence	⭐ High — enables data-driven improvements; reduces CPI and errors	Organizations focused on continuous improvement and benchmarking	⚡ Objective visibility; identifies process improvement levers
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Straight-Through Processing (STP)	High — technical standardization and vendor onboarding	EDI/STP platforms, developer resources, vendor integration support	⭐ Very High — near 99.9% data accuracy; processing in minutes; 60–80% cost reduction	Industries with standardized trading partners (automotive, retail)	⚡ True paperless STP; fastest processing; highest accuracy

Putting Your AP Modernization Plan into Action

The journey from a traditional, paper-laden accounts payable department to a streamlined, strategic financial hub is not an overnight transformation. It’s a deliberate process built on the foundational accounts payable best practices we’ve explored. Moving beyond manual data entry and reactive problem-solving requires a commitment to embracing technology, refining processes, and fostering a culture of financial discipline. The ten practices detailed in this guide, from implementing OCR for invoice capture to optimizing vendor payment terms, are not just isolated improvements; they are interconnected components of a high-functioning AP ecosystem.

Think of this transformation as building a powerful engine for your business’s back office. Each best practice acts as a crucial part. Invoice automation and centralized processing are the pistons, driving daily operations with speed and consistency. Strong internal controls and fraud prevention measures are the braking system, providing essential safety and risk mitigation. Meanwhile, KPI tracking and analytics serve as the dashboard, giving you the real-time data needed to navigate, adjust, and optimize performance. Leaving any one of these components out weakens the entire system, leading to inefficiencies, increased risk, and missed opportunities.

From Theory to Tangible Results

The real value of mastering these concepts lies in their collective impact. Individually, optimizing for early payment discounts might save you a few percentage points on key invoices. By itself, implementing a formal vendor master data management process might prevent a few duplicate payments. But when combined, these practices create a powerful compounding effect.

A clean vendor file makes automated invoice matching more accurate. Automated workflows ensure invoices are approved in time to capture those early payment discounts. Robust KPIs then highlight which vendors offer the best terms, informing future negotiations. This synergy is what elevates the AP function from a simple cost center to a strategic asset that actively improves cash flow, strengthens supplier relationships, and provides critical business intelligence. The goal is to create a virtuous cycle where efficiency gains free up your team’s time for more strategic activities, which in turn leads to further process improvements and cost savings.

Your Actionable Next Steps

The prospect of a complete AP overhaul can feel overwhelming. The key is to approach it with a phased, strategic mindset. Don’t try to boil the ocean. Instead, start by identifying your most significant AP-related friction point.

1. Diagnose Your Biggest Pain: Is it the sheer volume of time spent on manual data entry? Are late payment fees a constant drain on your budget? Or is a lack of visibility into spending your primary concern? Pinpoint the single biggest issue holding your team back.
2. Select Your “First Win”: Review the list of best practices and choose the one or two that directly address your main pain point. If data entry is the problem, focus on implementing OCR and invoice automation. If late payments are the issue, start by mapping and automating your approval workflows.
3. Build Incremental Momentum: Successfully implementing one practice will build confidence and demonstrate tangible ROI. Use this momentum to tackle the next challenge on your list, gradually layering on more sophisticated controls, technologies, and analytical capabilities. Progress, not immediate perfection, is the goal.

Ultimately, adopting these modern accounts payable best practices is about more than just paying bills on time. It is about building a resilient, scalable financial infrastructure that supports sustainable growth. It’s about empowering your team with the tools and data they need to make smarter decisions, mitigating financial risk, and transforming a once-tedious administrative function into a source of competitive advantage.

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Ready to transform your accounts payable process from a cost center into a strategic asset? The team at Steingard Financial specializes in designing and implementing scalable back-office solutions that leverage these best practices within your existing QuickBooks and Gusto stack. Let us help you build an efficient, secure, and data-driven AP function so you can focus on what you do best: growing your business. Learn more about our outsourced accounting services at Steingard Financial.