Financial Strategy Insights for Businesses
Self-Made CFO is an independent financial insights platform focused on CFO-level thinking for businesses operating in complex, regulation-driven industries, particularly law firms and med spa businesses.
The platform curates analysis, frameworks, and perspectives designed to help founders and operators better understand financial decision-making beyond day-to-day accounting.
Popular Categories
Core Financial Themes
Self-Made CFO covers executive-level financial topics commonly addressed by in-house CFOs, including:
- Financial strategy and decision-making at scale
- Profitability analysis and financial clarity
- Risk-aware planning in regulated environments
- Financial systems that support sustainable growth
- The relationship between financial data and business strategy
Industry Context: Law Firms & Med Spa Businesses
Med Spa Businesses
Med spa businesses operate at the intersection of healthcare regulation, capital-intensive services, and rapid expansion.
Law Firms
Financial decision-making in law firms is shaped by partner structures, trust accounting, regulatory requirements, and uneven revenue cycles.
Blogs
What Is an IOLTA Account, and Why Do Law Firms Get It Wrong So Often?
Most law firms know they need an IOLTA account. Far fewer understand how to account for it correctly. The result? Financial reports that look profitable but mask serious…
Common Asset Tracking Mistakes in Aesthetic Practices
Key Takeaways Aesthetic practices operate with significant capital investments. From advanced laser systems and radiofrequency devices to custom build-outs and specialized software, these businesses are inherently asset-heavy. Yet…
The Self-Made CFO Roadmap: Part 2 – The Analyst (Visibility)
If you followed Part 1, your books are clean. Your transactions are categorized. You are no longer terrified of “Finance Friday.” But clean books are just the entry…
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Self-Made CFO?
Self-Made CFO is an independent financial insights platform focused on CFO-level thinking for businesses operating in complex, regulation-driven environments.
The platform explores how financial strategy, structure, and decision-making shape sustainable growth—not just short-term performance.
What industries does the platform focus on?
Self-Made CFO primarily focuses on law firms and med spa businesses, where financial clarity is critical due to regulatory pressure, cash-flow complexity, and operational scale.
Insights are grounded in these industries but often apply to other professional service businesses with similar constraints.
Who is behind Self-Made CFO?
Self-Made CFO is led by Lilian Pham, a Chief Marketing Officer with deep experience working alongside finance teams in law and med spa organizations.
Her background bridges strategic marketing, financial operations, and entity-driven growth, shaping how the platform frames financial insight.
How is Self-Made CFO different from traditional finance blogs?
Unlike traditional finance blogs that focus on tips or generic advice, Self-Made CFO approaches finance from a strategic, operator-level perspective.
Content emphasizes frameworks, decision logic, and structural thinking. How CFOs evaluate risk, allocate resources, and build long-term financial resilience.
Who is this content for?
This content is designed for founders, operators, executives, and advisors who need to understand finance beyond bookkeeping or surface-level metrics.
It is especially relevant for professionals seeking clarity, context, and strategic insight, not step-by-step tutorials or quick hacks.