Is it permissible for Brown, a CPA, to sell her list of clients to an outside adviser?

Selling a list of clients without their explicit consent is prohibited by the ethical guidelines governing CPAs. The essential principle behind this prohibition is the duty of confidentiality, which requires CPAs to safeguard client information. When a CPA has access to sensitive financial data, client trust hinges on the assurance that their information will not be disclosed or misused.

Confidentiality extends beyond direct client communication and includes business practices such as selling client lists. Clients have not provided permission for their information to be sold to third parties, and doing so can violate their privacy rights and erode trust in the CPA profession.

In essence, sales of client information can harm the client relationship and may cause long-term damage to the CPA’s reputation and credibility. This commitment to maintaining client confidentiality forms a cornerstone of the profession’s ethical standards. Thus, the act of selling a list of clients without informed consent stands at odds with these ethical obligations, making it impermissible for a CPA, such as Brown, to engage in this practice.