H&R Block’s Big Plans for New Advisors Brand

H&R Block (HRB) CEO William Cobb intends for his company’s new corporate offshoot Block Advisors to be more than merely a chip off the old block. 'It’s for a small business client who wants tax planning and has a more complicated situation,' said H&R Block CEO Cobb. 'We have private offices, year round service and tax advisors with an average experience of 15 years, so we can compete with anybody.' Block Advisors currently has over 280 offices nationwide. Cobb expects Block Advisors to play a big role in the company’s growth plans over the long run. HShares of H&R Block are up 4% thus far in 2016. Cobb also said an additional form and higher penalties due to the Affordable Care Act will also affect taxpayers this season, as well as increased fraud protection due to the preponderance of identity thieves stealing tax refunds.