Why I Came Back to Tax Work
I recently retired from financial planning and am now focusing on tax preparation and tax planning. I am enjoying retirement, but I discovered something I didn't quite expect: I miss working with people on their taxes.
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I know that sounds crazy, but people like me do exist.
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Over the years, I've had the opportunity to build and run businesses in both tax preparation and financial planning. At one point, I owned six tax preparation offices. Later, I owned a financial advisory firm.
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Those experiences taught me a lot about working with clients, but they also reinforced something I have always believed: good tax work starts with understanding the person, not just the numbers on a tax return.
Why I Started This Practice
I'm not looking to build another large tax preparation business. I've done that.
Instead, I've decided to work with a small number of individuals and couples who want to work directly with an experienced tax professional who takes the time to understand their situation.
That is particularly important for people approaching retirement or already retired. Tax issues can become more complicated as income comes from several different sources, and decisions made today can affect taxes in future years.
My Approach
My role is straightforward: tax preparation and tax planning.
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Tax preparation means making sure your federal and state tax returns accurately reflect your financial situation.
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Tax planning is different. It looks ahead and considers how decisions involving retirement income, IRA and 401(k) distributions, RMDs, Roth conversions, capital gains, Social Security, and other sources of income may affect your taxes.
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Tax planning is a separate engagement from tax preparation. It is optional and only if we have reason to believe it will be helpful in your situation.
My Credentials
I am an IRS Enrolled Agent, enrolled to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service.
My previous experience in financial services is part of my background, but my practice today is focused on taxation. I do not provide investment management or financial planning services.
A Small Practice, By Choice
I intend to keep this practice small.
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That means I can work directly with my clients rather than passing them from one person to another or treating tax preparation like a production line.
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Most of my work will be done through virtual meetings and secure electronic document exchange. I am physically based in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and Southport, North Carolina, and expect most of my clients to come from those communities and surrounding areas.
