The Future of NAEA
This being my first column as president of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), I want to thank you for entrusting me with this role." A little bit about how I ended up here: I am a transplant from Southern California to New Jersey. My first career wa... David Tolleth, EA
Turn! Turn! Turn!
With apologies to The Byrds, Pete Seeger, and King Solomon, the year 2020 underscores the notion that for everything there is a season! And I suggest that for NAEA, we may have reaped the harvest of what we have sown over the past almost 50 years and for the tax industry,... Donald Rosenberg, EA
What a Difference a Day Makes
In our last issue, I wrote about change and how we have to be prepared to step up to the plate and break out of the “we always did it that way” frame of reference. The year 2020 hit us like a sledge hammer. One day we were sitting in our offices working and wondering, “Will we ever get to th... Donald Rosenberg, EA
The Times They Are a Changin’
Apologies to Bob Dylan who wrote the song that was released in 1964 as the theme for systemic changes he saw coming. Each generation talks about change and each generation brings change to the world. This is my first column as president of NAEA and I would like to thank everyone for your ... Donald Rosenberg, EA
March Madness – Not What It Used to Be!
Once upon a time, March was my favorite month of the year and the first weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament was my favorite weekend of the year. I would arrange to take time off from work, stock up on Mountain Dew and pizza and hunker down to watch 48 basketball games over the course ... Jerry Gaddis, EA
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
With apologies to Andy Williams, I think you all know what I mean It’s TAX SEASON again! Time to start sleeping less, eating worse, and forsaking exercise for the privilege of serving our clients while cramming a year’s worth of work into a 90-day window. Are you excited yet? As you prepare ... Jerry Gaddis, EA, MBA
The Life Cycle
Legendary Hall of Fame football coach Lou Holtz likes to say that things are either growing or dying. Grass, trees, relationships, businesses, people—all growing or dying. Do you agree? As I write this, NAEA just wrapped up its 47th annual conference. This year the conference grew and ch... Jerry Gaddis, EA
Ch-ch-changes
I was playing around with my phone the other day and accidentally took a selfie – one of those two-inches-from-my-face-extreme-close- up selfies and it was startling. Who was that fat old guy on my screen and how did he get there? I couldn’t hit the delete button fast enough, but I couldn’t... Jerry Gaddis, EA, MBA
Increasing Enrolled Agent Awareness – Let’s Do This
About a year ago, I received a letter from a client that began as follows: “Dear Jerry, First of all, congratulations on being elected to the position of President of the NAEA! It confirms our faith in choosing you as our CPA!” I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry – and I’m sure yo... Jerry Gaddis, EA, MBA
My Experience, Priceless
As I wrote this, my final president’s letter, I began by reflecting on the value of NAEA to my professional career. So, fingers to keyboard, I compiled a list of some of the reasons I'm fortunate to be a member. I share them here with you. I recently attended my fourth class on §199A. I ...
Positive Professionalism
I usually begin my president’s letters with a quote. I am not going to this time because this letter is about what should not be written. I recently attended a cocktail party where I was introduced to a friend of a friend. When our conversation reached the point of careers, I learned that his career is that of a professio... Jean Nelsen