taxgirl » interviews/people

I’m on the Radio!

Kelly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:27:16 +0000

I’m going all Clairee from Steel Magnolias on you. I’m on the radio!

You can check out my interview with Jeff Horwich on Minnesota Public Radio about “sneaky rich people” here (I’m right after the vaccine report):

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Finding a Life/Work Balance: tweet, tweet!

Kelly — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:45:26 +0000

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to participate in the first 22Tweets Roundtable. 22Tweets is a real time interview on twitter. The theme for the inaugural roundtable was life/work balance (yes, there is such a thing). If you missed it, you can catch all of the participants’ answers here. Thanks to Lance Godard for inviting me!

And if you’re already following me on twitter, here’s the link. But consider yourself warned: I tweet about much more than taxes. There’s some law stuff, some kid stuff and for October, Phillies galore.Similar Posts:

They Say It’s Your Birthday…

Kelly — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:46:26 +0000

It’s my birthday, too, yeah. So, in honor of the day, in the tradition of bloggers everywhere, I present ten things you may not know about me…

1, I share a birthday with actress Jill Whelan. She and I have much in common: she starred in one of my favorite movies, Airplane!, and the wildly popular show, Love Boat, before moving to Philadelphia while I played the role of Snoopy in my junior high production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown before moving to Philadelphia. She, however, was never a tax attorney – ha!

2, At various times in my life, I wanted to be an actress, a teacher, a baseball player (which reminds me: Charlie Manuel, if you haven’t found a replacement for Lidge, I’m still available through October) and a lawyer. My dad is fond of relating the story of my telling people that I wanted to be a lawyer so that I could be rich and just write poetry. I clearly overestimated how much they pay lawyers – which is why I now just write tax haiku.

3, When people ask me what I do for a living now, I tell them I’m a tax attorney who also writes about tax (this may frighten them a little). If you think that’s confusing to grown-ups, think of my poor children: they often tell people that I drive a taxi.

4, My husband and I are both lawyers and yes, we met in law school. I didn’t care for him very much during our first year because I thought he was too sarcastic. If you read the blog very often and know my writing style, that should boggle your mind.

5, In law school, I swore I would never take a tax course, bar review or no bar review, because I thought it would be boring. There’s a lesson to be learned here – and it’s not to not listen to me.

6, The worst grade I ever got in law school was in tax – the first tax course I ever took. I was devastated and went to my professor in tears. I was already signed up for my IRS clerkship by the time I got my grade and wanted to quit. My professor convinced me to not quit. I completely attribute my being a tax geek today to my terrific law school tax profs.

7, I did a stint as a tax prof myself for a bit at Community College of Philadelphia. I taught Wills and Trusts. The great thing about growing up in a Southern family is that I didn’t really have to embellish any of my family for the hypos – although I did occasionally. For example, my dad does, in fact, have an entire room in our house dedicated to all things Coca-Cola – though as far as I know, none of the bottles contain flesh-eating bacteria. Again, as far as I know…

8, I have really fond memories of my childhood except for a few “incidents” involving my brothers and some strategically placed walkie-talkies (no, Rob and T, I haven’t forgotten). Some of my best memories revolve around my maternal grandmother who made a pretty mean vegetable soup. She died of cancer and I now run the Komen 5k in her memory (Team Joye). I’m running again in May – if you’re feeling charitable, you can make a donation. Make it by the end of the year and you can claim it as a tax deduction!

9, I now have three kids of my own – fortunately, my daughter’s invisible friend, Mary, has moved on (I did not claim her as a tax deduction, despite my father’s belief that I could). I have no idea what my kids will be when they grow up though I would not be surprised to see my middle child off Broadway (and I mean, off, off Broadway). My husband and I have always said that they can be anything they want except a stripper or a lawyer – and we’re willing to bend on stripper.

10, My other “baby” is taxgirl. I’ve been blogging for a number of years now (even before I bought taxgirl.com). Way back… As in back in the day when my mom didn’t even know what a blog was and my dad was just about my only reader. It’s been the most fun a tax geek can have (and still hold a job). I really do appreciate all of my readers for giving me inspiration and encouragement every.single.day. And thanks, of course, to Richard Hatch, for constantly giving me something to write about.
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Ask the taxgirl: Sleep and More

Kelly — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:46:05 +0000

Taxpayer asks:

I love your blog!

I’m a practicing attorney and also a mom, like you. I’ve been thinking about starting my own blog. After reading through your posts, I have two questions:

1) Do you sleep?
2) Do you write your own posts?

Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Taxgirl says:

*blushing* Thanks so much!

So, for your first question. Yes, yes, I sleep. I don’t know that I sleep as much as I ought to (I do have 3 kids and a law practice to manage) but that’s why God made coffee.

As to your second question, I write all of my own stuff except for the occasional guest post – guest posts are always clearly noted as such. I also do all of my own research, I read all of my own emails, choose my own “ask the taxgirl” questions, do all of the design on the site (except for my awesome logo which was designed by the fabulous Jay Bevenour) etc. That’s it.

I know a few of my colleagues believe that it’s all about the numbers and they have their minions crank out some posts without attribution. That may be their style but it’s not mine. And I’m not making judgments. At least not in public.

So, there is no taxgirl empire (though excuse me while I take a moment to imagine what that would be like… I’d totally get a Trump combover so that I could be on The Soup). Just me.

I highly recommend that, if you’re just starting out with your blog, you do your own thing. It’s the best way to find your voice and relate to your audience. That said, I wish you the best of luck with your new blog. If it’s at all tax-related, give me a shout when it’s up and I’ll link to you.

Like any good lawyer, I need to add a disclaimer: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give comprehensive tax advice over the internet, no matter how well researched or written. Before relying on any information given on this site, contact a tax professional to discuss your particular situation.

Have a question? Ask the taxgirl! – Now on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/taxgirlSimilar Posts:

Getting To Know You Tuesday: Craig Aird

Kelly — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:50:04 +0000

It’s Getting To Know You Tuesday! Today’s feature tax pro is tax attorney and fellow coffee addict Craig Aird.

1. Where are you now?

In my office watching the float planes land on Lake Union.

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?

Associate Attorney. It means I’ve got to get back to work!

3. What books are on your night stand?

I’m currently reading Mängelexemplar by Sarah Kuttner.

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?

Directeur sportif of a pro cycling team.

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?

We’re watching Foyle’s War on DVD.

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?

Estate and gift tax and exempt organizations.

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?

Plastics.

8. Coffee or tea?

Coffee and lots of it. There are three coffee shops in my building, but I like to walk by the three Starbucks (not kidding) in the building across the street to go to a tiny place with no seats for a truly great latte. The place is located in the ticket window of an old theater and is called Monorail Espresso. And yes I tweet about coffee.

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Juli, Silbermond, David Gray, Counting Crows, Shawn Mullins.

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?

You probably hadn’t appreciated the depths of my coffee obsession. See above.

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?

University of Oregon (International Studies & German) with an exchange year at the Uni Konstanz (Germanistik).

12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?

I’d allow a full deduction for amounts paid for health insurance premiums. That and I’d simplify the GST.

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?

I like In Treatment on HBO.

14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?

I don’t think either of them. Estate tax repeal is too expensive and who understands AMT?

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?

I think I’d take some time off, ride my bike a bit and do some reading.

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Daschle, Joe Francis or TARP?

Tax news seems to be quiet at the moment. I’m waiting on an estate tax fix.

17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?

I couldn’t get though my day without checkpoint.

____

Thanks Craig!

You can keep up with Craig on Twitter http://twitter.com/CraigAird or check out his firm’s web site.

____

If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured send your suggestions to inquiry@taxgirl.com. Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, encouraged!
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Getting to Know You Tuesday: Mary Kay Foss

Kelly — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:06:32 +0000

It’s Getting To Know You Tuesday! Today’s featured tax pro is Mary Kay Foss, who I’ve been trying to include for eons but apparently, my server doesn’t like her email. Thankfully, we got past it and we’re onto the interview.

1. Where are you now?

At the office staring at my two large monitors

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?

Director at Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co. LLP; I love the title because no one knows exactly what it means but it’s a higher rank than a tax manager

3. What books are on your night stand?

Save the Cat (about screenwriting); The Angel (Carla Neggers); Say Goodbye (Lisa Gardner)

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?

My dream job is to work in the post office and weigh and stamp things – when the line gets long, you just put up the next window sign. My nightmare job is bike messenger in San Francisco.

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (refresher because Spamalot is in town)

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?

Estates and trusts; tax compliance and planning in those areas.

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?

Never buy a new house until you’ve sold the last one.

8. Coffee or tea?

Coffee definitely. Starbucks knows me well.

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).

James Taylor, Big Sandy, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Brothers IV

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?

I love writing and reading fiction.

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?

University of Minnesota – Accounting major

12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?

Everything to do with cars. I don’t want various depreciation rules based on cost and weight. I don’t want to explain whenever a client calls from the dealership whether they should buy or lease. I don’t want to inquire about total miles and business miles.

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?

NCIS, Forensic Files, CSI (all three), Law & Order Criminal Intent, the Closer

14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?

Hard to believe they’ll do either – but they might understand the estate tax.

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?

Make a SEP contribution for 2008 (editor’s note: this made sense months ago when Kay first completed the interview)

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Obama nominees, UBS or TARP?

Obama nominees for sure.

17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?

Leimberg Info Service; irs.gov

–

Thanks, Mary Kay!

And if you’re wondering about Mary Kay’s picture, it’s one of a number of caricatures on her firm’s site. You can check all of them out here.

–

It’s always great to read about women in the tax field since we’re outnumbered (though you wouldn’t know it from reading my blog!). You can read more women and the profession (lawyers, not the “other” profession) at Leadership, Women, Lawyers.

If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured, male or female, send your suggestions to inquiry@taxgirl.com. Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, encouraged!Similar Posts:

Getting to Know You Tuesday: Frank Santoro

Kelly — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:57:46 +0000

It’s Getting to Know You Tuesday! Today’s featured tax professional is Frank “Vinny the Body” Santoro. Frank describes himself as “Preacher’s Wife (on leave), Adoptive Parent, CPA, Libertarian, Musician, Amateur Theologian, Muckraker, Instrument Rated Pilot, Cancer Survivor and Know-It-All.”

Let’s get to the interview!

1. Where are you now?

At home on the couch, logging in to work via VPN. If it were last week I would have been switching back and forth between the White Sox game and “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!”

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?

Manager, International Corporate Services, Really Big Accounting Firm, Chicago (new title effective 1 July). I suppose it’s pretty self explanatory; I was already managing people, projects, and client relationships before except now I will have a firm-supplied Crackberry, be on call outside of “working hours” and will never have to share a hotel room with a colleague at training ever again. I’m basically smack in the middle of the food chain.

3. What books are on your night stand?

Mostly a pile of New Yorker magazines to catch up on – I’m only 4 or 5 issues behind right now. That and “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, which I finished a few months back.

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?

Pilot or stay at home dad.

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?

“Up”. Sobbed like a baby during the introduction/backstory and never kept a dry eye for long during the rest of the film.

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?

Currently international tax for businesses. We generally split our time between advising US clients operating abroad and foreign companies operating in the US. All of our advice is from a US income tax perspective, but we often have to coordinate with colleagues in other countries to assist clients with foreign tax advice. A good deal of my work focuses on foreign tax credit or tax treaty issues.

In my last gig I specialized in religious nonprofit and charitable gift planning tax issues, which is an even more esoteric area than international.

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?

Never borrow money to buy a depreciating asset.

The best advice my wife ever got was when she was about to enter the ministry (she’s an ordained United Methodist pastor). A good friend told her she needed to get a good CPA. So she married me.

8. Coffee or tea?

Tea (green or caffeine free), although I have been known to drink coffee socially on occasion.

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).

These days I mostly have podcasts for the daily train/bus ride, but I do have Stephen Colbert’s Christmas Special and “Full Tilt”, the latest album from Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials. And I can go from “Whad’ya Know” to “The McLaughlin Group” to “Car Talk” to “Savage Love Podcast” to “Planet Money” without batting an eye on my commute, although I have had to teach myself to not laugh out loud at Dan Savage’s comments on the train.

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?

- My favorite genres of music are old school rap/hip-hop (Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, Fat Boys, Run DMC) and bluegrass. No cognitive dissonance, I swear!
- My wife and I met in the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable, Atlanta’s only street theatre cum attack marching band.
- I am a testicular cancer survivor.

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?

I started at Loyola University in New Orleans on a music scholarship, but halfway through decided to switch to accounting. I thought since I was good at math it would logically follow that I would I would enjoy accounting. Wrong!!! All I can say is thank God for tax (Editor’s note: Don’t we all?). I finished my undergrad and Masters in Tax at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?

I would say change the US tax system from a worldwide income basis to a territorial basis (i.e., you only pay tax on what you earn in the US). But then I would probably be out of a job. How about denying a deduction for companies who advertise on reality TV and cable news talk shows?

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?

Ninja Warrior / Sasuke and Unbeatable Banzuke on G4. My wife complains that I often turn up the volume despite the fact that the announcer is speaking Japanese and I don’t understand a word of it. Or anything on Current TV.

14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?

Neither, although I think more meaningful moves will be made to lessen the “collateral damage” from the AMT. The estate tax is here to stay but maybe with a pretty decent exemption (somewhere in the $3-5 million range)

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?

Either buy a share in a flying club or start our next adoption, depending on who opened the mail.

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Obama nominees, UBS or TARP?

The UBS story will be a blockbuster if the DOJ backs off like the Times claims. Otherwise TARP, but it’s much more boring.

17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?

TaxProf Blog, but I also follow re:The Auditors on public accounting issues in general.

–

Thanks Frank!

You can follow Frank at his blog at http://vinnysgotcancer.blogspot.com – a word of caution: it’s not as frequently updated now as before (but still looks to be a good read).Similar Posts:

Do You Consider Yourself a Tax Pro?

Kelly — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:09:31 +0000

Or do you know someone who is? I’m taking recommendations for my “Getting to Know You Tuesdays” series…

If you have a recommendation for me – and yes, by all means, recommend yourself – please send contact information to gettingtoknow (at) taxgirl (dot) com (the link will format properly).

I’ve been fortunate to interview some wonderful tax pros, many of whom are at the top of their respective professions. You can read some of my previous interviews here. I’m looking forward to some more great interviews!Similar Posts:

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Yeah, I’d Be the One Short A Tweet

Kelly — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:36:41 +0000

I had the great pleasure of being twitterviewed on Tuesday for the web site, 22tweets. 22tweets is defined as:

live Twitter interviews with practicing lawyers who tweet
a forum where lawyers tell their stories, one tweet at a time
the hottest new mash-up on Twitter

And you know I tweet. And apparently, I have a story to tell. You can catch the whole twitterview here (links to the transcript) – you’ll see I was one tweet short (of course).

Better yet, you can follow me on twitter – I swear not to say anything about Ashton Kuchner or Oprah.Similar Posts:

Getting To Know You Tuesday: Kevin Foley

Kelly — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:11:39 +0000

It’s Getting To Know You Tuesday! Today’s guest is CPA Kevin Foley. Interestingly, Kevin has his CPA but doesn’t actively practice tax now. Read on…

1. Where are you now?

In my office, in my home in Freehold, NJ

2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?

Depends on the audience… Dad for 2, Uncle to 18, Son to 1, Brother to 6, brother in law to 7, SOB at work (son of boss) except boss is dead, so I guess I’m boss, CPA, Certified Public Accountant and CPCU, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter

3. What books are on your night stand?

Moby Dick (still trying to catch up on my HS reading list), Duct Tape Marketing and Twitter Power

4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?

I don’t work in the tax profession… I did work for Touche Ross & Co (now Deloitte & Touche), but that was auditing, not tax and many years ago. I got my CPA and went into the family business, an insurance agency and I don’t think I’d be happier anywhere else.

5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?

Return of the Pink Panther… the kids (9yo and 11yo) love the old Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers (editor’s note: the kids have good taste!)

6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?

Minimizing MY tax liability

7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?

Start with the refund you want, then work your way backwards. I haven’t tried it… yet.

8. Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Cream, no sugar

9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).

Mozart, Vivaldi, Smash Mouth, Springsteen (it’s a law in NJ) and Sinatra (another NJ law)

10. What would I be surprised to know about you?

I take my Chocolate Lab, Bonnie swimming every Monday for a half hour

11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?

St. Bonaventure University, Business Administration, Accounting

12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?

It makes my hair hurt thinking of an answer

13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?

14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?

AMT

15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?

Buy a whip and beat my accountant for loaning the government my money, interest free.

16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Daschle, Joe Francis or TARP?

TARP

17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?

IRS.gov… it’s the only other one I’ve ever looked at

Thanks Kevin! It’s great to have the scoop from a tax pro that’s gone onto other things.

Kevin works for PFT&K Insurance Brokers (877-414-2031 Toll Free Phone) – you can also follow him on twitter!Similar Posts:

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