It’s Getting To Know You Tuesday! Today’s guest is Joel Schoenmeyer of Death and Taxes: The Blog. Welcome Joel!
1. Where are you now?
Oak Park, Illinois, in my home office.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Do I even have an official title? I suppose that, since I’m a sole practitioner, it can be whatever I want: sole owner, proprietor, senior partner and king of Joel A. Schoenmeyer, Attorney at Law.
3. What books are on your night stand?
Lots of classics — I’m working my way through a lifetime reading list. Right now I’ve got Madame Bovary (just finished — book club was last night), Catch-22 (just started), and Tarzan of the Apes on my night stand.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
As you can tell from my answer to 3. above, something having to do with literature — writing or teaching.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
The Namesake.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Estate and gift tax, since I practice in the areas of estate planning and probate. More specifically, disclaimers have a special place in my heart.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Probably “pay yourself first.”
8. Coffee or tea?
Coffee with lots of milk and sugar (at least five tablespoons).
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
I listen to a lot of pop music — five representative artists would be Chic, Steely Dan, XTC, Prince, and Regina Spektor.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I just took up the piano (and started learning how to read music) about a year ago.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Michigan State University, BA English 1992. And then I got my JD at the University of Michigan (1996). Go Spartans!
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 switch to a consumption tax.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
The Wire.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT — it affects more people.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Save it, of course! I’m a planner through and through.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
Maybe Richard Hatch, because my blog’s focus is on relating tax issues to things and people that ordinary people know or care about. Fraudulent tax shelters? Exciting to people in the industry, but maybe not to the general public.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
Tax Updates by Joe Kristan (http://www.rothcpa.com/taxupdates.php).
Thanks again! This was fun.
– and thanks to you, Joel!
Awesome! Two of my favorite bloggers, talking to each other. I have 5 blogs RSS’d on my toolbar — two of them are taxgirl and Death and Taxes (JS’s blog). I’m a brand new solo in Chicago, and I read both of your blogs religiously. Yeah for GTKYT!