It’s Getting to Know You Tuesday! Today’s guest is Wendi Kotzen. Wendi is a partner in the tax and real estate groups at Ballard Spahr Ingersoll Andrews LLP.
When I entered the practice, it became apparent to me that tax law was not exactly chock full of female attorneys. In fact, at any given Tax CLE, you were bound to see mostly grey-haired men. That’s why I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Tax Supper Club in Philadelphia which was at the time chaired by Wendi Kotzen. Wendi was one of the first successful female tax attorneys outside of law school that I had the honor to meet. I’m so pleased that she agreed to play along today!
And onto the interview…
1. Where are you now?
In my office.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Partner.
3. What books are on your nightstand?
The Good German, Fit or Fat.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Talking Head.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
The Good Sheppard.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Real estate related tax issues.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Invest for the long term.
8. Coffee or tea?
Hot black coffee and iced tea.
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Carole King, Crosby Still Nash & Young, Jeff Buckley
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I play the lottery regularly and love day dreaming about what I’d do if I won enough to have a BIG bank account.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
University of Pennsylvania, political science
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 reduce the amt rates to 40% of the regular tax rates and allow state and local taxes to be deducted for amt purposes. I think that when the amt was passed, the top regular tax rate was 50% and the amt rate was 20%. When the Bush tax cuts were passed, the amt rates were not reduced accordingly.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
I watch a lot of TV, most of it bad but generally I try not to miss the Law and Orders, CSI NY and CSI, 24 (but it’s a bad season), and the Sunday Talks
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
I don’t think that Congress will repeal either – I think that Congress will conclude that the amt is too expensive to repeal and everyone should pay some tax (see answer to 12) and that the estate tax credit should be increased as opposed to the estate tax repealed
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Save it toward my retirement.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist or Richard Hatch?
For the tax community, KPMG
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
Taxprof blog and taxsites.com
Thanks Wendi!
