It’s Getting to Know You Tuesday! Today’s featured tax pro is Tax Manager Monica A. Lawver. Yes, it’s Lawver. I keep thinking it’s Lawyer with the y cut off – but I would be wrong. Monica works with Thomas York, LLP, out of California, only she lives in Ohio. Intrigued? Keep reading…
1. Where are you now?
Home. I work from home, which is 2,400 miles away from my office. Not easy to do.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Nothing too flashy – Tax Manager. I review tax returns, train staff, teach clients, and always look for ways to do things better. Some call me Wonder Accountant.
3. What books are on your night stand?
Made to Stick, It’s OK to Be the Boss, Blue Ocean Strategy. (You’re catching me in a management reading phase. I’m not always so intellectual.)
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Probably performing on Broadway. Maybe I could write a musical about a CPA. I mean, who wouldn’t pay to see that?
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
Like Taxgirl, I’ve got small children. I can’t remember the last time I went to the movies… I think it was the see the last Indiana Jones movie. Baby-induced sleep deprivation causes regular memory lapses.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
As embarrassing as it is, I find so many areas fascinating that I’m still working on narrowing it down. Right now, key interest areas include construction, S corporations, estates and trusts, and the scariest of all – California state taxes.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Before spending, always ask: “Do I really need that?”
8. Coffee or tea?
Neither. Not a caffeine drinker, which is a challenge during tax season. [editor’s note: I know, people, I know. Very disturbing.]
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
KT Tunstall, The Killers, The Beatles, Elvis, Paul Simon
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
Claymation gives me the creeps. (Yep, you read that right.)
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Brigham Young University, Bachelor’s in Accounting, Master’s in Taxation.
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?
Is completely simplifying it an option? I really don’t want to make the code even longer.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
30 Rock.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT – although I’m not holding my breath on either.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Stash it in savings. Boring, but true!
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Daschle, Joe Francis or TARP?
TARP
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax related web site?
That’s a tough one. I’m going to have to say two, as both are insightful and funny: Joe Kristan’s Tax Updates and Peter Pappas’ The Tax Lawyer’s Blog
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Thanks Monica! You can catch up with Monica on twitter; at her tax blog or on her personal blog.
Haha… I read the no caffeine thing and thought – hmm is she LDS? Not that LDS members are prohibited from drinking caffeine, but it’s common to avoid it. Then I saw she went to BYU – yep most likely she’s LDS!
Sorry, I can’t imagine ever paying to see a CPA broadway show. 🙂
Can you give some guidance on where to start researching this so I don’t look completely stupid? PA “S” corporation 50% shareholder dies. He has tremendous debt to IRS and his estate will probably end up in bankruptcy. Buyout agreement was never signed. Fear is that Trustee will not accept FMV buyout of stock interest right away but hold on to stock and get 50% of earnings for 2 years before then accepting a FMV offer from other 50% stockholder (his brother). Absent a buy-sell or buyout agreement is there any law that will prevent the shares from entering into the estate (which is a qualified S corp shareholder)? When does ownership change? Upon offer of purchase or payment by other shareholder? Valuation is being performed now. I have feeling Bankruptcy Trustee can do what he wants since there is no agreement to purchase. If there was an agreement with mandatory purchase, would ownership switch immediately? Or upon payment? I cannot find much on this. Where do I start?
I got here via Monica’s blog and read with much humor. As a CPA with many years in public practice I can share the feelings that most of us go through. But I was lost at the fear of Claymation! When Dreamworks did that game “the neverhood” my young son and i enjoyed it so much and were very disappointed when they didn’t make a #2 version. Perhaps us CPAs are not all alike as many of us think 🙂