It’s ba-a-a-ck! After a brief hiatus, my regular series, Getting To Know You Tuesday, has returned. I hope you enjoy it!
This week, we head up to the northeast to meet our tax pro. Peter J. Riley (not to be confused with this Peter J. Reilly who writes for Forbes) is a certified public accountant at Riley & Associates in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Peter represents a broad range of clients but has a special interest in tax and accounting matters for creative folks, including actors, directors, performers, visual artists, writers, musicians, and singers (more info here). In fact, he even wrote the book on them (see #6). He’s has been a great friend of the blog for years. Here’s what Peter had to say:
1. Where are you now?
Newburyport, MA
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
President of Riley & Associates PC – meaning varies day by day!
3. What books are on your nightstand?
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
Sight Reading, a Novel by Daphne Kalotay
World on a String, a musical memoir by John Pizzarelli
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Something in the music biz, management maybe
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
Winters Bone
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Folks in the arts, writers, musicians, painters, etc, I wrote the book – New Tax Guide for Writers, Artists, Performers and other Creative People.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
The first partner I ever worked for talked to me once about the importance in our profession of the annual nature of our work, that if you treated a client right you had that constant renewal of income every year.
8. Coffee or tea?
Tea, iced
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Paul McCartney, Otis Redding, Jim Hall (jazz guitar), The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I do yoga – a special fat guys version – good for me NOT pleasant to watch! 🙂
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Merrimack College in Andover, MA – business administration
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?
NO refundable tax credits, credits can 0 out your tax liability but cannot create a refund, IRS needs to stop being a welfare agency.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Mad Men
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT, do not support the repeal of the estate tax
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
eliminate all my debts
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Obama, Apple, or DOMA?
DOMA
17. And, other than Taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
Is this a trick question!!!!! – your blog is the best, not sure of websites but I like the Kiplinger tax newsletter.
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Thanks, Peter! You can follow Peter on twitter @rileytaxtweets.
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If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured send your suggestions to gettingtoknow@taxgirl.com. Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, encouraged!
