Who says taxes can’t be funny? Stuart Hack, of Hack Tax and Accounting Services, LLC, an accounting firm located in Wellington, Florida, believes you can laugh and put together a form 1040 at the same time – well maybe not at the exact same time. Hack is an enrolled agent who offers accounting and tax services to individuals and small businesses and has been known to do a little comedy improv on the side. Here’s what Stuart had to say:
1. Where are you now? Wellington, Florida
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean? I am an enrolled agent who also has a Masters of Science in Accounting
3. What books are on your nightstand? Showboat: the life of Kobe Bryant and Up, Up and away which is a history of the Montreal Expos (bet you didn’t expect that!)
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? Baseball Play by Play Announcer
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theater)? Passengers
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest? Individuals and Small Business
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? When my daughter was born 19 years ago, I read in Money Magazine that if I invested $200 a month in an index fund, I would have $100,000 by the time she’s ready for College. I did, the account had over $100,000 and since she goes to a Public State University not only is College paid for, but she will have money left over to invest once she graduates.
8. Coffee or tea? Neither. Diet Coke or Diet Mountain Dew
9. Name five artists on your iPod or digital player. Billy Joel, Beatles, Queen, Genesis, ELO. (I know I’m old!)
10. What would I be surprised to know about you? Last year I performed two comedy shows at the Improv in West Palm Beach. Part of the act involved accounting. (The video is on my personal Facebook page)
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)? I have a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Masters of Science in Accounting both at the State University of New York at Albany (now known as the University of Albany).
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 try and change the Earned Income Credit. It gets abused by many. I know some can really use it so I wouldn’t eliminate it. Perhaps requiring backup to attach to return.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now? Seinfeld – I know only reruns are on now. My daughter just binged watch series on Netflix, and it still is funny 20 years later.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT? Estate Tax
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it? Pay Bills, pay off car
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Trump, Ryan, identity thieves or the EU? Trump with January 20 looming
17. And, other than taxgirl for Forbes, what’s your favorite tax-related website? Is there another one?
Thanks, Stuart! You can find Stuart on Facebook and on LinkedIn.
If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured send your suggestions to kelly (dot) erb (at) taxgirl (dot) com with the subject line: Getting To Know You Tuesday (it’s tax season: use anything else and it could get lost, you’ve been warned). Self-nominations are totally okay and, in fact, are encouraged!