If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I’m all about baseball. That’s why I’m particularly excited this week to feature Jonathan Mariner, who served as Major League Baseball’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance (he was appointed to the position by MLB Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig). Before joining the MLB, Mariner served as Executive Vice President and CFO of the Florida Marlins.
Today, Mariner is focused on a new project: an app that helps you track spend working or living in more than one state. The app, Tax Day, helps you figure your residency for tax purposes (more on that in a few days). For now, here’s what Jonathan had to say:
1. Where are you now?
I’m happily retired and living in south Florida working on a new start up after 23 years working in professional sports.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
I’m the founder and president of TaxDay, LLC, a new travel-tracking app for people who live and work in multiple states. It records taxable travel days as you bounce from one jurisdiction to another.
3. What books are on your nightstand?
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis; Howard’s Gift – Uncommon Wisdom to Inspire Your Life’s Work by Eric Sinoway; and Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
I just retired from my dream job, EVP and CFO of Major League Baseball!
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theater)?
Hidden Figures
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Multi-state taxation; in particular, multi-state residency taxes.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Invest as much as you can into your company’s 401(k), especially if there’s any employer matching. It’s the best and most reliable way to earn a guaranteed return on your investment.
8. Coffee or tea?
Tea, I never drink coffee.
9. Name five artists on your iPod or digital player.
Justin Kauflin, Robert Glasper, Janita, Bruno Mars, Lin-Manuel Miranda
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I have a black belt in Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu!
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
University of Virginia where I earned a BS in Accounting, and later Harvard Business School for a MBA
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?
Allow for netting gains and losses from all types of business and investment activity, whether active or passive.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
NBC’s “This Is Us”
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
The AMT. Repealing the estate tax is much more complex with much greater tax consequences on other types of income.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Invest it in my start-up, TaxDay!
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Trump, Ryan, identity thieves or the EU?
Identity thieves; tax refund fraud is a very hot topic right now.
17. And, other than taxgirl for Forbes, what’s your favorite tax-related website?
My own website, Taxday.com!
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Thanks, Jonathan! You can find out more about Jonathan from his website at here. To connect on social media, you can follow Jonathan on Twitter or follow Tax Day on LinkedIn.
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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: 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, encouraged!
