Welcome to my blog!

During the slow time in my office, I decided to start a blog.  I've always enjoyed writing and want to incorporate some of my tax expertise into my professional 'marketing' strategy for myself.

 A little about me, professionally:

 I've been a tax preparer with CSD & Co. since January 2009.  I earned my CPA certification, after a grueling exam, plus education and experience requirements, in June of 2010.  I am uniquely suited to this type of work, with an analytical mind and a penchant for solving problems.  Working in a small city, most of my clients are small businesses or individuals whose complexity of investments have exceeded their ability or willingness to prepare their own taxes.

 I am most certainly your typical accountant-type.  I have moments of social awkwardness and tend towards the introverted.  However, I did, at some point in my adult life, learn how to talk to other adults and I strive to be approachable, friendly, and comprehensible.  I can explain tax concepts in every-day speak and you don't have to worry about our conversations leaving you more, rather than less, confused.

 A little about me, personally:

 I consider myself an Alaskradan.  I was born in Alaska and moved to Colorado when I was a child, though I continued to summer there through college.  My love affair with Colorado becomes more intense every year, but Alaska will always be home.

 I'm a single mom to a silly second-grader.  Often my time in the office is limited because of my obligations to him, so I've learned to make the most of the time I am here.  Don't get me wrong, I still work 5 days and 40 hours a week most weeks.

 I am a volunteer programmer (i.e. DJ) at KAFM 88.1 fm, our community radio station here in Grand Junction.  Hear me on the second and fourth Saturdays at 6 pm!  I play mostly rock, R&B, and Americana.

 I rediscovered snowboarding last winter after a very unfortunate five-year hiatus.  Other than taking out a small aspen with my head a minute and a half into my first run, it was absolutely the best thing about my winter.

 I also serve on the finance committee at Caprock Academy as well as the board of the Colorado West Estate Planning Council.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Small Business Taxes & Accounting: Part II (Dependent Care Benefits)

I received a question from a client the other day and before I answered her I realized it would make a great blog post!  (Thanks, dear.) "So now that Hunky is a real employee of his business, we're exploring the benefits he is going to offer himself (and his employees). I'm working on health insurance which I realize will change in January. What about offering childcare benefits? From the DOL website it looks like it's an arrangement between employer and employee. How would we go about arranging this? Would we pay a babysitter then provide documentation to Best.Dentist.Ever. which then reimburses us? Or could the business hire a part-time babysitter/nanny and pay her a paycheck? However, if she's an employee of the business, would our homeowners insurance cover her if she were injured on the job?" I think your best option for childcare benefits would be to set up what's called a Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) within a Flexible Spending Arran...
Read more

Tax-Savings Tips: September 2022

Tax-Saving Tips   September 2022 Earn 9.62 Percent Tax-Deferred Interest with Series I Bonds   Inflation is seldom a good thing.   But when it comes to investing, the U.S. Treasury Department has an inflation opportunity that’s downright amazing. You can buy bonds that pay 9.62 percent interest—tax-deferred—with no downside risk, and with no state or local income taxes when you cash them in.   If you buy now, you earn that 9.62 percent for six months, guaranteed. At the end of six months, the Treasury Department   ·          adds the interest you earned to your principal, and ·          pays interest on your new principal balance at the new rate it will determine this year, on November 1.   Example. You buy $10,000 of Series I bonds on September 24. You earn 9.62 percent for six months for a total of $481 ($10,000 x 9.62 percent ÷ 2). On March 24, your...
Read more

Big News!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 28, 2015 ACCOUNTING FIRMS ANNOUNCE MERGER Two local accounting firms are joining forces, with the aim of offering expanded services and continuing their shared vision of client-centered customer service and expertise together. Stranger & Lautz Professional Group and Mackley & Tallman Accounting will complete their merger on Nov. 1, becoming Stranger, Tallman & Lautz Accounting. “We’re excited to join forces because now we’ll be able to offer more services to our clients,” said Gina Tallman, formerly of Mackley & Tallman. “Both companies are seeing success and we want to keep building on that.” Together, members of the new firm hope to continue the tradition they each have for excellent service, deep expertise, and an environment that clients and associates want to be a part of. Stranger, Tallman & Lautz Accounting will continue to offer a wide variety of services from tax planning and bookkeeping to Quickbooks training and consu...
Read more