User talk:BrockEA
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Michael: I am a tax preparer (EA) working in the Atlanta area (Smyrna). I have been doing this for a long time and as a result, I have more business than I want. I have turned down all new clients for over five years. I refer the new clients to some other accountants, none of whom I have any great loyalty to. I would be happy to send them your way. And I don't want anything in return from you. Just hope you do them a good job at a fair price, so I can keep sending them your way. Send me some business cards:
Larry Moon 1270 Winchester Parkway Suite 217 Smyrna, GA 30080
My phone number is 770-438-2080 in case you need to contact me, or e-mail is LarryMoonEA@Bellsouth.net
Good luck.
Newbie
Call me for more good info. 949-456-5876 DZCPA@yahoo.com
Archer, Email me if you want.
Newarcher: Are you in Georgia? I am a Georgia attorney, and I'll do his non-profit incorporation (the legal side only) for $400.00 plus filing fees, and leave you all the 1023 and accounting work. If you are starting your practice, you may want to give him a break on the 1023 itself. But, $2,500.00 just for that would not be unreasonable, you may want to discount that. It's a bear. billcrowe@comcast.net CrowJD 13:17, 23 January 2008 (CST)
Sounds good Michael
One thing you could say to him is that the 1023 is often not accepted the first time, or the IRS writes back to request more info. Which is true. So, $1,000 down, $1,000 later, something like that.
As I said, I'll be glad to help him as attorney for his non-profit incorporation, and I'll make sure it's done correctly for him, if he's interested. And, don't worry, I will not compete with you on the 1023, or any accounting work. Let me know, and it's good to know another Atlanta comrade. CrowJD 13:47, 23 January 2008 (CST)
Great Michael
Thanks! The main thing I wanted you to know is that I am available to help your clients with legal work (incorporations, whatever) and I will not steal accounting and tax work from you!!! So, if your clients ever need legal help or assistance, keep me in mind. I am in the Atlanta area, and I understand you are too. CrowJD 10:46, 1 February 2008 (CST)
HRA 105; NASE info
Michael, I have tried to pursue this and recently posted anew to an old discussion and got no response whatsoever. I finally did a spreadsheet attempting to compare/contrast how this works under both a SP and an S corp. I offered to let others look at it and correct what I might have missed - no takers. The bottom line was that NASE or BASE, the administrators/promoters of these plans continue to insist that S corp SH can utilize the plan to lessen their FICA and at the same time get to deduct their out-of-pocket medical expenses even though they say that a >2% SH cannot actually 'participate', as was the direction given on the discussions here. If you'd like to continue a discussion (I have a SH awaiting my 'expert' opinion and don't know what to tell him) on this, please let me know. I'd love to get additional feedback.LJACPA
regarding advice
Hey Michael
I appreciate your questions and know that you can email me (if you don't want to get beat up) nshoemake@shoemakecpa.com If I can help you...I will. We are all learning. Nancy Shoemake
Spreadsheet of due dates etc.
Hi Michael, you posted in the DIY vs tax professionals thread about a spreadsheet you've developed for clients detailing due dates etc. Is that something that can be shared, if you are willing? I have a couple of new clients that would love something like that; that could really benefit from it and I'm not finding time to create it. I'd be happy to compensate you if you are interested. I'm also new to this forum, and still learning my way around. BTW, I grew up about 2 hours from Atlanta, but now live on the West Coast. Thanks, BelleBelle 12:28, 3 February 2008 (CST)
Michael, my email address is nolecpa@yahoo.com. You added some additional concerns that I've not considered. Will be happy to discuss. Thanks.LJACPA 06:29, 4 February 2008 (CST)
able to efile yet?
Hey Spongeworthy...
I also got an efin the other day, and my status is "active". My ERO status is "applied". I'm not sure if I should be able to file yet.
What is your ERO status? And have you been able to e-file yet?
The New Tax Guy (newtaxguy@yahoo.com)
Spreadsheet....
Michael,
Thanks for sending that spreadsheet re: due dates etc. to: ajcpersonal@sbcglobal.net
And yes, I have plenty of undying love & devotion for ANYONE willing to help me out during tax season (as well as a fellow southerner). Hope I didn't miss the weekly special, this season has started out a bit crazier than normal (!?) and I'm fried - already - and haven't been on TA much this week. Hope I can return the favor sometime.
BelleBelle 23:50, 6 February 2008 (CST)
105 HRA
Hi Michael,
I noticed in another forum that you are interested in learning more about the HRA plan. I work for a TPA and specialize in the HRA. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this further, I would be more than happy to help!
Matt
HRA
Sorry, forgot to leave my contact info... theedeck theedeck@yahoo.com
Thanks, Matt
S Corps and HRA's
Michael, I've run into my first S Corp with an HRA. I'm concerned about the validity of this, and noticed you've participated in some discussions on it. Have you come to any firm conclusions? Can you point me to any references? I'd very much appreciate it, Wwtaxes 22:47, 9 April 2008 (CDT)
Business Philosophy
Michael, If you want to give me your email I can explain how I run my business. Thanks for posting. It's nice to see a newbie come in with confidence to post. KarenKaren258 10:18, 23 April 2008 (CDT)
Another evangelist nightmare
Hello, I am an evangelist, and have been doing my own taxes; nightmare is not descriptive enough. I am not sure of the protocols of this site, but I have been trying to find someone that has more than a passing knowledge of the tax needs of evangelists, but with zero success. The tax consultants I've approached are reserved and unwilling to help. Since you have done the research, I was wondering if you were taking on new evangelists as clients. My situation might be more complex than "David Holt ministries", simply because I have done it myself... Please feel free to email, mdfuller001@gmail.com. If you cannot undertake this, maybe you can give some referrals. Our home base is South Carolina. Thank you for your consideration, Martin
Be careful about taking any advice from BLRGCPA
her track record is less than 25% correct answers, and those items which she does get correct are usually not even part of the issue. Discussion:What is the best way to handle 'wrong' answers we have tried to be polite, but she just doesn't get it. She means well, but just gives too many wrong answers.
Newarcher has re-registered
Hi all.
In case you would like to reach me, please do so at my new handle, BrockAndAssociates. I re-registered because I was in a hurry the first time I registered and didn't think my typical handle of Newarcher would show up. It seemed more fitting to register under my business name.
Thanks,
Michael
Your new name
Hi Michael/Newarcher -
Saw your note about re-registering, thought I'd mention two things:
1. I can actually change your old name to a new name, which will have the benefit of carrying all of your old activity over to the new name, and you won't show up as a "newbie" then.
2. Long user names are problematic - can really mess up the format of the tax forum main page. But if you add spaces every once in a while, the name will wrap within the "creator" and "last poster" columns, and all is well.
So, could I suggest that I change Newarcher to "Brock and Associates" and this one w/o spaces could just be left unused?
You can reply to me by clicking my name below and adding a note on my talk page. Tim Doyle can also handle a name change for you, if you'd rather go through him.
Thanks,
Trillium 11:39, 2 February 2009 (CST)
Name change complete
Hi, Michael:
Your old name, Newarcher, has been changed to Brock And Associates. Any posts you made while the name was Newarcher (Sept '07 through today) will still show the old name on the actual discussion, but all of your history has now moved to the new name, and as long as you sign in with the new name ("Brock And Associates" with the spaces) from now on, your new posts will show up with the new name, Brock And Associates.
I dropped in your newest profile rather than just keeping the bare-bones one that you'd left on the Newarcher user page, but obviously you can make whatever changes you want to that.
Any issues/questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Trillium 19:51, 10 February 2009 (CST)
Deleting things
Hi, Michael -
I understand long nights! I mainly posted to that discussion to get the long name out of one of the columns!
I can try to delete the no-spaces ID; not sure what that does to existing discussions.
But more importantly, I could also delete the discussion you started with the wrong ID, which would clear the board format problem - but the best thing to do would be if you'd start a similar discussion w/the correct ID, and then I can transfer the responses over. Or maybe I'll just send it to Chat for the day?
Thanks, and sorry for the multi-name confusion. I'll edit this note later once I've figured out how to delete names (if I can).
Editing to add:
Okay - your Brocknospaces user name has been deleted. You posted to three discussions with that user ID, "Ethical? Cast your vote!" and "Business use of home...am I pushing it?" in addition to the one you started today, which I've moved over to the "test area" forum for lack of a better place while I wait to see how this name deletion thing goes. On all of those posts, I edited the user name so that if somebody clicks it, they'll find your new name, but of course those posts won't show in your user history, so I'm sure that'll confuse some poor soul years from now.
Caution: I think, but don't know, that you may still be able to use the Brocknospaces ID even once it's been deleted. If you do use it, you'll see that the user name in the discussion, and on the forum, are in RED. If that happens, that's a reminder to sign out and sign back in with the correct name right away!! Also - once you've signed back on, you can make your "bad" discussion kind of disappear from the "tax forum" list by opening it up, clicking edit, and changing the line at the top from "{{Tax Questions}}" or whatever forum name and category may be in those squiggly brackets to "{{Test Area}}". That'd be doing everybody a favor, if you wouldn't mind!! Then post the question again in a new discussion, with your new ID.
Trillium 11:16, 23 February 2009 (CST) (edited: Trillium 12:59, 23 February 2009 (CST))
Keep your head up
after reading several of your questions and concerns regarding clients, I wanted to send you a personal note: Keep your head up! it appears you are 'starting out'. Just a couple of suggestions; always speak with a smile, don't respond to an email if you are aggitated, don't discount your fee, document your calls / emails / time spent on an item / client. When I started out years ago, I posted a notice of my tax practice at an apartment complex close to my office, this complex was not a retirement home but the majority of residents were quit elderly, I had two clients, I would go pick up their tax information, prepare the returns and bring them back, charged them $150, well one passed away, the other is still around, they are kinda my adopted parents, still charge them 150. But they email constantly and call me all year long, Just some suggestions....and sometimes my humor gets in the way... I tend to post 'leading' answers instead of just yes or no, your questions are very well thought out and you are on your way as far as gaining experience, and from what I can tell, you don't want to take short cuts which puts you on the top....
Have a great tax season and remember, everthing starts with a smile!
TexCPA 21:03, 9 March 2009 (CDT)
Depreciation Musical Instruments
I wanted to know are you treating the guitars as 5-year property or 7-year property. Tom
Your profile shrank?
Hey, Michael - I noticed you edited your profile to remove any info about your background/level of experience as a tax pro. Not that you're really at risk of having your questions moved to the consumer forum (I think both Kevin and I know who you are by now!) but if you're answering questions it seems like you ought to provide some info about that so people know what they're getting? And it's also help for when you ask questions, since some people don't hang out here often enough to know who the regulars are.
Trillium 14:57, 7 April 2009 (CDT)
Hi Michael!
Hi Michael!
Yes, I'd really appreciate it if you would share your QuickBooks setup with me.
Here's my email address: maria@reyestaxes.com
Thanks! Maria
Thanks for letting me know
I'll take a look at his latest post in a minute, but I remember the one on the other thread (where you were passing along great info, IMO) as I was somewhat surprised to see it from him. That kind of comment is out of character for that particular poster. However, I can tell you that he tends to less than patient with new preparers who may appear to be unprepared to be servicing clients. Wait, wait - I am not saying that's how you come across! But if he's only read one or two of your discussions (which wouldn't surprise me) he may have made some assumptions about you that he would not make if he'd read all of your posts.
Since I have my own issues with people that use TaxAlmanac discussions as if we were an on-call research service, especially when they either (a) don't have enough tax knowledge to even understand the info they're given, or (b) couldn't search on their own because they don't know enough to know what to look for, I kind of sympathize with what I'm guessing his underlying issue is.
But if he's taken it too far, yes, we'll try to do something about it.
Meanwhile (and now I may be too late because I just opened the discussion and see you've posted to it!) I'd recommend that you don't escalate things. Back with more after I've read the new posts (his and yours).
Trillium 15:49, 14 April 2009 (CDT)
editing to add: Good, I'm glad you edited out your post. I debated about posting a comment right on that discussion, but ended up sending him a PM instead. (Moderating disputes kind of goes farther than what Kevin and I are intended to be doing, but to the extent I can help out I'll try. I may have no ability to help out - we'll see!) If you can, please chalk it up to "week before the deadline stress" combined with what appears to me to be a passion about making sure clients are treated right by their tax preparers, whoever they are, all over the country. That seems like something you believe in, too, so we're all coming from the same place here, just going after it a little differently. Trillium
Worst clients
For some reason, I cannot post to that discussion -- I keep getting logged out. I just thought I'd mention you might want to obtain the client's prior two years of tax returns as a matter of procedure. That way, when you ask for them, you'll know whether they've been filed or not. (They also provide valuable information on carryovers, etc.) Natalie 18:06, 14 April 2009 (CDT)Natalie
You're welcome. I live in Hawaii. I'm from Wisconsin. The ocean can be a very dangerous place. I learned the hard way myself one time. The currents can be very strong.Natalie 18:55, 14 April 2009 (CDT)Natalie
Next steps
Michael, I think you should send a note to Tim Doyle (you can send him an e-mail if you like, his contact info is on his user page, User:Tdoyle) and give him the links to the two discussions you are concerned about. Escalating on the boards is futile - nobody wins and you pull too many innocents into the mess. I see that you are - and why you are - taking this personally, but letting these things blow over and just establishing your credibility post by post without directly addressing naysayers is the only way I've seen somebody come out of this type of battle unscathed. Sorry to say that, but the internet is the wild west, and even if you're in what's usually a more civilized corner of it, there are times when there may still be gun battles on Main Street. Knowing when to duck for cover is a useful skill. Okay, I think I've mixed enough metaphors for now... but that's my advice.
Trillium 20:38, 14 April 2009 (CDT)
Impending clean-up
Hi, Michael - in a little while (sometime later today) I'm going to start cleaning the chat and other non-tax discussions out of the tax forum. Figured we all needed a day or two of leniency, but now back to work! (Ha.)
So - for your discussion "How did you get here" I'm thinking that might be better placed on the Business Growth Forum rather than in Chat - but do you have a preference? It might get a little more traffic in chat, although people are starting to get used to populating the business growth forum with both practice management and growth ideas, so it seems to be getting more deserved attention lately.
I suppose the same question could be asked for "Worst client you ever had" although I was thinking Chat for that one...
Let me know,
Trillium 10:35, 17 April 2009 (CDT)
Rule of thumb
If your post isn't an actual question about taxes, it likely belongs on a forum other than the Tax Forum! You can see the intended categorization here: Discussion_Forum_Index. If you think we should clarify that index further, let me (or Kevin) know. Your EA exam post has been moved to the Business Growth Forum - all EA/CPA exam, licensing, etc. questions should go there, really.
Trillium 17:15, 20 April 2009 (CDT)
Hang in There
Michael: I try to keep a sense of humor about these clients, so forgive me if I have fun with them. Trust me, I've had some crazy ones over the years. Some of them were out and out fruitloops. God sends them to you because he knows you will take up some time with them. I have settled on the philosophy with clients that I can lead the horse to water, but I can't make him drink. It's a cliche, but so true. Hang in there. CrowJD 17:29, 20 April 2009 (CDT)
Same boat
Don't mention it. We're all in the same boat around here, whether we know it or not! Take care. CrowJD 20:22, 20 April 2009 (CDT)
Craigslist ad
Brock, If you're serious about the Craigslist ad, leave your email address on my User talk board and I'll be happy to send to you. Can't guarantee it will work for you, but what's the downside risk if it doesn't?... after all, Craigslist is free advertising. Best, Anchorman 10:59, 27 April 2009 (CDT)
QuickBooks Setup
Hi, Brock and Associates, I wanted to ask a bit more about the QuickBooks setup services that you mentioned on the "Using QuickBooks to Attract New Clients' thread. You mentioned "Consultation, installation, very little customization on site, a little training, and out the door".
I'm a ProAdvisor and have used QB's as a lead in to get several new tax clients. My practice is about the same age and size as yours is, I believe.
I'm trying to standardize and package my small business services this year. About half my new clients try to set themselves up on QB's and end up with higher fees later on because of it. Do you mind telling me what you do to set up new clients and how much you charge for a setup?
I'm new here and my message doesn't seem to be posting right, so am putting my email address in, too.
DA Moore http://www.taxalmanac.org/index.php/User:Cobbcpa damcpa@bellsouth.net
Michael - Thanks for sending me the message about your QuickBooks setup packages. Was really interested in what you do, how you do it, and the pricing.
Most of my clients want to set themselves up on QB's (they are techie types), so I have a long talk with them about it costing them more in the long run if they do it themselves. I try to set the chart of accounts up so it's easy for them to use for management decisions, because I want the software to be something they use all the time to manage their income and costs. Have been charging $125 per hour and it usually takes 2 hours to do. It leaves me with a few tax reclasses, but not much. (I haven't mapped accounts to tax returns yet.) A few grumble about that cost, but I'm going to raise my prices and tell them it's the market rate.
Thanks again. Good luck with your practice!
Dianne
need work ?
michael,
look @ career builder in your area, or Ajilon Staffing, Accountemps, hope all is well
TexCPA 20:54, 5 May 2009 (CDT)
Code of Ethics
Michael, your welcome
I think you handled yourself far better than I could have ever imagined myself. I may not agree with a person's position nor understanding of the tax code, but will always try to treat others with respect and dignity. There was a post a while back that contained a misspelled word by the individual at hand, I was laughing my ass off, since his pet peeve IS misspelled words. I edited the post and corrected his spelling without commenting on his error.
I wish you the best of luck on your upcoming exam and hang in there !
TexCPA 19:48, 22 May 2009 (CDT)
Hey Brock...
Congrats! I just saw that you passed the EA Exam. Is that your last one?
I'm just starting out and am studying for Part 3. How tough are the exams? What study materials did you use? Have you done CPA?
-Bubzee
Brock: Congrats!
I am a public sector employee who likes taxes and would like to get my EA license as well. I was hoping you might answer a couple of questions to assist me in my plan of attack for the EA exam:
1. Over what time period did you study 125 hours? 2. Did you purchase an exam prep course? If so, which one? 3. How much study time should it take a person (me) budget to sit for Part 1 - I worked for HR Bloch for a couple of years about 8 years ago (I also have an undergrad degree in Acct w/CPA). 4. Do you recommend an exam prep course?
Any information is greatly appreciated.Highcard 15:13, 9 June 2009 (CDT)
Moved "the tax book" discussion to BusGrowth forum
That's a practice management topic, so it really belongs there more than in the tax forum. On the topic of your discussion, have you checked out the website connected to the book? It's clear that they're all really getting a lot out of the book - you can see many discussions where not just answers, but commentary and examples, are quoted for people who neglected to check the book before posting a question, and you will also see testimonials. The website link for the TTB forum is: TTB.
As a second topic, could you try to keep political asides/comments out of your tax forum posts, please?
There were few discussions about how to handle political posts, back before the November elections, and the community consensus was that they'd rather keep politics out of the forum, and that discussions that turned political should be moved over to the chat forum and maybe also labelled as such, so that those who wish to avoid them can do so easily. The political aside you made in the "the tax book" discussion was obviously not something that would cause that to be seen as a "political discussion" but (a) it's not the first time you've dropped your political views into a discussion about something else, and (2) it is the kind of remark that tends to invite comment from others, and then before you know it the original topic is lost and people who open up the discussion thinking they'll be finding out something about TTB end up finding out things they may not have wished to know about the political leanings of community members. It'd be appreciated if you could just keep comments about politics in general, and/or the snarky asides about the sludginess of the new administration, to a minimum. (PS, this is a nonpartisan reminder that's been posted in one form or another for people on both sides of the issue, just so you know. Comments about the old administration get a similar note!)
Thanks,
Trillium 12:09, 16 June 2009 (CDT)
Deleting old IDs doesn't work
If you scroll back up on this page to the post I left you on Feb 23, you can see that I did, actually, delete the brockandassociates ID, but warned you that it might just "rejuvinate itself" (for lack of a better term) if you accidentally signed in with it. And, in fact, that's happened, so we've now proven that deleting the old IDs is useless.
Suggestion: With your "brock and associates" name (the new ID), go to the talk pages of both "brockandassociates" and "newarcher" and leave a message. That way, next time you sign on with those old names, you'll get the orange banner that says you have a new message. If the new message reminds you to switch to the "brock and associates" ID then you'll prevent yourself from using the other ID by mistake. And any time you sign on to the old ID, just switch IDs and send yourself another note to prevent it again the next time!
Do you want to start a new discussion so I can transfer the "in the tank" discussion content to it? I can start a new topic myself, but then it ends up with the blank creator name, and I thought you might like to have it showing as having been started by you.
Trillium 15:42, 21 July 2009 (CDT)
EA Exam prep materials
Because I was involved in the 'cut score study' with Prometric (I helped set the passing grade and determined which questions needed to be thrown out), I have signed a 'will not teach EA exam material' non-disclosure agreement. I don't remember how long it was for, but it hasn't been long enough, I'm sure. I also think that applies to writing exam study materials. Thanks for the compliment, though! Kevinh5
Part II exam - Phoenix
Hi Michael, good to hear from you.
I think you are going to be absolutely fine with the part II exam. If you are scoring in the 90s on the practice tests then that is a very good indicator.
When I started scoring in the 90s, I totally abandoned the note cards. The only time I went back to the cards was when I got a question wrong. Then I would re-review that section of the note cards, and maybe look up an IRS pub or two.
I think there are so many practice questions with a lot of repetition in each area that I felt thoroughly prepared. I even enjoyed taking the part II exam more than the other two parts!
Good luck, don't stress out, and make sure you have a little time to yourself in the run up to the exam. Definitely keep us posted as to how it's going!
Pete
PeteEA 08:49, 10 September 2009 (CDT)
Final push
Hi Michael
Sorry to hear your news, sounds like it has been a very rough week.
I honestly think you will be fine with the exam. I would say 50% of the questions were repeats from the Phoenix questions, another 30% I knew how to answer, and maybe 20% I had to make educated guesses.
I am not good at absorbing information from the page and I learn by doing. 95% of my overall preparation was just working the questions. When I got a question wrong, I highlighted the relevant section of the note cards. The day before the exam, I pulled out all my highlighted note cards and just focused on those.
It sounds crazy but I thought part II was the easiest part.
Try not to stress- and hey, if it doesn't work out, you can always retake it- not the end of the world.
I'll bet you a dollar that you pass. Will you take my bet?
PeteEA 08:30, 18 September 2009 (CDT)
New name change
Hi - since you have a user history, doing the so-called "official" name change would probably be to your benefit (unless you want to start sort of fresh with a new name). And it's no problem for me to do - if I don't hear from you otherwise, I'll probably go ahead and do it tonight (it'll likely be between 11pm and midnight) unless I notice you posting at that point, in which case I'll wait; it's better if you're logged out when I do it.
I'll change the name to BrockEA as you requested, and then tomorrow when you log in, use BrockEA and your same password. Your user profile and history will both have transferred over. (You already know the typical stuff I warn people about - that if you accidentally log in with the old name it'll reactivate but your profile and history will be missing - but I'll mention it to you just in case and for completeness.)
And, congrats in advance on the credentials.
Trillium 15:26, 24 September 2009 (CDT)
Your name change is complete
All set. Log in with the new name/old password from now on, and your new name will show up in all new posts you make. Any posts made prior to the name change will still show the name that was active at the time. Any questions, let me know.
Trillium 23:15, 24 September 2009 (CDT)
Hey-
Yes, I believe you are correct that you would have to renew your enrollment like me! ugh!! I feel the same way about having to renew so close to becoming an EA, but I wanted to get it done, so I did it! I also have to do cpe credits (have to...more like I need it...but need to find the time!!) for each month until the end of the year, so I have 10 credits for this enrollment cycle.
I totally understand how you feel about having to fork out another 125.00 to re-enroll...but I would if you do wait, then it would be 2012...I could be wrong though...as I am no expert!! I really want to join NAEA and NATP but the dues and cpe requirements are tough for me this year. I will probably wait until next year for that.
Thanks for the compliment on my picture! That one is a bit old...its from Easter. I should upload new ones.
Congrats on passing! I need to get my name out there more...but the economy sucks so bad here right now, that the clients I have are struggling to pay me...luckily I have a financial services firm that has clients that need help with their bookkeeping...so it is steady work for me, if I want it.
Let me know if you need any more help. My email is sjpaccounting@gmail.com
Sasha
EA renewal cycle
Michael,
Someone named "michael" left me a question about initial enrollment but didn't use the electronic signature so I'm guessing that person was you?
Not that it matters; I'm afraid that I have no clue how OPR does what it does. I agree that it would be best to avoid a lousy six month term while paying full freight. About all I can suggest is that you have a year after passing the SEE to apply for enrollment. Within that time frame, the surest way to get most of a full term for your fee would be to mail the Form 23 after Jan.1.
Not very satisfactory advice, is it.
NMexEA 13:08, 28 September 2009 (CDT)
You need to sign off with 4 tildes
At the end of your message, you add 4 tildes (~~~~) and that will then add the link to your user page and the date/time stamp.
You can experiment with how you want it to show up - e.g., "Michael" followed immediately by the four tildes will run it all together, or Michael and then a dash and then four tildes, or extra blank lines, etc...
Trillium 14:44, 28 September 2009 (CDT)
Yeah, four tildes. You don't even need to sign your name; the beast sticks the link at the end of the message.
Tax season for you will be busy and (I hope) profitable. But try to find time to set up your representation engagement letter forms and prepare your flyers. Don't distribute the latter 'til the card shows up! (grin) You also need to devise your fee schedule and decide how you want to do retainers or flat fees or whatever.
There are folks posting here (not me) who really know this stuff and will undoubtedly be willing to advise. I have a feeling that representation alone will quickly repay the investment in your EA.
NMexEA 16:26, 28 September 2009 (CDT)
joining NAEA
Hi I think you can join as an Associate member even before you get your EA number. Kevinh5
Political stuff....
Hey, you're not wrong, we (as a nation) have got to discuss this stuff if we want change. However - we (as a tax forum) don't have to!
Sorry, but I think your latest discussion has veered a bit too far into being a political discussion for the tax forum. I'll shift it over to the Chat forum shortly, but if you want to continue the technical Roth conversion conversation, you could add a post here: Discussion:2010_Roth_Conversion_Analysis which would bump that discussion up for all who want to focus on that.
Trillium 11:45, 11 November 2009 (CST)
Should hot have
Michael, I don't really think they should have moved your discussion. It's no big deal, I guess, but politics does enter in to the advice we must sometimes give our clients.
The future of the Roth depends on tax policy, and as you said, tax policy is related to politics. There's no way around it. CrowJD 12:26, 11 November 2009 (CST)
Answer to last Q you posed about conversions
Did you happen to see LH2004's latest post to Fletch's discussion on life insurance vs roth conversion? I hadn't read that at the time I left you the earlier note, but he sort of addressed your question (something like why would converting ever be a good idea) in his pro/con analysis there, while still making it clear that the decision is going to depend on how you think tax law will change in the future.
Just use edit instead
It appears that the box with the link that's usually at the top of each talk page has been removed at some point - I'll check to see if he wants it restored.
In the meantime, you should still be able to leave him a note - click "edit this page" and go down to the end of all of the notes that are already there. To preface your note with a title, type == (two equals signs) before and after your heading (Example: ==A note from Brock==), and then hit return a couple of times and type your message and sign off with the four tildes.
Trillium 16:07, 11 November 2009 (CST)
Yep
I think the topic you brought up was a good one. Trillium has actually bent over backwards for me, so I have very few complaints about this place.
The reason people care about politics is that they care about people. Right or wrong, at least they care.
I am one of those that can fight like hell, but at the end of the day, I can sit down and have a beer with anybody and forget all about it. I don't take anything seriously enough to interfere with a friendship.CrowJD 16:30, 11 November 2009 (CST)
response to your note
Hi, Michael – that post from Sam came from out of the blue. I don’t get it. I truly don’t understand why he can’t let it go.
Kevin’s come up with a solution for today’s issue, basically treating the post in question the same way we treat the unwelcome posts from DIYs on the tax forum. We try not to do that kind of editing too often, but in this case it seems appropriate - it’s not like the edited post(s) addressed the opening question at all (and that discussion was never going to be all that active anyway).
I think we talked about this last time, but if not, I should have brought it up: Tim Doyle, as moderator, has always relied on the users to enforce the code of conduct – in fact, the users developed the code of conduct way back when, at his instigation. As “users who help out Tim” (which is the only “title” Kevin and I have, by the way, we’re not moderators in the sense you seem to be indicating) I don’t believe that either Kevin or I have any power to enforce the code of conduct beyond that of any other user.
Trillium 10:40, 25 November 2009 (CST)
