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We were just recognized by our regional chamber of commerce with a Headliner Award for continued growth in current economy. We have seen double digit growth each of the last four years (2010-2013) and I bet when I get caught up with the books for tax season 2014, we will have hit that mark again. The economy is hitting people hard and they are looking for someone they can trust for help. My wife obtaining her EA, me Intuit QuickBooks ProAdvisor has drawn more people in who need and want help. Our approach of establishing relationships with our clients is resonating and attracting new clients. Gina is on the left, I am two over, or 2nd one from right.

Good records are always the best protection. Just hard to convince some clients it's worth the effort. Until AFTER the audit.

Ahem. That is more properly, rights as listed in the 5th Amendment. Our rights pre-date, transcend, and supersede the Constitution. They are a gift to us from our Creator.

Anybody can put "TN" in their profile. Tom.

Maybe because she does not scare me?..... Catherine even carries guns and is a dead shot, but I am not afraid of her. Rita, you I love from afar....very far. Tom Hollister, CA

That is really cool. I think I am going to have to give that one a shot. Tom Hollister, CA

Is there someplace you go anyway every week or so? I go to my chiropractor and church and gym once a week or more often, so picking up from them adds no time to my routine. Or, I like KC's idea. Would the store's new owner allow your clients to drop off? My retired hubby makes pick-ups and deliveries for me. Does your husband have more free time now that he sold the store? Could he retrieve your mail for you once a week while you work on returns? There are ways you can keep the clients that you want to keep that used to drop off at your husband's store. (And, lose the clients you want to lose!)

Rita can vacation on the east coast and scare my clients anytime!

Let me know when so I can plan my vacation on the other side of the Mississippi. Tom Hollister, CA

Rita, you can come visit me out here, I'm only about an hour and a half from Tom!

I like the idea that you are keeping Rita on the East Coast. She SERIOUSLY scares me. "I've actually been eating popcorn and stalking people on FaceBook a good bit today." I am glad I don't play on facebook. Love ya Rita, as long as the Mississippi is between us. Tom Hollister, CA

Be self-employed and have 30,000 business miles. Be self-employed, have three kids, and net income of $13,500 - 17,450. Be self-employed and lose money every year. Every. Year. Have a day job and a farm that loses money every year. Every. Year. Give away your yard sale crap that is worth thousands. Wink. Wink.

We will not be making it to Boston this year. With MIT killing my son's dreams, there is no reason to go. But we will be in Washington DC on vacation after he graduates from High School. I will wave to you when I get there. Do you think the IRS would pull my PTIN and EA license if I took a selfie flipping off the IRS headquarters in DC? Tom Hollister, CA

I agree that business is increasing rather than the opposite. Children are growing up and going off to college. The parents want to keep them as dependents so bring the students' returns in as well. (I do not charge for student children of my clients, for that reason) Nor do I charge for active military; or wounded in action military. However, older clients have more investments and want more help with financial planning. New clients are sending more new clients. Preparers are retiring and referring clients. Wherever they are coming from, this is the busiest year that I have ever had and the returns just keep becoming more complex. More extensions this year than in all the prior years combined. I am seeing more rentals, more small businesses, more college credits, etc. People who have lost jobs are trying to make a living in whatever way they can and have no idea how to handle the tax repercussions. They come for advice, they come for help and they bring their (sometimes very complex) tax returns as well. I am grateful; but I am also here to help. The foundation of my business is not "all about money"!

My clients are the more complex individual returns and small businesses as well as a few that could do it themselves but like the "insurance" of using a professional who keeps of with the constantly changing tax laws. Or, they want someone to tell their financial story to, often to make sure we're doing the best we can in planning for their taxes or just because they don't want to talk personal finances with friends or coworkers. And, the intelligent ones who could do it themselves, but they make more money spending their time on their business than they would save with DIY tax prep. Or the wife said no more spreading out all over the dining room for two months while you work on taxes every weekend; give it all to our preparer and wait for the call to go in to sign. My business and my clients have changed very little in the 17+ years I've been preparing taxes. In fact, in almost every case, their financial lives have gotten more complex, so they need me even more now than 17 years ago. I have lost one or two over that time to a broker who also prepares taxes, but not enough for me to consider selling investments.