My Enrolled Agent Career

Episode 21: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes Anisha Bailey, EA, to the podcast.

Anisha is the founder and CEO of Taxley, an Enrolled Agent Firm that focuses on Tax Representation and coaching entrepreneurs on how to overcome tax, financial, and operational challenges.

Anisha is also the founder of the only apprenticeship program for enrolled agents. She shares part of her experience working with the Department of Labor to have the Enrolled Agent added as an occupation as well. The program is called Apprent EA.

During this conversation, Anisha shares:

• Her first introduction to the EA credential

• Having the support of her husband to pass the EA exams

• Creating what she wanted with the EA apprenticeship

• How she has incorporated her family into her business

For more information about the only Enrolled Agent Apprenticeship program in the country, visit https://taxley.com/apprentea/

If you are interested in connecting with Anisha online, you can visit https://taxley.com or follow her on LinkedIn - Anisha Bailey, EA, MSEL

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Anisha for sharing her story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 20: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes Jay Shah, EA, to the podcast.

Jay is a firm owner and an active member of the New York Society of Enrolled Agents and the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

During his conversation with Timalyn Jay shares:

• How a promotion encouraged him to pursue the EA credential.
• Starting his own firm while working a full-time corporate accounting job.
• How has he acquired not 1 but 2 firms.
• When he decided to take the leap and run his business full-time.

Thank you so much to Jay Shah for joining us for episode 20. We appreciate his perspective and insights into running an Enrolled Agent Firm.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Episode 19: In this episode, Timalyn flies solo and delivers a short training that she feels is needed by the listeners of the podcast. After 18 weeks of inspiration, she delivers 5 steps that can be taken to start an EA firm today.

Timalyn starts by letting listeners know there is a prerequisite to this podcast - How to Start an EA Firm: the Prerequisites is a live training. But if you prefer to read about the prerequisites, you can do so here: 10 Keys to Establishing a Successful Enrolled Agent Firm

During this conversation, Timalyn shares the following 5 steps that are necessary to run a successful EA Firm:

• Clarify WHY you want to be an EA and run a firm

• Clarify WHO you want to serve and HOW

• Create a service offering
• Create a marketing plan AND strategy

• Join a community

Timalyn reminds listeners that it is okay to evolve. Her service offering has evolved as she has laser-focused on who she will serve and how.

If you are looking for a community to join, Timalyn makes an invitation to join her free community - How to Start an Enrolled Agent . If you need more access and guidance from Timalyn you can join the paid community - Enrolled Agent Mentorship

Before signing off on this episode, Timalyn reminds listeners of the Enrolled Agent Firm Bootcamp, her first in-person event that she is hosting in Louisville, Ky, this October.

Thursday - Meet and Greet

Friday - All-day training with on steps 1-4

Saturday morning - Creating a 12-week marketing plan and strategy

The price goes up on September 16th. Listeners can use the code: TIMALYN to get the $397 rate for the remainder of this week (ends September 20th at midnight!)

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Episode 18: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes Katrina Martin, EA, aka Katrina the Advisor, to the podcast.

Katrina is a Detroit native who brings her experience as an Air Force Veteran, Mother, and Advertising Executive to the tax industry.

She has owned WOW Tax & Advisory Service for a decade and served taxpayers and business owners in different capacities as their tax expert.

During this conversation, Katrina shares:

• Her first introduction to the EA credential

• Transitioning from an Advertising Executive to an EA

• When she decided to take the leap and run her tax firm full-time
• Putting herself out there for success

• Test-taking strategies for passing the EA exam

• Distracting stories in the EA exam questions

• Being a co-founder of the EA Leadership Academy

For more information or to register for the EA Leadership Academy's bootcamp this upcoming October, you can visit www.ealeadershipacademy.com

If you are interested in connecting with Katrina online, you can subscribe to her YouTube Channel - Katrina the Advisor.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Katrina for sharing her story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 17: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes Desmond Hudson, EA, to the podcast. Desmond does taxes very well.

Desmond comes to the show with almost 30 years of experience in the tax industry. His involvement with organizations like the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helped fuel his passion for giving back to others in the form of tax preparation and then starting his own firm.

Desmond also serves on the board of the award-winning National Association of Enrolled Agents EA Journal and is a contributor.

During this conversation, Desmond shares:

• His first introduction to the EA credential

• How NABA introduced him to the tax industry

• The impact that VITA has had on him and why he continues to partner with the organization
• Why helping people prepare their taxes correctly is so important
• His decision to start Hudson Tax Service
• His journey with pricing

• He decided to step away from his W-2 job to run his tax firm full-time.
• Why this upcoming tax season is a big opportunity for tax professionals

If you are interested in connecting with Desmond online, you can find him on TikTok @MrIdotaxes and Instagram as @Hudsontaxservices.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Desmond for sharing his story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 16: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes her North Carolina tax sister, Karitsa Kerns, EA., to the podcast.

Karitsa studied accounting and then life happened but she eventually found her way back to the CPA exam. During her journey, she became a realtor, tax professional, Enrolled Agent, and firm owner. She shares all of that and more with us in this episode.

During this conversation, Karitsa shares:

• Her first introduction to the EA credential

• How she balanced growing a business with being a parent

• Things to consider before taking the leap from being employed to running your own business

• Why she decided to go back and sit for the CPA exam

If you are interested in connecting with Karitsa online, you can find her on LinkedIn as ⁠Karitsa Kerns, EA , NTPIF, and on Instagram as ⁠@karitsak_ea⁠.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Karitsa for sharing her story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 15: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes the North Carolina Tax Guy, Joshua Scott, EA, to the podcast.

Joshua was a real estate investor who decided to go work for the IRS. So how did he become an Enrolled Agent? He shares that and more in this episode.

During this conversation, Joshua shares:

• His first introduction to the EA credential

• How being a Real Estate investor inspired him to work for the IRS

• Balancing multiple businesses and having a family
• Building a business with his family as he and his wife build their family legacy.

If you are interested in connecting with Joshua online, you can find him on LinkedIn as Joshua Scott and on Instagram as @NCtaxguy.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Joshua for sharing his story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 14: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes the tax therapist to marketing agencies, Michael Eckstein, EA to the podcast.

Michael grew up with a father who is a CPA, so how did he end up being an Enrolled Agent instead of a CPA? He shares that and more in this episode.

During this conversation, Michael shares:

• His first introduction to the EA credential

• Who, surprisingly, encouraged him to become an Enrolled Agent

• The transition to working for his Dad, to working with his Dad, to building his firm
• How he built a name for himself using LinkedIn

If you are interested in connecting with Michael online, you can find him as Michael Eckstein, EA on LinkedIn.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to Michael for sharing his story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 13: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes her tax sister and fellow Enrolled Agent, LuSundra Everett, EA to the podcast.

LuSundra is THE HomeBiz Tax Lady, the owner of ETS Tax Relief and ETS Tax Institute. In addition to that, she is a past President of the Virginia Society of Enrolled Agents and an active leader within the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

During this conversation, LuSundra shares:

• Her first introduction to being an Enrolled Agent

• • Being a military spouse and being an Enrolled Agent
  • Building a brand online for your business

• Why continuing education is so important to her

• The importance of building community as a tax professional

• How she is providing quality education and the opportunity for new speakers to present on her educational platform ETS Tax Institute.

Check out LuSundra's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3A) Review for CE on the ETS Tax Institute platform.

If you are interested in connecting with LuSundra online, you can find her as @HomeBizTaxLady across all social media platforms.

Be sure to subscribe to LuSundra's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBizTaxLady

Let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments!

Special thanks to LuSundra for sharing her story and insights with us in this episode.

Episode 12: In this episode, Timalyn welcomes Jeremy Wells, EA, CPA, to the podcast.

Jeremy is a Poli Sci professor turned Enrolled Agent then Certified Public Accountant. Why would anyone put themselves through getting both the Enrolled Agent and CPA credentials? Jeremy shares his "why" in this episode.

Jeremy also serves as the chair of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) social media committee and is an active member in his state with the Florida Society of Enrolled Agents.

During this conversation, Jeremy shares:

• His first introduction to being an Enrolled Agent

• What fueled his decision to leave academia and become an Enrolled Agent

• Why he decided to start his own firm and pursue the CPA license

• The importance of building community as a tax professional
• Why staying educated is so important as a tax professional
• How he is helping tax professionals stay educated through his new podcast - Tax in Action. The podcast is eligible for CE for Enrolled Agents and CPE for CPAs through Earmark.

If you are interested in connecting with Jeremy online, you can find him as @JWellstax across all social media platforms.

Let us know your favorite part of the episode and if you plan to check out the Tax in Action podcast.

Special thanks to Jeremy for sharing his story and insights with us in this episode.