Unleashing the Wild Side: Alex Wild on Being a Bold CPA
Welcome to Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise, the podcast dedicated to simplifying complex tax strategies and incentives for business owners and investors. I'm your host, Heidi Henderson, and this podcast is proudly sponsored by Engineered Tax Services. Here on Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise, we explore the ins and outs of federal tax incentives, share straightforward insights for maximizing write offs and deductions, and empower CPAs and business owners to capture every benefit they're entitled to. Join us as we break down the latest tax updates and strategies, transforming complicated topics into practical advice you can use today. Now let's dive into this episode of Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise.
Heidi:Today's guest is Alex Wyld, the founder of Wild Thing Tax and the cofounder of Wild Thing Crypto. I was recently introduced to Alex via a mutual friend, and I immediately saw her personality and her unique approach to the tax and the accounting world. Alex shares her story about becoming a CPA and the journey that she's taken to become a business owner and, really, how she
Heidi:holds true to her own authenticity. I hope you enjoy the conversation because we sure had a great time. I'm so excited to have you as a guest on the podcast today. I'm excited for our listeners to hear your story and get to know you. I haven't known you very long.
Heidi:We met recently. But when I had our very first conversation, I was like, oh my gosh. I love this woman. Like, you have such a great energy and I love that you are just, like, authentically you and especially again in the accounting industry, that's not always the case. I feel like you're kind of breaking the mold.
Heidi:So with that, tell us a little bit who is Alex Wild? Tell me your story.
Alex:Well, I'm still writing it. But currently, Alex Wild today is a CPA, masters of tax. I own Wild Thing Tax, which is my tax firm. I own a couple of other businesses too, a bookkeeping firm I co own, and then I co own a crypto firm, but all of them are service providers with the mission of helping people be compliant with their taxes and be compliant also with their own, like, financial well-being for their businesses or on the crypto side for personal. Right?
Heidi:That's amazing. So why the name Wild Tax? I mean, obviously, that's your last name, but I'm I'm thinking there's more to it.
Alex:No. Oh, there's a much better story. So so Wilde saying bookkeeping, wild thing, crypto, wild thing tax was not my name. So Wilde is not my actual given or married last name.
Heidi:Wait.
Alex:What yes. So most CPAs and attorneys will name their practice after themselves. So, like, John Smith's DPA. I didn't want that. So when I was brainstorming different names for my firm, I'm like, oh, I know I don't want it to be super generic.
Alex:I want it to stick out. And so the whole purpose of my branding, our target market, our colors, our name, the way that we behave as professionals or, you know, pseudo professional, is meant to be a barrier to entry for potential clients. So that means, like, if you're not cool with working for with a firm with Wild in the name, you're probably not gonna be a good client for us. Right? Like, we just wouldn't complement each other in the right way.
Alex:So I wanted something that would would definitely stand out, but in a way that's kind of like a dog whistle for the other people in the world who do not or other people in our country who do not fit the mold of working with your cookie cutter CPA or your preconceived notion of what a CPA is. Right? Like, somebody who wears a suit and tie, eats the same thing for lunch every day, my own ideas about what that person looks like and sounds like. That's not me. So I never wanted to hold myself out to be that because I didn't wanna be subject to anybody's, like, preconceived notions of how I should behave because I'm not gonna behave that way.
Alex:So so I settled on Wild Thing. I saw Wild Thing tax. And then I was married at the time, and then I got divorced. And any any person who's ever been married and divorced and has had a name change knows that the amount of time and and dollars and effort it takes to jump through all those hoops to change your last name on everything knows that it's a huge pain in the ass. Yes.
Alex:So I was like, okay. You know what? This time, when I change my last name, I'm gonna change it to what I want it to be. And Wilde is what I wanted it to be. So instead of naming my firm after myself, I named myself after my firm.
Heidi:That is amazing. Okay. That's very cool. I did not know that. So I think that's cool.
Heidi:So how
Alex:Gene Wilder did the same thing. So he it was yeah. And so he said something like, I just wanted to be Wilder. Mhmm. And, like, he just wanted to be a more wild person.
Alex:And so then he changed his last name to Wilder.
Heidi:That's so cool. Well, it's interesting because, you know, I was telling you, I I did a podcast early on one of my early episodes with this gal from the Wild Institute, and her whole thing is about, you know, being wildly authentic and being wildly yourself and being wildly, like, brave. And that braveness is really about the authenticity, like, owning who you are. And to your point, like, in the CPA industry, I don't think it's by standard the norm in this industry. It's, like, there has been a long held kind of belief that you needed to, you know, wear a suit and tie.
Heidi:You needed to be highly professionally, be very calm and analytical and detail oriented and quiet and shy and all of these introverted things. Right? So so why did you choose accounting?
Alex:Well, when I was a small child, like 9, I was adamant that I was gonna become an OB GYN, like hyper specific, not just a doctor, a very specific kind of doctor. I had very deep feels about female anatomy and what females will go through. I hadn't gone through any of these changes yet. Mind you. There was just a book at my house that I devoured and I was just like, made decisions, life decisions that men should not be down there and men should not be responsible for women's health.
Alex:And it was a thing. So my entire like, all the way through graduating high school, I was like, I applied to Ball State in the RN program. So I was like, I'll become an RN and then I'll move on and I'll become, an OB GYN. And then there was just, like, this, like, freak accident with my sister. It wasn't even bad.
Alex:It was just my mom talking to my sister on the phone of her, like, hand being cut or something. And this, like, wave of nausea came over me, and it flipped everything. I was like, okay. Like, I can't. Now I can't even get a blood draw without having, like, a worser's or something.
Alex:It doesn't even make any sense. But whatever, that's what happened. And so then I was like, okay. So we went to orientation, freshman orientation, and I was like, like, they're trying to sell you on all these cool degrees. You can get these things that you can do when you get into college.
Alex:And I was like, oh, if I do international business, I can travel. Mhmm. What they didn't what they didn't or maybe I just chose to ignore it was that you had to be fluent in another language.
Heidi:Well, shoot.
Alex:And I'm like, I don't really wanna do that. But I was so at that point that I was already in the business school, like, I had got this baby scholarship to go for nursing. So it was like $500, and I have felt guilty about that scholarship ever since then, but I can't remember who gave it to me. So even if I wanted to pay it back, I couldn't. Like, here, I didn't I didn't use this for what you thought I was gonna use it for.
Alex:But I, so I'm in the business school thinking I'm gonna do international business. And then so you go through these, like, core nine classes in any business degree. Right? You've got accounting, finance, marketing, econ. Right?
Alex:All that. Yeah. Well, in my accounting classes, I got a letter after, like, my 1st or second semester of being in the business school from the accounting department telling me that I was doing better in my accounting classes than the business students who were already, like, predesignated or, like, had already applied to be a part of the accounting program. And that I should consider changing my major from international business to accounting.
Heidi:Wow.
Alex:And I'm like, well, I feel like they probably know what they're talking about. Right? So I'm like, okay, fine. We'll change. We'll change it to accounting.
Alex:So then I get into my tax classes and I'm just like killing it. Right. I'm I'm like tutoring people in the hall right before class. And at one point, I had, like, a little study group Mhmm. That would meet with me because, like, I was always getting, like, the top score in the class.
Alex:Right? And, like, being able to, like, work through problems to answer all the questions. And a lot of my, peers did not understand how that was possible. Right? How does somebody understand taxes and the laws and, like, all of these stupid little rules?
Alex:Then fast forward, like, another semester, and I'm in, like, the next level of tax. Right? All part of the accounting program. And my tax professors, like, tapped me to be a part of this, this tax challenge put on by Deloitte, which is one of the big four firms. Right?
Heidi:Yeah.
Alex:And so that you're allowed, like, 2 teams for university, a graduate level and an undergrad level. So I was on the undergrad level for, Ball State, and we didn't even place. Right? You could there's only there's only, like, 1st through 11th place. So you would just always tell people you got into you got in 12th place.
Alex:Like, that means anything. So while I was in that, tax challenge, there was, a graduate program in Denver. The University of Denver had its own masters of tax, like, masters of tax law. They use the Deloitte tax challenge as a recruiting platform to bring undergrads into their graduate program. And that's what happened.
Alex:My professor asked me if I like, well, first, he told me. He's like, I was like, I think that you should do this. Right? You wanna become a CPA. You need to get that 150 hours.
Alex:You're you've already applied and been accepted by Ball State to do a master's in accounting, and he's like, but you should have a master's in tax. It's hyper specific, but it is perfect for you. Oh, he blow wrote my letters recommendation. I ended up getting a full ride scholarship. Yeah.
Alex:And I went and spent a year in Denver, got my master's tax, and then I think over the next, like, 18 to 24 months, then I finally, like, got my CPA, like, sat for all the exams and all of that. So it wasn't, like, how did you pick tax? It's like, how did tax pick you? Yep. You know?
Alex:Yeah. Because I didn't
Heidi:I mean, that's amazing. It's a it's a very cool story because, you know, like, we're in this really weird era right now where they're looking at 2 thirds of the accounting industry retiring out within a very short amount of time and less than a third of those people actually graduating with degrees in accounting or tax or anything that's going to lead them into the CBA space. And so a lot of people are looking at that, like, how do we encourage people? I mean, how do we make tax sexy? Yeah.
Heidi:You wanna be an accountant, you know, come deal with some tax season. It's an issue in the industry. So I love that story and how the the educational system really kind of helped you through that path. How are you guys dealing with that? I mean, as you continue to grow, how are you dealing with growing your practice?
Heidi:Have you gotten to the point where you're needing to hire staff and how you're approaching that?
Alex:Yeah. So, I am still in the production cycle of all of my processes. Right? So I am not yet able to step away from every single tax return that comes across my desk. I still do high level review on every return.
Alex:Mhmm. So I'm the only CPA in the practice, but I knew, when I relocated back to my hometown, I knew that I wasn't gonna be able to find another CPA. They just weren't there, like, remotely. Right? Because the demand was so high.
Alex:And me as a new practice, like, I couldn't afford, like, $100,000 to, like, like, a few years of experience with a CPA. Mhmm. Like, I couldn't even pay myself that. Like, let's just sit around and pay somebody else. So so I was like, okay.
Alex:I'm gonna do the next best thing. You do not need a college degree to understand taxes. I know this to be true. You just have to have somebody that can explain things to you in a way that makes sense. Right?
Alex:And there's a lot more that goes on in a tax practice than just preparing taxes. So when I moved back to my hometown, my best friend from 8th grade was very I, I'm so grateful to her because she she left, like, a salaried management position working at, like, an electronics manufacturer, like a Mhmm. Motherboards. Yeah. In order to come to my, basically, like, shoestring firm.
Alex:Right? And she's she's a single mom. So, like, she put a lot on the line to be able to come and and work for me. But from the day that she started like, we started with just, like, brain dumping. Right?
Alex:Like, I would just, like, talk packs at her, but now she I mean, she's handling all of our 10.99 stuff right now. Right? She's not a CPA. She doesn't have a college degree. She's just hyper smart and super organized.
Heidi:That's amazing. You know, it's interesting because I was having a conversation with a gentleman the other day at I was at a conference, and this exact thing came up. And he said, you know, in my firm, I have 8 single mothers that do not have CPA designations, but they have been the best staff I've ever had. And this was, you know, an older gentleman that's been in the CPA practice for a very long time. I was actually very surprised by it.
Heidi:But I think what's happening at this time while we're dealing with kind of this weird staffing issue is, you know, a lot of people are starting to outsource, but people are starting to realize that there are a lot of skilled people out there and that it doesn't necessarily have to to fit within that mold of having that CPA designation have all the details. I also was chatting with a girl that built her own bookkeeping practice. In fact, I should connect you. She's got her own bookkeeping practice in New Mexico. And I asked her, I said, you know, what's your background?
Heidi:And she said, YouTube. Yeah. Yeah. I went to, I went to YouTube school. And I'm like, what?
Heidi:What? She's like, yeah, I learned everything I needed to know about bookkeeping from YouTube. And I'm like, wait, what? I know. I was like, well, that's kind of scary, but at the same time, like the resources available, like she has become a certified expert QuickBooks person.
Heidi:And she helps do all the bookkeeping to get it set up so that CPA firms get clients that actually have all their stuff, all their ducks in a row and everything organized. But we're coming into this era, I think, where we need to be more, more flexible with what we're looking at and and where people's skill sets are. So I I love that. But, anyway, I'm rambling. Circling back to how you then went from working your 150 hours, achieving your CPA, what what what was the leap of faith?
Heidi:Because it's a big leap of faith to go from working for a big CPA firm, being in the industry and then saying, guess what? I'm gonna start my own firm all by myself.
Alex:You're like, fuck the security of a steady paycheck.
Heidi:Why would I want benefits?
Alex:Can't wait to be scared every month. No. So the only reason I started Wild Thing. So I was I went straight from University of Denver. So for my master's program to Plant Moran, which was, a large regional firm in the Midwest.
Alex:And I they spread since I was there. But they had an office really close to where my family had all relocated to. So I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was working there. And so being and so I will say this, like, the best training that I got, like, the the reason I am, the kind of CPA that I am, like, with my standards and the way that I do things is because plant Moran trained me to be the most amazing CPA. Like, I don't think any interns or any 1st year staff have left plant Moran being like, damn, what a waste of time.
Alex:Like, I got hired into another firm as a contractor out in Portland much later, but they saw plant Moran on my resume as my first job and were like, I have heard wonderful things. So even when plant Moran was not out there on the West Coast, those CPAs already knew about the type, the quality of staff that comes out of that firm.
Heidi:Wow. So right? Yeah. So and I'm Yes.
Alex:And I'm like, well, I mean, I knew I was good, but, like so, like, people coming out of the big four aren't even as, like, well rounded as people coming out of a smaller regional firm.
Heidi:Wow.
Alex:So that blew me away. But so I spent a couple years working there, and then I was applying to become a foster parent. And so I was like, I know I am not going because we wanted to foster teenage boys because they're those are the ones that are always left behind. So I'm like, okay. I know I'm not gonna be able to deal with, like, like, a high needs youth if I have to work tax seasons.
Alex:Right? That's just not gonna work for me. So I left public accounting, and I got a job at, Daimler Mercedes, their North American tax department. Right? And that was so damn boring.
Alex:It was the worst. I mean, it's like bureaucratic stuff all the time. It's all like political infighting and just I just couldn't. So I was like, okay, well, I need a little bit more, texture to my life. So I had these friends in my in my town where I live that they had amazing businesses going, but they did not have their shit shit together.
Alex:And there were not enough, like, actual CPAs who knew what they were doing at a price range that was actually affordable for these small businesses. And I'm like, okay. Well, here I am. I got all this extra time because now I'm just I have one client. Right?
Alex:So I started Wild Thing, and I was like, I will only do this to like, be of service to the people who actually need me. Right? And then it grew from there. And my actual, like, when you talk about a leap of faith, I say that my leap of faith actually was more akin to, like, there was definitely a a big safety net, and that safety net was the money that came in because of COVID. So I was able to, like, totally put everything into Wild Thing.
Alex:And at a really opportune time because that was when a lot of older CPAs, like, left the industry. They didn't even sell their businesses. They just shut, like, shut their doors and told their clients, like, good luck. So there's this huge influx of demand, not enough supply. And then we had all this money given to us from the government as a business, right, to, like, make sure.
Alex:And so that really was, like, yeah, that was like the angel investor was the federal government. Can't say that every day.
Heidi:Nope. Exactly. You're like, wow, the IRS comes through. Amazing. I mean, and the timing of it.
Heidi:To your point, the timing is impeccable because you're right. We've got all of these CPAs that are retiring. Not only are a lot of them just closing their doors, we're seeing a lot getting acquired by private equity firms or acquired by larger regional or larger international firms. But then also the other big component of it is that we're seeing a lot of these groups just cold our clients. So they're saying, look, we don't have time, so we're gonna take the bottom 30% of our clients, and sorry, you need to go find a new firm.
Heidi:What we're seeing across the board is we have so many clients that come to us on a daily basis asking, you know, can we refer them to a to a CPA? Is there a resource that we know of that is still really dealing with the small to midsize business that that is is looking for something a little bit less than, you know, a larger regional firm and the and the, honestly, the price point that comes with that. So talk a little bit about what, what differentiates you from a client service perspective? I mean, you've mentioned crypto too, so I'm really interested in kind of learning how you got into that, but just with Wild Thing tax in general, like what is the differentiator with how you're working with clients?
Alex:Yeah. So I'm like, I have ADHD, so I tend to like overshare because I need to be understood. Right? Like it is an inherent need. I need people to understand where I'm coming from and what I'm trying to disseminate.
Alex:But that straight off the bat is, like, a vulnerability that I'm sharing with somebody who's just met me, and they're coming to me with something very, very vulnerable, which is all of their finances. Right? And sometimes they already, like, feel super guilty Mhmm. Because they haven't done something that they think that they should have. And so, like, they're self deprecating in some situations.
Alex:I'm just like, listen, you're not stupid and you're not going to jail. Right? Like that's everyone's concern is they're the Fed's gonna take my house and I'm gonna go to jail and you're gonna have, like, run to Mexico or Canada. And I was like, listen, if you wanna live in Mexico or Canada, just move there, but not because you're running from the IRS. No.
Alex:So but yeah. Then just like having, like, actual empathy for my clients. Right? Like, I know where you're coming. I know why you're feeling these things, and I'm not gonna tell you that they're not valid.
Alex:Right? Like, get your feelings out and you can be you know, you can, like, spew it all on me. That's fine. We need to get past this so that we can do the things that are actually going to alleviate, like, the root cause of whatever is creating a very visceral response for you. Right?
Alex:So that means, like, just getting your shit together. Or a lot of the times, somebody will come to me thinking that the only way to solve their problem is to hand it over to a CPA. And for those clients, I just, like, look at what they give me or they tell me, like, what's happened. And then I tell them, okay. Like, that's either a nothing or it's something that you can handle on your own, and I can walk you through how to do it.
Alex:You do not need to engage me fully to take over this for you. You just need to be empowered to believe that you can do this on your own. Right? Or you can do it, but I'm gonna be here in case you need me. Right?
Alex:Like, don't doubt yourself. But if you do doubt yourself, I'm here.
Heidi:That's amazing. That's amazing to then feel like you're empowering people because, I mean, it helps it you're helping them help you in the long run. But, you know, it's the tax world. When we deal with it a lot, the tax world is is it is scary. And it's, I mean, honestly, far too complex, really.
Heidi:So I think it makes everybody feel really dumb, and people apologize all the time. I'm so sorry for asking this. Like, I feel so stupid. You know? Like, can you just talk to me like I'm a 5 year old?
Heidi:And and I'm like, don't feel bad. Like, I mean, like, I live and breathe in this space, so I'm really good at this, but I'm not really good at a lot of other things. Right. You know, but it it's it's highly complex. So the level of understanding and then that vulnerability, like you're saying, coming to them with that vulnerability.
Heidi:I I had a conversation with a really good friend of mine who is a CPA, and we talked about that. He was going through a really difficult time personally, and he didn't say anything to anybody. I mean, really, really difficult time in his personal life with a family member fighting illness. It was terrifying. And he was terrified he was gonna be out of the office one day.
Heidi:Didn't want anybody to know. And I said, vulnerability and being real allows people to connect with you. So it's they're not gonna view you as being less professional or less capable of helping them. But in reality, that really helps people connect and realize, look, you're human, I'm human, and we can figure this out.
Alex:That's it. That's exactly it. Like, I want, I want my clients to understand, like, I'm here for you on a personal level because I also have a soul. But also like, I have no guarantee that, like, my kid's not gonna get sick. Right?
Alex:Like who knows? Like anything can happen in the course of like any day. And just because it's tax season, like, the universe doesn't care that I have a deadline to meet. So if I have a call with a client and something comes up and I'm just not gonna be able to make that meeting, like, show me some grace because I'm certainly gonna show you some if the time ever comes. Right?
Heidi:Yeah.
Alex:So Yeah. So that creates a lot better. Like, it's more of a casual relationship, than it is like a hyper professional one. And even my, like, hyper professional clients, I turn them into more casual just by just by being me.
Heidi:Yeah.
Alex:I secretly love when I can make some of my, like, stoic older male clients when I can make them blush. Like, oh, it's just the best. It's just the
Heidi:best. You start to crack that exterior.
Alex:Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, stop stop putting on airs here. Like, I'm not gonna do that. Like, I'm just super excited that, like, I did my hair today.
Alex:Like, I'm not trying to be something I'm not. And, like, back to your point of, like, the stereotypical we can't. We can't beat that. Like, it's not an achievable goal. And even if you could, then are you a human or are you a robot that's just doing this single task repeatedly?
Alex:And, yeah, you're reliable, but do you have any, like, way to, like, interpersonally, like, connect with another person, or is every human just a tax return? Right? Yep.
Heidi:Yep. Yep.
Alex:It can't be that way? Like, I'm sometimes I'm the 1st person to know if someone's pregnant. Exactly. I'm the 1st person to know if somebody eloped.
Heidi:Oh, boy.
Alex:Yep. Sometimes I'm the 1st to know if somebody's getting divorced.
Heidi:Yeah. That makes sense.
Alex:So and I live in a small town. So and most of my clients aren't here. But for the ones who are here, I'm just really happy I'm a homebody too. Right? Like, there's Right.
Alex:My lips are sealed by default.
Heidi:I'm stuck here looking at numbers.
Alex:Yeah.
Heidi:Yeah. So one of the things I love to dive into on on this podcast particularly is talking about vulnerability, talking about being real is like, you know, as a human being, like, what is it in you that that feeds your soul the most? Like, you know, I mean, it doesn't even have to be work related, but a lot of times, it's not that we're doing tax returns for people. It's that we're doing something that is so intrinsically fulfilling and it just, you know, makes us bubble up with joy. Like, what is that thing for you that just, you know, makes you tick?
Alex:Oh, God. Okay. I don't know. I'm just here. No.
Alex:I so some of it is okay. So this is like specific. Right? So if I'm doing tax planning for somebody, and when we go to do the tax return, it matches, like, almost perfectly. Like, that for me is just like perfection.
Alex:Right? I'm like and I think my clients I get worried that my clients will, like, doubt my capability when I get that excited about being right. Right? You don't understand. There's so many ways that this can go sideways.
Alex:You forget to tell me about something. There's a mystery form that shows up that would have totally changes our trajectory. Right? Yep. So form that shows up that would have totally changes our trajectory.
Alex:Right?
Heidi:Yep. So when
Alex:everything goes off without a hitch, I'm just like, oh my god, look, it all works like we wanted it to. I had one client that she had a, like, kind of exchange rental situation. And when I like crunched all the numbers and everything, I was like, oh my god. If you sold this in this particular year, you wouldn't have a tax liability at all from this. Even if you sold it at a gain, just like this is just so perfectly works together.
Alex:I'm like, I've never seen. And I tried to get her to sell that property so hard because because I'm like, I want to see this through. This is a perfect transaction if you can make it happen, but it was California and she don't wanna sell it. So whatever.
Heidi:Ugh. Ugh.
Alex:I feel like right?
Heidi:Yes.
Alex:I'm like, this would never happen again because some of the facts and circumstances were around COVID. So I'm like, you're never gonna get this situation again. So Yep.
Heidi:Yep. I mean, whatever. Yeah. I mean, you know, it is one of the beautiful things about the world that we live in when we deal with accounting and numbers. It is black and white.
Heidi:And so I think there there is something to be like, okay, there. You know, my my personal life or with emotions or with kids or with relationships, sometimes we are you know, there's this uncertainty or unknown sometimes in communications. But with numbers, the numbers are the numbers. So so I get that. You know, like, it it ties.
Heidi:It balances. So it's a beautiful thing. What
Alex:Yeah. The balance sheet's supposed to balance.
Heidi:Yeah. You're like, oh my gosh, it worked. Wow.
Alex:I have, I have written, when I was at plant Moran, I wrote that review note quite a few times. Balance sheet's supposed to be so like, great.
Heidi:Oh, that's hilarious.
Alex:That and also so, like, having everything come together and, like, work exactly like you anticipated it working. That's one thing. And then the other thing, which is always icing is when the tax, software doesn't have any e file diagnostics. That's just makes my heart so happy.
Heidi:But they're like, whoo.
Alex:Alright. Like, we're good to go. Just the very nice shirt.
Heidi:Beautiful. So talking about then your on on the personal side, this is again another area I like to go on this is like then the balance. Like, you know, everybody uses the phrase work life balance, but I don't really like, but it's really more or less like there is an aspect of balancing what matters in our lives with this profession that can be so taxing, no pun intended.
Alex:I like what you did there. I do that all the time.
Heidi:It's awful. But what is it? What do you love to do? What is your way for stepping away and releasing the stress that comes with this this industry? How do you handle that?
Alex:Obviously, I don't think I do well, but the strength you might have to edit this out, but this is a super authentic, right, is I smoke weed. Right?
Heidi:Well, there you go.
Alex:So yeah. Like, I smoke weed. I'm a high functioning stoner, but it balances out my ADHD. Right? So Mhmm.
Alex:Yeah. But that, like, helps kind of, like, bring me down, and then I can get some, like, actual rest and then come back and yeah. Being ADHD means, like, I can it'll just turn right back on again.
Heidi:Oh, wow. Yeah. That and that's fair. I mean, and that is super authentic. That's hard to say, but
Alex:I had a gentleman Not for me. I don't know I don't know your audience, but half my clients know.
Heidi:You're like you're like, would you like some?
Alex:No. Yeah. Actually, I'm never mind. I don't I believe I live in a state where it's not yet legal, but I will say that some I have we live an hour south of the Michigan line and I have clients that come in knowing full well that they're going to need some sustenance too.
Heidi:Yeah. Perfect. I mean, you know, it's account it's taxes, especially if you're covering a tax bill, you're going to talk about what the bottom line is. Maybe that's the best approach. Let's do this first.
Heidi:Hey, that's not a bad idea.
Alex:I mean, there's value if people like, I don't drink, not because I have anything against it. It's just because I smoke. But, yeah, I mean, like, have some have something for your clients to help numb that a little bit, just a little bit. Right? Because it might be really hard for them.
Heidi:That's amazing. It's amazing. You know, I had one guy that was on here and big, tall, former football player, consultant in Texas, business owner, older gentleman. And I asked him that question and I was blown away. He got teary and he said, I religiously go to therapy.
Heidi:And, and I was like, oh my gosh. And he, you know, was very much shared what he does to process that. And, you know, it gets really personal asking that question. Yeah. But I think it's it is so real because again, we live in this world where everybody wants to hide that stuff.
Heidi:I'm like, but that's the real stuff. That's the stuff we do that allows us to survive every day and thrive and find some reprieve. So I appreciate that you have that, you found that thing that works for you and with your ADHD that balances it. So that's amazing.
Alex:Oh, yeah. I don't hide my diagnoses at all because there's more people that I work with that have similar diagnoses as me than don't. Yeah. Cassandra does not have ADHD. Makes it perfect to work right next to me.
Alex:In fact, we're body doubling right now. So during tax season, my we share an office, but she also has her own office.
Heidi:Okay.
Alex:Yeah. I think so. Here with me. Yeah. So that I keep going and don't get sidetracked.
Heidi:That wraps up this episode of Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. I hope you found our discussion valuable and discovered new ways to simplify the world of tax incentives and deductions. Remember, with the right knowledge and strategy, you can make a lasting impact on your client's bottom line or your own business's success. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. For more resources, insights, and tax updates, head over to Engineered Tax Services or follow us on social media.
Heidi:Thank you for tuning in, and I'll see you next time on Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise.
Heidi:That's amazing. I love it. Okay. So last question. I did wanna touch on crypto.
Heidi:Because you mentioned you are kinda have did you say it's a separate company that's focusing on the crypto?
Alex:So yeah. Wild Thing Crypto does more like for crypto specific, like, actual crypto transactions. Whereas, like, in helping and consulting and, like, kinda helping walking, like, crypto people through, maybe it's a security thing that they're concerned about, or maybe they, like, lost their keys to a wallet or something, or they just don't they sent money somewhere, but they don't know where, and they need help recovering it. So, like, that's Wild Thing Crypto. Wild Thing Tech takes crypto reconciliation like the it would it would be equivalent to, like, the time b.
Alex:Right? And that's generated by another firm. So, like, we're we're closely, affiliated with account DeFi. Right? So they take all the client's information.
Alex:They do all of their accounting, crypto accounting magic. And then at the end, they give me the actual tax report that I use as a component of their taxes, like, of their tax return. But sometimes clients just have questions about, like, if I do this, what's the tax effect gonna be? Or really just like q and a type stuff. Like, I have consulting calls that are just that.
Alex:Like, a crypto person has a tax question about how their crypto is going to affect their taxes. Not necessarily that they want me to do their taxes, but they just need to know that someone who knows what they're talking about, not just someone on YouTube, bless their heart, right, is telling them this. Right? Yeah.
Heidi:Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, that's really cool. I mean, obviously, there's been a lot of context.
Heidi:There's been a lot of news about crypto and what's gonna happen under the new administration as we enter this new era. Yes. And, I think you're probably primed for the to to be in the the perfect position.
Alex:Oh, yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing too is like so many things happened all at once when COVID hit. Right? Like, crypto started becoming way and way, like, more mainstream.
Alex:And then and then also all the new rules for the COVID stuff and then crypto's, like, rearing its what I call a beautiful head. But for older CPAs, it might have been their it's ugly head. Right?
Heidi:Mhmm. But
Alex:it can't compete. Like, older CPA firms just can't compete with, like, the amount of tech and streamlining and the use of AI and the use of automation. Right? Because you need that if you're actually going to service clients in a meaningful way. Like, you can prepare a tax return with 0 brain effort.
Alex:Right? But there's no value out there.
Heidi:So if you
Alex:really if you really want to have value add for your clients, you're gonna have to do something more. And learning how to navigate 2 new sets of rules, like, in a completely different environment, and then crypto itself is its own ecosystem that is way more diverse and way bigger, I think, than anybody's even like, I don't know that a single person can, like, fit all of what crypto is and what it, allows and is capable of inside. Like, there's just so much. It's it's never ending. Right?
Alex:So I have clients that have been with me for God, like years years now that were like crypto OGs. And they didn't report for taxes because they didn't know how. There weren't any rules back then.
Heidi:Yeah.
Alex:Right? Yeah. And then the rules come out and then they're super detrimental and would never never fly, in any other industry. That crypto didn't have lobbyists at the time because it's all decentralized, of course. Like, who are you gonna who is gonna pay a lobbyist?
Heidi:Yeah. Yep.
Alex:Because we're everywhere and nowhere.
Heidi:Yep. Well, that's amazing. I mean, I think you summed it up beautifully because Hey. That is really the the difference is creating the value add. Okay.
Heidi:We have more.
Alex:Okay. So if I had a single piece of advice to give to anybody, not just Intacct, but even if a job posting doesn't specifically meet the qualities and experience education you have, apply for it anyways. Because if I had only ever been looking for another CPA, I never would have found one. I didn't go looking for a CPA. I went looking for qualities and motivation, right, and ability to learn, right, and a desire to learn.
Alex:And that's how I now have, like, my right hand who will never ever fail me.
Heidi:Wow.
Alex:Not be not because she has a college degree, not because she spent a 1000000000 years doing taxes before she started working here, but because she has these inherent traits. And that is what is important. So if you see a job that you wanna go for, go for it and just be you. Right? Because if you get hired just by having been you
Heidi:Mhmm. You're
Alex:gonna outperform anybody that got hired because of the initials behind their name.
Heidi:Yeah. That is such awesome advice. I love that. Thank you so much for sharing that and offering something other than just simply doing a tax return. I think in the conversations we have every day, so clients are looking for.
Heidi:They're looking for value add. They're looking for the relationship and authenticity. They're looking for advice because you do sit in a seat that carries so much so much rapport.
Alex:Mhmm.
Heidi:And that's that's, it's beautiful how you're evolving into that space. So with that, tell listeners how they can get a hold of you. If someone wants to reach out or wants to learn more about you or or work with you, what are the best ways for them to reach out?
Alex:Yeah. So the best way is to go to wildthingtax.com. There's the contact us button up at the top. It connects directly to my Calendly. You can fill out a little questionnaire, kinda tell us what we're gonna help you with, so that we know how to be prepared for your initial call to schedule it.
Alex:And all of my initial calls are free and they're 30 minutes. We don't, like, disseminate tax advice in those calls. Those are more meant to get a feel for what you've got going on and kinda walk you through the process of what it's like to work with us as a firm.
Heidi:That's awesome. That's perfect. Well, we will share that in the show notes as well. Alex, thank you so much. I appreciate you sharing and just being totally authentic.
Heidi:I the moment I met you, I was like, oh my gosh. I wanna have a conversation with you on the podcast. So thank you so much for You're
Alex:welcome.
Heidi:Joining. It's been an absolute pleasure. And we'll share her contact information in the show notes.
Heidi:That wraps up this episode of Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. I hope you found our discussion valuable and discovered new ways to simplify the world of tax incentives and deductions. Remember, with the right knowledge and strategy, you can make a lasting impact on your client's bottom line or your own business's success. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. For more resources, insights, and tax updates, head over to Engineered Tax Services or follow us on social media.
Heidi:Thank you for tuning in, and I'll see you next time on Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise.
