What do Juilliard, IRS audits, and international artists have in common? In this episode of The People Behind the Books, Yehuda sits down with Phyllis Jo Kubey, EA, CFP, to explore her unexpected path from classical music to a 40-year career in tax. Phyllis shares real-world lessons from representing complex clients, navigating audits and collections, advocating confidently with the IRS, and building a long, sustainable career rooted in trust, preparation, and empathy. This conversation offers tax and accounting professionals a rare look at the human side of practice, and what truly makes a difference over the long run.

Connect with Phyllis!

🐦 X: https://x.com/PKubeyEA

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-jo-kubey-b04757a/

🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phyllisjokubey/

🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.kubey.7

🤝Connect with Yehuda:
🐦X: https://x.com/Y10Tax
💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yehuda-tenenbaum/

✉️Want to join the show? Send me an email @ thepeoplebehindthebooks@gmail.com.

http://thepeoplebehindthebooks.com/

00:00 Introduction to Phyllis Jo Kubey
01:07 Phyllis's Journey from Music to Taxes
10:12 Building a Tax Practice in New York
17:12 Navigating Tax Law Changes
20:48 Bridging the Gap Between Creatives and Taxes
23:59 Helping Clients Overcome Tax Challenges
30:45 Success Stories in Tax Resolution
36:56 Navigating Complex Tax Situations
39:03 Client Management and Fee Structures
45:42 Professional Involvement and Networking
51:30 Insights from the IRS Advisory Council
01:01:08 The Future of Tax Professionals
01:05:34 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

In this episode, we meet Helen Hastings. A software engineer by trade, Helen discusses Quanta's vision to serve as a comprehensive financial system for businesses, emphasizing the importance of having all financial data centralized to provide real-time insights. She highlights the needs of small businesses, which often seek efficient solutions rather than complex accounting software.

Connect with Helen and Quanta!

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbhastings/

🌐https://www.usequanta.com/

🤝Connect with Yehuda:

🐦X: https://x.com/Y10Tax

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yehuda-tenenbaum/

✉️Want to join the show? Send me an email @ thepeoplebehindthebooks@gmail.com.

http://thepeoplebehindthebooks.com/

🧾Need help with your taxes? https://www.y10tax.com/

In this episode we meet Michael Raanan, a former IRS revenue officer turned tax representation expert. Michael shares his journey from working at the IRS to starting his own practice, emphasizing the importance of education in the tax field. He discusses the challenges taxpayers face, the misconceptions about the IRS, and the need for proper guidance. The conversation also touches on the future of the tax profession, the role of technology, and the significance of specialization in accounting.

Connect with Michael!

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-raanan/

🌐https://landmarktaxgroup.com/

🌐https://irsvideos.com/

📬Signup to receive the exclusive show Newsletter:

http://eepurl.com/jr0BrM

🤝Connect with Yehuda:

🐦X: https://x.com/Y10Tax

💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yehuda-tenenbaum/

✉️Want to join the show? Send me an email @ thepeoplebehindthebooks@gmail.com.

http://thepeoplebehindthebooks.com/

🧾Need help with your taxes? https://www.y10tax.com/

00:00 Introduction to Michael Raanan
01:56 Michael's Journey to the IRS
06:02 Training and Experience at the IRS
12:09 Field Calls and Taxpayer Interactions
18:03 Challenges Faced by Taxpayers
21:53 The Importance of Tax Education
25:58 Transitioning from IRS to Tax Education
27:32 Understanding IRS Resolutions
28:41 Transitioning from IRS to Private Practice
30:48 Building Client Relationships
31:40 The Importance of Tax Representation
33:16 Identifying Tax Relief Scams
35:22 The Need for Ethical Tax Professionals
36:42 The Impact of IRS Issues on Personal Lives
38:41 Firm Structure and Services Offered
40:29 Educational Initiatives for Taxpayers
42:27 Continuing Education for Tax Professionals
44:01 The Future of Tax and Accounting
48:34 Rapid Fire Questions