There are two wolves inside you.....

I am one of those individuals who belong to a different category - the wolves. I don't conform to the traditional norms of settling for a job, collecting a paycheck, and enjoying the weekends. I have a vision, an entrepreneurial drive, and a desire to create something different. I am a degreed accountant, often considered as the sheep of the world, merely recording and reporting history instead of making it. However, this perception has presented me with an interesting dilemma over the past year with a venture called Tax Titans.

As a disrupter, I am an entrepreneur who aims to revolutionize entire industries, seeking to make improvements for the benefit of customers, consumers, and participants. Disrupters are willing to take risks, challenge the status quo, and disregard the opinions of those who believe in conforming. They possess the audacity to ask, "Why not?" and possess the determination to bring about change. Though this often leads to the displacement of others in terms of money, power, or influence, disrupters are not overly concerned with this consequence.

My first experience as a disrupter came in 1994 when I relocated from Texas to Florida and opened my own dedicated fencing academy. It was a small establishment, but it was solely focused on fencing. This was a significant departure from the existing landscape of fencing in the USA, which primarily relied on facilities such as the YMCA, college clubs, and local park and rec centers. When I approached the national governing body of fencing, the USFA, to inquire about resources on opening and running a fencing facility, they expressed a lack of interest. Seizing the opportunity as an entrepreneur with an accounting background, I decided to fill this gap myself. I rented a small space and opened my fencing academy, and since then, the fencing world in the USA has undergone a lasting transformation.

Now, I find myself in a similar position within the accounting industry. Accounting has been around as long as business and commerce, yet fundamental changes and disruptions have been limited. Although advancements have been made in software applications and integrated systems, the industry as a whole has not seen significant progress. Small local accounting firms still primarily serve small businesses within their immediate vicinity. The "big 8" have become the "big 4," but their main adaptation has been outsourcing work to reduce labor costs. Staffing, recruiting, training, and examinations remain largely unchanged for decades.

However, I have assembled a team of like-minded individuals, superheroes in their respective fields, who are ready to enact fundamental changes within the accounting industry. We aim to revolutionize how the industry operates, connects with clients, and serves taxpayers and small business owners, specifically those in the accounting profession. By adopting best practices from industries such as staffing, we can introduce innovative approaches to benefit small accounting firms.

Furthermore, there are two new transformative forces in commerce—platforms and artificial intelligence—that the accounting world has yet to fully experience. We intend to bring these elements into the forefront and apply them directly to the industry. Our team and partners have a forward-thinking vision and a roadmap for change. While accountants typically look backward to report what has already happened, we are focused on shaping the future and predicting what will come. We are aware that our journey may take time, possibly even years or a decade, but we are determined to overcome obstacles, including the need for investment capital.

I have a clear vision of the future, and I firmly believe that Tax Titans will become a prominent force. It resembles the journey I embarked upon when I opened the first fencing school in Florida—a venture that was initially met with skepticism. Yet, our fencers triumphed and kept winning, eventually gaining respect from the national fencing community. Similarly, Tax Titans started behind established tax preparation chains like HR Block and Jackson Hewitt during our first tax season. However, we have acquired our own Drake Software license and EFIN number. We are collaborating with reputable organizations like the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the AICPA. By identifying pain points within the industry and witnessing the support it requires, we have positioned ourselves to bring about positive change, just as I did in the fencing industry 35 years ago. We are the Tax Titans, and we are determined to disrupt the accounting industry for the better. The question remains: What part of history will you be a part of?