Mailbag: Checking the Pulse of the Profession
CPAs react to economic "bubbles," tax season fun and games, and catching the mood of the rank-and-file: A peek into the At Large inbox.

by Rick Telberg/At Large

What's the old joke? Oh yeah: Ask three CPAs for an opinion and you'll get four different answers. Well, here's what happens when you ask a couple hundred thousand CPAs for their comments: You get overwhelmed with answers, opinions, critiques, ideas and suggestions.

But, you know what? We like it that way. Your input and feedback keeps us in touch with your needs and interests. I've been inundated with so many emails to some recent At Large columns that it'd be a shame not to share some of them with you. So here's a sampling.


Forecasting the Economy

In response to "Is Economic Surge Just Election-Year Bubble?," Lee Faust suggests purse strings may be tight because of lessons learned from the collapse of the 1990's bubble.

"No company wants to be economically in that position again - no matter who is in the White House," Faust writes, adding, "9/11 brought reality to our shores and we'll need to evaluate the presidential candidates accordingly. Terrorism is no longer something suffered in Israel or Europe. There are bad people in the world and we need to be very observant and pro-active."

Rick Marsh, a CPA and attorney in Charlotte, N.C., attributes what I referred to as a possible "bubble" and begs to differ, asserting that the economic uptick can continue unimpeded if the "very significant structure change in tax policy that reduced the dividend tax rate and capital gains tax rate to 15 percent each" remains in place.

Kirk Glenn might disagree. He has his own view on the economic outlook.

"Looking ahead to 2004 I think it will probably be a better year than 2003," Glenn agrees, then goes on to suggest that "what you and most prognosticators are missing is the cut-taxes-and-spend-more Republican party that is hanging a heavy noose around the necks of future generations with the horrendous debt they are incurring."

Rick and Kirk, one of you is probably right; but for better or worse we may not know until after the Presidential election.


Tax Season Fun and Games

We've also been getting a ton of responses to "20 Tips for Surviving Tax Season." One CPA found the list too much to believe. "Name one firm doing any of those things and I'll send them my resume today," says one reader. Another chides me with "You are losing it, Rick. Seriously. Raise fees and pay bonuses? Why didn't I think of that?"

But, in fact, innumerable firms are working hard to make all the hard work more bearable.

"Amazing list in your article," writes David Gibbons at BKR Dupuis & Ryden, "We do weekly back massages, mid-week dinners, Saturday AM breakfast/munchies, weekly ice cream, various games and contests, and a mid-season goody bag."

A number of firms, for instance, reported they bring in massage therapists. But At Wilke and Associates, in Carnegie, Pa, Mary Lou Hanson reports the firm also has its own work-out room in the basement, free lunches when performance goals are met from the week before, and foosball tournaments." Yes, they have their own foosball table.

"I like the ideas that you mentioned also," she adds. "We will have to look into incorporating some of them into our tax season also."

At Sharon Evans's 9-person firm, they've had a secret buddy program for five years. "We draw names for our secret buddy at the company Christmas luncheon. All during the tax season it is our responsibility to look after our secret pal -- motivate, cheer, etc. -- without them or anyone else catching us in the act. This involves a lot of ingenuity and competition. Some of the stuff that goes on is a riot. Tension is reduced. On April Fools day we have our annual April Fools Day luncheon (what kind of fool would be in this business?) and we bring a present for our special buddy."


The Pulse of the Profession

Sometimes it's nice just to get an email of general support of the column, like this one from Andrew S. Pfau, CPA, in Jericho, N.Y.

"I just wanted to let you know that I always find your articles reflect the current pulse in public accounting. Besides catchy article titles, you seem more in touch with the issues of the day than most writers for accounting publications (or websites). I look forward to reading your articles. Keep up the good work."

Thanks, Andrew. With support and encouragement like that, you, and all the readers like you, make the job easy and rewarding.


More to say? Rants, raves, ideas, suggestions, and contrary opinion are always welcome.