Track net worth, not just income.
Make a million and spend a million, and you're still broke. The one number worth checking every month.
From Lesson 2
Relationships
There are two customers in every transaction.
By Sam Miles, CPA · Published October 28, 2026 · Last reviewed by Sam Miles, CPA on October 28, 2026
You pick your CPA, and your CPA picks you. The clients who get the most help are the ones who show up organized, ask clear questions, and treat the relationship as a partnership. Cooperate instead of demand, and you become the client your CPA calls first with a new idea.
Why it matters
CPAs have limited hours, and the best ones are choosy. When you make the work easier, the work gets better. That's not flattery; it's how any skilled professional decides where to spend attention.
Example
Two owners send the same question in March. One sends a shoebox. The other sends a one-page summary and three specific questions. Guess who gets a phone call.
Take this to your CPA
- What do you wish your clients did before tax season?
- How do you prefer I send documents and questions?
- When during the year should we talk, besides filing time?
These are my opinions, not gospel. Take this to a CPA who cares about you.
Related Brain Bites
The Augusta Rule only works if you can prove it.
Rent your home to your business for 14 days or fewer a year and that rent can be tax-free to you. The paperwork is the whole game.
Source: IRC §280A(g)