Meet Shay Bachelder

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shay Bachelder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shay , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being a woman in the financial services field definitely means I am the minority much of the time. The accounting world especially seems to be dominated by men and while most of the time I feel comfortable in my position and role of tax advisor, there have been times in my career where I feel I have been looked down upon or not taken seriously due to my gender. It’s disappointing, but it just helps me grow stronger and want to try harder to be successful. I also believe in turning what could be our weaknesses into strengths, so I have used my gender to market and appeal to other women business owners who themselves may feel more comfortable doing business with me than they would with a male counterpart.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the owner and founder of Casler Financial, LLC, a tax advisory and preparation firm located in the Pacific Northwest, serving clients virtually in all 50 states and internationally. My specialized areas of service include small business owners, solopreneurs and independent contractors, as well as real estate investors or those interested in breaking into the short term rental market.

I will be kicking of a free monthly Zoom on June 13th at 12pm Pacific. “Taxing Subjects” will be an opportunity to meet with me free of charge, ask questions, get to know some of my referral partners and learn about topics such as the importance of having a good set of books, what different business structures look like for taxation purposes, as well as tax deductions you may not have thought of.

If you would like the zoom link and a calendar link, please feel free to email me [email protected]

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am an Enrolled Agent with the IRS. I have the same authority as a CPA or Attorney to represent you before the IRS in the case of an audit. I can also speak to them on your behalf to make payment arrangements, request an installment agreement or attempt to have penalties abated. Many people think that CPA is the only path into the tax preparation world, but becoming an Enrolled Agent is a great alternative. Also, here in Oregon, you can take an 80 hour course and then sit for an exam to become a Licensed Tax Preparer. This is where I started out my career in tax preparation 20 years ago. From there I went on to get my Licensed Tax Consultant credential here in Oregon so that I could own my own practice and eventually have preparers working under me. I think this can be a very rewarding career and tax professionals are definitely in high demand.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who is looking for tax advise and has a desire to understand parts of the US Income tax system better. I offer virtual consultations via zoom where you can ask all your burning questions and get advise from an expert with over 20 years in the industry. I can also help you decipher confusing letters from the IRS, catch up on filing prior year returns, or negotiate with the IRS for debt forgiveness or deferment. Schedule online here: https://www.caslerfinancial.com/scheduling

Contact Info:

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