The Enrolled Agent Advocate

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears speaks with Al Beatty, an Enrolled Agent, longtime practitioner, and assistant professor of accounting at Tryon University. Al teaches tax and accounting courses while also running a VITA site where students earn college credit by helping low-to-moderate income taxpayers—meaning they don’t just “learn tax,” they actually do tax.

Al shares what he’s seeing in today’s ...

What does it take to build a tax practice that spans borders, tax systems, and cultures—and why is the Enrolled Agent credential uniquely suited for that work?

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears speaks with Julie Harvey, EA, NTPI Fellow, and Certified Acceptance Agent, founder of My US Tax Advisor LLC. Julie’s practice focuses exclusively on international and cross-border tax compliance, serving globa...

The Enrolled Agent profession is growing—and the momentum is real.

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears sits down with Megan Killian, Executive Vice President of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, to talk about what’s new, what’s changing, and what’s next for enrolled agents.

Meg shares a wide-angle view of the profession at a pivotal moment. With new federal tax legislation, shifting IRS opera...

In today’s increasingly digital world, protecting client data is no longer optional for tax professionals—it’s critical to your practice’s integrity and trustworthiness. In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears speaks with Jatin Narang, an authority on cybersecurity and compliance challenges unique to the tax and accounting industry.

Jatin, with over 15 years of experience in enterprise security, leads Veri...

In this episode, Brandy Spears is joined by Josh Youngblood, founder of The Youngblood Group, a firm that blends technology with tax expertise to serve individuals and small businesses. With over 30 years of IT experience, Josh has leveraged his unique skills to shape a tax practice that emphasizes representation, cybersecurity, and client trust. A National Tax Practice Institute Fellow, Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, and Cer...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears is joined by Jay Shah, founder of Hell’s Kitchen Tax in New York City. Jay's career is a testament to how passion and dedication to both tax expertise and client education can fuel business growth. From his early days volunteering with VITA to becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA), earning a Master's in Tax Law from NYU, and ultimately acquiring two tax practices, Jay has mastered the art of bu...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears sits down with Edward J. Ryan, Jr., EA, a seasoned financial professional who’s spent his career bridging the gap between tax expertise and wealth management.

As the founder of Ryan Financial Group, Ed has built a thriving practice that serves more than 1,200 individuals and 100 small businesses, helping clients achieve financial confidence through an integrated approach to tax planning, accountin...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears sits down with Terry Lemons, former Chief of Communications and Liaison at the IRS, to explore what really happens behind the scenes at one of the most complex federal agencies in the U.S. For more than 25 years, Terry helped shape how the IRS communicated with the public, Congress, and the tax professional community—serving under six commissioners and leading the agency’s response to major legis...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears is joined by Jeremy Wells, an Enrolled Agent, Certified Public Accountant, and the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of the EA Journal. Jeremy shares his journey from teaching political science to becoming a tax professional and how his unique path has shaped his approach to tax law, client service, and leadership in the profession.

Jeremy talks about his decision to pursue the EA credential first, ...

Feeling overwhelmed, underpaid, or stuck in a model that doesn’t serve you or your clients? In this episode, host Brandy Spears sits down with Colin Dunn, Chartered Accountant and Co-Founder of Renew Group, to talk about redesigning tax and accounting firms for clarity, profitability, and sanity.

Colin shares what it means to truly “design a firm that works for you,” how to rethink your client mix, pricing, and service model — and w...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears sits down with Nayo Carter-Gray, an Enrolled Agent and the founder of First Step Accounting, a fully virtual, eco-conscious accounting firm. Nayo, a proud tech enthusiast and educator, talks about how her journey from high school accounting class to becoming an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the profession has shaped her career and her practice.

Nayo shares her experience of becoming an E...

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears sits down with David King, CEO of Optima Tax Relief, a leading tax relief firm. With over 12 years of experience in financial services, David shares how he built a client-first culture at Optima, focusing on customer service and creating a company where clients feel heard and supported through the tax resolution process.

David discusses his transition from the mortga...

In this powerful episode, host Brandy Spears is joined by Ruben D. Valdes, EA, one of fewer than 250 non-attorneys admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. From preparing returns in his mother’s office to becoming a nationally recognized instructor and advocate, Ruben shares how the EA credential helped him elevate his career — and expand taxpayer access to justice.

Ruben opens up about how he passed the U.S. Tax Cou...

In this episode, host Brandy Spears speaks with Timalyn Bowens, EA, founder of Bowens Tax Solutions and known by many as “America’s Favorite EA.” From long nights at Crowe Horwath to launching a nationally recognized tax resolution firm, Timalyn shares how a career rooted in empathy, advocacy, and education transformed both her life and the lives of her clients.

She opens up about a defining moment that shifted her mission — helping...

In this special legislative update episode, host Brandy Spears is joined by Megan Killian, CAE (Executive VP of NAEA) and Thad Inge (VP at Van Scoyoc Associates) for an in-depth breakdown of the recently passed, sweeping federal tax legislation — a complex but critical milestone that will impact practitioners and taxpayers alike.

Together, they unpack how the bill got passed, the most significant tax provisions extended or introduce...

What does it look like to build a meaningful career, serve your profession, and still know when to hand off the baton?

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears speaks with Jennifer MacMillan, EA, a seasoned tax professional with over 30 years of experience in representation, education, and leadership. From building a client-first tax practice in California to serving as Chair of the IRSAC and now President ...

In this special edition, host Brandy Spears welcomes Scott Scarano, EA, an unconventional firm owner, rapper, and host of the popular podcast Accounting High. Scott blends deep entrepreneurial insight with artistic flair — sharing how his rocky start gave rise to a multimillion-dollar firm, how he learned to scale by getting out of the way, and why deep work and creativity matter now more than ever.

Scott talks openly about his earl...

What happens when a tax pro stops chasing busy season and starts designing a business—and life—on her own terms?

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears talks with Dr. Jackie Meyer, a forward-thinking CPA-turned-SaaS-founder who's changing how tax professionals price, hire, lead, and live. Jackie opens up about walking away from a successful CPA firm to launch TaxPlanIQ, a tech platform that empowers a...

How do you go from being a single mom in corporate America to leading multiple mission-driven businesses, reshaping an industry, and serving gelato to U.S. military graduates?

In this episode, The Enrolled Agent Advocate host Brandy Spears sits down with Anisha Bailey, an Enrolled Agent, entrepreneur, and all-around force for good. Anisha shares how she walked away from a Big Four tax job to build something bigger—something aligned ...