Inspiring Conversations with Sam Mabry of Mabry Tax Advisory Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Mabry.

Hi Sam, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my Tax and Business Firm the morning I woke up to being laid off from my job. I was devastated. It was another blow to my life. I am a divorced mom of three. I was fully supporting two high schoolers and an elementary schooler at that time. How would we keep a roof over our heads and food on the table? My father, who has since passed away, was the driving force behind my building my firm. He didn’t like the uncertainty of losing my job provided. Since I spent over 18 years in corporate America in the Insurance Industry. My dad encouraged me to open my tax firm, and he invested in my firm. He told me to do it now while I could. I wanted to provide for my family immediately. So I decided to go back to work. I took several temp jobs with various tax and accounting firms through the metro Atlanta area and landed a job as a COO for one firm, to later get terminated. This time it was devastating; it happened right around when my father’s health failed.

I took my father’s investment and my $30k and put it toward moving to North Georgia and into my business. The move to North Georgia meant I was staying with friends and eventually a hotel. I knew he would want me to build my firm. I moved into a suite at a hotel and began to develop my firm from the living room of my hotel suite. I was determined to grow my firm because my dad believed I could do it. My dad told me to build a solid business to provide for my children. I cried many days, but his love and belief in me made me do it. My dad died from COVID-19 in August 2020, and I was devastated. I did not know how I was going to keep going. I stopped building and went back to work. I was miserable working back in Corporate. I could hear my dad telling me between my tears to keep going and develop my firm. I tried to do the firm on the side of working, but I needed help to get it to work out.

Jan 2022, I left corporate for good and launched Mabry Tax Advisory Group. I named it after our last name in honor of my dad. He was the reason I was here helping others. Colleagues began to call me taxgurusam, and I liked it. I quickly realized once I opened my doors, I wanted to help other licensed providers transition from the corporate chair to their chair. I knew the challenges they would face with changes in taxes and business rules; therefore, taxgurusam was born.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish this road were smooth. Ha! No, this is the most arduous road of my life. I feel like Wil-e-coyote and the road runner. I am chasing the dream God gave me while it seems aloof. The challenges of understanding marketing, branding, and investing in the business with so much information can overload the brain. You start with what you think is enough to support the industry, enough to cover your expenses; however, it only lasts for a short while, not until you reach six figures. In addition, I faced the challenges of balancing motherhood, business responsibilities, completing an MBA in Accounting, studying for the Enrolled Agent exam, and health. I contracted COVID-19 three times, which was brutal on my body and business. Battling through the brain fog was the hardest. I just knew I wanted to succeed in building my firm, and beating COVID was the only option. There was a long recovery process, but today I have fully recovered.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would love to share with you what I do! I am an insightful Tax Accountant and business strategist. In addition, I am a sought-after international speaker and published author. I am known for tax law and advocating on behalf of my clients with the IRS. My upbeat personality, gut-level honesty, and knowing my way around tax law and advocacy set me apart from other Tax Accountants. You will not call or enter our virtual office, get into a boring conversation, and leave confused. I am most proud of the brand, the taxguru, reaching so many licensed providers helping them save thousands of dollars in tax liability, building solid businesses, and empowering them through my journey; they too can tell corporate goodbye. I want readers to learn that my brand is about advocacy, strategy, and relatability. We offer tax preparation, resolution, planning, business formation, and advisory services. We can be with you from the beginning to the end. We partner with top bookkeepers and tax attorneys if your situation demands it. I built Mabry Tax Advisory to take the headache of tax and business profitability off the table of licensed providers so they can do what they do best, serve their communities.

Any big plans?
My plans for the future? Now, I have a big vision. Life should have enjoyment and risk. So I plan to attend law school in 2024. It is a lifelong dream of mine, and I cannot wait to embark on it.

I am releasing a new book, ” 15 Reasons you Need to hire a Tax professional before leaving corporate,” in January 2023. I am excited to launch the spring tour for the new book. In addition, I am speaking at an HR conference in September 2023 to professional women from across the country.

I am also planning to expand our team. We currently have two Enrolled Agents and two admins. I am looking to add an Accountant and a Tax Attorney to the group by the end of 2023. I also want to add a merger & acquisitions department at the firm in 2024.

My ultimate goal is to build a firm that services license providers from startup to sale.

Pricing:

• Starts at $550 for Tax Preparation
• Starts at $1800 for Tax Resolution
• Starts at $1200 Business Formation
• Starts at $8k Business Advisory

Contact Info:

• Website: www.taxgurusam.com
• Instagram: @taxgurusam
• Facebook: @taxgurusam1

Image Credits
Photographer: Aaron Mervin (owner: headshot Studio)