Meet Michael Wander, The Founder at Wander CPA

Hey

Kimi here, your accountant matchmaker!

I'm excited to share the story of one of the Accountants on Sam's List.

This Summer, an accounting firm called Wander CPA joined Sam's List. 

They joined just like everybody else: filled out our submission form and scheduled an introductory call with me.

On our call they mentioned that were based in Los Angeles, CA, and I told them in a week or so I'd be flying out to San Diego to spend the Summer there.

I thought it would end there, but by chance, I ended up getting the opportunity to meet the 3 person team behind Wander CPA in person!

These guys are great, and I want to share the Founder's story with you.

(If you want a warm intro, just reply back to this email and I'll introduce you!)

As a father of five, volunteer EMT and martial arts aficionado, Michael Wander is a well-rounded accountant and business owner who has dedicated his career to helping businesses thrive.

By Kelly Hinchcliffe

At his CPA firm in Los Angeles, Michael Wander’s lunch breaks look a little different than most. Instead of scrolling his phone and absentmindedly eating at his desk, he heads to a local gym, where he kickboxes, grapples and scuffles with his sweat-soaked sparring partners.

In his life and work, Wander thrives on doing hard things. That push to keep improving is why he left a steady accounting job in 2019 to start his own full-time business, Wander CPA. No longer a suit-and-tie bean counter, he was determined to be a friendly face behind the numbers and help people chase their dreams, not just crunch their numbers, as he explains on his website.

Even his company’s tagline is memorable: “We Depreciate Your Business.” Wander leans into that approachable, yet professional persona on social media, too, where he promotes his business with humor and honesty.

“As a CPA, I’ve been everything from a financial rockstar to a glorified paperweight,” he told his 5,000-plus followers on LinkedIn. "Having the right chemistry with your CPA is like finding the perfect sparring partner.”

Wander has found his footing in martial arts and in his business, where he provides tax, audit and consulting services to a wide range of clients, including those in the entertainment, tutoring and construction industries. Real estate is his specialty, though. He has watched his father and other family members work in the real estate industry for decades.

No matter the industry, Wander’s firm is able to serve a variety of clients, including businesses nationwide. Whether a client is a tax wiz or woefully in the dark when it comes to their finances, his firm provides everything from tax planning and preparation to bookkeeping, payroll and outsourced chief financial officer duties.

“I have one client who is super knowledgeable and sophisticated. He's already done a lot of research, so he's basically telling me what he wants me to do,” Wander said. “And there are some clients who say, ‘You guys tell me what I need to do. What's the bottom line? How much do I owe?’”

Educating clients about the best way to handle their taxes is one of Wander’s many passions. He’s also a husband and father of five, a Muay Thai and no-gi grappling enthusiast, a world traveler and a volunteer EMT.

He decided to get EMT training after witnessing a former colleague collapse from an aneurysm. A female colleague who knew how to do chest compressions saved the man’s life.

“I was there kneeling beside him while he was struggling to breathe. His face was turning blue. I was holding his hand, and his eyes rolled back into his head,” Wander recalled. “Right after 911 came, I left the room and broke down crying.”

The scene still sticks with him to this day and inspired him to help others in emergency situations.

“Now I respond whenever possible,” Wander said. “You can't plan for the calls coming. So I could be in the middle of things with my family, and if it comes in, then I have to make a quick decision. Do I jump on that call, or do I let somebody else take it?”

Steven Golditch, a marketing manager at Wander’s firm, has seen his boss make those judgment calls.

“He’ll be in the middle of talking to me about a client and then his walkie talkie goes off,” said Golditch, who cares for the community in his own way by rollerblading around the city and picking up trash. “He's not your typical CPA. I don't think that, generally speaking, there's someone that during their lunch goes and tries to fight and do martial arts. So I think that's what makes him unique. It's something I look up to and it's good to be around.”

Wander is proud of his well-rounded life but admits that everything comes at a cost.

“Time is our most valuable asset,” he said. “It's the only real thing that is restricted or limited in our lives. So whatever it is that we decide to do with our time, that is taking time away from something else. But I think that, ultimately, it has to be worth it.”

Looking back, Wander says leaving his comfortable CPA job to build his own business has been worth it.

“I was kind of scared to take that step to jump out and not have that steady paycheck, but I realized that job security is just an illusion,” he said. “If I just focus on serving the clients, then everything is going to work out. I’m confident it's going to work out.”

*Photos taken by LA based photographer, Edwin Manson

Contact Michael

*Just my unsolicited honest opinion: working with Edwin is a great time! If you’re looking for a photographer who brings good vibes in the LA area, I’d be happy to introduce you to Edwin!

📈Michael’s Tax Tip

When you sign and submit your taxes, the IRS holds you responsible – not your tax preparer – so it’s important to know when and how to include estimates for certain tax deductions. In some cases, estimations are disallowed or frowned upon, which could raise a red flag at the IRS if you include them.

In cases where estimates are allowed, you need to know the difference between a good faith estimate and a fake estimate meant to throw off the IRS. For example, you can estimate that you drove 1,000 miles, but don't say you drove an estimated 1,013.4 miles. The IRS could catch on, and the person who has to answer for that is you.

⭐If you enjoyed this Founder Story, I'm glad!

And if you’re as impressed with Michael as I am and are interested in finding an accountant who truly excels in his field, I’d be happy to make an introduction.

He’s been my go-to for clients needing an expert in Real Estate accounting.

Plus, he introduced me to the concept of  Real Estate Professional Status. If you’re not familiar with it, check out this tool we created to see if you qualify.

And if you already know what Real Estate Professional (REP) status is, props to you for being ahead of the curve!