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The Enrolled Agent Advocate

The Enrolled Agent Advocate

By: National Association of Enrolled Agents
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The Enrolled Agent Advocate is the go-to podcast for EAs and tax professionals looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tax industry. We elevate the EA credential, build a strong community, and showcase the value EAs bring. Each episode delivers IRS updates, regulatory changes, practice management tips, and expert insights to empower tax pros at any stage. Stay informed, inspired, and ahead with The EA Advocate.National Association of Enrolled Agents Economics
Episodes
  • Tax Controversy Meets Wealth Strategy with Joshua Scott, EA

    Tax Controversy Meets Wealth Strategy with Joshua Scott, EA
    Mar 30 2026
    In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears sits down with Joshua Scott, EA, a former IRS Senior Tax Advisor who has built a career at the intersection of tax strategy, fiduciary governance, and long-term wealth design.Joshua shares how a personal journey through entrepreneurship, IRS experience, and even temporary blindness shaped his approach to leadership and planning. Today, as founder of Joshua Scott & Associates and Eden Family Wealth Group, he helps physicians, dentists, and high-income professionals align tax strategy with investment decisions and long-term wealth building.The conversation explores why the EA credential sits at the center of Joshua’s work, how tax authority strengthens boardroom decision-making, and why tax-first thinking can fundamentally change how individuals and institutions approach financial strategy.Joshua also discusses the importance of documentation, risk mitigation, and procedural discipline in an era of rapid technological change, along with how EAs can build highly specialized careers that extend well beyond traditional tax preparation.Key Takeaways:Tax expertise can serve as the foundation for broader financial strategy and advisory work.The EA credential provides critical authority in environments where regulatory compliance and fiduciary responsibility matter.Strategic planning begins with understanding a client’s goals and aligning tax, investment, and business decisions accordingly.Documentation and procedural discipline are increasingly important as technology and AI expand regulatory oversight.Building a meaningful career in tax often involves niching down and pursuing advanced expertise.In This Episode:[00:00:00] Welcome to The Enrolled Agent Advocate[00:01:04] Meet Joshua Scott and his tax-first career path[00:03:07] How real estate investing led him into tax strategy[00:05:18] Joining the IRS to build hands-on tax expertise[00:07:06] Leaving the IRS and earning the EA credential[00:10:12] Launching his firm and learning entrepreneurship in real time[00:12:41] Losing his vision and continuing to push forward[00:14:06] Why healthcare professionals became his niche[00:15:34] Building a tax-first advisory model[00:20:43] Why the EA credential is the core of his work[00:26:41] Misconceptions about enrolled agents in financial spaces[00:30:08] Why tax strategy creates year-round value[00:36:34] Documentation, compliance, and risk in the AI era[00:40:03] What tax-aligned planning looks like in practice[00:46:02] Balancing business, family, and long-term legacy[00:51:11] Joshua’s perspective on planning, resilience, and impactNotable Quotes:“Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give a client is peace of mind.” — Joshua Scott, EA“The EA credential is the core of everything I do.” — Joshua Scott, EA“If you understand tax, you understand the structure behind wealth.” — Joshua Scott, EA“Documentation is your defense. If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.” — Joshua Scott, EAOur GuestJoshua Scott, EA is an Enrolled Agent, former IRS Senior Tax Advisor, and National Tax Practice Institute Fellow who works at the intersection of tax strategy, fiduciary governance, and long-term wealth planning. As founder of Joshua Scott & Associates and Eden Family Wealth Group, he advises physicians, dentists, real estate investors, and high-income professionals on proactive tax strategy, retirement plan design, and tax-efficient wealth building. He also holds the WMCP®, AIF®, and Series 65, and is a graduate of the Schuldiner/Smollan Leadership Academy, bringing together IRS experience, advanced representation training, and a deeply strategic approach to helping clients build and protect wealth.Resource and LinksThe Enrolled Agent Advocate PodcastThe Enrolled Agent AdvocateBrandy SpearsLinkedInWebsite - NAEA.orgJoshua Scott, EALinkedIn
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    55 mins
  • Magic, Movies & Tax Controversy with Jeff Thompson, EA

    Magic, Movies & Tax Controversy with Jeff Thompson, EA
    Mar 16 2026
    In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears sits down with Jeffrey Thompson, a tax pro whose career sits at the intersection of tax, storytelling, and performance. Jeff works almost exclusively with creative artists, supporting them with tax preparation, bookkeeping, and tax controversy representation and he’s built a practice that grew from 30 clients to about 500.Jeff breaks down how his background in psychology and marketing shaped the way he communicates with clients, especially the ones walking in overwhelmed by IRS letters, back taxes, or pure tax season panic. Instead of leading with spreadsheets, Jeff starts with what most taxpayers are actually feeling: fear, shame, and “am I going to jail?” energy.He also shares how “spite and pettiness” (his words) pushed him into earning bigger credentials, what controversy work really looks like in real life, and why giving back through pro bono clinics sharpens your skills and your humanity. Along the way, Jeff connects performance and tax strategy in a way only a magician-tax-nerd can.Why ListenHow Jeff’s psychology background changes the way he handles overwhelmed clientsWhat actually helped him grow from ~30 to ~500 clientsWhy niche work isn’t just “industry” it’s knowing patterns and needs ahead of timeThe two extremes creatives believe about deductions: “nothing” vs “everything”Why pro bono work makes you better at controversy and better at being humanIn This Episode:[00:00:30] Meet Jeffrey Thompson and his “tax + artistry” niche[00:04:01] Why psychology didn’t become a doctorate and how tax entered the chat[00:05:20] Opening a theater, learning business the hard way, then pivoting[00:07:15] What business school actually changed about his firm strategy[00:10:15] How he fell into tax prep and built his client base[00:12:20] From 30 clients to ~500 and what drove the growth[00:14:23] His first step with anxious clients: emotion before analysis[00:18:31] Why he became an EA and what really motivated it[00:21:09] Why he pursued USTCP and what triggered that decision[00:25:34] Real world value of controversy credentials[00:28:26] Why leadership and community matter in the profession[00:31:03] Why he works almost exclusively with artists[00:32:17] Common tax myths creatives believe and why they’re risky[00:40:19] Magician logic and “telling the story” in controversy work[00:44:04] Pro bono clinic work and what it changes in private practiceNotable Quotes“Sometimes what people are saying is not what they’re trying to say.” — Jeffrey Thompson“I try to pinpoint the actual thing they’re trying to say because sometimes people don’t care about the technical stuff.” — Jeffrey Thompson“People want to hear, ‘I’m not going to jail… they’re not going to take my house.’” — Jeffrey Thompson“Legitimate deductions are legitimate deductions.” — Jeffrey Thompson“Magic taught me how to be a really good liar.” — Jeffrey Thompson“I love talking tax shop with people. It’s a great break from doing tax returns.” — Jeffrey ThompsonOur GuestJeffrey Thompson, MA, MBA, EA, USTCP is a tax professional who also works as a writer, actor, and magician (including membership at the Magic Castle). Jeff works almost exclusively with creative artists, supporting them with tax preparation, bookkeeping, and tax controversy needs.He serves on the NAEA board, is a co-artistic director and board member of Impro Theatre, and is the interim clinic director for the Hawai‘i Federal Tax Clinic pro bono program. Jeff has also taught psychology at Citrus College and has lectured for artists and organizations including CalArts, Cal Lawyers for the Arts, and local municipalities.Resource and LinksThe Enrolled Agent Advocate PodcastThe Enrolled Agent AdvocateBrandy SpearsLinkedInWebsite - NAEA.orgJeffrey Thompson, MA, MBA, EA, USTCPLinkedIn
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    56 mins
  • Finding Your Voice Before the IRS with Kesha M. Dawson Harris, EA

    Finding Your Voice Before the IRS with Kesha M. Dawson Harris, EA
    Mar 2 2026
    In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, Brandy Spears sits down with Kesha M. Dawson Harris, EA—better known as Agent K—founder of The Resilient Tax Group and a leader in IRS representation, collections, and taxpayer advocacy. Agent K shares the moment that sparked everything: sitting in an IRS meeting beside her husband, holding her two-year-old, feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and shut down when she tried to ask questions. At the time, she didn’t know taxpayers had the right to representation—or that someone could sit in that chair for her. Years later, that “I had no voice” experience became fuel for a career built around becoming the voice for others.Agent K breaks down why IRS fear is so powerful (and so common), why taxpayers toss the most important page in the envelope (Publication 1) like it’s junk mail, and how that silence and avoidance turns into bigger problems. She also calls out what gets people in trouble consistently: “street advice,” refund-chasing mindsets, and trusting flashy-sounding credentials that mean absolutely nothing. Throughout the conversation, she explains what representation really means in plain language—it’s not just forms, it’s strategy, timelines, and standing up at every phase so the taxpayer isn’t alone. She also shares how leadership shaped her, what it meant to become the first African American president of FSEA, why NTPI changed her confidence and her circle, and how strict boundaries and family-first priorities help her stay grounded in a high-stakes field that doesn’t pause after April 15.Why ListenHow one IRS meeting turned into a calling for representation and advocacyWhy Publication 1 gets ignored and why that’s a problemThe misconception Kesha hears nonstop: “the IRS can do whatever they want”How to avoid bad advice, fake credentials, and refund-chasing trapsWhy NTPI “slows it down” and helps you apply skills immediatelyIn This Episode:[00:00:41] Meet Agent K + the moment that changed everything[00:02:47] The IRS meeting: fear, frustration, and losing her voice[00:07:02] Discovering representation + why “there are levels”[00:11:15] Taxpayer Bill of Rights: why it’s ignored and why it’s critical[00:16:09] “I am your representation” and what that means in real life[00:19:33] What repeatedly gets taxpayers into trouble (and how to avoid it)[00:24:58] Leadership, identity, and being the first African American FSEA president[00:32:33] NTPI: why it changed her practice, confidence, and network[00:40:32] Staying grounded: boundaries, family, and stepping away when needed[00:45:09] Where to connect + Fly-In in DCNotable Quotes“When a client feels like they don't have a voice, I am that voice.” — Agent K“Understand that you have rights, so don't be afraid.” — Agent K“It's our job as tax professionals and as circular two 30 professionals particularly to explain that to the taxpayer.” — Agent K“We need to learn how to empower our clients, empower our taxpayers.” — Agent KOur GuestKesha M. Dawson Harris, EA, known as Agent K, is the founder of The Resilient Tax Group, specializing in IRS representation, collections, taxpayer compliance, and advocacy. She’s an Enrolled Agent licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a Certified Tax Representation Consultant, and brings over three decades of experience helping taxpayers navigate IRS challenges. She has led teams managing more than 1,400 IRS/State cases, secured millions in debt relief, launched The Tax Blueprint Academy, and has served in leadership including Past President of the Florida Society of Enrolled Agents and NAEA Board roles. She’s a Fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute (NAEA) and has been recognized with the NAEA Bill Payne Advocacy Award (2022) and FSEA Mentor of the Year (2023–2024).Resource and LinksThe Enrolled Agent Advocate PodcastThe Enrolled Agent AdvocateBrandy SpearsLinkedInWebsite - NAEA.orgKesha M. Dawson Harris, EAWebsite
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    50 mins
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This podcast has an amazing knack for asking the right people the right questions! The dialogue is light, conversational and informative. It’s enlightening to hear about the divergent areas people have branched into with tax at the core!

Timely conversations for the tax community!

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