Amanda Doucette is a self-proclaimed foodie, spin class, and Pilates enthusiast – and a tax lawyer.
If you gave your past self some advice, what would you tell you?
I would tell myself not to take life so seriously. To make time to celebrate the joys of life and to be mindful of the good things around me. I have always struggled with the concept of “slowing down” and I am definitely a work in progress!
What is your favorite part of what you do?
I love watching the lightbulb go on above a person’s head when I have explained something – and to see their excitement when they realize they truly understand their structure. I get goosebumps when I see a client walk out of my office with a smile on their face, brimming with new ideas and curious questions for their advisory team.
I am a tax lawyer, and I work primarily with small business owners. Entrepreneurs are such a courageous and resilient group of individuals. It brings me so much joy to empower them to learn about their business structures, and to take control over their affairs. It is ok to say, “I do not understand”. It is ok to say, “I need help”. Everyone deserves a team that they can learn from and rely upon to support them through good times and bad – I want to be a part of your team!
What (or who) has been your greatest influence
My dad was one of my greatest influences. He was a professor of anatomy and cell biology until he passed away in 2016. He was a prolific researcher who studied Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis and was also a master teacher – winning numerous teaching awards during his tenure with the university.
My dad taught me that you can learn anything (even the most difficult of subjects) if you take the right approach and if you have a good teacher. He is my inspiration for the work I do every day – I aspire to explain and empower my clients to understand their business structures. I aspire to educate other professionals on foundational tax information so that they can provide a more comprehensive service for their clients. If we work together, we can accomplish anything!
What makes an opportunity exciting to you – in business or in life?
I love a good challenge. I love to learn something new. One of the things I love the most about the practice of tax law is that the rules change every day.
If I had the choice between completing 10 files that were identical (but had a guaranteed rate of return), versus 1 file that had a problem no one had yet been able to solve… I would definitely choose the latter!
What are you up to right now that people should know about?
This year, I will be applying to speak at a TEDx event in 2022. I have been working with a coach for the past several months to fine-tune my message! It is one of my dreams to be able to reach a broader audience and to empower others to tackle difficult subjects head-on.
I am also continuing to publish my blog (“The Tax Chick Blog”) and podcast (“The Tax Chick Podcast”) – I encourage you to check it out if you are even a little bit curious about how tax impacts your everyday life. I even throw in a joke in every now and then, so hopefully it will at least leave you with a smile or a giggle. And check out my posts for “Tax Trivia Tuesday” on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to learn some random trivia that you can share the next time you are meeting up with friends!
Connect with Amanda:
Instagram: @tax.chick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Amandathetaxchick/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amandasadoucette
The Tax Chick Blog: https://taxchickca.wordpress.com/
The Tax Chick Podcast: https://thetaxchickpodcast.transistor.fm/ (Also available on all major streaming platforms.)
