Ilene Squires LaCourt
Ilene Squires LaCourt
Tax Advisor
Los Angeles, CA
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“Squires Tax Prep is a WOC owned and operated tax consultancy based in Los Angeles, with clients worldwide. ”
Our specialty is collaborating with single member LLC's, sole proprietors and creative bada**es who want to keep more money in their pockets! We have been in business since 2005 and are CTEC certified in CA state (that's a fancy way of saying that we are formally trained and certified!).
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
Once upon a time I was on my way to get an MBA while working a day job in Education Reform and I needed a letter of recommendation. When a friend of mine in my Harlem neighborhood, who was a trader on Wall Street by day and a tax franchise owner by night, offered me to work for her in exchange for that LOR, I jumped on it. I never did go to business school but I was formally trained under the tutelage of my friend Tatianna and her tax preparation trainer, a retired IRS auditor. Fast forward 15 years and now I live on the sunny side of the street (LA) and when I am not in the throws of tax season, I work as a professional photographer.
How do you stand out in your field?
My dynamic professional history allows me to connect to a wide range of clients specifically those working for themselves in arts + culture and those taxpayers who may also have unique streams of income. I've been running two small businesses for more than a decade which subsequently is accompanied by a level of expertise from breadth of experience.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
After all these years in business, I finally got an IG page. I realize that people are ever curious about how to keep more money in their pocket and I know a thing or two about this. I don't take myself too seriously so let's be friends.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I'm a quintessential California girl with a NY grind when it comes to business. What does that mean? I am very laid back but know when urgency is necessary to get the job done. If you are looking to work with a tax advisor who is cut and dry, we likely won't be a good fit. However, if you are looking to educate and empower yourself when it comes to your money, then let's be friends!
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
My dream is to further automate my business model and potentially franchise down the line. Marginalized communities across the country are factually the least educated about economics and that isn't by accident. I want to build a pipeline of financially literate young people who then become financial literate contributors to our economy! And honestly, I just want to take a nap sometimes. Running any business is hard work so I see you!!!
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Truth be told I have two small children, two businesses, two mortgages and we are living through a Pandemic. Everyday life is a lot harder than it was a year ago. There simply isn't enough time in the day to 'do it all.' Women who say there is, have a lot of help!
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Mostly CRM and managing new inquiries from prospective clients. I can see the niche to grow Squires Tax Preparation but I don't have the capacity to do it alone. I would also maybe delegate some social media management to said person.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Hmmm. I've beat myself up over the years over the many careers I've had. But reaching a milestone birthday in 2021 has me reflecting hard on this and one thing is true: I am a sum of all of my experiences. And because I have had such a dynamic professional life and life-life, it is easy for me to get down to business with all types of people. I can stand ground with mostly anyone and that feels good and it also provides lots of opportunities to be monetized.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I have a CPA partner I have been working with for 10 years, named Lupe. She is my rock! But we are both very business professional Mothers and don't ever have a lot of time to connect. In an ideal world, I would love to create a strategic plan for us to become official partners (I'm talking legally, that is) so we can take the tax world by storm. It is clear to both of us that women prefer to talk to other women about money and that is also true with our BIPOC clientele.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Tax preparation and/or consultancy for creative entrepreneurs.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My sweet spot is collaborating with sole proprietors and single member LLCs, so usually that means people in the first 3-5 years of business operations. This does not negate the clients that have been with me since 2005 - like I said before, there are few people I can’t work with. Listen, I lived and worked in NYC for 13 years. Really stuffy people unnerve me - I'm talking about distrustful, micromanagers. If that describes you, we are likely not a good fit for one another.
Who is a creative that has helped you elevate your work?
Caroline Synder of Verdi Advising is a friend of mine who is just killing it in her sphere of influence. Her business model isn't yet one I had seen till I met her, but it is genius! She hit the nail on the head when she started coaching women about their finances. As a woman myself, I meet so many females who are hungry to learn and improve but don't know where to start. Caroline gives them a space to not feel judged about whatever their financial situation is. A lot of the work we both do can be considered therapy because everyone's money narrative is deeply personal to who they are.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
An email stating what service they need completed is perfect.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
I'm a professional photographer and an avid gardener so cooking from my garden brings me lots of joy. My love affair with travel (36 countries and counting) has been deeply compromised by the Pandemic but the Golden Triangle in North India is next on my list!
This member profile was originally published in March 2021.