Emily Tsai
Founder & Principal, Meridian Tax Advisors
Most business owners don’t have a tax problem. They have a tax planning problem.
In this episode of Business by the Bay on KDOW radio 1220 AM, Ajay sits down with Emily Tsai, CPA and Founder of Meridian Tax Advisors, to discuss why so many entrepreneurs and high earners are overpaying in taxes, and don’t even realize it.
After rising to Senior Manager at a Top 10 national accounting firm, Emily saw a troubling pattern:
- Large firms focus on the biggest clients.
- Small firms focus on data entry.
- And the middle market gets overlooked.
So she built something different, a high-touch advisory firm focused on strategic tax planning, wealth preservation, and long-term financial alignment.
In this conversation, we explore:
- Why 75% of CPAs are retiring in the next decade creates both risk and opportunity
- The costly mistake many business owners make with entity structure
- Why “doing it yourself” with AI can result in expensive IRS surprises
- How proactive quarterly planning can save tens of thousands annually
- The difference between compliance and true tax strategy
- Why your CPA should function as your financial quarterback
- When to transition from sole proprietor to S-Corp or LLC
- How to think about stock compensation (RSUs, ISOs, ESPPs) strategically
If you are a small business owner, high-income professional, real estate investor, startup employee with stock compensation, or someone who feels like they’ve “outgrown” their current CPA, then this episode is essential listening.
Tax strategy isn’t about March 15th or April 15th. It’s about building financial clarity before the year ends.
Connect with Emily Tsai, CPA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilytsaicpa/
Listen now and ask yourself: Is your tax professional filing history or helping you shape your financial future?