The Right Place Company Profile

lma Guenther has always been, as she put it, "a math person." Though in college she studied science and ended up with a degree in Social Welfare, numbers were a natural fit. "After I got my degree I started working at Juvenile Hall in the probation department," she said. "During this time I took a class on accounting for grants and I really enjoyed it. Then I took more courses in accounting and business and got certified through the California Tax Preparer Program and accredited by the National Society of Accountants."

Enrolled Agent With the IRS
Alma had found her calling. She continued her studies and became an Enrolled Agent (EA). EAs are tax professionals tested by the IRS on their knowledge of tax law and regulations and are the only tax professionals authorized to represent clients to the IRS. She was ready for a career change. "I loved working with numbers, and working at Juvenile Hall I was beginning to see all kids as delinquents and I didn't like that," she said.

Alma Guenther began doing taxes and bookkeeping on the side, slowly growing her client base and her level of expertise. "I officially started my own business in nineteen eighty five," she said. Speaking about how her business got its name, she said, "I had a client once who I had advised not do to something regarding his taxes. He went ahead and did it and got into trouble. He came back later, laughing, and told me ‘you were right, you should call this The Right Place.' "

Helping Clients Plan Ahead to Avoid Problems
One of Alma's biggest goals in starting The Right Place was to have the freedom to choose her hours and be able to support her family. In the early days when her son was small, he stayed in the office with Alma every day after school and between clients Alma would help him with homework. But freedom and family aside, she took each client's situation personally, and gave each the attention and concern she would give her own taxes. "I bring my knowledge of bookkeeping to bear for all my clients to help them prepare for tax time," said Alma. "I insist that they call me before they do anything that will affect their taxes so I can advise them of how to do it without creating a problem down the road. I'm a conservative tax preparer; I won't go out on a limb if I suspect it will break. My returns will stand up to an audit."

A Business Based on Referrals and Word-of-Mouth
Alma Guenther's business has grown through referrals and word-of-mouth. Her clients have come to rely on The Right Place for insight and experience in helping them through the jungle of paperwork and forms that make up our tax system. She has one full-time employee now and several helpers during tax time, but no return goes out without her careful scrutiny.

A High Degree of Professionalism and Accuracy
"I prepare books, records and tax returns that are correct and substantiated," said Alma. "I try to do things in the most equitable, honest and legal way without crossing the line. It matters how your books or taxes are prepared. Nothing goes out of this office without the highest degree of professionalism in terms of presentation and accuracy. I always use and maintain the latest tax software and consider myself very moral and ethical."

Alma Guenther's experience and expertise is very much in demand. She is active in a volunteer income tax program called VITA which teaches volunteer income tax instructors, and she has presented seminars to other tax preparers. She is on the board of a non-profit organization called Holy Family Day which cares for needy families.

"I like my work," she said. "I have a wide variety of clients and I've come to know them and their lives and families. I've learned about their businesses and watched them succeed. I've seen welfare moms rise up and get good jobs. I've watched their children grow up. I have a lot of empathy for my clients; they're like an extended family."


                                                                     ---Jim Brumm
                                                                        Staff Writer
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