DeLeon & Stang

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a database architect working for a digital consulting company. However, DeLeon & Stang is providing services to me, personally, unrelated to my company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeLeon & Stang?

I needed help comparing the results of last year’s and current year's tax submissions so that I could get a clear picture of where I stood on my savings and how much I was earning comparatively.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DeLeon & Stang has been doing my tax returns since 2008. They make comparisons of my savings using a 401(k) to compare how much I’m earning and saving from one year to another. These comparisons give me a good forecast of where I stand on my savings, how much I’m earning, and how much I need for my retirement. In addition to tax preparation, they also provide financial planning. I haven’t opted for financial planning yet, but I plan to get their help from next year onward.

What is the team composition?

I’ve been working with Dan (Partner & Director of Tax Services) since we started our engagement. Still, another person helps me with W-2 uploads and other things.

How did you come to work with DeLeon & Stang?

I’ve been living in Gaithersburg since 2008, and I found out about DeLeon & Stang when I moved to this area.

How much have you invested with them?

Currently, DeLeon & Stang's fee is around $1,000 per year, but it was $500 before. So far, I’ve paid them around $6,000–$7,000. They’ve increased their professional fee due to inflation, but it’s worth it.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with DeLeon & Stang in late-2008, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I’m more than satisfied with DeLeon & Stang’s work and service; they’ve exceeded expectations. Their documentation keeping is great. I’m currently trying to buy a home, and I was able to get tax submissions for the years 2000–2019 from them without any hassle.

How did DeLeon & Stang perform from a project management standpoint?

DeLeon & Stang’s management and communication are very good. They’re very polite, hard workers, and their documentation is very professional. More than 70% of communication is via email, and the rest is over the phone. I get emails from them at 5 a.m., so I know where I stand with my service before I start working. Additionally, they use SecureSend and another tool for sending documents in a secure way, which is great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DeLeon & Stang is very professional, organized, and highly responsive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if DeLeon & Stang stored addresses and other personal information in a secure way. I was working for a payment provider in 2015, focusing on more secure ways of storing data using encryption. Using that kind of system would be great for them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

DeLeon & Stang is one of the best tax preparation companies, and I recommend reaching out to them. I’ve referred them to a couple of friends.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Actors FCU is a credit union and I am the CFO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DeLeon & Stang, and what were your goals?

full financial audit

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

We've been working with DeLeon and Stang for over 20 years and we've always received an excellent service

Describe the engagement and overall scope of work in detail, including the stages of the partnership and any software or documents used.

They performed all our annual audits, the last one was opinion audit on the financial statements, loans and cash activities as of Dec 31, 2020. The audit is usually done within 3 day period with report issued after few weeks time.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

The bill is sent after the audit completion.

How many resources from the firm's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with Kevin, audit manager and two more staff members from his team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the engagement or general feedback about the services?

A draft report was issued on a timely manner with few findings to respond to. After that a final report was issued with full description of the scope of work by areas of engagement.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Everything is done through secure internet site, very easy to use and upload documents. All parties involved always met the deadlines.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team was very responsive to all questions that we had. always available to give professional opinion on a problem my CU is trying to resolve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the sole proprietor of a consulting business in the media and advertising marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DeLeon & Stang?

DeLeon & Stang provides annual tax preparation and small business advice.

What were your goals for this engagement?

My primary objective was the feel 100% certain that the tax advice I received was aligned with my business and personal goals and that there would be no hiccups in the process of the results.

SOLUTION

How did you select DeLeon & Stang?

The firm was recommended to me by a trusted adviser more than 20 years ago. I have been so happy that I took the lead and acted on it.

Describe the engagement in detail.

Personal and business tax preparation for me and my family.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

Standard and competitive billing based on agreed-upon metrics. No surprises, ever!

What was the team composition?

Dan Dellon as lead, head office associates in the background.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

For two decades I have filed tax returns that support my business and personal goals without any concern. All questions are addressed, all avenues explored, patience is a virtue practiced adroitly by DeLeon & Stang.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless and uncomplicated, with up-to-date e-platforms for information sharing, storage, and retrieval.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They retained top associates so that I had a sense of continuity and care over the years. When my lead tax expert retired I was referred to another executive who hit the ground running and has been an outside asset to my business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a membership nonprofit, composed of more than 400 corporate and health industry partner members. I’m the CFO. We aim to provide a platform for large employers and health industry partners to convene and determine solutions for healthcare industry solutions. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeLeon & Stang?

They were our tax auditors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In 2018 and 2019, they completed tax audits for our organization. They also prepared Form 990 for us for those years. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about three of their team members.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a total of $25,000–$26,000.  

What is the status of this engagement?

My first interaction together was in April 2018. We also worked together in April 2019 before we changed our audit team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They were successful in completing the required audit.  

How did DeLeon & Stang perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication and organization have been good.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could benefit from some more intensive training in accounting industry standards and best practices.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of IMC Water Coolers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeLeon & Stang?

I hired them to do my corporate taxes and maintain a plan of action proactively versus reactively. We were previously using another firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DeLeon & Stang helps with taxes and personal returns, as well as business returns. They also do financial consulting for us about projections and reporting.

What is the team composition?

I work with four CPAs.

How did you come to work with DeLeon & Stang?

I was referred to them, so I decided to meet with them. I chose them because they have high recommendations, are professional, and I can trust them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $25,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January and our relationship is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Our company has been able to take full advantage of the latest tax trends because DeLeon & Stang stay up to date with them. They're also excellent at forecasting and because of their help, I think our company is in the best shape we could be.

How did DeLeon & Stang perform from a project management standpoint?

They're good. We communicate four times a year through phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness, professionalism, and knowledge are all really impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at all.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate well with them and develop a relationship of trust.