Are You a Visionary?

SALT Chat

06.19.17 | SALT Chat

Girl Scout Cookies, Converse All-Stars (aka, Chuck Taylors), the World Book Encyclopedia, and Berdon LLP are all turning 100 years old in 2017.  While I can’t say if the first 100 years have gone quickly, I can certainly say my almost 22 years at Berdon have gone by in the blink of an eye. In fact they have gone by in some respects much quicker than the first 100 days of 2017.

Like the 101 year old 100 meter sprinter from India, Man Kaur, who won the Gold Medal at the World Masters Games in Auckland New Zealand this year, we at Berdon like to view this milestone as a new beginning and see no signs of slowing down. As always, we look ahead. 

What drove our founder David Berdon to start his own firm was certainly a visionary act.  The War Tax Act was enacted by Congress during 1917 and federal taxes now applied at higher rates than ever and to a broader base of persons.  Whether taxpayers recognized the need or not, Berdon was aware that expert advice would be needed more than ever.  The stakes became high as evidenced by the “1917 War Tax Guide[1]” which explains upfront and early on page 6 of its over 125 pages that: “Where an individual refuses or neglects to file his Return within the required time, the amount of the tax is increased by a penalty of 50% . . .”

Ouch!

David Berdon recognized that future clients were going to need the service he could provide. And he provided it with skill, technical excellence, and respect.  

Over the ensuing 100 years, business has evolved tremendously, laws have changed dramatically, and taxes continue to get more complicated.  Last week Berdon (the Firm) celebrated its Centennial.  One thing that is apparent is that both our clients and the Firm, one hundred years later, continue to be visionaries.

Because, if you can’t see ahead, you will fall behind.

If you have questions about our firm, its history, and our services, contact me at WBerkowitz@BerdonLLP.com or your Berdon advisor.

Wayne Berkowitz, a tax partner and head of the State and Local Tax Group at Berdon LLP, advises on the unique requirements of governments and municipalities across the nation.

[1] The 1917 War Tax Guide, for those of you interested, is available as a free publication on Google.  Many years ago I had a colleague who took pride in having every copy of the U.S. Master Tax Guide for the past twenty years.  I’m pretty sure he didn’t have this one.