Our Spotlight series highlights the careers and lives of tax professionals across the globe. This week’s focus is on Bruce C. Wood, a business appraiser specializing in IRS-related valuation matters for Brady Ware Arpeggio, LLC in Alpharetta, Ga.
Wood helps tax controversy attorneys, as well as estate, gift, and trust attorneys, get favorable results for their clients, whether it’s in IRS valuation disputes in US Tax Court, IRS appeals and audits, or with estate, gift, and trust taxes.
This Atlanta native enjoys reading Michael Crichton and John Grisham novels, watching Marvel movies, and snacking on M&Ms. You also might find him daydreaming about an Italian family vacation.
What’s your official title and what does it mean? Principal, strategic valuation and advisory services. I take the lead on and specialize in valuations for tax controversy and estate and gift taxation planning, compliance, and execution.
Free time: book, audiobook, or podcast? It depends. If I’m on the go, a podcast. If I’m on the beach or at home, a paperback is a nice break from devices. I like science fiction, like Michael Crichton, or sometimes John Grisham novels. I’m now rereading “The Invisible Man” by H.G. Wells for the first time in 40 years.
Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest? Valuation of non-controlling interests in private business entities—stepping in to help taxpayers in trouble or helping them avoid trouble on the front end. Very rewarding—I love what I do!
What’s the last movie or show that you watched and loved (DVD, Netflix, or in the theater)? The family and I love “Stranger Things,” “The Umbrella Academy,” and most Marvel movies—most recently, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
What college did you attend and what did you study? I earned a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Georgia Southern University and a master of taxation from Georgia State University.
Go to pick-me-up: Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning. After that, Coke Zero is great, too—I am an Atlanta native after all. I am a strange Southerner who does not like sweet tea.
What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? Try to avoid financial landmines; otherwise, be sure to learn from them.
If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, a veterinarian, or Spider-Man.
If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax world—an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever—what would it be? Claiming pets as dependents.
Favorite food, snack, or candy during tax season or other busy time? Peanut M&Ms, peanut butter M&Ms, dark chocolate, Fritos, peanuts, etc.
What tax news or move made the most impact on your practice or clients this past year? The IRS is back in action after earlier Covid-19 shutdowns, driving much activity in my practice.
If you received a big tax refund check right now, what would you do with it? Depending on the refund size, put it away or travel with my beautiful wife and three daughters—start with Italy: Rome, Pompeii, Herculaneum—and go from there.
You can find out more about Wood on LinkedIn.
You can learn more about Wood’s company, Brady Ware Arpeggio, here.
If you’d like to recommend a tax pro to be featured, send your suggestion to rbaker@bloombergindustry.com with the subject: Spotlight. Please include the following information: tax professional’s name, title, email address, and geographic area (city/state/country).
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