We were lucky to catch up with Sydne McDade recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sydne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.

The main step I had to take was a leap of faith. I quit my job in the midst of the pandemic and planning for a wedding. I was unwell at my previous job, I was having nightmares and would wake up already tired. I knew something had to change and I could feel that my time working for other people was coming to end. I just didn’t know how and when.

There are many challenges that I face as a young entrepreneur and about 90% of them are related to my belief. When I started my firm, doors started opening for me and I was hesitant and scared. I didn’t think I was worthy. As an entrepreneur, you have to know when to shift and pivot. That is very uncomfortable and weighs on you but it shouldn’t stop you from moving forward.

My advice is to get very comfortable making hard decisions. There is hardly ever a right or wrong confirmation before the decision is made. You just have to make the decision and adjust as challenges come.

Sydne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

First, my name is Sydne. It’s a very unique spelling and I’m proud of it. I was born and raised in Denton, TX. I’m proud of that too. Accounting fell into my lap, I was originally a business management major at the University of Central Arkansas and I had to take a basic accounting course. Accounting is one of those classes that people either hate or love it and there is no in between. I loved it. It was like a light bulb went off in my head and I could see things clearer. So, I got a degree in Business Management and Accounting. I started sitting for the CPA exam right after college. I was persistent enough to pass all four sections on the first try. I feel that accounting was meant for me and I was meant for it.

Accounting is a fundamental business and life practice and I am dedicating my life to bring financial awareness to people that need it most. Our economy thrives on working class people making bad money decisions. If you get behind on property taxes, somebody can buy the right to your house. If you don’t pay your taxes, the IRS can garnish your wages. It’s sad to see a family’s life ruined because they simply just didn’t know.

That is why I created my own practice. SydTheCPA, P.C. is financial advisory firm that specializes in tax planning and tax education. We primarily help real estate investors and self-employed individuals understand their taxes and mitigate large tax bills. We stand out by putting people before profits, we are relationship based. We also go beyond compliance and tax filings. With our clients, we discuss short term and long term goals, health and wellness, and mindset. We have a comprehensive approach to tax planning.

I am most proud of helping self-employed individuals achieve their dreams of home ownership and helping new real estate investors save money by taking advantage of the tax code.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Networking, hands down. In my first year of business, I went straight to social media and planned to have a global business. I genuinely thought the clients would come pouring in. They did not.

I upped my networking from 4 events a month to 10 and my clientele tripled. I realized in order to grow nationally, I have to start locally. I have to plant seeds and grow roots where I am now. Now, my marketing is 95% networking. I had to get comfortable telling people who I am and what I do.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Reading has changed my life. There are countless books I could recommend.

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks – this book helped me understand that I wasn’t using my full genius-ness and my talents to benefit my life the way I wanted.

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley, PhD and William D Dank PhD- this is a research based book that details how wealthy people truly live.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – this book helped my understand that our dreams and passions are personal journeys and we should have an unwavering pursuit for them.

Lastly my favorite book of all

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley – To this day, I study Malcolm X’s speeches thoroughly. His teachings are rooted in helping black people understand the power they have. As a black woman, I am the most powerful being on the planet. Nobody can tell me otherwise.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sydthecpa.com
• Instagram: @_SydneWithOneWhy
• Facebook: SydTheCPA
• Linkedin: Sydne McDade Proctor, CPA