We were lucky to catch up with Chuck Burch recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chuck, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the early days of establishing your own firm. What can you share?
There were two pivotal periods during the early days, one in 1983 when I was laid off from my 1st job which demonstrated the need to have more than one income stream. I partnered with another colleague who was also laid off and we found individuals and small business owners to provide bookkeeping and tax preparation for. We worked from my friend’s kitchen table in his one bedroom apartment. The 2nd pivotal point was after rejoining Corporate America (but having clients on the side) I was laid off again (in 2003). This time, I was more prepared. I had just finished a Tax season with my own client base and when the news struck (I as a Corporate Controller at the time), I was more than prepared to go out on my own full time. The ultimate push came from a tax client that told me, “I am sorry you got laid off but now you should have more time for me and this is what I need…” he then laid out his plans and goals and asked if I could help him achieve them. Of course I said YES and from there I never turned back.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
My name is Charles Burch, Jr. my friends call me Chuck. I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and a Texan by choice. I was not born here, but I got here as soon as I could. I attended college at North Carolina A&T State University and majored in Accounting. What I did not know that at the time, NC A&T was one of the largest producers of CPAs in the country. That undergraduate education, and 3 interneships while in school, prepared me for my career in Accounting. I now provide Tax, Financial Planning and Consulting services for Individuals and Businesses around the world. I solve the problem of how best to make money work and how to avoid the traps and mistakes that most individuals and businesses make. What sets me apart is that I have a personal touch with every client and I demonstrate the value of my service via a scorecard that is easy to implement and manage. I am most proud of the fact that I have personally helped thousands of clients make or save millions of dollars through common sense actions that become repeatable actions. My brand also has a huge community service component to it where I help students go to college by granting scholarships.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Not so hot-shot, huh? I joined the corporate world with an internship with Arthur Andersen and a full time position at Peat Marwick (KPMG) in Texas after graduation. When I started, I felt like a hot shot. I was fresh out of college with options, had more money coming in than I’d ever dreamed of, and I worked at a firm with a good name. Texas in general became a place that represented everything I did not have in Detroit. Life was easier for a while, with the security of a steady income and some prestige to go with it.
When the economy took a hit, however, I found myself–and my entire entry class at the firm–laid off, unsure of what to do, and devastated about my unemployment. I took day labor, working for short-term employment opportunities through agencies. I found myself in one of these roles swiping credit cards all night, testing to see if the credit card machines worked. Another time, I picked up trash on the highway. Really, I did anything that was available to me as a means to keep on going.
There were no accounting jobs to be found at that time. Many of my contacts in the industry were either looking for a job, were under-employed or they didn’t have anything for me. I was burning through my savings, and gave myself one more month before I was going to have to fold up the tent and reluctantly go back to Detroit. I found my way out of this sticky situation with the guiding hand of NABA (The National Association of Black Accountants), but more on that later.
These things happen, and quite often. It’s never a straight line to anywhere, and bad things happen to good people all the time. Through no fault of your own, you might one day find yourself in a similar situation; you shouldn’t worry too much about it. There are steps you can take to prepare, such as having alternative sources of income, keeping your resume up to date, and continuing to learn new skills every day. What got me through it all was the thought that if I did this now, and if I kept looking, eventually I’d get to a place where I never had to do it again. Looking for a job became a full-time job. I had to create my own disciplined practice of waking up on time, and doing whatever I needed to do to get that next job. Adopt that mentality, and your successful future will simply be waiting for you to take it.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The Power of Organizational Networking & Giving Back. After my first lay off, I realized that I should tap into my organizational network of leaders and coworkers in the accounting field. During my first job, I lost touch with many of the student organizations I helped lead in college, including NABA, the organization that pushed me to apply for the Houston job in the first place. They had a meeting coming up during my unemployment period, and I made the decision to go back and see if I could meet others in the profession.
In a lot of ways, NABA was the nest. It was always a safe place to practice and fall, and that environment had a lot to do with
increasing my technical accounting abilities, and my willingness to keep going in the face of hardship. I might have appeared to have been too busy to keep up with NABA with my first job, but I had a lot more time on my hands after the layoff, and it made sense then to return to the safety net NABA had been for me in the past. The pride I’d grown in working my first job had to take a backseat to my more pressing and current unemployment.
I introduced myself at the meeting as someone who hadn’t been around much recently, but who had been involved in leadership in the past. I was on the market, looking for leads, and willing to talk to anyone who might have one. The ice breaking circle came back around. Someone standing close to me introduced himself as James Darville. I nearly broke my neck turning to look at him. James was the controller of Westin Hotel at the time and was looking for a food and beverage accountant. We got to talking, NABA being the invisible guiding hand for our connection, and he offered me a job. It wasn’t near the level of prestige of my previous job, but it was a way for me to keep from moving back to Detroit, to keep myself moving, and I happily accepted the offer. Good things also happen to good people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to receive and contribute to the organizations that had my back when I was on my back.
Later down my career path, I became an officer in NABA. In fact, I was involved in many areas of the local chapter, and became known as someone who could help groom, make job recommendations and help get others hired. I knew how important my role was because of its help from when I didn’t have a job. I would go to conventions, meetings, anything like that, and say, “Hey, look, I represent the Houston chapter of NABA. I help people find jobs. Maybe I can be a bridge to your company and the other accountants and accounting professionals that are part of the organization.” Company recruiters would call me looking for people. Even though I wasn’t looking for a job, they said, “Well, do you have a resume?” I would always have a resume that showed leadership in NABA, so I’d give them that resume and from there, I never had to look for a job. My role in this field helped me give back to the NABA community what they were able to give to me – a lifeline, a second chance, and an opportunity to succeed.
Just like NABA did, North Carolina A&T took a chance on me in college. I gained admittance into the world of higher education through the full scholarship that A&T offered, and I am forever grateful for that contribution. Because of the integral role that NC
A&T played in my personal success, I find time to give back to the community in meaningful ways. What started off as a golf outing with a few friends expanded to other interests and a nationwide scholarship fund. I realized that with just a golf tournament
(and a roller skating party), I could raise between $30,000 to $40,000 dollars a year as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization! Today, we have raised and awarded over $185,000 in scholarship awards since we started 20 years ago. It’s a blessing to be a part
of that.
I encourgage people of all walks of life to find a way to tap into networks of support that uplifted them and give back if they can. Not only will it be personally meaningful, but it may open the door to future opportunities and increase your personal arena
of success.
My reputation is one as a “Real” person, active through roller skating and golf, visible in the community through organizations and service, approachable, always willing to spend time to talk to individuals of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Chuckburchcfp.com
- Instagram: @chuck1982
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.burch.378
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-burch-cpa-pfs-cfp%C2%AE-b0569a22/
- Twitter: @ChuckBurchCPA
- Youtube: ChuckBurchCPA
- Other: https://theburchfinancialgroup.com/ http://www.chuckburchscholarshipfund.com/