About Us
Hai! Hello!
My name is Megan, and I’ll be your tax professional
I use she/they pronouns. My most common answer to a question is, “it depends,” followed by more questions. I’m a fan of the Oxford comma, cats, coffee, planners, board games, and stickers.
Credentials
As a tax professional, I hold two credentials, both of which are specifically in and about tax.
Enrolled Agent (EA) – this credential comes directly from the IRS. It’s the highest status the IRS awards. It shows I have significant knowledge in and about tax and that I maintain it through minimum continuing education requirements (72 hours every three years and 2 hours of ethics every year; but hold on, there’s more). This credential allows me to represent clients in front of the IRS. You can read more about this credential here.
Licensed Tax Consultant (LTC) – this license comes from the state of Oregon. It’s the higher of two licenses offered by the Oregon Board to Tax Practitioners. It shows I have significant knowledge in and about federal and Oregon tax and that I maintain that knowledge through minimum continuing education requirements (30 hours every year). This credential allows me to prepare personal income tax returns in the state of Oregon. You can read more about this credential here.
Experience
I’ve been in tax and accounting for over 20+ years. I started in the file room and I kept raising my hand saying, “sure, I can do that,” and, “let me learn that,” or, “will you show me that,” at every opportunity. Between my own curiosity, a desire to figure it out, and a communications skillet often missing from others, I found myself unintentionally growing a career – even with the, “wrong” education.
Most of that career focus has been the side of the desk offering tax, accounting, and related business and life advice to multiple clients. The variety of support needed keeps me interested and coming back.
Before striking out on my own, I spent over 15+ years building knowledge and experience in providing tax and accounting support to a wide variety of individuals and businesses. From first year freelancers trying something out for the first time to mid-career employees with stock options and college savings and loans to grapple with to people looking at retirement to mid-size businesses starting to expand and even multi-national, multi-million dollar established businesses, there’s not a lot I haven’t seen.
I’ve helped freelancers and businesses adopt better practices, including accounting software, changing accounting software, adopting other business tools, hiring and firing employees, retirement and exit planning, entity selection and planning. I’ve mourned with clients at chapters closed and I’ve celebrated as new chapters have begun.
I’ve found errors made in prior years, big and small, and provided pathways to resolving them. I’ve shared tax savings strategies and identified situations where the lowest tax wasn’t the best financial situation.
All along the way, I bring fresh new packs of colored pencils; the very same ones you got excited about using in highschool biology when you realized learning and hard things go nicely with a but of fun.
Support Philosophy
I know taxes aren’t you’re thing. I also know you’re a fully competent adult, moving through life with a set of skills and experiences that make you the amazing human you are.
I’m thrilled you’re here, and I’m honored to get to provide you with support. Out of all the people out there, you’ve selected me. Thank you.
I will answer the same question as many times as you need. I’ll also point you to where I have already answered that question. This isn’t to be condescending, but to help cement for you where you likely have had questions answered already so you can get those answers when you need and want them, including at midnight with a bucket of ice cream at your side (it’s okay; I’ve been there, too).
I have always held each client deserves everything I can give, including as much understanding of often complicated subjects as you want to have. And, yes, that’s even if you don’t like the answers.
story
Everyone has a story. Some are really short. I’d love to share my story with you. I’ll invite you to grab a drink and sa snack (I won’t judge) first. Go on. I’ll be here.
Ready? My story answers the question: what do you do with a BA in English.
The Beginning
It really does start decades ago, when I raised my hand to go support a friend at a firm during and through tax season. Spring semester of Freshman year, I had no idea this would lead to a career.
Eleven years later, I looked at the BA in English/Creative Writing from Boise State, University in one hand and the previous decade of tax return preparation, bookkeeping, accounting, and even general business advisory and I had to make a choice. With a young child on my hip and other life circumstances, I had to make a choice.
I chose the thing that was more likely to make more money. I chose to play the game of Capitalism because it had a better chance of keeping food on the table and a roof over our heads.
The Turn
But this industry isn’t terribly accepting of the scrappy, get it done attitude that had carried me through thus far. It expects degrees and letters after your name that only come after passing really hard tests. And I’m not a good test taker.
Never-the-less, I started a Master’s Degree in Accounting to obtain the classes necessary to sit for the CPA exam and applied to (among other places) a since closed botique tax firm in Portland, Oregon.
That Master’s Degree faded to the background when I had the classes necessary and the school was determined to force me to take calculus even though I know that level of math isn’t necessary for what I do. But it had been too many years since my Statistics class for that 11 year long BA in English and another Statistics class wasn’t sufficient because I had taken it before.
Such strange requirements for someone who deals with addition, subtraction, and ratios and comparisons. After two failed attempts at forcing myself to care enough to learn, gave up.
2018 saw me pass the first of four CPA exams (REG or the one on tax with an 88). A year later, I put FAR (financial accounting) behind me on attempt #2 with a 78 and a first failed attempt at AUD (I don’t remember the score on that attempt).
I looked at the paperwork and the dollars for study materials and exam fees and decided to hedge my bets. I started taking the SEE (Special Enrollment Examination) to work toward my EA and continued studing for the last two CPA exams. I’m very good at taxes. I’m very good at debits and credits. I’m an experiential learner and have only tangential audit experience. And learning outdated rules that no longer apply doesn’t make sense to me. Those last two sections of the CPA exams required all of that.
Regardless of the specifics, I was determined to add letters after my name sometime in 2020.
I passed the SEE with flying colors in December of 2019. And I got results from AUD (74) and BEC (71) in January of 2020. You need a 75 to pass. I had some decisions to make.
And then 2020 Happened
I’ll spare you all the details of 2020. The end result, I was admitted as an Enrolled Agent by the IRS in April of 2020, took the Oregon LTC exam in September, and haven’t looked back to those CPA exams. I often say I’m too dumb for them with a bit of a painful laugh to back it up. Other tax professionals regularly tell me, “no Megan, [those exams] are too dumb for you.”
Launching Crayon Advisory, LLC
I launched Crayon Advisory, LLC fully in November of 2020. It had been a seed of a dream a little bit before then, with plans and dreams and aspirations that quickly changed when I started focusing on it full time.
I went out on my own and launched this business as an EA and LTC because I focus on tax. The letters that come after my name (as well as the ones I can’t add) don’t take away the experience, education, and training I have behind me, or that I continue to seek and obtain. And, I know I have quality advice ready to make its way to you.
sometimes, Done is better than perfect.
It’s really hard to write the mission, vision, values statements.
Our first goal is to bring you high quality tax and accounting advice, support, and services.
Mission
Crayon Advisory, LLC was founded to provide high quality tax and accounting services to creative and innovative entrepreneurs and people like you. We meet our clients where they’re at and strive to be there with you as you get to where you want to be. We want our clients to feel educated, empowered, and supported while also knowing they don’t have to and likely won’t be able to understand all the tax things. We’re experts in tax so you don’t have to be.
Vision
We’re here with you today where you’re at, and we want to be with you tomorrow. We’ll bring our shiny new pack of colored pencils to help you fill in the shapes of your tax life while you go about your day.
Values
We value honesty and transparency as well as supporting where and how people are at. You’ll be provided with choice and options whenever possible. We will put accuracy, providing the level of support someone needs, and our own mental health before anything else.
Hai! Hello!
My name is Megan, and I’ll be your tax professional
I use she/they pronouns. My most common answer to a question is, “it depends,” followed by more questions. I’m a fan of the Oxford comma, cats, coffee, planners, board games, and stickers.
Credentials
As a tax professional, I hold two credentials, both of which are specifically in and about tax.
Enrolled Agent (EA) – this credential comes directly from the IRS. It’s the highest status the IRS awards. It shows I have significant knowledge in and about tax and that I maintain it through minimum continuing education requirements (72 hours every three years and 2 hours of ethics every year; but hold on, there’s more). This credential allows me to represent clients in front of the IRS. You can read more about this credential here.
Licensed Tax Consultant (LTC) – this license comes from the state of Oregon. It’s the higher of two licenses offered by the Oregon Board to Tax Practitioners. It shows I have significant knowledge in and about federal and Oregon tax and that I maintain that knowledge through minimum continuing education requirements (30 hours every year). This credential allows me to prepare personal income tax returns in the state of Oregon. You can read more about this credential here.
Experience
I’ve been in tax and accounting for over 20+ years. I started in the file room and I kept raising my hand saying, “sure, I can do that,” and, “let me learn that,” or, “will you show me that,” at every opportunity. Between my own curiosity, a desire to figure it out, and a communications skillet often missing from others, I found myself unintentionally growing a career – even with the, “wrong” education.
Most of that career focus has been the side of the desk offering tax, accounting, and related business and life advice to multiple clients. The variety of support needed keeps me interested and coming back.
Before striking out on my own, I spent over 15+ years building knowledge and experience in providing tax and accounting support to a wide variety of individuals and businesses. From first year freelancers trying something out for the first time to mid-career employees with stock options and college savings and loans to grapple with to people looking at retirement to mid-size businesses starting to expand and even multi-national, multi-million dollar established businesses, there’s not a lot I haven’t seen.
I’ve helped freelancers and businesses adopt better practices, including accounting software, changing accounting software, adopting other business tools, hiring and firing employees, retirement and exit planning, entity selection and planning. I’ve mourned with clients at chapters closed and I’ve celebrated as new chapters have begun.
I’ve found errors made in prior years, big and small, and provided pathways to resolving them. I’ve shared tax savings strategies and identified situations where the lowest tax wasn’t the best financial situation.
All along the way, I bring fresh new packs of colored pencils; the very same ones you got excited about using in highschool biology when you realized learning and hard things go nicely with a but of fun.
Support Philosophy
I know taxes aren’t you’re thing. I also know you’re a fully competent adult, moving through life with a set of skills and experiences that make you the amazing human you are.
I’m thrilled you’re here, and I’m honored to get to provide you with support. Out of all the people out there, you’ve selected me. Thank you.
I will answer the same question as many times as you need. I’ll also point you to where I have already answered that question. This isn’t to be condescending, but to help cement for you where you likely have had questions answered already so you can get those answers when you need and want them, including at midnight with a bucket of ice cream at your side (it’s okay; I’ve been there, too).
I have always held each client deserves everything I can give, including as much understanding of often complicated subjects as you want to have. And, yes, that’s even if you don’t like the answers.
story
Everyone has a story. Some are really short. I’d love to share my story with you. I’ll invite you to grab a drink and sa snack (I won’t judge) first. Go on. I’ll be here.
Ready? My story answers the question: what do you do with a BA in English.
The Beginning
It really does start decades ago, when I raised my hand to go support a friend at a firm during and through tax season. Spring semester of Freshman year, I had no idea this would lead to a career.
Eleven years later, I looked at the BA in English/Creative Writing from Boise State, University in one hand and the previous decade of tax return preparation, bookkeeping, accounting, and even general business advisory and I had to make a choice. With a young child on my hip and other life circumstances, I had to make a choice.
I chose the thing that was more likely to make more money. I chose to play the game of Capitalism because it had a better chance of keeping food on the table and a roof over our heads.
The Turn
But this industry isn’t terribly accepting of the scrappy, get it done attitude that had carried me through thus far. It expects degrees and letters after your name that only come after passing really hard tests. And I’m not a good test taker.
Never-the-less, I started a Master’s Degree in Accounting to obtain the classes necessary to sit for the CPA exam and applied to (among other places) a since closed botique tax firm in Portland, Oregon.
That Master’s Degree faded to the background when I had the classes necessary and the school was determined to force me to take calculus even though I know that level of math isn’t necessary for what I do. But it had been too many years since my Statistics class for that 11 year long BA in English and another Statistics class wasn’t sufficient because I had taken it before.
Such strange requirements for someone who deals with addition, subtraction, and ratios and comparisons. After two failed attempts at forcing myself to care enough to learn, gave up.
2018 saw me pass the first of four CPA exams (REG or the one on tax with an 88). A year later, I put FAR (financial accounting) behind me on attempt #2 with a 78 and a first failed attempt at AUD (I don’t remember the score on that attempt).
I looked at the paperwork and the dollars for study materials and exam fees and decided to hedge my bets. I started taking the SEE (Special Enrollment Examination) to work toward my EA and continued studing for the last two CPA exams. I’m very good at taxes. I’m very good at debits and credits. I’m an experiential learner and have only tangential audit experience. And learning outdated rules that no longer apply doesn’t make sense to me. Those last two sections of the CPA exams required all of that.
Regardless of the specifics, I was determined to add letters after my name sometime in 2020.
I passed the SEE with flying colors in December of 2019. And I got results from AUD (74) and BEC (71) in January of 2020. You need a 75 to pass. I had some decisions to make.
And then 2020 Happened
I’ll spare you all the details of 2020. The end result, I was admitted as an Enrolled Agent by the IRS in April of 2020, took the Oregon LTC exam in September, and haven’t looked back to those CPA exams. I often say I’m too dumb for them with a bit of a painful laugh to back it up. Other tax professionals regularly tell me, “no Megan, [those exams] are too dumb for you.”
Launching Crayon Advisory, LLC
I launched Crayon Advisory, LLC fully in November of 2020. It had been a seed of a dream a little bit before then, with plans and dreams and aspirations that quickly changed when I started focusing on it full time.
I went out on my own and launched this business as an EA and LTC because I focus on tax. The letters that come after my name (as well as the ones I can’t add) don’t take away the experience, education, and training I have behind me, or that I continue to seek and obtain. And, I know I have quality advice ready to make its way to you.
sometimes, Done is better than perfect.
It’s really hard to write the mission, vision, values statements.
Our first goal is to bring you high quality tax and accounting advice, support, and services.
Mission
Crayon Advisory, LLC was founded to provide high quality tax and accounting services to creative and innovative entrepreneurs and people like you. We meet our clients where they’re at and strive to be there with you as you get to where you want to be. We want our clients to feel educated, empowered, and supported while also knowing they don’t have to and likely won’t be able to understand all the tax things. We’re experts in tax so you don’t have to be.
Vision
We’re here with you today where you’re at, and we want to be with you tomorrow. We’ll bring our shiny new pack of colored pencils to help you fill in the shapes of your tax life while you go about your day.
Values
We value honesty and transparency as well as supporting where and how people are at. You’ll be provided with choice and options whenever possible. We will put accuracy, providing the level of support someone needs, and our own mental health before anything else.