Intuit® Tax Council Profile: Shahab Maslehati

Welcome to another profile in a series of articles about members of the Intuit® Tax Council. Meet Shahab Maslehati, owner of Seed Money Consulting. I sat down with Shahab to learn more about her firm, a bit about his background, and the Intuit Tax Council.

Scott Cytron: Tell our readers about your practice.

Shahab Maslehati: Seed Money Consulting is an independent financial advisory and consulting firm based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. We provide a range of services, including tax preparation, business consulting, financial planning, and investment management. We emphasize a tailored approach to meet the specific needs of our clients—whether individuals, families, or small businesses. Small business means a “solo-prenuer” to a business with under 15 employees or less than $3 million of annual revenue. Once companies grow above these general marks, we assist with other services such as mergers & acquisitions, business sales, and board consulting services. We also provide forensic audit services.

SC: So tell me what is unique about Seed Money Consulting compared to other firms.

SM:  There are three areas:

1. We took the very intentional approach of maintaining Registered Investment Advisory and Electronic Returns Originator registrations so that we have the service offerings and permissions to provide our community with tax-centric advice.
2. We found that most large advisories avoid providing tax advice and most tax preparation offices are unable to provide direct financial advice.
3. Our tax bills are the biggest expense we face over a lifetime and used by governing bodies to incent certain behaviors amongst individuals and communities. However, there is a large structural and service gap between professionals and individuals. Our mission is to eliminate the gap.

SC: What is your firm’s tech stack, and what Intuit products are you using?

SM: We always emphasize that we pair the best professionals with the best technology. An arborist would be very ineffective if asked to cut down a tree with a screwdriver! Having the best technology for that arborist is important; if you are not using the best professionals AND the best technology, you are at a significant disadvantage because your competition surely is using modern technology. 

Our advisory tools include Intuit’s QuickBooks® Online, Intuit® ProConnect™ Tax, and Intuit Tax Advisor. These applications have transformed our ability to effectively and efficiently provide tailored services in a timely and accessible fashion. 

SC: I know you’re a new member of the Tax Council. In what ways do you think the Council is important to the profession?

SM: Yes, I am a new member of the Council, and extremely grateful to be part of a group that is looking out for the little guy! The Council is significantly important to the industry to ensure Intuit platforms include the most accurate sound business practice guidance and guardrails as possible. This will build the confidence and credibility of the practitioner as they enable the benefits of the tax code into their community. The Council essentially bridges the gap between lawmakers and our communities to ensure benefits and incentives of the code are realized among everyday people.

SC: I understand you just started law school. What motivated you to do this and what do you envision doing with your law degree after you graduate?

SM:  That is true! I am happy to confirm I am a “1L” (year one JD student) attending Purdue Global Law Campus. The experience so far has been absolutely amazing. The professors and administrators established a completely immersive approach to online learning, and I couldn’t be more excited! 

The reason I am pursuing a Juris Doctorate in Law is to further our firm’s understanding of this critical area so that we can be more helpful for our clients facing legal issues, including business structuring, sales, and mergers & acquisitions, to name a few areas. 

SC: That’s great! What other volunteer work besides Tax Council are you doing?

SM: Our firm takes an active stance in our community by finding ways to give back. We have partnered with elementary schools to provide school supplies at “back to school night” events, and partnering with teachers to provide school supplies throughout the year. We also provide pro-bono services in some cases to start up nonprofit organizations.

SC: What was your very first job?

SM: My first paid job was working for a local city government’s park and recreation department. I was 15 years old and worked over the summer. I was definitely accustomed to “working” by then, but the only new part was actually getting paid! My dad always centered his parenting around principles such as dedication, determination, and discipline. My mom always centered her parenting around care, kindness, and family. I have carried these principles with me and implemented them as Seed Money Consulting’s guiding cultural lights.

SC: How can tax professionals keep up with all the changes in tax laws and regulations?

SM: Outside of the normal upkeep of continuing education requirements, staying connected with other practitioners is crucial. The U.S. law system is governed by statues, regulations, and other agency guidance. While the system is not generally governed by common law or judicial decisions, it is valuable to understand rules as interpreted by another practitioner in real life situations in different parts of the country. Staying appraised of issues facing other practitioners will help you avoid misapplication of common rules and stay informed of more nuanced or unique situations and how to handle them.

SC: If you were stranded on a desert island with access to just one kind of technology, what would it be, and why would you want it?

SM:  A water purifier. If you gave me a cell phone, it might accidentally get damaged … and that would be a shame lol!