Lacerte® Tax spotlight: Karl J. Strube, CPA

Freshly baked cookies, strategy games, math tutor, and Intuit® Lacerte® Tax? In this spotlight, find out how these are all part of Karl Strube’s practice, Strube CPA PC, and learn how Lacerte benefits his practice and speeds workflow.

Scott Cytron: Can you please tell me a few ways Lacerte benefits your practice?

Karl Strube: Lacerte is the very first tax software I ever heard about. We were given student copies back in 2005 in my tax accounting class in college to practice on. I often say that the best software to use is the one you know how to use well. This is critical for things such as knowing where shortcuts and overrides are to get the end returns correct, rather than just blindly plugging in numbers into software. I’ve done contract work with other firms using many different tax software solutions, and Lacerte is the one I know the best and feel the most comfortable in. But I’ve always said that if it’s time to change, I’d just go and become an expert in that new software.

SC: What is unique about your firm compared to other firms?

KS: We specialize in preparation and proactive planning for equity comp taxation. I was a generalist for a long time, but kept finding that strategizing with ISOs was the most fun area of tax for me.

SC: What is your vision for your firm going forward?

KS: This is a lifestyle firm. I am a work-from-home dad married to a stay-at-home mom wife with three young children (7, 4 and 1). All I want is gradual organic growth. I know what my “enough” point is, so I’m working hard to streamline efficiencies and disengage difficult clients to have more time with my wife and kids.

SC: I know you’re active in the Lacerte Tax Community. What motivates you to help others with questions about the software and about tax?

KS: When I was at Deloitte at the beginning of my career, we had an internal training on personal mission and vision. One statement I developed that I still hang on to today is, “I stand for equipping & building others up.” I just love helping people. One of my church pastors preached a sermon that taught me “A great leader trains and equips his successors.” That helps me avoid a scarcity mindset: that I need to hold all the secrets, tips, and tricks.

SC: How has your practice changed over the last 5 years?

KS: Before the pandemic, I met with more than half of my clients in person in my home, and my wife baked cookies for each one. Now fewer than 5% come for in-person meetings, although some legacy, now-remote clients still mention the cookies. I send clients Loom review videos of their tax returns. I used to have no employees; I now have two part-time staff: a firm admin and an accounting clerk.

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

KS: I use Lacerte and QuickBooks® Online, Ignition for proposals and payment collection, TaxDome for practice management and client portal, Gusto for payroll, OnceHub for scheduling client Zoom meetings, Google Suite, and Loom for videos, internally and to clients.

SC: What do you like to do in your spare time?

KS: Strategy games: Splendor, Pandemic, and Dominion are favorites. I love taking my kids out on walks and bike rides around our neighborhood, as well as to local parks.

SC: What was your very first job?

KS: In high school I did a couple of secretarial type jobs. That taught me that I wanted to stay in jobs and roles with temperature control. In college, I worked as a math tutor and served as student body treasurer.

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?

KS: My cell phone, with a signal so I could turn on location-sharing and be quickly rescued.

SC: Thanks Karl!