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FEBRUARY 2025 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2
TOPH’S TAX RESOLUTION TIMES
513-342-4000 WWW.513TAX.COM
KEEPING IT REAL AN AUTHENTIC MARKETING MESSAGE RINGS TRUE
The past year has been a good one for us. We have been spreading the word about our services across several types of media, including billboards, digital ads, TV, and iHeart Radio, as Ashley mentions in her column inside this newsletter.
soliciting my business, but you were the only one who spent the time to send me a handwritten letter.” It definitely struck a chord with people. The close rate was extraordinary. As our markets expanded, we began sending handwritten letters out to almost every county in Ohio, parts of Kentucky and Indiana, and eventually West Virginia and Tennessee. As our list grew, I began photocopying the letters and handwriting the salutation — “Dear Bob”
While our marketing has expanded, however, our message has stayed the same: We are a local business run by a guy who has experienced tax
problems of his own, who understands what it feels like to be in your shoes, and who will meet with you personally and take a real interest in getting the best possible results for you from the IRS. The authenticity of that message rings true with people, regardless of how it is delivered. We have come a long way from the days when I was writing handwritten personal letters to every prospective customer I could find. As readers of this newsletter know, we were completely broke back then, and sending a letter was an inexpensive option. So, I investigated public records to build a mailing list, then sat down in my home office, took pen and paper, and handwrote a personal letter to every person on that list. I could do about 10 letters an hour. I wrote each letter as if I was talking to that person across a table. I know tax problems are a sensitive issue, and my tone was personal: I have had my own problems, I understand the stress you are under, and I want to help you.
or “Dear Joe.” People probably realized they were getting a photocopy, but it was still a handwritten letter. We had thousands of people on our list at one point. These days, our neighbors are more likely to see my mug on a billboard around the Cincinnati area than to receive a handwritten note. Still, in all the media we use, I try to be as authentic as possible, sticking to our message that you’re not a bad person if you have a tax problem. You’re in a bad situation, and like anything else in life, when you procrastinate, it gets worse. Depending on the medium, I might tell a bit of my story, about having been in a dark place with my own issues and having found my way out of it. Many of our customers are drawn to working with someone who is nonjudgmental, who has been in their shoes, and who is also local. People tend not to trust businesses that are six states away. They want to come into the office and meet the person who is going to be helping them. And, of course, they’re thankful when we provide them with excellent service.
The results were amazing. I was getting a response rate of about 10% — several times better than the average success rate for direct mail. Our growth at first was slow, but as business picked up, I hired a company to handwrite the letters. In 2016, we brought in Mandi to help. (Mandi’s career success is also featured inside this newsletter).
As you take stock of your tax situation this year, call us if we can help you, a family member, or a friend resolve any problems. Regardless of how much we grow, our message will always be the same: We are here to help.
–Toph Sheldon
Callers mentioned the handwritten letters all the time. I can’t count the number of people who have said, “I got a stack of letters from people
DON’T LIVE IN FEAR - TOPH IS HERE!
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Have you ever wished you had a personal assistant to help you stay on track and organize your life? Thanks to the latest in AI, you can have a sidekick in your pocket who knows all your long-term goals. Voice Notes AI is a handy app that allows you to record notes on anything from your stray thoughts, to-do lists, or ideas. It’s not just about giving you reminders — it’s a powerhouse for organizing your day, managing tasks, and even helping you brainstorm ideas. PENCIL IN YOUR PERFECT DAY Voice Notes AI is an intelligent way to plan your day and the tasks you need to complete. It will ensure you’re always in alignment with your long-term goals. Record your priorities, what you want to accomplish, and details about The Future of Productivity Is Here AI THAT HELPS YOU PLAN, CREATE, AND THRIVE
One of the most rewarding aspects of working on a team is seeing one of your employees thrive and rise to an entirely new level of accomplishment. Mandi Lowen was an at-home mother of two young children and a caregiver for her ailing grandmother when she began working with us in 2016. Today, she is a licensed enrolled agent who has earned the right to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Mandi recently passed the last of three challenging exams to earn that credential, and we could not be prouder of her. Mandi began working with us after responding to our ad on Craigslist. We needed help creating handwritten letters for our direct-mail marketing efforts, and Mandi was looking for flexible part-time work. For the next three years, she wrote letters for us at home. By late 2019, we were ready to hire an administrative assistant, and Mandi was a perfect fit. The timing worked out well for her. Her grandmother, who had suffered from dementia and other health issues, had passed away, and her children were in school full time. Although Mandi had no background in the tax business, she learned a lot by supporting clients and watching how we helped them resolve financial crises and set their lives in order. “I fell in love with the resolution process. You see people come in with large tax liabilities, and they’re scared and nervous,” she says. When we secured manageable settlements, “we could see their relief and joy and happiness at knowing that the matter was behind them.” After Mandi decided to earn enrolled agent status, the next two years were rugged. “It was a little bit of a struggle, working a full day, caring for my kids and my family, and going to school at night,” she says. She passed the third of the IRS’ three exams last October. Now that her daughters are 13 and 17, Mandi says, she feels ready for new challenges, and she looks forward to building relationships with clients. “I am really excited to move forward with the company and with Toph,” Mandi says. Mandi’s accomplishments are a great example of what is possible for those willing to invest the hard work and time required to build new skills. We are proud to have her with us. How One Working Mom Built a Promising New Career Shoutout to Mandi
your life. Then, start your morning by asking your AI assistant to provide a plan for the day and give tips on what would help you get closer to your goals. The app then pulls information from your recordings and cross-references it with your calendar to create customized daily lists.
TURN PHILOSOPHIES INTO PRODUCTIVITY To get even more personalized suggestions, you can teach your AI
assistant about the philosophies, beliefs, and books that drive and inspire you. Next time you pick up a book or think about a mantra that moves you, record your thoughts using the app. Your digital assistant will consider that information and provide specific insights when you ask for daily to-dos or check in on your progress. UPGRADE TO YOU 2.0 Your AI assistant can teach you about yourself and help you develop better habits. Once you have added several recordings to the app, ask it for a personality analysis as a fun way to learn how you think. You can also ask it to help you create an effective wind-down routine at the end of the day to help you for the rest of the week. Try making a “worry box” where you record concerns and ask your assistant to give suggestions on overcoming them.
–Toph Sheldon
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ASHLEY’S CORNER City Getaway: Going Where the Wind Takes Us
I recently took a three-day trip with a friend to New York City, my first visit there in years. My friend and I didn’t have a plan. We flew out together and just decided, “Let’s go where the wind takes us.” The wind took us to a Broadway show, Rockefeller Center, a Central Park holiday market, and a concert at Madison Square Garden. It also took us to a diner where a New Yorker at the next table quietly picked up our lunch tab. Who said New Yorkers are unfriendly? My friend and I stayed right downtown. As soon as we arrived, we dropped our bags at our hotel and headed for a cute little diner nearby. We started chatting with two people at the next table. “Is this your first time in New York?” asked one of them, a guy who seemed like a native New Yorker. I told him I hadn’t been there since I was 20 years old, and we were planning to see all the Christmas decorations and festivities. After he left, we asked for our check and got this note instead: “Welcome to New York. I hope you have a great visit. I just bought your lunch.” That was our first experience of the city. It was such a joyful moment! My friend and I walked everywhere, and we saw the tree at Rockefeller Center, the holiday craft show near Macy’s, and other iconic sights. On Broadway, we saw “The Book of Mormon,” which was unexpected, but funny and relaxing. We also had tickets from our advertising partner, iHeartMedia, to the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden,
where we saw Katy Perry, Shaboozy, Twenty One Pilots, and other artists.
Otherwise, we just did what we wanted to do. If we both wanted to sit in the hotel room for an hour to decompress and
read our books — let’s do it! Walking past Central Park, we saw the outdoor Holiday Market. “Should we run in here?” my friend asked.
“I think we should! It looks cool,” I said. After all, we didn’t have kids in tow. If Toph were along, he would not want to go shopping in different stores to see the decorations. But for us, it was great fun. The entire trip was refreshing and enjoyable, and I came back feeling really recharged. I have written before about the importance of having date nights and quality time with your husband. It is also important to do nice things for yourself now and then. As you make your way through the winter, I hope you can enjoy some refreshing breaks for yourself!
Take a Break
Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Inspired by EasyDessertRecipes.com
• 1 cup chopped dark chocolate • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts • 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. 2. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour warm, melted butter over it, wait for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. 3. Add sugar, almond flour, and walnuts and stir to incorporate. Stir in the egg yolks and set mixture aside. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. 5. Fold 1/4 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter. Repeat, 1/4 at a time, until egg whites are incorporated. 6. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before removing from the pan. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Solution on Page 4
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Cincinnati Tax Resolution Powered by Toph Sheldon 9200 Montgomery Rd., Ste. 7B Cincinnati, OH 45242
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
513-342-4000 513TAX.COM
INSIDE 1
High-Impact Ink: How Handwritten Letters Helped Build Our Business Your Personal Assistant — Anytime, Anywhere Team Spotlight: Meet Mandi Lowen, Licensed Enrolled Agent Ashley’s Corner: A 3-Day Girlfriend Getaway Fabulous Flourless Chocolate Cake
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Reality TV Star Battles Tax Troubles
Reality Check: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Faces 6-Figure Tax Liens TOPH’S TAX NIGHTMARES
“Teen Mom” reality TV star Leah Messer has been hit by a series of federal and state tax liens, including a current tax debt of more than $195,000, according to In Touch Weekly. The cumulative total of tax liens for the 2014, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 tax years comes to nearly $780,000, but several of those debts have been resolved, the celebrity magazine reported. Messer’s troubles reflect the hazards young media stars face when they lack the skills needed to manage six-figure incomes. Despite her earnings from the TV roles, Messer held side hustles as a waitress and tried to earn a real estate license to bring in extra income. She also has written a memoir, sold makeup, and started a podcast and a wellness coaching business. Since her 2010 reality TV debut on “16 & Pregnant” as a teenager expecting twins, Messer has appeared in a series of sequels on MTV including “Teen Mom 2” in 2011, “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter,” and “Teen Mom: Family Reunion.”
Messer shares twin daughters with her first husband, Corey Simms, and a third daughter with her second ex-husband, Jeremy Calvert. She also spent time in rehab after her divorce from Calvert. Her struggles with prescription drug addiction and rehabilitation have played out on TV, along with her youngest daughter’s diagnosis with a form of muscular dystrophy. Messer admitted that she lacked financial management skills when she first appeared on MTV. She told In Touch that she had worked with many different accountants over the years, but finally had “connected with an amazing accountant and tax attorney” who were helping her resolve the tax problems. She says she hopes to help others learn from her mistakes. “I didn’t grow up making the income that I do now, [and] I didn’t have the guidance that a girl at 16 should have had to responsibly handle money and make healthy financial planning choices,” she said. “Let this be an example for everyone out here: Take that boring financial class in high school or college. Your future self will thank you for it!”
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DON’T LIVE IN FEAR - TOPH IS HERE!
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