Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Johnson.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I remember the day like it was yesterday. In July of 2009, I received some devastating news from my full-time employer, and I was getting laid off. Three months later my husband was laid off from his job. And in between our two layoffs, we were notified that we were pregnant with our fourth child.
We went from making over $100,000 combined annual income to less than $45,000 combined annual unemployment income. The thoughts of how we were going to pay the mortgage, notes, and insurance on two cars, and take care of a family of six with less than half of the income were very exhausting. After struggling for two months, my husband and I decided that we had to move. The only way to move was to file for bankruptcy. I just thought and prayed over and over about this situation.
Thoughts like, “How does an accountant file bankruptcy?” “How does someone with a BA in not only accounting but finance, file bankruptcy?” It was embarrassing just to think about it. What seemed like a curse at the time was actually a blessing. But of course, my eyes were not opened to this realization until about three years ago. I had started my business two years prior to getting laid off but, it was the only part-time business doing taxes for family and friends.
At this time, I had about twenty-five clients. The year I got laid off my clientele doubled to fifty. In 2010, my clientele doubled to 100. By 2012 I was servicing over 150 clients and decided that I could no longer complete tax returns in my home. Nervous of the thought of moving into an office and paying expenses for upkeep, I did much praying. October 2012, I moved into my first office rental space in Hanover, Massachusetts paying $300.00 a month which included utilities. This was such an answered prayer.
By 2014, I had grown out of my Hanover’s office space and needed a larger office space. I was now servicing over 300 clients. In early 2014 I moved to my second office. My rent more than doubled because of the size and location of the space. I was not only closer to Boston, but my new office space was located in a Historical mansion. I fell in love with this new space from the very first time I went to see it.
The landlord wanted to rent it for $250.00 more than what I ended up paying. You ask how I did that; my answer, “I didn’t,” I prayed and went to my God and told him what I wanted to pay and he gave me just that! Loving my second location much more than the first, I wanted to stay there forever. But that was not my God’s plan for me. My God whose name is Jesus did it again.
By 2015, I had over 600 tax clients and a portfolio of 200 bookkeeping clients. I was now making the six figures I always dreamed of making. My dreams were coming to life by the minute. Today, now nine years later, I purchase a two-story office condo. I am on my way to making seven figures annually. Many would have said, “never in a million years would I have thought I would be where I am nine years later.” And I must say, “I can’t disagree enough.”
The bible says, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20)”, and that is all I had. I wrote down what I wanted and put it in my bible. Every now and then, I would read over the list and be so happy to be able to cross something off because that goal was met. Today, I am here to tell you that I was wounded, but I was not destroyed.
Having learned life while exploring financial devastation, it’s through my experiences I find my footing in the world as an accountant that educates, consults and witness to those who are now struggling with my same past experiences to let them know that it does get better. I am here to tell you that you may be wounded now or have been wounded but in no way are you destroyed because, “With God, All Things Are Possible,” (Matthew 19:26).
So there were definitely some challenges, but overall has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road always as there have been many obstacles. But those obstacles have helped me get to where I am today and to get to know my true personal value to others. As a true woman of God, a wife, mom, and entrepreneur it gets hard wearing so many hats and trying to please everyone. You tend to put everyone first and yourself last until you can barely stand on your two feet alone. I had to learn in the 11 years of being in business for myself…
1. How to put me first. If I didn’t start practicing self-care, I am not sure I would be here or in business.
2. How to charge appropriately. I had to hire coaches to help with understanding my self-worth
3. Lay down rules for my business and have my clients follow- create deadlines
4. To be persistent.
5. Be acceptable to change
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the EMJ Financial Services story. Tell us more about the business.
We at EMJ Financial Services are Tax Strategist. We believe that everyone deserves a strategist and certified bookkeeper that cares about them and the success of their business. Someone who they can trust and makes the process of completing taxes simple.
Liz’s business started by word of mouth and has grown as she has proven she can save people money and make the tax preparation process less stressful. Liz is a dedicated, and experienced bookkeeper and tax preparer with over 11 years of experience preparing taxes. Her specialty was really creating tax plans for individual and corporate clients to ensure they are not overpaying in taxes.
Elizabeth doesn’t just do bookkeeping and tax preparation, and she works together with her clients to map out a plan for their financial future. She strives to make complicated tax situations understandable to her clients while helping them pay the least amount of tax legally owed by searching for all possible credits and deductions available.
Tax preparation and bookkeeping services allow Liz to help clients sort out plans for a financial future that will support their personal dreams and long-term goals.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc.?
This year will be a doozy for the tax industry. There are more than 100 changes made to the tax laws. These changes will impact many families and businesses, some negatively and other positively. Because these changes were so dramatic, there will be shifts and changes that occur over the next five years until the tax laws make sense for the majority.
Contact Info:
- Address: 775 Pleasant Street Ste 3 E Weymouth, MA 02370
- Website: www.emjfinancialservices.com
- Phone: 7813401829
- Email: ejohnson@emjfinancialservices.com
- Instagram: @emjfinancial_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/emjfinancial
- Twitter: mstaxstrategist
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
