EA(Enrolled Agent) is 100% worth it because gives you all the same legal authority in tax as having a CPA. Plus, many IRS agents like to speak to EA's bc many expierenced IRS agents are EA's

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Couldn’t pass your cpa?

likesmart

@SA1 how’d you manage to get into consulting in your first year? Or was that first year really just all compliance and you were great at it then jumped into consulting a bit year two, heavily year three then M&A then moved up from there?

As someone who started as an EA and who did not major in accounting, I got really tired of being in prospect and client meetings being asked “are you a CPA?” Then I need to explain what am EA, how it allows me to do the same thing as a CPA, etc. I went back to school to get the accounting credit hours, joined a top 10 public firm as a senior, and I’m sitting for the exams now. They are much harder than the EA. I think the EA is valuable, but it’s way too easy compared to the CPA exams. Yes you can be successful without a CPA, but if I have the choice, I’d do the CPA.

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Don't follow me around

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@OP, take note of all the replies to your post. We are your boss’s and peers and none of us think highly of the EA designation. You’re correct that it’s an “option,” but it’s not a good option if you want respect from your colleagues or to advance further than manager in your career.

Manager may seem like a high achievement to a new college graduate, but manager compensation will not support a family in the year 2024.

likesmart

I am a senior in industry and I make $150,000 a year. My wife is a nurse practitioner and she makes $160,000 a year. Life is good for my family. Thanks. We "easily" live within our means.

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I’ll keep my cpa thank you very much.

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No one is saying to give up your CPA license dufus. Please read with understanding. SMH. Big 4 now has managers with only an EA license .There are options for folks out there .

likefunny

Just get your CPA. Your professional ceiling is much lower as an EA.

likesmart

Deloitte only allows EA if you’re not CPA eligible. Of you’re CPA eligible, no promotion without CPA

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We are on our way to a C P A…

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lol. Thanks. No, most won’t. Peter Olinto I believe…hahaha

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I always think people get the EA when they couldn’t pass the CPA

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I have neither and my family gross $300,000+ a year. We are good

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Yeah the point of having the cpa is not just that. The CPA has a much higher ceiling and is much more respected.

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The point is that folks have options. In case you didn't know, since 2019(reported in the news media ) , there has been a significant decline in students declaring accounting as a major in college as well as a significant decline in students taking the CPA exam. Right now , there is significant pressure on states to enact a new pathway to being a CPA(120 hours + experience vs the 150 hour rule ). The profession now realizes it has a huge problem on its hands. A recent survey of college students revealed that accounting was not in the top 15 "preferred" college majors . No surprise here . Long hours (70-80 hours a week for months at a time ) , timesheets , budgets , chargeable hours goals, low low are a recipe for disaster for the profession. The Big 4 solution , outsource tax preparation to "poorly paid " Indian workers instead of addressing the core issues affecting the profession

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Having solely an EA is a waste of a career choice, might as well go back to school and be an engineer.

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Big 4 have allowed Manager EA for over a decade

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Can confirm that PwC is actively making it harder to get promoted with an EA. New guidelines require partner signoff if you are going for an EA.

Partners need to sign off on all promotions, period. No one is getting promoted without partner sign off.

EA is a good option. Especially at Big4 tax. You do not need a CPA to sign off on tax returns so for those that do not want to get a CPA, EA is the way to go.

EA is limiting for industry roles. Most are looking for cpa once you get to tax director/vp/head of tax level.

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