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This January 2011 Ed Santos Associates will celebrate fifty years in
the Tax and Financial Planning business. Over fifty years ago
industrious and single young Santos attended the University of
Miami during the day, where he studied Accounting. In the evenings
after school and on weekends Santos prepared tax returns part time
at client’s homes.

After graduating from University of Miami, Santos worked in the
Accounting Departments of several large companies honing his
skills. “All the while Ed continued, working after hours toward his
goal of opening his own office,” said his wife, of 47 years, Patricia
Santos. “Ed continued his schooling, worked evenings and
weekends preparing tax returns. It was a busy time, but Ed was
determined.” Pat and Ed have four adult daughters Beth, Patti,
Susan and Edna and 10 grandchildren.

In 1963 Santos married Pat and then opened his first office on
Pembroke Road in 1965. Santos Associates became incorporated in
1973. Santos earned his Enrolled Agent* a federal tax designation
and license in 1979 and the Certified Financial Planner professional
designation from The College of Financial Planning in 1984. “In the
business community the name Ed Santos is synonymous with
sound ethics, family values and strong faith,” said long time friends
and client. “Doing business with Ed is like becoming a member of
his family, in fact better than your own family!”

After all these years, Ed’s advice to clients is the same, “Honor your
goals, monitor your cash flow and keep consistent.” mentions Ed.

“We are very proud of our father’s lifetime accomplishments,” said
second daughter Patti Santos-Golis who has worked with her father
for twenty years as an Accredited Tax Preparer. “Dad has clients who
have been with him since I was a kid. We do returns for several
generations of families. He is successful in this business because
he is smart and sincere,” continued Santos-Golis. “He impresses to
all his associates that to be successful we must provide the highest
level of customer service and knowledge of the latest tax law.”
Santos is known for his unwavering adherence to tax law, and finding
the best ways to work within the tax law to benefit the client.

“It is incredible to think that my dad began doing tax returns when he
was 19 years old,” said daughter number four Edna Santos-Modlics.
“When he first started, he made up flyers and cold called for new
clients. Then he would meet clients in their homes. Today we have
drop-off, email, fax service available and even a pick-up service for
our elder clients,” said daughter number three Susan Santos-
Stevens. Both Edna and Susan have been in the family business for
nine years.

Santos knows the importance of staying ahead of trends. “In the early
1980's we were among the first accountants in South Broward to
computerize our tax practice, offer clients e-filing, and begin a
paperless work environment,” said Ed Santos.

Through the years Ed Santos has received numerous awards and
recognitions, but the one he is proudest of is the Primum Regnum
Dei award that both Ed and Patricia received from the Archdiocese of
Miami for their apostolic works devoted to the community.

Santos is a founding parishioner of Saint Mark, the Evangelist,
Catholic Church where he is on the Parish Council, and the board of
directors for The Men of Saint Mark. He also teaches religious
education in St. Mark’s CCD program. Ed and Pat are co-directors of
the Saint Mark Outreach program and head fundraising campaigns,
which assist people in need. He is also a lifetime member of the
Knights of Columbus. Santos serves as the treasurer of the
Hampton Professional Center in Pembroke Pines, which houses
Santos Associates. “I always hoped one day my daughters would
join me in the business, with God’s help they have,” concluded
Santos.

“A person cannot last, and certainly not grow a business for 50 years
if they don’t produce a good product. Dad works hard, takes nothing
for granted and he thanks God every step of the way,” concluded Beth
Santos-Hurst.

*The National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) is the
professional society that represents enrolled agents (EAs), tax
practitioners licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to
represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) on issues including collection, audits and
appeals.

EAs are the only tax professionals tested by IRS on their knowledge
of tax law and regulations and, because they are federally licensed,
the only tax professionals that may represent clients in any part of the
country. They provide tax preparation, representation, tax planning
and other financial services to millions of individual and business
taxpayers. EAs adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct
and are required by the IRS to complete annual continuing
professional education. Like attorneys and certified public
accountants (CPAs), EAs are governed by Treasury Circular 230 in
their practice before the IRS.
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Santos Associates, FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED TAX
PRACTITIONERS, can help you with your accounting, tax
and financial planning needs. Call today for an appointment &
consultation. We are not attorneys, we can refer competent
council upon request.