Episode 12

full
Published on:

11th Jan 2021

Teaching SALT to the next generation with Tram Le

In this episode of the SALTovation podcast, we speak with Tram Le, a CPA, attorney and SALT professor, and our very own Judy Vorndran.

 


Tram talks about pursuing her career in accounting and law after shifting from music. She also shares what she sees teaching SALT topics to graduate students as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Texas in Arlington. She also discusses what she thinks makes clients want to work with her.


 


Questions asked and answered in this Episode:


 


  • What is Tram Le’s background and career story?


  • How does she think the SALT class she teaches relates to the classes she took in college?


  • What is the biggest misconception about state tax that she finds within the students?


  • What does Tram offer that makes clients want to work with her?


  • Where did UT Arlington find the value in offering a SALT class?


  • What drives and motivates Tram to do her best work each day?

 


What You Will Discover:


 


  • [00:52] How Tram shifted from pursuing music to accounting and law


  • [07:07] Taking the SALT class and meeting Judy


  • [11:18] How the SALT classes she teaches compare to the classes she took as a student


  • [17:10] The biggest misconception about state tax within her students


  • [22:47] What makes clients want to work with Tram


  • [28:28] Why does she think UT Arlington offers a SALT class


  • [30:14] What drives and motivates Tram


  • [31:43] One thing we don’t know about Tram and more fun facts

 


Quotables:


 


  • “Being in the top of a class doesn’t necessarily mean success.” - Judy Vorndran [09:15]

 


  • “This is not just a simple job. It’s complicated and it requires nuance. And it requires the ability to take the complicated issues, make them simple for our clients so they understand how to handle it, but also deal with the nuance, so that we give them the right answer.” - Judy Vorndran [16:09]

 


  • “Just understanding that it does matter how you file.” - Tram Le [18:14]

 


  • “When I am helping a client or advising, I put myself in their shoes, and what would I do if I had these problems?” - Tram Le [23:52]

 


  • “If there’s something I’m doing, I have to do it right, and I don’t want to let you guys down. I don’t want to let clients down. I don’t want to let myself down. And also, I think a big part of me as a mother of two young girls, I want to be a really good role model for them.” - Tram Le [30:48]

 


Relevant Links:


 


Website: https://www.saltovation.com/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tram-le-88573752


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https://saltovation.captivate.fm/listen

https://linktr.ee/taxops 


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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMB1ZQNGXM_F777SIEl8Vjw 


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Production Support

This episode was produced with support from Truth Work Media. www.truthworkmedia.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Sales Tax Nerd

Are you a Sales Tax Nerd? Do you feel alone in your work? Do others understand what you deal with on a daily basis? Are you looking for your “people”? You need to check out The Sales Tax Nerd Community! It brings together helpful resources, ongoing training, and camaraderie. With free webinars, on-demand courses, and quarterly Office Hours with the original Sales Tax Nerd, Diane Yetter, you’re never short on accessible information and relief from the chaos of sales tax. Get your toughest questions answered by knowledgeable members of the community. Network with peers, access exclusive content, get discounts on our live courses, and gain over 28 CPE credits each year. Click the Sales Tax Institute link in the description, and use the code SALTOV10 for 10% off your membership today! https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/sales-tax-education/sales-tax-nerd-community-membership

Tax Nerd

SALT Contact

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About the Podcast

SALTovation: Making Sense of State and Local Tax
Welcome to SALTovation. The SALTovation show is a podcast series featuring the leading voices in state and local tax (SALT). Here we talk about issues, strategies, and planning tools to help you make sense of SALT. Because, in SALT, there is no “one and done.” SALT is a puzzle of ever-changing pieces. Solving that puzzle is our business at SALTovation. Tens of thousands of listeners know they won't get tax talk as usual with the SALTovation team. Our team is known for straight-talk with a flair for fun, providing clarity and opinions that move businesses forward with confidence.

Attorney, CPA, speaker, and writer Judy Vorndran leads the SALTovation team as they go inside business to help deal with the daily operations and long-term strategies of making SALT less “taxing.” Judy has spent more than 25 years advocating for businesses with innovative strategies, renowned knowledge and experience. She has helped guide thousands of taxpayers across the nation and globally through the morass of SALT, freeing them to concentrate on growth. Joining Judy are the wickedly smart members of the SALTovation team, who have seen, worked with and tamed some of the most prickly issues in SALT. They enjoy sharing their stories and knowledge with listeners.

Solving the SALT puzzle doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it takes a community. So, we invite leaders in business and state and local tax to share their stories, challenges and successes on this show. Drop us a line at SALTovation.com if you'd like to join the conversation and tune into our regular series at TaxOps.com.