Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Whittley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
CPFS started back in 2012 in my college dorm room. At the time, I was really active in my church and a few local not for profit organizations. It was during this time that I realized this big gap between faith & finances and I wanted to explore what it might look like to build a bridge. Five years, gallons of caffeine and a lot of hustle later, CPFS is a medium sized accounting firm that exists to bridge the gap between faith & finances. How? Simply, using kingdom principles, we uplift and empower our clients by changing how finances impact their lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth as a porcupine…there were a few big struggles. My top 3 are licensing, ageism and politics.
First, I needed to get my CPA license for credibility. For those who don’t know the CPA exam (at the time I took it) is a 4 part exam (3-4 hours each) followed up by an Ethics exam. I studied for around 920 hours and finished all sections within 15 months. Doesn’t sound that bad, but during that time I had absolutely no life.
Next challenge: ageism. I’ve always had a baby face. I uplift myself with a reminder that when I turn 60, I will probably get away with telling strangers I’m celebrating my 40th. As it relates to the company, in the early years it took a lot of show and tell to prove that I was worth clients time and money. While I looked young enough to be my clients’ grandson, I was thorough and treated my clients very well. Over time, quality, value-added service prevailed youthful tones and I developed a good source of referrals to rely upon.
Finally, the politics of the whole ordeal. I had mentors tell me why I shouldn’t combine money and religion. And part of me gets the warning. I feared this may offend some, scare off others, but I was willing to take the risk. By virtue of my network (and partly the name) we do have clients who share the same faith as I do (Christian). But, about 35% of our client base is a mix of other religions and some who don’t fancy it at all. I’m a Christian who also happens to be a CPA. I’m a Christian and have the heart to serve anyone that I can.
CPFS – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At CPFS, we have 3 main services:
TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION
SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING & CASH FLOW ANALYSIS SERVICES
GROWTH & PROFITABILITY CONSULTING
What sets us apart is simple: diligence.
Our firm is built on a foundation of trust, commitment, open communication and anticipation of our clients’ needs.
We think about business differently.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is the absence of fear to do what you love.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2815 Forbs Ave., Suite 107
- Website: www.christianparagon.com
- Phone: 2245452778
- Email: rwhittley@christianparagon.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christianparagonfinancialservices/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/christian-paragon-financial-services-hoffman-estates
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