The Greatest Ever.

Last week, Avi Dan had an article in Forbes, A Time Machine Through Madison Ave.: The Greatest Agencies, Ever.

I knew from the title that I would be blogging about it. Mostly borne from the fact that I spent the formative years of my career at #3 Chiat/Day. As well as a not so fruitful year working on Apple --during the rudderless Steve Jobs-less period -- while at #5 BBDO. And my last official staff gig at #10 on the list, the geographically undesirable Y&R, where the daily 106 mile commute finally broke my will to survive.

I knew I'd be writing about the piece, but I didn't know what I'd write.

The temptation was there to turn this post into another thinly veiled, self serving, self promotion. But then thought better of it. Especially since I've spent the last few weeks pimping my new book. And I just came off a great assignment with another great agency.

It's time to tone down the chest beating and turn the humility lever up to 11.

And so, in re-reading the article, which is largely on the nose, I couldn't help pick up on our industry's eternal navel-gazing. Do attorneys jockey for position to make the list of Top 10 Torts & Civil Litigation Law Firms in the country? Do dental partnerships angle to make the list of Top 10 Root Canal Extracters, Ever?

I don't know.

But I do know my father, an industrious CPA, spent a lifetime balancing books and shaving corporate expenses without ever seeing his name or his firm's name in print. And so with that, I give you the A Time Machine Through Earned Income Credit: The Greatest Accounting Firms in the History of Mankind.


Dawson, Bergquist & Gallagher : In 1973, these ingenious fellows found a way to write off the cost of skyrocketing fuel as both a cost of operations expense as well as an evergreen liability. Thus twisting the code in favor of their client and saving $38,941.29.

Tannenbaum & Partners: Working on behalf of their client, Tannenbaum & Partners fought tooth and nail against the IRS who claimed their client, Chimmy Changa's Churros out of Saltillo, owed more than  $73, 931.47 in back taxes. Tannenbaum papered those government boys with long, flowing briefs. And cited so many obscure cases, with beautifully detailed references, the IRS just threw up their arms and cried Uncle.

Caplan, Hoffman and Schwartz: These grizzled CPAs are in a class by themselves. Well versed in the long storied history of chartered accountancy, these seasoned vets can talk your ears off about capital expenditure, asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligation. Accounting students will be studying their case histories for years to come. And hopefully live by their timeless maxim: Look, listen, deduct.