An entertaining and easy-to-read book about a practical blueprint to simplify Canada's horribly frustratingly overly complicated tax system. The author shares his frustration with a wildly inefficient, impossibly complex and heartlessly impersonal bureaucracy that routinely ensnares honest, hard-working people in its labyrinthine maze. The Grumpy Accountant tells the story of Jerry, a typical Canadian, and George, his trusted grumpy accountant, who guides him through the tax system at every stage in life. The Grumpy Accountant offers 29 critical tax tips for navigating the current broken system, including: -How to avoid common mistakes that invite CRA scrutiny -How to maximize the tax credits, deductions and benefits that you're entitled to -Tax saving strategies for every stage in life: college/university, employment/self-employment, marriage, kids, entrepreneurship, and retirement -How to use online tools to keep organized and stay ahead of the game With an entertaining and easy-to-read style, Winokur reveals a practical, ready-to-implement blueprint for change and simplification. Ready to see what a simpler tax future looks like, while saving serious time, money and heartache now? Let The Grumpy Accountant show you the way.

Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, a holy maiden was summoned. Not just any holy maiden—one hailing from modern Japan. But this story is not her story. This is the tale of the humble accountant, Kondou, who accompanied her and his trials and woes as he accounts in a new world... But no tale is complete without a love interest. And who better to play that role than the handsome knight captain Aresh? Will he begin a personal quest to save said bean counter—who toils around the clock—or is Kondou doomed to be married to his work evermore...?!

"Messrs. Gow and Kells have made an invaluable contribution, writing in an amused tone that nevertheless acknowledges the firms' immense power and the seriousness of their neglect of traditional responsibilities. 'The Big Four' will appeal to all those interested in the future of the profession--and of capitalism itself." —Jane Gleeson-White, Wall Street Journal With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army and combined revenues of over $130 billion a year, the Big Four accounting firms—Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMG—are a keystone of global commerce. But leading scholar Ian Gow and award-winning author Stuart Kells warn that a house of cards may be about to fall. Stretching back to the Medicis in Renaissance Florence, this book is a fascinating story of wealth, power, and luck. The founders of the Big Four lived surprisingly colorful lives. Samuel Price, for example, married his own niece. Between the world wars, Nicholas Waterhouse collected postage stamps while also hosting decadent parties in his fashionable London home. All four firms have endured major calamities in recent decades. There have been hundreds of court cases and legal prosecutions for failed audits, tax scandals, and breaches of independence. The firms have come so close to “extinction level events” that regulators have required them to prepare “living wills.” And today, the Big Four face an uncertain future—thanks to their push into China, their vulnerability to digital disruption and competition, and the hazards of providing traditional services in a new era of transparency. This account of the past, present, and likely future of the Big Four is essential reading for anyone perplexed or fascinated by professional services, working or considering working in the industry, or simply curious about the fate of the global economy.

Accountant and financial advisor Lacey Chamberlain doesn’t consider herself a control freak. She’s merely a planner—orderly, neat, and content in her tidy little life. When a marketing firm moves into the empty office next door, the loud-music-playing, stinky-food-ordering, kickball-in-the-hall staff make Lacey crazy. Marketing expert Alicia Wright is spontaneous, flies by the seat of her pants, and lives in the moment—all the things Lacey is not. She’s also gorgeous, thoughtful, and seems determined to make Lacey like her. They say opposites attract, but for how long? And is that really a good idea?

A retired accountant finds a new calling as the town fortune-teller in this “charming, warm, and wittily told” debut novel (Kirkus Reviews). Norbert Zelenka has always lived life on the sidelines. It’s why at seventy-three years old he’s broke and alone except for the company of a Chihuahua. But when “Carlotta’s Club” —three strong-willed seniors with plenty of time on their hands—decide to make Norbert their latest project, he reluctantly agrees to their scheme: establishing himself as the town’s fortune-teller. Soon his life begins changing in unexpected ways. It turns out that years of observing other people make Norbert an excellent card reader. As Norbert’s lonesome world expands with new friendships and a newfound self-confidence, he finally finds what he never had—a place to belong. But disaster looms on the horizon. When a troubled young woman goes missing after a bad reading, Norbert must find a strength beyond the cards to bring her home safely.

In The Wisest Investment, Canadian author and Chartered Professional Accountant Robin Taub shares strategies for time-starved parents who want to raise responsible, independent, money-smart kids for life.

Life in the Big Easy is anything but Hotel heiress Ela LeBlanc is ready to take control of her life. Waking up handcuffed to a former Marine and then hearing the news of her step-dad's plans to sell her Mom’s hotel is just the wake-up call she needs. With only thirty days to prove he has no claim on the property, Ela has to enlist the help of her sexy as sin bodyguard. When things take a dangerous turn, and Matt becomes the only person she can trust, she can't help but wonder... can she trust him with her heart? Former Marine Matt Cole came to New Orleans for a fresh start, a chance to make amends. After accepting a job as the chief of security for a wealthy hotelier, he quickly realizes that life in the Big Easy is anything but. Matt's greatest challenge is keeping his distance from the tempting Ela, his boss's gorgeous and very off limits step-daughter. Surviving Ela is just the beginning. As events unfold, it becomes clear that it's not just his heart on the line, but their lives.