The Tax Translator™ with Cecily Welch, CPA

Tax Credits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Erica Stephens - Episode 2

The Tax Translator ™  Show Notes Tax Credits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Erica Stephens - Episode 2 In this episode of The Tax Translator, Cecily Welch sits down with Erica Stephens, Executive Director of Nana Grants, to unpack the realities of childcare tax credits and whether they truly help the families they’re intended to support. Through candid conversation and real-world stories from low-income single mothers pursuing college degrees, Cecily and Erica explore the disconnect between policy intentions and lived experiences. The episode dives into refundable vs. nonrefundable tax credits, the hidden assumptions behind tax policy, and the broader challenges families face navigating financial systems while simply trying to survive and build a better future.💡 What You’ll Learn * The difference between refundable and nonrefundable tax credits * Why many low-income families cannot effectively use child care tax credits * How tax credits function more like reimbursements than immediate assistance * The hidden cash-flow assumptions built into many tax incentives * Why child care affordability impacts education, workforce participation, and economic mobility * How financial systems and bureaucracy disproportionately burden low-income families * The role nonprofits like Nana Grants play inchanging multigenerational poverty trajectories 💬 Quote of the Episode “A tax credit feels like encountering someone outside a grocery store who’s starving and saying, ‘Go buy groceries for the week, hang on to your receipt, and 12 months from now I’ll give you 15% back.’” — Cecily Welch 🎧 Earn CPE by Listening to The Tax Translator™ Thanks to growing interest from members like you, we've streamlined the process with a brand-new podcast self-study exam. Each episode of The Tax Translator ™  offers the option to purchase a self-study test for CPE credit. Episodes will feature a 3-question exam and will be worth 1 hour of CPE credit. A passing grade of 70% or better is required to earn credit. Exams may be submitted for CPE up to one year after thepurchase date. Here’s the link to purchase the exam for this episode: https://www.gscpa.org/Public/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=POD.TAXTRN.2 [https://www.gscpa.org/Public/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=POD.TAXTRN.2]  RESOURCES: Cecily Welch, CPA, The Accountant You Can Understand®https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilywelch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilywelch/] This Week’s Guest: Erica Stephenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamstephens/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericamstephens/] Nana Grantshttps://www.nanagrants.org/ [https://www.nanagrants.org/] Nana Grants supports low-income single mothers pursuingcollege degrees by covering 100% of their childcare costs while they complete school. Their mission is built around the belief that childcare plus college equals economic mobility. The organization provides direct support that changesthe long-term trajectory of entire families. Subscribe to The Tax Translator ™ LinkedIn Newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tax-translator%E2%84%A2-7130174142623977473/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tax-translator%E2%84%A2-7130174142623977473/] The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Not a Member of The Georgia Society of CPAs?  Check out thebenefits of becoming part of the community.https://www.gscpa.org/content/Membership.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/content/Membership.aspx] Check out all of The Tax Translator™  episodes here:https://www.gscpa.org/content/olc/VirtualSeries/Tax-Translator.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/content/olc/VirtualSeries/Tax-Translator.aspx] Need more CPE? GSCPA’s CPE Catalog https://www.gscpa.org/public/catalog/search.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/public/catalog/search.aspx]

I’m Doing Everything Right, Why Is My Money Wrong with Aisha Steptoe - The Tax Translator ™ Episode 1

The Tax Translator ™  Show Notes I’m Doing Everything Right, Why Is My Money Wrong with Aisha Steptoe - Episode 1   Taxes touch everything from your paycheck to your plans for the future, but no one ever really explains them in plain English. That’s where I come in.  I’m Cecily Welch, The Accountant You Can Understand®. After more than thirty years of working with clients, representing taxpayers in audits, and serving on IRS advisory committees, I’ve learned one thing for sure: most people don’t need another finance podcast. They need someone to translate the tax code into real life. Taxes are the invisible thread that goes through every financial decision and every financial transaction. If you’re working on any aspect of your financial life, ignore taxes at your peril. Every other week, I break down what’s happening in tax law, financial headlines, and those viral “money hacks” everyone’s talking about. We’ll talk about what’s real, what’s not, and what actually matters to your wallet. No jargon, no scare tactics, just straight talk about the rules that run the money side of life. Because if you really want financial independence, you can’t afford to ignore taxes. In the inaugural episode of The Tax Translator, host Cecily Welch sits down with longtime client and supply chain executive Aisha Steptoe for a candid, deeply human conversation about money, taxes, and real life. From early career financial missteps to entrepreneurship, divorce, and rebuilding wealth, Aisha shares her journey navigating retirement plans, tax implications, and financial decision-making. Cecily translates complex tax concepts into relatable insights, helping listeners understand how everyday choices impact long-term financial health. 💡 What You’ll Learn * The hidden costs of financial decisions involving retirement accounts * Why financial literacy is often learned too late—and how to fix that * The emotional side of money and how it impacts decision-making * Smart strategies for rebuilding financial stability after setbacks 💬 Quote of the Episode “Anything that you are dealing with financially—if you're ignoring taxes, you're doing it at your peril.”  — Cecily Welch 🎧 Earn CPE by Listening to The Tax Translator™ Thanks to growing interest from members like you, we've streamlined the process with a brand-new podcast self-study exam. Each episode of The Tax Translator ™  offers the option to purchase a self-study test for CPE credit. Episodes will feature a 3-question exam and will be worth 1 hour of CPE credit. A passing grade of 70% or better is required to earn credit. Exams may be submitted for CPE up to one year after the purchase date. Here’s the link to purchase the exam for this episode: https://www.gscpa.org/Public/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=POD.TAXTRN.1 [https://www.gscpa.org/Public/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=POD.TAXTRN.1] RESOURCES: Cecily Welch, CPA, The Accountant You Can Understand® https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilywelch/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilywelch/] This Week’s Guest: Aisha Steptoe https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-steptoe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-steptoe/] Subscribe to The Tax Translator ™ LinkedIn Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tax-translator%E2%84%A2-7130174142623977473/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tax-translator%E2%84%A2-7130174142623977473/] The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Not a Member of The Georgia Society of CPAs?  Check out the benefits of becoming part of the community. https://www.gscpa.org/content/Membership.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/content/Membership.aspx] Check out all of The Tax Translator™  episodes here: https://www.gscpa.org/content/olc/VirtualSeries/Tax-Translator.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/content/olc/VirtualSeries/Tax-Translator.aspx] Need more CPE? GSCPA’s CPE Catalog [https://www.gscpa.org/public/catalog/search.aspx#?tab=1&k=&DateStartEnd=10%2F22%2F2025,10%2F22%2F2026&c_9=&c_10=&order=Recommended&c_3=&c_2=&c_7=&c_6=&c_8=&c_5=&i=0,0,0,0,0&is=20] https://www.gscpa.org/public/catalog/search.aspx [https://www.gscpa.org/public/catalog/search.aspx]