A San Diego CPA You Can Actually Talk To

Certifications

Certified Public Accountant

QuickBooks Pro Advisor

CA Licensed Realtor

Xero Advisor Certified

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Tim Whelan, CPA

619-330-9795

tim@darkhorse.cpa

TITLE

Principal

HOMETOWN

Boston, MA

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

12

EDUCATION

To be successful you don't need to do extraordinary things, you just need to do ordinary things extraordinarily well

— John Rohn

Tim’s decision to become an accountant was unsurprising given that he was “born into it,” with his father being a CPA. After working at both a large national firm and a mid-sized regional firm in the Boston area where he grew up, he found Dark Horse to be the perfect stable for his skill set. Around the same time, he also found San Diego a better fit for his lifestyle. He is passionate about working with small businesses and their owners, educating them and working with them to proactively improve their tax and financial situation. He felt his talent and passion could be best put to work at Dark Horse.

Tim earned his bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth, where he ran track and cross country. After hanging up his running shoes, he began running into his career, albeit in dress shoes this time. During this career, he has amassed over a decade of experience serving small businesses and their owners. His experience working with and listening to clients across many industries has made him a trusted advisor that his clients rely upon.

Off the clock, Tim can be found hiking, camping, reading, or planning his next trip. Though he is an avid Boston sports fan, he has recently embraced the San Diego Padres. He is always on the lookout for a good California Burrito (although it may be harder to find a bad one in San Diego). Mexican food wasn’t the reason he moved to San Diego, but it may well be the reason he stayed.

Specialties

Strategic Tax Planning

Business & Personal Tax Strategy

Closely Held Entities

Reporting & (KPIs)

GAAP Financial Statements

Industries

Architecture & Engineering

Professional Services

Sole Proprietors

Food & Beverage

Retail

eCommerce

Certifications

Certified Public Accountant

QuickBooks Pro Advisor

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Matthew Lynch, CPA

619-775-2301

matt@darkhorse.cpa

TITLE

Principal

HOMETOWN

Raleigh, NC

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

10

EDUCATION

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

— Wayne Gretzky

To be successful in public accounting, one must adopt the mindset of a marathoner versus that of a sprinter. The sprinter will take an early lead but they fail to account for the remaining 26 miles in front of them. Eventually, they burn out within the first couple of miles and are passed by those who are playing the long game. Accordingly, it’s no surprise that someone who runs as a hobby would understand this innately. And it’s no surprise that they would be around for the long haul. At the risk of stating the obvious, such is the case of Matt Lynch.

Matt began his career at a construction company. And, no, he wasn’t wearing a hard hat but rather a green eyeshade visor, metaphorically speaking anyway. There, he learned a lot about not just construction but small business in general. There, he was able to apply his education to the real world. And there, he discovered a love for and proclivity toward problem solving. Thereafter, he moved into public accounting, earned his CPA and increased his exposure to a wide variety of SMBs.

When he’s not problem solving or training for a mental or physical marathon, you’re likely to find Matt in the great outdoors…either golfing, backpacking, camping, or exploring nature. It’s this connection to the world outside his office that renews his mind, body and spirit and allows him to continue to play the long game. He’s also got a pretty good short game too, pun intended.

Specialties

S-Corp

Partnerships

Multi-State Filings

Real Estate & Cryptocurrencies

Tax Planning

Industries

Construction

Real Estate

Motor Sports

e-Commerce

Retail

First Class Service from Your San Diego CPA

Dark Horse CPAs have that certain soft skill that allows you to leverage their experience and expertise—they can hold a conversation. And, an enjoyable one at that. The best results are achieved when there is a solid rapport between client and CPA. Get in touch with our San Diego Dark Horse CPAs for a better experience and superior results.

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TIM WHELAN, PRINCIPAL

The complexities of tax compliance make it critical for businesses and high net worth individuals to partner with a CPA they can trust. The upfront pricing, emphasis on client service and 1-to-1 collaboration between client and CPA that Dark Horse offers, made it a tremendously appealing model to me. I’m provided with the resources that I need to focus my efforts on providing my clients with the level of service they deserve."

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Accounting Solutions for Businesses.

The Problem: Business owners aren't getting timely, accurate and actionable data from their financials. Even worse, they're not receiving tax planning advice from their, "tax pro," which is costing them untold amounts of money. This is just plain wrong. We believe you deserve a better small business accounting firm.

Solutions for Businesses

TIM WHELAN, PRINCIPAL

“The outsourced accounting services that we provide at Dark Horse are accurate and timely, allowing business owners to focus more of their valuable time on other critical tasks. By thoughtfully building accounting engagements, we can provide the level of service that clients need, at a fixed fee that they can budget for each month.”

Tax Services for People.

The Problem: It’s not until you file your personal tax return that you feel the sting of your tax situation. Whether it’s an unwanted surprise in the amount owed or refunded, or the realization that you left significant tax savings on the table, the sting hurts. We believe in No Surprises, especially the bad kind. This is why we work collaboratively with our clients to ensure they plan for and reduce taxes wherever possible. We make sure every engagement requires a level of Tax Planning with your CPA, period.

Tax & Wealth Advisory for Individuals

TIM WHELAN, PRINCIPAL

"What sets Dark Horse apart is giving people options. We encourage proactive and strategic tax monitoring throughout the year. This approach helps clients decrease taxes and avoid last-minute surprise payments."

Nancy R.

I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.

Kyle T.

With our prior accountant we didn't feel we were receiving adequate tax guidance and felt we were always paying more than our fair share of taxes. We have been very pleased with the service we have received with Adam Ripperdan. He has taken the time to review in detail our current situation and upcoming plans. With that information he has helped us create tax strategies for our businesses, investments, and personal taxes that not only help us save on taxes but also helps us plan for the future. I highly recommend Dark Horse CPAs.

Patrick W.

I was referred to Max by a friend who is also a small business owner. I was definitely in need of direction when it came to my finances. After speaking with Max I was able to understand how I can be efficient in the accounting side of my business and he and his team is there to guide me every step of the way. I'm now confident I have the right team watching my books I highly recommend Max and Dark Horse CPAs.

Marisa M.

I had the pleasure of working with Stella and she was absolutely incredible. I had received what I suspected was bad advice from a previous tax preparer, and I was looking for another professional opinion on a specific tax situation. I found Dark Horse and Stella and I couldn't be happier. Stella confirmed what I had suspected about the previous tax situation being handled incorrectly by my former preparer at a different firm, and helped me fix the problem. Stella was prompt, exceedingly professional, and actually took the time to explain everything. Prices for services are fair. I am thrilled to have found a knowledgeable, trustworthy tax advisor and I look forward to continue working with Stella in the future.

Susan H.

Megan, Kim and staff were very prompt filing our business and personal taxes. The secure email site to upload our documents was very user friendly. The staff was also extremely prompt answering our questions through email and on the phone. In addition, Megan met with us personally a couple of times several months in advance to map out a plan for our business and personal taxes. Thank you all!

Quinn R.

We signed on with Adam's accounting group after bouncing around trying to find the right 'fit' with other companies. I knew immediately that we found what we needed when Adam took the time to sit down and talk to me about my business, my plans, my goals and where I wanted my company to be in the next 2, 5, 10 years. Adam and his team are responsive - and by that, I mean proactive - which is probably the single best reason to use Dark Horse. After 8 years and 3 different accounting firms we found what we need with Dark Horse.

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