Michael Zaplitny, EA, CFP, is the principal owner and advisor of the Fireside companies. He graduated from Queensborough Community College, Bayside, NY (1966/AA), Hunter College CUNY, New York, NY (1969/BA and 1975/MA) and attended the CFP program at Adelphi University, New York, NY (1984/CFP). Mike obtained his Enrolled Agent (EA) license from the Internal Revenue Service in 1984. Prior to forming the Fireside companies, he worked as a high school teacher for the New York City Department of Education, a tax consultant since 1970 and served as a tax associate for two tax attorneys. Mike was a proud member of the New York State Society of Enrolled Agents (NYSSEA) and served the organization as a board member and vice president. He was elected president for the 1990/1991 term. After arriving in California in 1991, he specialized in representing taxpayers in Appeals status until 1999. He is currently a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), the Mission Society of Enrolled Agents (MSEA), and the Financial Planning Association (FPA). When he's not busy at the office, Mike enjoys gardening, reading about the Civil War, and working on his opera.