Andre Shammas is a trusted accountant and budgeting skilled primarily based in El Cajon, California. Born in Malaga, Spain, Andre moved to the U.S. within the Nineties together with his household, navigating the challenges of a brand new tradition, language, and monetary system.
His experiences as an immigrant impressed his ardour for serving to others handle their budgets, maximize their assets, and obtain monetary safety. After incomes a Bachelor’s diploma in Accounting from San Diego State College and dealing as a state auditor, Andre based Shammas Bureau, the place he presents customized budgeting and tax options to small companies, households, and people. When he’s not serving to shoppers, Andre enjoys BBQing together with his household, exploring San Diego, and sharing his journey to encourage others.
What’s one lesson your immigrant expertise taught you that you simply apply to your work?
Adaptability. Transferring to a brand new nation as an adolescent was powerful. Every part was unfamiliar—the language, the tradition, even the monetary techniques. However that have taught me to be versatile and to strategy challenges with curiosity reasonably than worry. In my work, I apply the identical precept. Each shopper’s state of affairs is exclusive, and the power to adapt options to suit their particular wants is what makes budgeting and tax planning efficient. I all the time remind myself: nobody strategy works for everybody.
How do you strategy budgeting for small enterprise house owners in another way from people?
Small enterprise house owners face distinctive challenges—they’re not simply managing private bills; they’re additionally overseeing payroll, overhead, and money circulate. For them, budgeting is about balancing speedy wants with long-term objectives, all whereas accounting for market fluctuations and surprising prices. With people, the main target is usually extra on stability, setting achievable objectives, and constructing financial savings. In each instances, although, my objective is similar: create a transparent, sensible plan that helps sustainable progress and reduces monetary stress.
What’s one piece of recommendation you give shoppers struggling to remain on funds?
Begin small and deal with consistency. Lots of people assume they should overhaul every thing without delay to see outcomes, however that may be overwhelming and unsustainable. I inform my shoppers to choose one space—like chopping again on pointless subscriptions or setting apart a selected share of their earnings for financial savings—and persist with it. Small, regular modifications construct habits, and people habits result in lasting outcomes. Budgeting isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.
What function does neighborhood play in your strategy to work?
Neighborhood is every thing. When my household first arrived within the U.S., we relied closely on the assist of others who had been via comparable experiences. That sense of connection formed me, and it’s one thing I convey to my work. I view my relationships with shoppers as partnerships. It’s not nearly offering a service; it’s about working collectively towards a standard objective. I additionally consider in giving again, whether or not via volunteering or serving to shoppers who’re simply beginning out.
What’s one false impression folks have about budgeting?
Many individuals assume budgeting is restrictive—that it’s all about what you possibly can’t do or purchase. I see budgeting as empowering. It’s a device that helps you prioritize what actually issues to you, whether or not that’s saving for a house, rising your online business, or taking a household trip. A great funds doesn’t restrict you; it offers you the liberty to attain your objectives with out the stress of monetary uncertainty.
How do you assist shoppers handle monetary uncertainty, particularly in risky occasions?
Step one is making a strong basis. Meaning constructing an emergency fund, understanding money circulate, and figuring out areas the place bills could be trimmed with out sacrificing high quality of life. I additionally encourage shoppers to assume long-term, even when issues really feel unpredictable. Monetary uncertainty could be scary, however having a plan—even a versatile one—helps you keep grounded. I remind my shoppers that the objective isn’t to foretell the longer term; it’s to be ready for it.
What retains you motivated to assist others with their budgets and taxes?
For me, it’s private. I do know what it’s wish to really feel overwhelmed by monetary challenges and not sure of the place to start out. Serving to others discover readability, confidence, and management over their funds is extremely rewarding. Seeing a shopper go from harassed to empowered, realizing that I’ve helped make that attainable, is what drives me every single day. It’s not nearly numbers; it’s about enhancing lives.
What’s one behavior you’ve developed that helps you keep productive?
I’m an enormous believer in setting day by day priorities. Each morning, I write down the highest three issues I would like to perform that day, whether or not it’s assembly with a shopper, reviewing a posh tax state of affairs, or just following up on emails. This helps me keep targeted and ensures that I’m all the time shifting ahead, even on the busiest days. It’s a easy behavior, but it surely’s made an enormous distinction in how I handle my time.
What do you take pleasure in most about your work?
The range. No two days are the identical, and each shopper brings a novel story and set of challenges. I really like the problem-solving facet of what I do—digging into the main points, discovering options, and serving to folks really feel extra assured about their monetary future. And naturally, the relationships I construct with my shoppers are essentially the most rewarding half. Understanding that they belief me with one thing as essential as their funds or taxes means lots.
How do you spend your downtime?
After I’m not working, I’m with my household. Whether or not we’re having a BBQ within the yard or exploring a brand new space in San Diego, I cherish these moments. Cooking, particularly grilling, is one among my favourite methods to unwind—it’s artistic, enjoyable, and all the time brings folks collectively. It jogs my memory of what’s most essential in life: connection and neighborhood.
Key Takeaways:
- Andre Shammas views budgeting as an empowering device for attaining life objectives.
- His immigrant background instilled a way of adaptability and neighborhood that defines his work.
- Andre prioritizes small, constant steps to assist shoppers construct lasting monetary stability.
