Privacy

Privacy is a bigger deal than most people realize, not only in the particulars of someone’s situation, but in general.  "He’s doing just fine" might seem harmless enough for an attorney to say about one of his clients, but it could be valuable information to that competitor who has been trying to drive you out of business, or the disgruntled ex-customer who is considering suing you. 

It is unfortunate, but some professionals (more than one would think) treat their relationships with their fellow accountants or attorneys as more important than their client relationships.  Often it is not conscious, but after all, many of them often have lunch together several times a week and are members of the same health club, etc.  In one case I worked on, two high powered Century City opposing attorneys billed their clients tens of thousands of dollars for their telephone arguments with each other.  I found out later that not only were they best friends, but their wives passed the baby furniture back and forth between them as each one had more children.  

I am not near as friendly, and am extremely protective of my clients’ privacy.  Plus it is perhaps easier for me because most of the people with whom I work are spread across the country in a dozen different states.  A well known business manual published many years ago preached that for privacy purposes, neither your attorney nor your accountant should be located in your home town.  I have prepared tax returns for twenty different states, and have the best tax software available for all states.

One significant step you can take towards protecting your privacy involves creating impressions.  If your corporation doesn't have your name on it, for instance, you can be "just a hired hand".  In fact, one friend that owns rental houses also owns and operates the management company that manages the homes.  He has been very successful in his tenant dealings by saying "Let me go to bat for you with the owner and see what I can do."  A lot of this privacy happens almost naturally when the business has been structured correctly.