Mike Payne, JD, CPA - Founder & CEO, Legal & Tax Strategist

Michael Payne, JD, CPA is a native Arizonan, where he is licensed as both a Certified Public Accountant and Attorney. Mike has over 17 years of experience working with business owners, individuals, and nonprofit organizations to meet their financial goals and compliance obligations. Mike leads our Advisory Practice and loves to spend time with clients creating entity structures, business plans, and systems & processes that provide liability protection, create efficiency in running the business, and maximize tax savings.

Having worked for both large CPA firms and law firms, Mike has helped clients across the nation solve their complex business, legal, and tax issues. Mike has worked with some of the most talented tax and legal professionals in the nation, as well as working directly with federal and state governing agencies. Now as a small business owner himself, Mike enjoys working with local businesses and their owners and families, as well as nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Awarded full academic scholarship offers from ASU, U of A and NAU, Mike first attended NAU and earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He then went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. Mike is a proud father of five beautiful children. Outside of work and family, Mike is an Arizona sports fanatic and enjoys traveling, camping, shooting, snowboarding, and off-road motorsports. Mike loves the Spanish and Russian languages and welcomes opportunity to practice speaking them!