Like Father, Like Sons

If you like the idea of a family handling your family's tax returns and financial planning, then a visit to Gruberger & Associates and Freeport Tax Service may be in order.

Located on Smith Street, both companies are owned and operated by Warren Gruberger and his two sons, Matt and Scott. Gruberger began working for Freeport Tax's original owner, Bob Miller, in 1974 on a part time basis. In 1980, Miller offered Gruberger a partnership and he accepted, leaving his career as a fifth grade teacher behind. That same year Gruberger & Associates was starting to handle business tax preparation.

Once Gruberger's two sons graduated from Miami of Ohio and joined him in the business, a full fledged family company was born.

"The best thing for me is working with my sons and helping and working with our clients each year," Gruberger said. "Our clients are almost like a family as well. I have seen their children grow up just like they saw mine grow up also. There is not one aspect of our business I don't enjoy."

The Grubergers also have a second location in Massapequa.  Gruberger and his younger son, Scott, are enrolled agents, which means they took an IRS exam, similar to the state's CPA test, which is what Gruberger's other son, Matt, took.

So not only is he the CPA of the bunch but Matt Gruberger is also the one who handles the financial planning portion of the business.

"Somebody needed to be the CPA, and I am the big brother so I did it," he said. "It is a nice accreditation to have."

Matt, 36, began his career working at Price Waterhouse before joining his dad in the company, and like his dad, he cannot find anything wrong with his chosen profession.

"I really enjoy what I do, but I don't like the paper cuts," Gruberger joked. 

Matt's younger brother, Scott, 33, keeps the family momentum for their business going.

"If you like people and dealing with people every day, this is a good job," Scott said. "I like numbers and people, and the only bad part is not seeing a lot of my wife and two kids during tax season."

But even Scott could not help but notice a change in their clients tax returns this year than it prior years.

"I have seen more 1099s for unemployment income this year than I ever have," Scott said. "These are real families, just like mine. I remember them coming in when I would come to work with my dad when I was a kid. It is sad to see them struggling."