From Tax Season to Tux Rentals: CPA Shelley Kehoe Talks Career, Clients, and the Iowa Tuition Credit on The Lofty Lender
Shelley Kehoe, seasoned CPA and mentor, joins #TallMoneyMan Kyle Guldenpfennig on The Lofty Lender podcast to talk tax season, mentorship, financial planning, and a surprising Iowa tax credit for parents. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
If you think all CPAs are boring, you haven’t met Shelley Kehoe.
On a recent episode of The Lofty Lender podcast, host and mortgage expert Kyle Guldenpfennig (aka #TallMoneyMan) sat down with Shelley Kehoe—a powerhouse CPA with 20+ years of experience, serving over 600 families annually. Their wide-ranging conversation covered everything from Shelley’s unusual journey into tax prep to the most overlooked tax credit available to Iowa parents.
Whether you're a small business owner, W-2 employee, or a parent preparing for back-to-school expenses, this episode is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss.
🎙️ Who Is Shelley Kehoe?
Shelley is not your average tax pro. She brings heart and hustle to a career that many people think is “just numbers.” After starting in corporate finance at John Deere, she pivoted into tax preparation to gain more flexibility as a mom—and found her true calling. Shelley thrives on helping real people solve real financial problems, especially when they’re stuck in confusing situations with the IRS or the Iowa Department of Revenue.
“I love when someone says, ‘I didn’t know that. Thank you.’ That makes it all worth it,” Shelley shared.
She’s also a dedicated mentor to up-and-coming professionals, a community volunteer, and a fierce advocate for helping clients understand why certain financial decisions matter—not just how to make them.
🧠 Teaching, Mentoring, and Meaningful Client Work
One of the big takeaways from this conversation is Shelley’s people-first philosophy. She’s a mentor to part-time employees and interns, using her early teaching ambitions to educate and empower the next generation of CPAs.
Shelley also distinguishes herself through collaboration with financial advisors—bridging the gap between tax-smart decisions today and wealth-building strategies for tomorrow.
“Tax planners and financial advisors often say different things. My job is to explain the tax consequences and work as a team to help the client make the right decision for their goals,” she said.
🧾 The Most Overlooked Iowa Tax Credit for Parents
Here’s where things got especially valuable—Shelley dove into the Iowa Tuition and Textbook Credit, a surprisingly generous tax credit that even public school parents can benefit from.
Eligible expenses include:
School registration fees
Activity passes
Required supplies
Musical instruments and lessons (if school-related)
Cleats, bats, and other equipment for school sports
Even prom tux rentals (yes, seriously)
This credit allows families to claim up to 25% of the first $2,000 in qualifying expenses per child, maxing out at a $500 credit—a direct reduction in taxes owed on the Iowa return.
“If you're spending money related to your child's public or private school, ask your tax pro. You might be missing out,” Shelley emphasized.
🧩 Balancing Life, Work, and Legacy
Shelley also opened up about what drives her in this demanding profession: her family. With two boys in college and a husband who supported the family while she worked part-time in earlier years, Shelley is now motivated by a desire to help him retire early and support her kids’ career goals—one of whom is studying to become a mechanic and will need tools (another major investment).
And despite working 6 days a week during tax season, Shelley makes time for walks with friends, musicals (she’s a huge Hamilton fan), and spending quality time with her kids when they’re home for the summer.
📊 The Power of Proactive Planning
One of the strongest themes from the episode was the importance of asking questions before making financial moves. Shelley and Kyle both highlighted how a quick conversation with your CPA or mortgage lender can prevent major headaches down the road.
Whether you’re considering a Roth conversion, wondering how a 529 plan affects your taxes, or buying a home and unsure about what to do with that old car loan—ask first.
“Come to a tax professional before you make the move. That’s when we love you most,” Shelley joked.
🔁 Quick Picks with Shelley
In the lightning round of “Quick Picks,” Shelley revealed:
Early bird over night owl
Client conversations over crunching spreadsheets
Narratives over numbers (unless it’s about saving taxes!)
Fiction and war history books are her reading jam
And her favorite comfort food? Ice cream—specifically Yasso bites
🎧 Don’t Miss This Episode
This one’s a must-listen for anyone who files taxes (so… basically all of us). Shelley brings a rare combo of warmth, wit, and wisdom to the tax world—and her insights could save you more than just stress.
🟦 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever fine podcasts are downloaded. Just search for
The Lofty Lender with #TallMoneyMan.
📍Connect with Shelley Kehoe
If you need a CPA who understands the numbers and the people behind them, you can reach Shelley here:
📞 Phone: 515-528-7914
📧 Email: skehoe@plannerstax.com
Ready to take control of your financial future? Don’t forget to follow @TallMoneyMan on all social platforms and subscribe to The Lofty Lender podcast.
Stay curious, friends. We'll see you on the next episode!
