Meet Our Advisors
Our team of experienced CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and strategic advisors combines technical tax expertise with real-world experience serving business owners, real estate investors, and high-income professionals.
Christina Nortman, CPA
Certified Public Accountant and Partner leading the Northeast division from Maryland. Christina brings a foundation of Big Four experience from PwC and CohnReznick, combining large-firm sophistication with client-centered, accessible service.
Background: Bachelor's and Master of Science in Accounting from University of Baltimore.
Specialty: Proactive tax planning for high-income business owners and real estate investors seeking to level up from their current CPA.
Mark Simonsen, CPA
CPA and Founding Principal based in Montana with deep roots in the local business community. Mark brings a hands-on, client-first mentality focused on proactive, advanced tax planning for high-income business owners and real estate professionals.
Specialty: Advanced tax strategy for business owners, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs who need sophisticated planning to reduce their tax burden.
Adam West, EA
Enrolled Agent and Partner at both Gonser, West & Associates and AE Tax Advisors, based in Macon, Georgia. Adam leads the Southeast division, combining personalized local service with national-caliber tax planning and IRS representation.
Services: Accounting, consulting, tax compliance, and IRS representation for business owners and high-income professionals across the Southeast.
Sidhartha Sen
Strategic advisor focused on finance, operations, and business development at AE Tax Advisors. Sidhartha brings expertise in structuring complex financial arrangements and optimizing operational efficiency for tax planning success.
Focus: Financial strategy, business operations, and growth initiatives for the firm and its clients.
Jacques Snyman
Head of Operations and Integration at AE Tax Advisors, managing the back-end operational systems and infrastructure that power the firm. Jacques builds and maintains the behind-the-scenes processes that allow the advisory team to deliver a consistently excellent client experience. His focus on operational efficiency and system reliability ensures every engagement runs smoothly from start to finish.
Focus: Back-end operations, client experience, and systems infrastructure.
Brett Watts
Lending partner through Swift Line Capital specializing in real estate financing across the full spectrum: fix-and-flip projects, long-term rental properties, and new construction funding. Brett bridges tax planning and deal execution for real estate investors.
Specialty: Real estate financing coordinated with strategic tax planning to maximize returns for investors.
Avatar Tripathi
Head of Social Media at AE Tax Advisors, leading the firm's digital presence and thought leadership across platforms. Avatar manages content strategy, engagement, and brand visibility for business owners and real estate investors seeking advanced tax planning.
Focus: Digital marketing, content strategy, and community engagement.
Ashik Zaman
Head of Development and Technology at AE Tax Advisors, building and maintaining the technical infrastructure that powers the firm's tax planning, compliance, and client portal systems.
Focus: Technology infrastructure, platform development, and digital tools for tax advisory.
Alicia Orellana
Director of Operations at AE Tax Advisors, leading the client onboarding workflow and supporting the development of alternative tax strategies for business owners and real estate investors. Alicia ensures every new engagement launches smoothly, coordinating document collection, scheduling, and communication from initial intake through full implementation. She works closely with the advisory team to research and refine creative tax planning approaches tailored to each client's unique situation.
Focus: Client onboarding, alternative tax strategy support, and engagement coordination.
Board of Advisors
Our advisory board members provide specialized legal counsel to AE Tax Advisors and our clients in their respective practice areas.
Jacob Simany, Esq.
Jacob Simany is a tax attorney and former IRS Office of Chief Counsel litigator who serves on the AE Tax Advisors Board of Advisors. As founder of Simany Law, Jacob advises AE Tax clients on complex tax controversies, IRS dispute resolution, and litigation strategy, drawing on his rare insider experience with how the IRS develops, negotiates, and resolves cases at the federal level.
Advisory Focus: Tax controversy and litigation, IRS dispute resolution, business succession planning, estate planning, and strategic tax advisory.
Michael A. Zara, Esq.
Michael Zara is a business attorney with nearly two decades of legal experience and a background in accounting who serves on the AE Tax Advisors Board of Advisors. Mike advises AE Tax clients on entity structuring, business formation, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, bringing a uniquely practical financial perspective to complex legal matters.
Advisory Focus: Business formation, contracts, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, and commercial litigation.
Background: J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University. Licensed in Colorado, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.