IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Madelene Cueva

Madelene Cueva, CPA at WD Wealth

“I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. It was there I met my husband and I also received a Masters of Accountancy with an emphasis on accounting taxation. After college, we both obtained positions in Salt Lake City.”

As the newest member of the team, Madelene will be a perfect fit at WD Wealth. She says of her new position, “Working in this collaborative team environment, I see so many possibilities for synergy within the team as well as with the clients. Working directly with clients, providing them cutting-edge expertise will not only save them money, but it will do so in a way that assures that everything is kosher for the clients and for WD Wealth.”

So Madelene, we at WD Wealth are welcoming you as our newest associate. We are so excited to introduce you to our clients as our resident CPA. Please share with us some basic information about you.

“I am thrilled about my new position at WD Wealth! As you know, I work remotely from Salt Lake City and I have to say that I already feel so connected to the team even though we are living in several different states. 

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. It was there I met my husband and I also received a Masters of Accountancy with an emphasis on accounting taxation. After college, we both obtained positions in Salt Lake City.

Straight out of school, I started working at one of the Big Four accounting firms where I gained a lot of experience working on complex tax returns for large corporate clients. I later transitioned to working in the tax department for a prominent banking corporation where I was responsible for filing intricate tax returns and researching tax strategies for large corporations.

So, coming to WD Wealth Strategies brings me full circle to doing what I like most about tax accounting: working with individual tax clients. I am excited to be directly engaging with clients and helping them navigate investments while centering on what makes the most sense for them taxwise.” 

As you went to college, how was it you came to pursue your current path?

“I have an interesting answer for that. Originally, I was intent on pursuing Marketing. But one required course in my triad was accounting. It surprised me how I was taken with it immediately. I had always enjoyed math, but seeing how applicable accounting is to everything just drove home my desire to do something I liked so much, something I was good at, and something that would always be useful. As I continued in the accounting program, I felt strongly that even if I pivoted later in life to another vocation, accounting would always be useful and direct my impact whatever industry I later did.” 

So how do you feel about living in Salt Lake City?

“My husband and I are thrilled to be here! After attending college all those years and working in Utah for a great time after that, we still revel in the many and varied natural opportunities that surround us. We certainly take every chance to go on hikes, capture exploring this great state. Can you tell I like it here? Ha!

We now live in the heart of the city in an adorable Victorian home with our 7-month old daughter, Stella. It is so nice to be walking distance to restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues.” 

Madelene, you and your husband just recently welcomed a new addition to your family, right?

“Yes, Stella just turned 7-months old. Everyday is a delight, a giggle, and an adventure. Everyone will tell you that being new parents requires on the job training. So, in essence, I am starting two new jobs. One of them I have a great deal of experience with. The other, well, let’s say I am becoming a very quick learner. 

A little joke about myself is how I played out my obsession with Excel Spreadsheets to prepare for her arrival. Yes, I created an elaborate spreadsheet to formulate how we chose her name. It had formulas, multiple columns, weighted values (bonus points for being derived from a family name). I guess this speaks to how I process almost everything I do.” 

So, please amplify the details about what you do at WD Wealth Strategies.

“One of the aspects of my position will be to provide CPA services for WD Wealth Strategies clients. My services will be a value-added aspect to those who invest in our tax strategies, our alternative investments. This will be very impacting as I will be extremely entrenched in the strategies and be able to educate clients, as well as apply tax accounting expertise in producing client tax returns. 

Beyond that, I will be serving in a research capacity for new investments as we move forward. Working in this collaborative team environment, I see so many possibilities for synergy within the team as well as with the clients. Working directly with clients, providing them cutting-edge expertise will not only save them money, but it will do so in a way that assures that everything is kosher for the clients and for WD Wealth.”

Madelene, if you had to name your favorite movie what would that be? 

“I have loved this movie for a long time: Life is Beautiful. It is an Italian film set in the Holocaust. It takes such an interesting perspective on war and tragedy. It’s about a father and how he tries to frame up everything for his son in a positive way and how he tries to protect his son through the trauma they were actually living through. The movie speaks so clearly about how a person’s perspective about life is a determinant for survival.”

Do you have an interesting or favorite quote you’d like to share?

“‘If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." - Dolly Parton”

What about recommended reading? Is there a favorite book you are reading now?

“Yes, there is a book I picked up in college and I keep going back to. I am currently revisiting it now. It is The Business Ethics Field Guide by Bill O’ Rourke. It’s a great little resource that is framed up like a wilderness survival guide on how to navigate the wilderness. Only it applies to navigating situational pitfalls and traps of being in business. So the author illuminates different scenarios such as what if a superior asks you to do something unethical or something you disagree with. This resonates with me as it confirms and reminds me what my standards are—that I want to do the best for my clients and the best for myself at the same time.”

Can you share a favorite financial podcast that you follow? 

My favorite podcast right now is The Money with Katie Show.