Brandon Lagarde, 37
Director, Postlethwaite & Netterville
When Brandon Lagarde first started his professional career in 2005, he was navigating the complex field of tax law as an attorney. But a few years later, he started noticing that most of the interesting tax planning and consulting work was being done by CPAs, not lawyers. Taking a leap of faith, he switched from working at a local law firm to Postlethwaite & Netterville. “I would say that it has worked out pretty well,” says Lagarde, who was promoted to director at the accounting firm in 2013. He serves on a handful of committees at the Society of Louisiana CPAs and is an adjunct professor at the LSU Law Center. Aside from his tax expertise, Lagarde has served as board president for Habitat of Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge and is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Program.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Becoming a director at P&N
- Cover of the LCPA Lagniappe magazine
- Graduating from Leadership Baton Rouge
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
- Served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge from 2008-2014
- Served as the president of Habitat Board in 2014
- Frequent volunteer for the LCPA—I have testified multiple times at the State Capitol on behalf of the LCPA
- AICPA Committee member—tax practice management
- Member of several LCPA committees, including the Legislative Steering Committee, Estate and Financial Planning Committee, and State and Local Tax Committee
- Currently serving on the Streamlined Sales Tax Commission
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A marine biologist or fighter jet pilot (too much Top Gun as a kid).
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Growing up, my grandfather owned a hardware store in Chalmette. I helped my dad count the inventory during the summer months until I was old enough to work in the lumberyard. My grandfather didn’t want me using the saw machines or driving the forklift, so I spent most of my time moving single pieces of lumber from one bin to another and sweeping the floors. I learned that I needed to continue to work hard in school because manual labor was not my thing.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I like to tell people that I worked at the Gap at the Mall of Louisiana during one Christmas season … but I really worked at the Baby Gap. Folding baby clothes is a tedious task.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
J. Alexander’s is a favorite. Food is good and it is relatively close to the office. Favorite dish there is the Steak Maui … although that’s a bit heavy for lunch, so my usual lunch item is the Cypress Salad.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Becoming an adjunct professor at the LSU Law Center.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
Listen to Ice Cube’s It Was a Good Day.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Becoming a director at P&N and being recognized as a leader in the firm.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
I practiced tax law for five years before making the move to Postlethwaite & Netterville. My “aha moment” was when I realized that a lot of the fun and interesting tax planning and consulting work was being done by CPAs. I decided to leave the practice of law and try my hand at practicing accounting at a CPA firm. I looked up to Ralph Stephens (literally) and Bill Potter, so I decided to make the move to Postlethwaite & Netterville. I would say that it has worked out pretty well.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Check email only during certain times of the day.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
I have learned that you can’t say yes to everything and you can’t be everything to everybody. Saying “no” is healthy!
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
That tax season is from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Business casual.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I love the complexity of tax law and trying to solve complicated problems for people. I hate not being able to turn work off when I get home.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
Being nominated for Forty under 40.
MAC OR PC?
Mac at home and PC at work.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I am a frequent Facebook stalker and follower of family and friends. I rarely post anything. I dabble with Twitter and Instagram, but I wouldn’t say that I am “active” on either one. I will sometimes venture onto LinkedIn if I am trying to figure out where someone works.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Around 100 texts a day (95% to my wife), 50-75 emails a day.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
5% or so.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
None.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Waze—I have been saved many times in Baton Rouge with an alternative route suggested by Waze.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
The iPhone and the ability to walk around with a super computer at your fingertips is incredible.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Hoverboards—I am still waiting for the ones promised to us in Back to the Future Part II.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
Between 6-6:30.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Usually I make the kids breakfast, so I try to eat while they are eating.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I am trying to raise my kids to respect and love all people—not just people that look like them, agree with them or think the same way. Everyone is different, and it is our differences that make our community better and stronger.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When my first child was born and I was responsible for someone else’s life.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Anyone who knows me knows my love for Walt Disney World. Every vacation there is magical.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Atari 2600.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Flying—you can travel to anywhere in the world without TSA.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
B or Lagarde.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I will start each LSU football season wearing the same shirt until the first loss of the season … then I wear whatever I can find in my closet. That’s about it.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Tim Ferriss—check out his books and podcast.
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Peter Gibbons (Office Space).
FAVORITE DRINK?
Bourbon and water.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
My current favorite song is Closer by the Chainsmokers.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Clue (1985).
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Jason Bateman.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Clowns … it’s still clowns. Have you seen the news lately?
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Listen more and talk less.
PETS?
Two dogs and a hamster.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
My only brush with fame was meeting Lisa Vanderpump at the SLS Hotel in Las Vegas about a year ago. I use the term “fame” very loosely. According to my wife, Lisa is a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills. Who am I kidding … I love that show!
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
I wouldn’t say it was a single moment … but the summer of 2005 was certainly a monumental time in my life. In early July of 2005, I graduated from University of Florida’s tax law program while my wife was eight months pregnant. A week after graduation, we bought our first home in Prairieville. About two weeks after that, my first child was born. Five days after that, I started my first real job at Jones Walker as a grown up tax lawyer. So within one month, I graduated from law school, bought a house, had a kid and started my career. Fast forward to the end of August of 2005 (Aug. 28) and 10 of my family members lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and moved in with my new little family. Two parents, three grandparents, an aunt, a disabled niece, a brother, a sister-in-law and a nephew all had the pleasure of packing in to a 1,400-square-foot house for over a month. That summer had a profound impact on my life and made me realize that things change in an instant and you can’t sweat the small stuff.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
To have more life experiences and spend more time with my kids.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
My biggest concern about the future is raising a family in Louisiana. Louisiana is my home. It is the only thing I know. I live in Louisiana (and Baton Rouge) because of the people. However, as my children get older, I grow increasingly concerned that they will have to leave the state for better opportunities.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
There are some great leaders in this community that are trying to do the right thing and make this state and city a better place.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Don’t procrastinate—this questionnaire is a doozy.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
My plan is to be in the Capital Region five years from now. I would like my kids to finish school in Baton Rouge. At 11 and 9, there is plenty of time left. I know that time will go fast.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
That Baton Rouge becomes a place where young professionals and young families want to live—not because they are from here, but because we HAVE become a place where people from all over the country want to live, play and work.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Get a private pilot’s license
- Learn Spanish
- Complete a half-Ironman competition
