My experience working with the firm of Stephen G Brilliant MS CPA was a disappointment and total…read morewaste of $3,400 that I paid to Brilliant. I recently used Brilliant Accounting for audit defense services related to a worker classification audit of my small business by the New Jersey Department of Labor. The NJ Department of Labor is known to come at business owners aggressively, so it's wise to have somebody knowledgeable and experienced in your corner. I believed that Stephen Brilliant was that individual based on his impressive resume and specific experience dealing with the New Jersey Department of Labor. Furthermore, I thought that Stephen's confidence and swagger could serve as valuable traits in debating against a well-staffed government agency with substantial financial resources. I retained the firm's services in February 2018 with an agreed upon fee of $2,000 - $3,000, and of course no assurance of positive results to my case. The initial weeks of the audit ran smoothly with the firm reviewing bank statements and detailed information that I provided about each worker. The firm also spent an afternoon meeting with the auditor. After this meeting, the focus of the auditor turned from reviewing the information that I had provided to contacting individual workers directly to request new information from them. I had no issue with my February invoice for services performed, and paid the invoice promptly. For March, the primary documents that required review by Brilliant Accounting were two one-page Excel sheets that had been requested by the auditor. On April 4th, I received an invoice from Brilliant Accounting for $1,417.50 related to 15.4 hours of billable work performed in March. 15 hours+ of billable hours felt high, so I requested to see an itemized breakdown of the bill and questioned why I had been billed above the upper end of the fee agreement ($3,000), without my prior consent. Growing frustrated and upset, in an email dated April 4th, I requested a call from Stephen himself - not his support staff - to discuss the status of my case and the total projected fees. Unfortunately, I would not hear from Brilliant Accounting until seven weeks later on May 22nd. In the interim, with the audit having specific information requests and deadlines, I began communicating with the auditor directly. Brilliant Accounting should have been aware of this because I mailed them copies of my correspondence with the auditor with a PostIt note written "For Your Records." Most accountants get swamped in March in front of the April tax filing deadline, so my guess is that Stephen and his team were busy taking care of other more important clients. I felt deserted in the most critical stage of the audit. In the meantime, the preliminary judgement from the NJ Department of Labor against my business was large and onerous. On May 30th, Brilliant provided a detailed itemized bill for March that included 9.75 hours of work at $100 per hour by an accountant in his office for "analysis of cash receipts & disbursements for audit." As a former financial analyst for 10+ years in the finance and accounting profession working in a billable hours environment, and having some sense for efficiency, I felt that 9.75 hours for the analysis of two one page Excel sheets was rich. I begrudgingly paid the invoice. Working with Brilliant Accounting, I felt like a dollar sign and easy source of billable hours, not like a valued client with serious tax problems that could be alleviated through prompt, courteous and professional service. The seven week communication gap was particularly hurtful.

The Brilliant team are extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and courteous. They do what it takes to…read moreanswer questions, provide top notch service, and help you make decisions for your benefit, in spite of the many changes in the tax structure and related laws. As a client, you get personal attention and receive professional results. (Mr. Brilliant also teaches accounting in one of NJ's most respected universities.) I recommend them highly. Matt R.

Sue has been doing our taxes for years. She's thorough, timely and professional. Highly recommend…read moreher!

Great service, easy to use, great communication being using sue for years. Walks you through the…read moreentire process

Michael Alfred is great, taxes done quick and smooth with no worries, app is easy to navigate and…read moresecure, reasonable rates.

I am always satisfied with the service I receive with Mgems. I receive prompt answers to any…read moreinquiries and they work to complete my taxes in an efficient and timely manner. I look forward to working with them for years to come.

Have had the. Complete my taxes two years in a row. Good communications and get to know what you…read morehave etc. Did a nice job.

Great to deal with Doug…read more Has done good things for my funds . Very helpful on making moves To improve the funds .

Being a young married couple, my husband and I were unsure which life insurance option(s) would be…read morebest for us. Allison took the time to create multiple quotes and walked us through each one, thoroughly explaining each option so that my husband and I could make an informed decision that would benefit us best. Not only that, she also provided us with additional options that we may want to explore down the line, which was very helpful for our future planning. She was a joy to work with--her upbeat disposition, thorough knowledge and ability to break each option down for us to make them more easily digestible made the process quick, easy and seamless. I fully recommend her services!

My insurance agency sends a monthly email blast telling me that I could buy blanket umbrella…read moreinsurance policy for under $500 per million from a primary insurance carrier. So when a customer required that I have excess insurance naming his organization as additionally insured, I reached out to them for a quote. I was shocked at the number they came back with almost $7000. The Prime carriers would not write a policy and they had to go to alternatives. I asked Ron Gansfuss from the Gansfuss Insurance Agency, 30 Walmart Plaza in Clinton, NJ if he could beat that price. Ron did an extensive search through the excess carrier wholesale market. He found a couple of choices including, the "A" rated carrier which I went with, at over $4500 less than previously quoted. I am amazed with the service and happy to save that money. I highly recommend Gansfuss Insurance Agency. I won't buy or renew any auto, home, life or commercial insurance policy without consulting with them first.

After being covered by Tony Ventresca's insurance for well over 40+ years, they wouldn't cover me…read moreany longer because my daughter had a couple driving issues. Rather than trying to help us our, after 40+ years of loyalty to Al Ventresca's State Farm coverage, I received a letter notifying me that they won't cover me any longer. I'm saying over 40+ years because I was insured by them when I turned 17 (now 62), while my parents (both now deceased) were also covered by them for both auto and home owners.

I love these folks. So far and easy with all my insurance needs. I have life, auto, home and more…read morewith this branch of great people. I don't do many reviews, but I think it's good to know to go here. Greg said so.

I've had a great experience working with my Nick Guida and the team. He has been extremely…read moreprofessional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process. He takes the time to explain everything clearly and makes sure I understand all my options before making any decisions. What I appreciate the most is the peace of mind he provides -- it's a huge relief knowing I can trust him to guide me and support my family in making the right financial and investment choices. I truly feel more secure about our future thanks to his advice and dedication. Highly recommended!