Angel Zhen Built a $500K Solo CPA Firm and Redefined Success

Stories

November 1, 2025

From Public Accounting to Personal Freedom

For most people in the accounting world, success looks like a corner office, a big team, and an endless stream of clients. For Angel Zhen, CPA, MST, success meant something entirely different — independence.

“I wanted to build something that valued freedom, quality, and impact,” he says. “After years in public accounting, I saw how the system rewarded long hours over real results. I knew there had to be a better way — to build a high-performing firm without sacrificing your life.”

That clarity led Angel to found Pasadena Tax CPA, a one-person practice that now generates over $500,000 in annual revenue and serves more than 300 clients nationwide. Angel’s work has earned national recognition from both CPA.com and the AICPA, including being named a 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award Finalist and 2025 Leadership Academy Selectee.

From Public Accounting to Personal Freedom

Turning Loss into Leadership

Angel’s story didn’t begin with business success. It began with loss.

“In April 2020, my dad passed away unexpectedly,” he recalls. “Because COVID hit and I was deep in tax season, I didn’t get to see him one last time. That moment changed everything — life, time, and purpose.”

Like many in Asian families, Angel describes his father as the pillar — the provider and decision-maker everyone looked up to. When he passed, Angel knew it was his turn to step up.

He moved back home to Rosemead, California, to take care of his mom and rebuild his life. What began as a moment of grief became a defining transformation. “Starting over during a pandemic forced me to innovate to survive,” he says. “I turned loss into fuel and fear into focus.”

Five years later, that focus became a thriving solo CPA firm built on innovation, strategy, and heart.

“There’s a Chinese saying, 苦尽甘来 — after bitterness comes sweetness,” Angel says softly. “Every struggle built the clarity, strength, and mindset that led me here today.”

Challenging the Traditional CPA Model

Angel’s biggest challenge wasn’t the market — it was his own mindset. As an Asian CPA, he grew up with messages about safety and stability: work hard, follow the rules, don’t take risks. But entrepreneurship demanded something different.

“I had to unlearn the belief that success required a big team, long hours, or a corporate ladder,” he explains. “I built systems, automations, and pricing models that gave me confidence and time back.”

Those systems didn’t just make him efficient — they made him exceptional. Today, Pasadena Tax CPA is recognized as one of the most efficient solo CPA firms in the nation, a model of what’s possible when technology meets intention.
His book, The Profitable Solopreneur Playbook, expands on that mission — teaching other CPAs and solo business owners how to build practices that generate both profit and freedom.

Redefining Success in the Modern Asian American Dream

Angel’s success challenges a long-held cultural narrative — that stability and ambition are mutually exclusive. His mission is to show Asian professionals that they can have both.

“For the Asian community, I want to normalize the idea that you don’t have to choose between stability and ambition,” he says. “You can honor your roots while building your own path.”

Through mentorship, education, and storytelling, he’s helping others reclaim the idea of financial independence — not as a luxury, but as a form of empowerment. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “Build with intention, clarity, and courage.”

A Beacon of Innovation and Leadership

Angel’s recognitions from CPA.com and the AICPA are more than professional honors — they’re milestones in a larger movement to modernize the accounting industry.

“Being recognized by CPA.com as one of the most innovative practitioners isn’t just about accounting,” he says. “It’s about leadership, legacy, and resilience.”

His nomination for the 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award celebrates his ability to merge technology and empathy — running a fully remote, tech-driven practice that still feels deeply personal.
🗳️Vote for Angel Zhen, CPA → cpa.com/innovative-practitioner

Rooted in Legacy, Driven by Purpose

What drives Angel today isn’t just revenue or recognition — it’s the promise he made to himself after his father’s passing: to live with intention.

“I’m proud of building a $500K+ one-person CPA firm from scratch — without a team, referrals, or outside funding,” he reflects. “It’s proof that with clarity, systems, and consistency, one person can do extraordinary things.”

Beyond his business, he continues to inspire thousands of professionals across CalCPA, Asian Hustle Network, and beyond — showing that even in an industry built on rules, creativity and freedom can lead the way.

About Angel Zhen, CPA, MST

Angel Zhen is the founder of Pasadena Tax CPA, a one-person firm serving clients nationwide with a focus on tax strategy, clarity, and efficiency. He has been recognized by CPA.com as a 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award Finalist and by the AICPA as a 2025 Leadership Academy Selectee. Angel is also the author of The Profitable Solopreneur Playbook, helping others design businesses that create both wealth and freedom.

🗳️Vote for Angel Zhen, CPA as the 2025 Innovative Practitioner

https://www.cpa.com/innovative-practitioner

Connect with Angel Zhen

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelzhencpa

Website: www.pasadenatax.cpa

News

Dallas Stars Jason Robertson Carves Name in NHL History As Highest Pointer in Latest Season

Jason Robertson made NHL history by playing the second longest-drawn-out game in franchise record and the most lengthy game in Dallas history.

With 22 goals, the most in the NHL, the 23-year-old Filipino-American left winger for the Dallas Stars, made his season a success.

Robertson extended his point streak to 13 games, tying the Dallas Stars record set by Dave Gagner in the early 90s with a point over their opponent Blackhawks on Wednesday.

On Thursday night, he scored three goals, which were assisted by Joel Kiviranta and Wyatt Johnston, as well as Oettinger’s 31 saves in a shutout victory.

His 39 points ranked second in the league, trailing only Connor McDavid and setting himself as the highest-pointer in the 24 games of the season for Dallas Stars.

Leading the way for the Stars, the victory was the team’s second straight triumph and was the 10th time Dallas had scored points in the previous 11 games.

Additionally, Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz also both enjoyed multi-point outings with three and two assists, respectively.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer reportedly claimed that “Robo is a guy that’s honestly hard to defend because he scores in a bunch of different ways,” according to the Dallas Morning News.

“He can score off the rush, he scores kind of lurking around the quiet areas of the ice waiting for the puck to come to him. It always seems to come to him. Tougher to defend a guy like that isn’t predictable,” the coach continued.

Coach Pete also remarked on how amazed he was to see Robertson play such an exceptional game and how incredible the player was for making it seem simple despite the difficulty of the game.

With his nightly exploits, Robertson is starting to catch the attention of the hockey world, which is quite an achievement in a market like Dallas, far from the hockey capital of Toronto.

He’s outperforming expectations for his $7.75 million cap charge and propelled himself into the early race for the Hart Trophy.

Furthermore, Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn stated that Robertson is leading the attack with confidence.

Dec 3, 2022
2 min read

Stories

Earthquake Victim With Amputated Legs Masters Dancing With Husband’s Self-Made Prosthetic Limbs

Nothing is impossible to 30-year-old Liao Zhi of Sichuan, China who lost her legs during an earthquake in 2008 but now mastered the art of dancing while wearing high heels with her now husband’s self-made prosthetic legs.

The Chinese former dance teacher caught the online community’s attention with her talent and story being an epitome of hope and faithfulness.

“It’s like she dances with life,” a netizen commented.

During the tragic incident in Sichuan where Zhi was trapped in the ruins of a building for 30 hours, she not only lost her legs but the most important persons in her life, her 10-month-old daughter who died in the disaster and her husband who divorced her seven months after the tragedy.

Being the only one to survive in the devastated building, the brave woman neither shed a tear nor complained of everything she went through including her legs being amputated.

Instead, Zhi said that “The earthquake gave me rebirth.”

After learning to walk with her artificial limbs, Zhi moved on from the nightmare by continuing and staging her passion in different places.

Although the training had been difficult and painful, Zhi was determined in doing what she loves.

According to the South China Morning Post, she and her husband-dance partner defeated competitors in China and won as first runner-up in the reality show Dance Out My Life in 2013.

Her husband became her strong support in recovering from her downfall.

Despite having been through a lot, Zhi remained optimistic. “Dance is my ray of sunshine, and while I would also be fine if I didn’t dance, I would not feel the same sense of joy that it gives me when I do,” she said.

Being an inspiration to many, Zhi’s life story was turned into a play entitled Angel’s Psalm that was staged at Kwai Tsing Theatre in 2015.

In an article by CCTGN, it was said that Liao is currently a happy wife as well as a proud mother. However, she is still fighting for a higher ambition – helping more people like her to recover their life value.

Dec 3, 2022
2 min read

News

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Actress and Director Unveils New Production Company To Uplift Marginalized Community’s Emerging Filmmakers

Kelly Marie Tran and Carlos López Estrada, the lead character and co-director of the latest Walt Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon, have created a new production company, Antigravity Academy (AGA) dedicated to developing and producing movies, television, theater, and short-form material from and about individuals from traditionally marginalized communities.

AGA appointed Jared Stern’s “A Stern Talking To” former vice president of cinema and television Winsor Yuan to lead its film and television section.

As for the short form, such as music videos, advertisements, and branded content, Doug Klinger, co-founder of Internet Music Video Database and Reprobates agent and executive producer, will be in charge.

The Antigravity Academy will also serve as a training ground for new filmmakers entering the production industry.

The novice filmmakers’ movies will be chosen, produced, and packaged under the direction of former Sundance Institute head of Artist Community and AGA founding partner Abiram Brizuela.

Tran and Estrada were quoted in the Hollywood Reporter as saying, “We couldn’t be happier about providing a creative home for emerging filmmakers looking for a window into this often insular industry.”

The two also stated they had learned from their experiences how crucial it is to establish a network that can assist with starting up.

“We are looking forward to partnering up with the most inspiring independent voices coming from communities that have been historically overlooked and helping them usher their stories into the world,” the two added.

Dec 1, 2022
2 min read

Blogs, Development, Ideas

Son of Restaurant Owners Now CEO of Multi-Million Dollar Company Casetify Imparts Tips To Successful Entrepreneurship

With a feeling of discontent towards the smartphone case designs available in the market, Hongkong native Wesley Ng co-founded Casetify, a multi-million dollar company that manufactures and produces cool smartphone cases.

The 41-year-old CEO takes his business-mindedness from his parents who own a restaurant in their region.

Ng established the business in 2011 together with his friend Ronald Yeung which has now reached over 15 million phone case sales around the world.

As an entrepreneur-grown man, Ng’s mindset is to make profits. According to him, it’s the most important thing to survive, as quoted in CNBC Make It.

“It comes down to one thing — being profitable. Being profitable was super underrated until recently,” he said in a virtual interview.

Ng proudly shared that Casetify will be attaining $300 million in returns for this year alone.

Furthermore, he advised others to venture into businesses that make fortune and are cost-effective and to learn from other entrepreneurs just like how he learned from his mom and dad.

With his success in the chosen industry, Ng imparts hints to be a self-made millionaire in business:

1.Bootstrapping. Starting with $200,000 capital, Ng shared that he and Ronald always did things and operated out of the interests of the company and not of the stakeholders.

2. Overshare your problems. Business is a give-and-take process, it’s surprising how we can learn from others. Although it may seem a weakness for others to know your struggles as an entrepreneur, it is still fundamental to share and learn from them.

3. Entrepreneurship ‘not for everyone.’ Ng shared that knowing if “it’s for you” is important and to discover if it really is, you should “work closely with a founder” or link with beginners to know how hard it will be.

The successful CEO said that being a producer of a product he is really fond of is what keeps him on the move.

Dec 1, 2022
2 min read