Meet Christian Hadden of Lucrative Unlimited

I’ll start off by saying I am NOT your typical accountant and the teams I work with learn that quickly.  I am a mom of three, a business owner, podcast host, creative, and certified professional life coach.

My path toward the accounting profession began my sophomore year at Romulus High School in Romulus, MI where I took an elective class that taught basic accounting. I was an honor student and did well in most subjects, but accounting felt like second nature, and so I stuck with it.  In my experience, most of the accountants I’ve encountered prefer to stay behind the scenes and focus on bookkeeping and balancing accounts.  I, on the other hand, love to build! So, I have spent a lot of time creating efficiencies in my accounting workflow which gives me time to focus more on the people/businesses I engage with to help them reach their overall financial goals.

Getting to where I am today has not been easy. When attending college, it is equally as important to build strong relationships and work experience opportunities as it is to complete your studies because a degree just isn’t enough to make you stand out. Because I entered college as a teen parent, I did not have the time or ability to take on any additional opportunities that would build my resume. So, trying to land a job after college was a challenge.  I ended up working at a tax office and part of my position was funded by a paid work experience opportunity through Michigan Works! When tax season came to an end, the PWE assignment was transitioned to a nonprofit, and I was hired in full-time after the PWE concluded. Within my first 6 years with that nonprofit organization, I obtained an MBA and worked my way up to second in command in the accounting department.

I am thankful that my journey led me into the nonprofit space. Not only do I understand the importance of charity/philanthropy, but I also learned how to make dollars stretch and how to build solid, audit-proof accounting procedures that translate into any business.  I also gained a passion for supporting mission-driven organizations to pay forward the opportunity that was provided to me.

Launching my business at the start of the pandemic also proved to be challenging. Especially while holding a full-time job. Because of the risk, I no longer felt comfortable sending my toddler to daycare and had to make the tough decision to leave a 12-year career for a remote opportunity for the flexibility that I needed in this “new normal”. So many parents that are entrepreneurs (or in the workforce in general) have had to find the balance in working from home and parenting. The lack of support for parents has been evident and highlights the importance of selecting (and creating) the right company culture that leads with taking care of its staff.

Not only that but being in the tax industry and handling all the changes in regulations relating to COVID, stimulus, and PPP added another layer of difficulty in advising clients. Especially with increased access to information that puts business owners in compromising situations if not executed properly. Because I have a history of perseverance and am a teacher at heart, I was able to stay the track and continue to help navigate my clients during this difficult time.

The challenges that I have experienced in life and business have given me depth and a unique perspective/approach.  Therefore, I continue to embrace the challenges.

Lucrative Unlimited, LLC (LU) is a five-star rated remote tax, finance, and business consulting firm. LU serves both individuals and businesses with services that include tax prep/planning, financial coaching, bookkeeping/accounting, training, and advisory services. My goal when I founded LU was to be a one-stop shop in the financial services space as I believe there needs to be synergy between your personal and business financial goals. Which is why I take a wholistic and custom approach to creating solutions for my clients. I never stop learning and growing and will continue to add additional financial services to my menu so that my clients can continue to grow with me.

What I am most proud about when it comes to my method of service delivery is that my clients are learning. I don’t just do, I teach. It is satisfying to hear “I learned more from you in this 30-minute call than I have learned in the last 10 years filing taxes” or “Finally, I understand the financial position of my business and you are the 4th Accountant I’ve worked with”. I can attribute this to the time I spent as a student tutor through the Multicultural Business Programs at Michigan State University, helping fellow accounting majors master Cost Accounting.  I learned how to tailor my lessons to different learning styles which is an important skill to have in business.  Customer service is not a one-size fits all experience.

Yes, I want to be profitable and create generational wealth for my family, but my business is driven by my desire to help others succeed. That passion kept me going when the work was not yet translating into my desired profit. That passion allows me to continue to over-deliver on services to my clients. And most importantly, that passion helps me be a resource to those that cannot yet afford my services. Which is why my social media is information-driven and the reason I created Lucrative Lifestyle Podcast.

My favorite childhood memory is when my older brother and I would visit my grandparents in OH. I would pretend to be a singer and pianist while he showcased his Michael Jackson dance moves. We would put on a show for the whole family. Being able to bring joy and laughter into a room has always been fulfilling and part of my personality no matter what environment I have been in. Imagine having an accountant/financial coach that you know will help guide you in the right direction but that you also find joy in meeting with every month…