The Future of the Enrolled Agent Profession: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, Brandy Spears sits down with Emily Aprea, an enrolled agent, nonprofit executive, and incoming president of the National Association of Enrolled Agents Board of Directors. Emily has spent more than 30 years in tax preparation and financial leadership, beginning with a tax course she took to better understand her own return before building a flexible practice around motherhood, single parenting, full-time work, and client service.Emily shares how the profession has evolved from paper returns and in-person meetings to client portals, IRS online accounts, transcript access, AI tools, and automation. But her message is clear: technology may make the work faster, but it will never replace judgment, empathy, or the trust clients need when tax issues get real. She explains how the EA credential gave her the ability to represent clients before the IRS, why continuing education and ethics matter, and why enrolled agents must show the public they are “above the minimum.”The conversation also explores Emily’s leadership philosophy as she prepares to step into the NAEA presidency. From servant leadership and governance to advocacy, public awareness, IRS modernization, volunteer engagement, and recruiting younger professionals, Emily makes the case for collaboration as the future of the EA profession.In This Episode:[00:00:00] Welcome to The Enrolled Agent Advocate[00:00:49] Meet Emily Aprea: EA, nonprofit executive, and incoming NAEA president[00:02:23] How Emily began preparing taxes[00:03:00] Building a flexible career while raising three children[00:04:00] From paper returns to automation and AI[00:05:00] Client portals, transcripts, and IRS modernization[00:11:00] How representation changed Emily’s career path[00:12:26] Why the EA profession needs younger professionals[00:17:00] Moving from practitioner to volunteer leader[00:19:40] Why governance matters for professional associations[00:21:19] Lessons from nonprofit leadership and board service[00:26:44] Opportunities and challenges facing EAs[00:27:30] AI, IRS workforce changes, and taxpayer experience[00:30:00] Clearing up tax misinformation[00:31:50] Elevating the EA credential through public awarenessremain essential[00:38:00] Emily’s legacy and theme of collaboration[00:41:15] Final thoughts on getting involved in the EA communityOur GuestEmily Aprea is a tax professional with over 30 years ofexperience. Emily began preparing taxes in 1991.  She became an enrolled agent in 1999. Emily joined NAEA in September 2012. Emily’s solo practice focuses on individuals andsmall businesses as well as nonprofit organizations.  Emily began her volunteer work at the New Jersey Society ofEnrolled Agents in 2015 as a Director and served as Vice President from July 2020 – June 2022 and President from July 2022- June 2024.  Emily is currently the President Elect of NAEA. Emily servedas a Director at NAEA from June 2024 until June 2025 when she became President Elect.  Emily has served on manycommittees for NAEA including serving as Chair of NAEA’s Bylaws and GovernanceCommittee.Emily also has over 25 years of experience working fornonprofit organizations. She has worked with many boards on board development, including board assessments, leadership development, and recruitment.Emily has held volunteer committee and board leadershippositions, such as Finance Committee Member for the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and Finance Council for her local church.Emily received an MBA from Florida Institute of Technologyin Melbourne Florida, and a BS in Business Administration from the College ofSt. Elizabeth in Convent Station NJ. Emily lives in Berkeley Heights NJ with herhusband Marc D’Auria.Resources and LinksEA Advocate podcastBrandy SpearsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandyspearsEmily ApreaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-aprea-a59b81a/FacebookNAEA