So a new client walks into the office of a local CPA firm in the Midwest, a not-so-organized contractor/landlord/real estate guy who buys and sells and rents out not-so-great places. His records are terrible, so the CPA sits down with him and tries to put things together, running a trial balance.

“You made $475,000 last year,” the CPA says. All the blood drains out of the client’s face. He says that’s absolutely impossible, that he didn’t make that much money.

“What are we missing?” the CPA asks. “Do you owe anyone any money except people at these three banks?” Nope.

How about properties, is this list accurate? The client looks through the properties list and says, “You don’t have the fourplex on here. I paid $500,000 for it.” The CPA sighs and says, “Now your income is a million dollars.”

The client looks at the CPA and says, “Forget about the fourplex.”