Clarity over jargon
You will never leave a conversation with me nodding politely and no idea what was decided. If I can't explain it plainly, I haven't finished thinking about it.
I'm Safietou D. Russell, CPA, EA, MST. I've spent more than two decades in tax and accounting, and I built SDR Consulting Inc. so that practice owners could finally have a CPA who understands both the spreadsheet and the person reading it.

I fell for accounting before I knew it was a career. It was a bookkeeping class in high school, the moment the columns balanced, something clicked. That interest carried me to SUNY Albany, where I graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Accounting, and then to Florida Atlantic University for a Master's in Taxation.
Then came more than fifteen years in public accounting. I learned the technical craft there, complex returns, IRS notices, the kind of planning that quietly saves people real money. I also learned what I didn't want: rushed relationships, billable-hour anxiety, and clients who only heard from their accountant once a year.
I launched SDR Consulting Inc. in 2016 to deliver a more personal, more flexible client experience, and to build a business that let me prioritize my family too.
Along the way I've worked with clients across more than 25 industries. But the work that kept pulling me back was with professionals in the mental health field. Partly because I saw how life-changing your work is for the people you serve. And partly because I watched that impact up close, in my own family.
SDR Consulting Inc. specializes in tax, accounting and advisory services for private and group Mental Health & Wellness Practices, alongside a select group of early-stage startups.
That focus is the whole point. When I look at your books, I understand expenses such as clinical supervision, the revenue patterns that can affect a practice throughout the year and the tax considerations commonly relevant to Mental Health & Wellness Practices.
Began serving clients in tax and accounting, the start of a career that would span more than two decades and 25+ industries.
After 15+ years in public accounting, Safietou opened her own virtual firm, built for personal service, flexibility and family.
BBB accreditation alongside Enrolled Agent standing and QuickBooks certification, the licenses that let Safietou represent clients directly before the IRS.
The podcast begins, more than 50 episodes teaching small business owners the financial fundamentals nobody taught them.
Specialized services, free tools and a 5.0 overall client rating.
These aren't posters on a wall. They're the reasons clients stay for years.
You will never leave a conversation with me nodding politely and no idea what was decided. If I can't explain it plainly, I haven't finished thinking about it.
Tax planning happens before December 31, not in April when the options have run out. That means quarterly conversations, not annual surprises.
Your practice handles protected information; so do we. Secure portal exchange, HIPAA-aware workflows, and no financial detail discussed where it shouldn't be.
I don't take every client who calls. If your goals and our approach don't match, I'll say so and point you somewhere better. Everyone wins.
Outside of work, I'm a wife and mom of two. Dance and movement have always been a big part of my life and give me an outlet to do something I truly enjoy.
Through SDR Fitness & Dance, I teach Zumba and group fitness and help busy women make movement, nutrition and wellness a priority. It allows me to support women in a different way while sharing my love of fitness and dance.
Visit SDR Fitness & Dance In the press · Empress Lanice Media House · August 2026 SDR Fitness & Dance: The Powerful Story of 2 Legacies A founder spotlight on the two businesses Safietou built around one idea, looking after the people who spend their days looking after everyone else.
Not every practice owner needs ongoing tax and accounting support today. Everyone deserves access to helpful information.
SDR's Business Basics, more than 50 episodes with guest experts on cash flow, entity choice, marketing and burnout.
ListenChecklists, calculators and a tax calendar, for owners who'd rather work through it themselves first.
Browse resources12 Overlooked Tax Write-Offs for Mental Health Professionals, the deductions most often left on the table.
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