Principal & Directors

Richard W. Moon, CPA

Richard Moon founded Richard Moon & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, in 1989 to focus on individuals, entrepreneurs and closely held companies. His approach is to bring large firm expertise and to provide it on a personal level.

Prior to establishing Richard Moon & Associates, Mr. Moon was a partner with Laventhol & Horwath and a Principal with Delotte & Touche, both international CPA firms. Mr. Moon's background includes profitability of projects, buy/sell agreements, arranging and negotiating financing from lending institutions and investors as well as representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing authorities.

Mr. Moon is a Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Master of Business Administration and the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona with a Bachelors of Science in accounting. He also has a Personal Financing Planner designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the International Association of Financial Planners. He writes and speaks on tax and small business issues.

Mr. Moon is active in Rotary International having served as president of the Westchester Rotary Club and in several District leadership positions. He has served on the board of directors and executive committee of the Westchester/LAX Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Managers of the Westchester YMCA, as Board Chair from 1989 to 1991, and as Committee Chair of the Major Gifts committee of the successful Focus on the Future capital campaign that raised over $1.3 million. He has also been active as a coach and official in numerous youth activities including the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant scoutmaster and merit badge counselor.

G. Jean Hong, CPA

Prior to joining Richard Moon & Associates, Ms. Hong was a Tax & Audit supervisor with Laventhol & Horwath, an international CPA firm. She was also a Director of Tax with a leading national real estate company that specialized in development and management of commercial real estate. Ms. Hong's background includes tax and estate planning, financial planning, accounting and auditing, profitability of projects, buy/sell agreements, arranging and negotiating financing as well as representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing authorities.

Ms. Hong is a Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Master of Business Taxation. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. As part of her professional involvement, she has served on the Taxation Committee and the Financial Planning Committee of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Stephen E. Shepherd, CPA, M.S. (Tax)

Mr. Shepherd Shepherd is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Financial Planner, and has a Masters Degree in Taxation. Mr. Shepherd has over 25 years of experience in income and estate tax planning with a variety of clientele including closely-held businesses, estates, trusts, partnerships, LLCs, movie syndication entities; real estate and other tax shelter syndication structures; and high net worth individuals. Mr. Shepherd was 15 years with Laventhol & Horwath and KMPG Peat Marwick (both large international national CPA firms) After leaving the national CPA firms, Mr. Shepherd practiced seven years with a large Santa Monica CPA firm before joining his former colleague, Richard Moon.

Mr. Shepherd's practice over the years includes tax controversy work (Internal Revenue Service and state tax audits, IRS/Franchise Tax Board Appeals, Tax Court, etc.); personal financial and estate planning; closely held and entrepreneurial businesses; nonprofit organizations; business deal negotiation, structuring, workouts, and analysis; among other matters.

Mr. Shepherd is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the Masters in Taxation program at Golden Gate University. He is also a Certified Financial Planner and is active in the following:

• CPA Society Taxation Committee, Estate Planning Committee, nonprofit organizations, and Personal Financial Planning Committee
  
  
• State Bar Association Tax Procedures & Litigation Committee (as a non-lawyer member); Los Angeles & Beverly Hills Bar Associations; and other legal groups.
  
  
• Westchester/LAX-Marina del Rey Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• Westchester Rotary Club
  
  
• Agape International Spiritual Center; Association for Global New Thought; the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence; Season for Nonviolence and other charitable endeavors.

Mr. Shepherd is a former adjunct professor in taxation at Golden Gate University and the University of Southern California. Mr. Shepherd has authored numerous professional articles in tax periodicals; newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Mr. Shepherd is a popular speaker on financial, estate, tax, and similar topics.

Mr. Shepherd was born in Hollywood, CA and raised in Burbank, CA, where he is a Past Master Counselor of the Burbank Chapter of DeMolay (a Masonic Organization).

THE CPA. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE.