Tony Sokic, CPA, CA
Managing Partner
My story
When you grow up in an entrepreneurial family, you learn what it takes to be a problem solver. After emigrating to Canada from Croatia, I grew up in the Hamilton area where I attended Cardinal Newman High School, later graduating with a degree in accounting from York University. I’d go on to join Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in 1989, before eventually making my way to Adams + Miles.
As young as 16, I joined my father on a construction site. I worked alongside him over many summers and weekends into my late 20s. That experience, and many of the projects we tackled at home, gave me the knowledge to be as handy as I am now; fixing or building things is one of many hobbies.
What drives me
Mom and dad both owned their own businesses and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. Becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant was my path to entrepreneurship. Using the lessons I’d learned, watching them build companies, I realized I could help clients troubleshoot business challenges and capitalize on new growth opportunities.
Growing up around a family business, I wanted to build a similar workplace culture at A+M. We’re very much a work family and it’s one of the many ways we differ from our competitors. Our clients are part of that family, too, with many relying on our services for decades. Not everyone stayed forever, of course, but a strong percentage of our team members started and ended their careers with the firm. Others left and returned as members of our “boomerang club.” Many A+M alumni stay in touch and regularly refer new clients or stop in for coffee.
Along the way, it became important for me and the firm to find ways to give back. I’ve spent more than 10 years volunteering on the CPA Ontario Professional Conduct Committee, volunteered for nearly 15 years with the Cancer Walk at Princess Margaret Hospital and spent close to 20 years volunteering and participating in the Ride for Sight. Our firm has since established a foundation to further our work in the community.
Advice for clients
“Get to know your accountant/advisor and make sure they get to know you. That way they can really help you and be a part of your success, helping you achieve your goals.”
Personal pursuits
- Travel and trying new foods
- Playing soccer (as I have for more than 50 years)
- DIY projects
- Touring around on my motorcycle
