Harris Felton
Why I Started Forte Financial Group
The short-term rental industry has fundamentally changed what it means to invest in real estate, and the tax code has quietly kept pace. For operators who know where to look, there are legal, well-documented strategies that can dramatically reduce tax liability, sometimes to zero, in the years you invest most aggressively.
The problem is that most CPAs don’t specialize in STR. They file returns, they handle depreciation, and they meet deadlines, but they don’t proactively search for the specific intersection of real estate law, passive activity rules, and STR classification that creates real savings. They are generalists in a world where STR operators need specialists.
I founded Forte Financial Group in 2026 to fill that gap. My work is centered on the STR and outdoor hospitality space, from individual cabin owners in the Ozarks to glamping resort operators across the country, and extends to small businesses and individuals who need a reliable, hands-on CPA for bookkeeping, tax preparation, and year-round advisory. I understand the seasonality, the platform dynamics, the material participation requirements, and the documentation standards that make the difference between a strategy that holds up and one that invites IRS scrutiny.
An Approach Rooted in Honesty
I don’t promise results I can’t deliver. Before recommending any strategy (the STR loophole, cost segregation, bonus depreciation), I first determine whether it actually applies to your situation and whether the numbers make sense. Sometimes the right answer is: “you’re already optimized,” and I’ll tell you that too.
What I won’t do is file a return without understanding how it’s structured or recommend an aggressive position without showing you the risk. Tax strategy at its best is the careful, thorough application of what the law actually allows. That’s the standard I hold myself to for every client.
Hot Springs, Arkansas: A Community I’m Proud to Call Home
Hot Springs is one of the most interesting small cities in America: historic, beautifully situated in the Ouachita Mountains, and home to one of the country’s most vibrant STR markets. The natural thermal springs, lakes, parks, and distinctive architecture draw visitors year-round, and the local STR ecosystem reflects that diversity.
Being based here means I see the outdoor hospitality industry from the inside. When I advise a client on whether their glamping property qualifies for the STR exception, I’m drawing on practical familiarity with the industry as well as technical tax expertise. I think that combination of local roots and national practice is genuinely valuable.
What You Can Expect as a Client
When you work with Forte Financial Group, you work with me, not a junior associate, not an outsourced preparer. I manage your books, prepare your returns, answer your questions, and stay engaged throughout the year so nothing falls through the cracks. My client list is intentionally limited to ensure that standard stays consistent as the firm grows.
I return emails within 48 hours. I proactively reach out before major deadlines and decision points. I explain what I’m doing and why. I think those basics, responsiveness, transparency, and proactivity, are the foundation of a good CPA relationship, and they’re standards I don’t compromise on.