Meet Galo Almeida
From Ecuador to Miami.
From a mobile car wash to a financial advisory firm.
De Ecuador a Miami.
De un car wash móvil a una firma de asesoría financiera.
My name is Galo Almeida. I was born in Ecuador, where I served as an Army Officer. I had a career, a profession, and a stable life. Like many young men, I had plans and ambitions for the future. Then my wife and I made one of the most important decisions of our lives: to immigrate to the United States in search of something better.
We arrived in Miami the same day Hurricane Andrew made landfall. We were about 27 years old, full of hope, and completely starting over. Everything I had built in Ecuador — my career, my status, my professional identity — stayed behind. Here, I had to start from zero. And I mean that literally.
Starting Over
Empezar Desde Cero
I didn't have the luxury of waiting. I took every honest opportunity I could find.
None of those jobs felt permanent. But each one taught me something about the value of honest work — and about humility. Both would serve me for the rest of my life.
The Mobile Car Wash
El Car Wash Móvil
Eventually I found work washing cars. Three dollars per vehicle. It didn't take long before I saw something clearly: if I could do this for someone else, I could do it for myself.
"No advertising. No marketing strategy. Built through consistent, excellent work — and word of mouth."
I ran that business for ten years. It supported my family and established my roots in this country. The philosophy that built that car wash is the same one that drives GA Accounting today: do the work right, keep your word, and let the results speak for themselves.
Back to School
De Regreso a los Estudios
I knew I wanted more. So I went back to school while continuing to work. The first challenge was the language — my English wasn't fluent, which meant reading every textbook two, three, four times. What felt like a disadvantage became a strength. I developed a deep understanding of accounting principles because I had no choice but to master them.
An academic advisor asked me one day: "What are you good at?" I said I had always been strong with numbers. He suggested accounting. It wasn't my dream at the time. It became one of the best decisions of my life. At my first accounting job, I asked to prepare the company's tax return — even though they already had a CPA. When we compared the two returns, they were nearly identical. That moment stayed with me.
B.S. in Accounting
Florida International University
2008
"There are no limits for someone willing to learn."
Corporate Accounting & Manufacturing
Contabilidad Corporativa y Manufactura
I went on to work in manufacturing for a decade, leading a team of five as Head Accountant. I specialized in Cost Accounting, job costing, financial controls, and process automation. I also taught myself advanced Excel programming — building macros and tools that automated complex accounting processes. I've always believed that if there's a better way to do something, it's worth finding.
Founding GA Accounting & Tax Solutions
Fundando GA Accounting & Tax Solutions
In 2018, the company eliminated my position. I considered finding another job. But one day, while preparing for another technical interview, I asked myself a question I couldn't stop thinking about: "Do I really want to keep building someone else's dream?"
The answer was no. GA Accounting & Tax Solutions was born that year. Zero clients. Zero guarantees. Complete uncertainty. And everything I had learned in 25 years of real-world financial work.
Today, we serve owner-led businesses across multiple industries. We don't have hundreds of clients — and that's intentional. I'd rather have great clients and long-term relationships than a roster full of names I don't know. The same philosophy that built my car wash business still drives this firm: do the work right, tell the truth, and show up when it matters.