Baruch Wins Second Place at Deloitte’s National FanTAXtic Competition

February 10, 2025

A team of ambitious undergraduates made their debut at the finals of Deloitte’s 2025 FanTAXtic national case study competition, showcasing their skills and determination by winning an impressive second-place finish.

The national competition—held at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas—brought together more than 85 students representing 16 institutions. Each college earned their spot by triumphing at their respective regional level held at eight sites nationwide, setting the stage for the ultimate showdown on January 24-26.

Baruch’s winning students returned home with $1,000 of scholarship funds, and the College will receive $5,000 from Deloitte.

The four students—all studying at the Zicklin School of Business—are team captain Masayori Sudo Hasegawa (BBA ’25), Randy Huynh (BBA, ’25), Yingyi Guan (BBA, ’27), and Alex Liang (BBA, ’27). Serving as the team’s coach was faculty advisor Michael Meisler, a lecturer in the Zicklin School of Business’s Stan Ross Department of Accountancy and a retired Ernst & Young tax partner.

“When our team name ‘Baruch’ was called, it felt like time stopped,” recalled Sudo Hasegawa. “I was so stunned I could barely react, but, as we walked onto the stage and held the trophy in our hands, the reality of what we had achieved finally sank in. A wave of joy and pride rushed over me, and in that instant, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience which would not have been possible without my incredible teammates as each of our unique strengths came together.”

Meisler was proud to see the team’s hard work and practice culminated in second place on a national stage.

“Working with this team over the past few months has been a highlight of my past semester at Baruch,” Meisler said. “The competition provides an opportunity to develop the next generation of tax talent for careers in business and tax and I could not be prouder of our team. I wish all the team members the best of luck in their future endeavors.”

The winning team was Brigham Young University and Florida University came in third place. Among the competing colleges were San Diego State University; University of Massachusetts – Amherst; University of New Hampshire; University of San Diego; University of Utah; and University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Victory Proves Baruch is a Top Competitor

Throughout the annual Deloitte FanTAXtic competition, students tackled real-world situations, simulating the process of advising a client.

This year, teams faced off to evaluate the impact of a potential change in corporate income tax rate on the decision to structure a new business entity as either a corporation or partnership. They were challenged to calculate revised projections of taxable income, considering various compensation options for owners versus providing dividend distributions, while factoring in the depreciation of business assets.

“This competition was an incredible experience because it gave me a taste of the work CPAs do in real life,” said Sudo Hasegawa, who plans on enrolling in Baruch’s Master’s in Taxation program and completing the 150-credit requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant. “It challenged me to think critically to be able to analyze complex tax scenarios, and work under pressure—skills that are essential for both accounting and law. More than anything, it reinforced my passion for problem-solving and strategic thinking, making me even more excited for the career path I am pursuing.”

For sophomore Yingyi Guan, participating in the FanTAXtic competition was her first real exposure to corporate tax.

“It was an exhilarating and rewarding experience which deepened my understanding of tax and appreciation for all the support and opportunities Baruch provides us with,” Guan mentioned. “I saw this as an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, push myself beyond the classroom, and expand my understanding about tax. I have always been fascinated by how tax policies influence financial decisions, and this competition has further sparked my interest in tax planning.”

Huynh believes all the guidance and training Baruch students receive will lead to better results in future competitions.

“It was our school’s first year at nationals, so the team did not know what to expect. However, when the problem was presented, we were relieved to see that we had prepared for it well thanks to Professor Meisler teaching us about extra topics like qualified business income deduction, partnership and corporate exit strategies,” Huynh stated. “This victory has proven that Baruch’s students have what it takes to contend with the best in the nation, and I can envision Baruch taking first place at one of these events.”

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