2024 Men of the Year: Cristian Rath

For Cristian Rath, adviser at Abacus CPAs, growing up in extreme poverty was his driving force to double down on his education for a chance at a better life.

“I vividly recall the moment at the age of 10 when I decided to break the perpetual cycle that trapped my family,” says Rath. “I directed all my energy toward breaking barriers that seemed insurmountable.”

His life’s journey has been defined by the principle that “people deserve better,” and he says the mantra has guided him through personal and professional challenges.

In his advising role at accounting firm Abacus, he leads the pipeline team, a collaborative mission to prioritize teamwork that has led the company to have an annual growth rate of 20%.

“By fostering a culture that prioritizes teamwork, we have achieved remarkable economic success,” says Rath, noting a companywide net revenue of $17.8 million in 2023, a 30% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, Rath is part of the firm’s mentorship program and helps lead an Abacus program that helped employees gain personalized one-on-one and small-group meetings to aid them on their journey to obtaining a CPA license.

“I serve as a mentor to young professionals because of my desire to invest in the next generation,” he says, adding the program saw the retention of over 20 interns from tax season internships in the past year.

Rath says he is motivated to invest in others, and he invests in his 550 clients by taking the time to walk each one through the details of their tax return. This contribution to the success and growth of others holds true to his mantra.

Being the first to graduate college in his family, he knew he wanted to use his experience to help others in the community escape the clutches of poverty.

“I learned to envision possibilities and recognized the potential to not only elevate myself but also extend a helping hand to others,” says Rath about his motivation to serve the community.

This year, he is launching the Breakthrough Project, a nonprofit geared toward helping students end the poverty cycle and learn how to be self-sufficient after high school.

“Through small groups and presentations, we will offer financial literacy and resources, including credit counseling,” says Rath. “The ultimate goal is to provide scholarships for first-generation college students pursuing a secondary education or trade schools.”

He has also volunteered with Upward Bound as a mentor, served as a sales and marketing judge for Future Business Leaders of America, and volunteers with the Rotary Club of Harrison, Arkansas.

Rath’s efforts to prepare the next generation for college and career endeavors do not go unnoticed by his colleagues as he was named a Springfield Business Journal Up and Comer Trusted Adviser in 2020 and won the Abacus Abe’s Golden Microphone for excellent communication the same year.

“These accolades serve as validation of my dedication to excellence and reinforce that I have defied all odds, successfully breaking the cycle of poverty,” says Rath.