My name is Sebastian Nye-Schmitz. I was born in Germany and moved to the United States with my family more than 30 years ago. Today, I am proud to call Florida home, where I live with my wife and our three wonderful children. I am licensed in the State of Florida as both a Certified Public Accountant and an Attorney at Law.
One of the greatest advantages I bring to my clients is not only the ability to communicate fluently in both English and German, but also a deep understanding of both American and European culture. This allows me to bridge not only the language barrier for German-speaking clients, but also the cultural and practical differences that often arise when navigating legal, tax, and business matters across borders.
Much of who I am professionally is rooted in the guidance and example of my late father, Werner Schmitz, who passed away in July 2025. He was a Steuerberater (Tax Advisor) in Germany beginning in the late 1970s and built a successful career based on diligence, integrity, and technical expertise. After moving to Florida to pursue a lifelong dream of operating a restaurant, life unexpectedly changed course when our family was involved in a serious car accident that left him unable to continue with the physical demands of the restaurant industry.
Rather than allowing that setback to define him, my father reinvented himself. He immersed himself in the study of the U.S. tax system, mastered the complexities of the tax treaties between the United States and Germany, and ultimately founded SSI Accounting & Tax Service, Inc. in Fort Myers in 1998. Watching him rebuild a professional career from the ground up in a new country left a profound impression on me. His perseverance, work ethic, and commitment to helping others shaped my own approach to both business and life and continue to influence me every day.
Inspired by his determination and entrepreneurial spirit, I began taking H&R Block tax preparation courses in the evenings while still attending high school to learn the fundamentals of tax preparation. After graduating from Fort Myers High School with my International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2001, I joined my father’s firm full-time. What began as helping with office management and basic tax return preparation quickly evolved into a true apprenticeship. My father taught me how to read financial statements, interview clients, analyze complex issues, and, most importantly, how to approach clients with patience, professionalism, and respect.
While working full-time at the firm, I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting & Taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University in three years, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Taxation one year later. In 2007, I obtained my CPA license while continuing to work alongside my father preparing income tax returns, financial statements, and advising clients on cross-border business and tax matters.
Even then, my father recognized that my long-term ambition was to become an attorney. With his encouragement and support, I applied to and was accepted by Ave Maria School of Law. In 2009, I transitioned out of the day-to-day operations of the family business to focus on law school while gaining practical experience with a boutique tax law firm in Naples. In 2012, I graduated cum laude from Ave Maria School of Law and successfully passed the Florida Bar Examination, achieving a professional goal that had been years in the making. During law school and after graduation, I had the privilege of learning under my late mentor, Aaron Farmer, who taught me the inner workings of the IRS and reinforced the importance of thoughtful problem solving, technical precision, and zealous but principled advocacy.
After the birth of my daughter, my perspective on life and career evolved significantly. In 2013, I started my own legal practice with the goal of building a broader practice focused not only on tax law, but also on helping clients navigate the many interconnected issues that arise in real estate, probate, business, and cross-border matters. Throughout that process, my father remained both a trusted advisor and collaborative partner. We frequently worked together on matters where I handled the legal side while he provided the accounting and tax expertise that had made him so respected within the community.
It was also at my father’s encouragement that I became involved in the title industry and helped co-found Sandcastle Title, LLC, which continues to operate today. Over time, I came to appreciate the significant overlap between legal, tax, accounting, and title work, particularly in the context of international clients and Florida real estate transactions.
Eventually, my father and I discussed the future of his accounting practice and how best to continue serving our respective clients. Rather than simply taking over his firm, we agreed that I should establish my own accounting practice, The Nye-Schmitz Accounting Firm, P.A., while continuing to collaborate closely with SSI Accounting & Tax Service, Inc. whenever appropriate. That decision allowed me to build a practice tailored to the areas where I believed I could provide the greatest value to clients while still carrying forward the principles and lessons my father instilled in me over the years.
Today, his entrepreneurial spirit lives on through the businesses I manage and through my practice, which focuses on the intersection of accounting, law, title, probate, and international tax matters, particularly for German-speaking and international clients with U.S. interests. In addition to providing legal and accounting guidance, I strive to bring a practical business perspective that is often missing from traditional professional services. I also work closely with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals whose skills complement my own, because I firmly believe that clients achieve the best outcomes when the right team is assembled for the situation at hand.
Above all, I try to approach my work with the same mindset my father demonstrated throughout his career: work hard, solve problems thoughtfully, treat people fairly, and always strive to do right by the client. Whether assisting with a real estate closing, preparing a tax return, administering an estate, or helping connect a client with the right specialist, my goal is always to provide practical guidance, honest communication, and dependable service while honoring the example and legacy he left behind.
