In 2003, FMI celebrated its 50th anniversary, providing a great opportunity for a look back at the history of the firm. The firm was started by Dr. Emol Fails, a well-known accounting professor at North Carolina State University. In 1953, Doc Fails, as his students called him, started assisting small businesses in Raleigh with their tax returns and accounting. This led to the creation of Fails and Shepherd Accountants. Interestingly, the firm’s clients included an array of local subcontractors,many of whom were Doc Fail’s former students. This began what is now over fifty years of service to the construction industry.