Meet Our Principals

CPA/PFS, IAR, MBA, CMA

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

 

Tom works with many collaborative partners to provide comprehensive tax, financial and strategic advisory services to the collaborative partners’ clients typically consisting of businesses, business owners, professionals, families and individuals to help them identify and achieve their life and financial goals.

 

Tom is a valuable advisor for anyone seeking guidance with: tax reduction; wealth creation, accumulation, protection and transfer; business and owner transitions; profit enhancement; business succession and exit planning; and the identification, assessment and implementation of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

 

Tom is highly experienced and accomplished, having successfully served many clients in C-Suite, Board of Director, Senior Executive and Business Advisor roles across many industries including the management consulting, accounting, banking, insurance, financial services, venture capital, private equity, IT, publishing, marketing, advertising, manufacturing, education, medical, licensing, energy, food and hospitality industries.

 

Tom has served the full range of business size, complexity and structure: business size and complexity ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups; and, business ownership structures including publicly owned, privately owned, family owned and closely held businesses.  Some of Tom’s more recognized business adventures include: EY (“Big 4” CPA firm) where Tom provided advisory services to large national and international businesses; Eskimo Pie Corporation where Tom served in various C-Suite and Board of Director roles and provided turn-around, reorganization and M&A services leading to the sale of the business; FinOpStrat Advisors, LLC where Tom provided financial, operational and strategic advisory services helping numerous small to mid-size  businesses and business owners solve significant operating and profitability challenges, enable personal and organizational transitions and create significant shareholder value; Lincoln Financial Group and MassMutual where Tom provided comprehensive financial planning services; and, Elite Tax Planning, LLC where Tom helped numerous individuals, business owners and businesses eliminate millions of dollars of tax payments and liabilities.

 

Tom collaborates with, and quarterbacks, teams of highly qualified and experienced tax specialists, financial advisors, wealth managers, CPAs, attorneys and other business professionals who are passionate about developing and implementing life and financial strategies designed to grow, protect and conserve wealth for their clients.  Tom has particular expertise in assisting businesses and business owners with:

 

• Reducing taxes.

• Implementing business exit, succession and buy/sell plans and strategies.

• Protecting businesses from the loss of key persons.

• Implementing plans to recruit, retain and reward employees.

• Developing owner and key executive compensation plans.

• Implementing/enhancing group retirement and benefit plans. 

 

Tom’s expertise with family and individual financial planning needs includes:

 

• Reducing taxes.

• Developing and protecting retirement income streams.

• Accumulating and protecting wealth.

• Funding college education, special needs and other key family objectives.

• Protecting family income in the event of key earner disability or death.

• Planning for long term care needs.

• Creating legacies for children, grandchildren, charities, churches, colleges, etc.

• Planning for tax efficient asset and estate transfers.

 

While Tom’s primary focus is working with Financial Advisors and other Collaborative Partners to develop and implement life transforming tax reduction strategies and financial plans, Tom also develops and implements comprehensive financial plans for his own Clients as a fiduciary.  As such, Tom puts his Clients' interests ahead of his own, with a duty to preserve good faith and trust and is bound, both legally and ethically, to act in his Clients’ best interests.  Tom is independent and thus is not required to utilize any particular financial products but accesses the most effective and appropriate financial products for the particular Client and their situation.

 

Tom’s professional and personal achievements include:

• Hampden-Sydney College, BA (Political Science and Philosophy)

• Virginia Tech, MBA (Finance, Management, Marketing)

• Certified Public Accountant / Personal Financial Specialist

• Certified Management Accountant

• FINRA Series 6, 63 and 65

• Virginia Health, Life & Annuities Insurance License

• Virginia Variable Contracts Insurance License

• Member of several professional organizations, member of Chapel RVA and leadership roles in numerous charitable and church activities.

 

Tom lives near Richmond, Virginia with his wife, Dana, and has two married daughters and a granddaughter, grandson and twin granddaughters “on the way” who live in central Virginia.  Tom enjoys: spending time with family and friends; golfing; college football; hunting, shooting and fishing; grilling and cooking; reading; church and charitable activities; history; and political discourse and activity.