Our financial planning department focuses on total, complete and comprehensive financial planning.  Reviewing your risks, review of your tax matters, review of your retirement needs, review employee benefits offered by your employer, complete review of your investments and goals.  Bringing all your financial matters together to insure you maximize your overall financial picture.

It seems everyone is a financial planner today.  Always question the people you work with.  What is their college education, what credentials have they obtained, how many years of actual experience have the completed.  Also don’t forget a list of referrals.  After all, your tax concerns are too important to leave to chance!!!

Our financial counsels hold the most prestigious designations, teach and write text on comprehensive financial planning.  Some of the credentials that aid in financial planning include:

Accredited Business Accountant (ABA)  ABAs are professionals who specialize in accounting services for individuals and small to medium size businesses.  They can provide personalized financial reports and interpret those reports for you.  These individuals have passed a full day exam testing their technical proficiency in financial accounting, reporting, statement preparation, taxation, business law, consulting services and ethics.

Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP).  Individuals who hold the ATP credential have a through knowledge of the concepts behind the existing tax code and the preparation of individual, corporate, and partnership tax returns.

Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA).  Individuals holding the ATA credential have demonstrated the ability to handle complex tax planning issues, including planning for owners of closely held businesses, planning for the highly compensated, choosing qualified retirement plans and performing estate planning.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Individuals holding the CFP credential have completed a national exam issued by the Board of Financial Planning.  This generally includes a study program including; income tax planning, investment planning, insurance planning, retirement planning, employee benefit planning and estate planning.  Most CFP Candidates are also required to hold a bachelor’s degree and actual work experience in the financial planning industry.

Investment Advisor: Licensed through Packerland Brokerage Services Inc with applicable federal and state requirements to perform complete investment analysis.

Enrolled to Practice Before The IRS (EA).  Individuals holding the EA credential have passed a two-day exam covering all segments of tax law directly from the Internal Revenue Service.  This is the only tax license exam provided directly by the IRS and the only license issued directly by the IRS.

Masters Degree in Taxation (MST).  Individuals holding the MST credential have completed an advanced college degree, beyond the Bachelors Degree, specifically geared to tax law.  This is the most prestigious designation available in the tax industry.

Our financial planning counselor is:

  Thomas G

Thomas G. Zoeller EA, MST, CFP, Ph.D

Tom is a shareholder of De Pere Business Center and serves as President and CEO.  He has over 25 years experience in business consulting, tax planning, tax preparation and financial planning.  He earned his Enrollment to Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service designation during 1986 (the only tax license issued directly by the IRS), the Accredited Tax Advisor designation in 1991, the Certified Financial Planner designation during 1988, the Certificate in Accounting during 1976, the Associate Degree in Business during 1977, his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration during 1982, completed his Master’s Degree in Taxation during 1995 and received a Ph.D in Tax Law in 2010.  Tom is an investment advisor representative through Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc., which is a licensed broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. 

Mr. Zoeller has co-authored several texts on tax law and has taught before more than 2,500 tax professionals regarding various tax matters.  He has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the College for Financial Planning instructing both the Income Tax and Estate Tax sections of the CFP Curriculum. He has also written exam questions that appear on the Comprehensive Certified Financial Planners Examination for Estate Tax Planning.
  Michelle Deschaine

James Hockenberry, EA, CEC

James has over 15 years of experience in income tax and financial planning. He earned his Enrollment to Practice before the Internal Revenue Service designation during 1992 (the only tax license issued directly by the IRS), he holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, majoring in accounting, from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. He has worked as a tax researcher/technical writer and has served as an instructor for several tax and financial organizations. Jim has served as the Manager of Financial Services with a fortune 500 company and is also an investment advisor through Packerland Brokerage Services. (Series 6, 63, 65, 7 ,24)
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Securities and advisory services offered through Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc., an unaffiliated entity, Member FINRA & SIPC.