2025 Year-End Tax Planning for Businesses

Katie Hamilton, CPA, Principal, Director, Tax Department Head

Katie joined Maner Costerisan as a principal in 2018 and was elected to the firm’s Board of Directors in 2024. She also leads the firm’s Tax department, where she’s responsible for directing and managing Maner’s tax staff, the firm’s tax growth strategy and client service. Additionally, Katie consults on income, estate and gift tax planning for clients and is an active member of the firm’s High Net Worth and Small and Midsize Business industry teams. Katie joined Maner after spending most of her career in a top-20 national tax and consulting firm. During her time there, she gathered valuable experience helping clients sell businesses, transition wealth, avoid unnecessary taxes and plan and prepare for retirement with a tax-focused approach.

Driven to make an impact both in the community and with her clients, Katie is a strong advocate for taking a holistic approach to a client’s financial planning. She played an influential role in championing the launch of Maner Wealth, the firm’s wealth management service, in 2020. She continues to look for ways the firm can assist clients with their greatest needs, starting with their personal financial management.

Optimistic, relatable and a hard worker, Katie is not one to settle – she strives for her best and aims to help others improve, including the tax team. Her ability to connect with staff and clients are intangibles that make her one of the firm’s go-to resources for both career advice and tax strategy.

Named to the list of “10 Over the Next Ten” by the Lansing Chamber in 2019, Katie’s motivated to live her life to its fullest. She tries to enjoy the journey and not just the destination. She’s most proud of her family, becoming a partner at Maner and seeing all her hard work manifest into the life she has today. Katie credits her family for her success and continues to strive to make them proud.

A self-described thrill-seeker and fan of Michigan’s great outdoors, Katie loves camping. She and her family can be found downhill skiing in the winter and spending time near the water in the summer.

Katie lives in Dewitt, Michigan, with her husband of 18 years, John, and two kids, Graham and Harper.

I’m motivated every day by knowing I can help my clients sleep better at night. The ability to put someone at ease over an item that has been worrying them for decades is so meaningful. Watching the weight lifted off their shoulders, I can’t explain how gratifying it is.

Solving a problem for a client and finding unique ways to achieve results they didn't know was even possible… that’s what makes me excited to come to work every day.

Matt Latham, CPA, CEPA, Principal

With over 15 years of public accounting experience, Matt provides tax consulting and support to the firm’s Affordable Housing and Small and Midsize Business teams. Named to Maner Costerisan’s principal group in 2021, Matt is very passionate about partnering with clients to develop and execute plans that help maximize the value of their business. Developing, advising, and creating strategies that maximize tax efficiencies is very rewarding for Matt and continues to keep him motivated to do better each day.

In 2024, Matt obtained his Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential. This designation expands his capabilities to serve as a trusted advisor and resource on complex, cutting-edge exit planning issues facing his clients. In addition to his leadership role advising clients and supporting colleagues on the tax team, Matt is very active in the community, presenting tax legislation updates to trade associations. He also writes thought leadership pieces for Maner’s website and regularly presents on firm-sponsored tax webinars, educating clients about tax legislation and compliance-related changes. Matt has a talent for simplifying highly complex tax regulations in a way that makes sense to the average business owner.

Naturally gravitating toward accounting due to his passion to help people, Matt describes himself as calm under pressure; and his colleagues know him to be a dependable team member. He credits his success to a hard work ethic, the ability to work well with others, and a strong self-motivation to get the work done.

An avid fan of water polo, Matt served as head coach of the Michigan State men’s and women’s club water polo teams, winning Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades four times. Under his leadership, the teams have won a combined three Big Ten titles (men – 2014, 2019, women – 2019) and the 2021 men’s team won the CWPA collegiate club national championship. Additionally, Matt officiates high school water polo. When he’s not coaching or officiating, he enjoys golfing and cheering on Michigan State, the Detroit Lions, Tigers and Red Wings.

Matt lives in Dewitt with his dog, Maggie.

One of the best pieces of advice someone gave to me when I was new to the industry was to listen - not to respond, but just listen.

Too often we are formulating a response as someone is talking to us and not really listening to what might be the problem and as a result missing an opportunity to connect with someone. It's important to just listen and not listen to respond.

Brandy Mikula, CPA, Principal

Brandy is a principal in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department and leads the firm’s nonprofit tax practice. She has more than 20 years of expertise in providing consulting and tax planning services to nonprofits of all kinds, including charities, private foundations, trade and membership organizations, social clubs, social service organizations, and others.

Never one to turn down a challenge, Brandy is an expert in guiding organizations through the complexities of gaining IRS tax-exempt status and helping them prevent losing their status once it’s been received.

In addition to her specialized focus on nonprofits, Brandy is also well-versed in supporting small and midsized business clients. By offering strategic planning guidance that aims to minimize taxes, she helps business owners navigate their daily issues and develop tax strategies that help them achieve their long-term goals.

Brandy is a natural communicator and enjoys building strong relationships. Her ability to make her clients and colleagues immediately feel at ease, even when facing stressful situations, helps to make her a go-to resource across the firm. Brandy brings a positive attitude and sense of humor to each interaction she has at the firm. She loves to brainstorm with colleagues about complex tax issues and find solutions to tricky problems. Brandy was awarded the MICPA Women to Watch Award and was a part of Leadership Lansing, Class of 2023.

A resident of DeWitt, Michigan, Brandy’s family includes her husband, Jeff, four children, and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, trying new local restaurants and hanging out with a core group of friends. She likes to watch movies with homemade popcorn, take on new house projects, or wander around Horrocks and Lowes with her husband. In addition, she enjoys trying new adventures with her family.

I have learned over the years how to balance what is important to me and not to compare my career and personal life with others but to do what I do best and excel at that. We all have different stories, so we cannot do things the same and succeed in the same way. Living life authentically has really helped me with my career and finding balance and happiness in life.

Jen Danko, CPA, Principal

Jen joined Maner Costerisan in January 2023 as a principal in the Tax department. With more than 12 years of specialized skills and experience, Jen provides estate, trust, and tax consulting services to high net worth individuals and business owners.

Jen works closely with the firm’s wealth management division, Maner Wealth, to provide high net worth individuals of all ages with a holistic approach to financial and tax planning. She’s driven to help her clients achieve their personal and wealth transfer goals while minimizing tax consequences by creating synergies between their tax and investment advisors.

Jen joined Maner from a top-20 national tax and consulting firm, where she oversaw its East Lansing-based trust and estate practice. She was inspired to pursue a career in the industry by her father, an accountant who was her hero growing up. It brings her joy to play a role in helping her clients achieve their personal goals.

An active member of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council (GLEPC), Jen served as the president of the board from 2022-2023.

A graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Jen lives in East Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Matt, and their two children, Ryan and Brooke. Outside of the office, she enjoys vacationing at Disney, spending time with her kids and running.

I live my life with a ‘work hard, play hard’ approach.

I enjoy my career, meeting new people, and working with clients, but also realize that life is precious, and my kids are only young once. We are blessed with the time and resources to enjoy adventures as a family and when we spend time together, we make memories that will last a lifetime!

Maddy Henry, CPA, Principal

Maddy joined Maner Costerisan’s Tax department in 2012 and brings 13 years of public accounting experience to the firm. In January 2023, she was promoted to principal. In her role, she works closely with the firm’s affordable housing and small and midsize business clients, helping them navigate the complexities of tax planning. A strong contributor to Maner’s Cannabis industry team, Maddy is also an active member of the MICPA’s Cannabis Expert panel, where she provides guidance and leadership to the association as it supports Michigan’s growing cannabis industry.

Maddy was inspired to join the accounting industry by her sister, who also studied accounting. Maddy is driven to act as a trusted advisor to her clients, helping them achieve peace of mind in an ever-changing and complex tax environment.

Maddy graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science and Taxation. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Chris, and their two dogs, Bubbles and Jabba. Maddy enjoys boating, reading, spending time with family, and going on a lot of walks outside.

Stephanie Kossaras, CPA, HCCP, Principal

Stephanie is a principal in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department, joining the firm after completing graduate school at Michigan State University in 2014. She provides tax support, planning, and preparation to Maner’s for-profit clients, specializing in affordable housing and multi-state entities. Passionate about supporting clients in the affordable housing space, she offers consulting advice to clients on Section 42 tax credits and has passed her exam to become a Housing Credit Certified Specialist (HCCP).

In addition to her extensive affordable housing knowledge, Stephanie supports the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan specialty, helping clients ensure their retirement funds are managed properly through employee benefit plan audits.

Outgoing, friendly, and driven, Stephanie is actively engaged in numerous initiatives throughout the firm. In 2021, she chaired Maner’s employee engagement committee, leading the firm’s efforts to help increase engagement and belonging for associates throughout the pandemic. She continues to be actively engaged in the committee’s ongoing efforts.

Stephanie’s passion for accounting started in high school when she fell in love with debits and credits in one of her first accounting classes and decided to become a CPA. She worked in the accounting department for the Lansing Lugnuts throughout college and grad school, gaining valuable experience prior to transitioning into public accounting. Stephanie is always up for a challenge and is someone who thrives in a busy environment.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys reading, playing games of all kinds, spending time with family on the lake and relaxing up north. A graduate of Michigan State University, she lives in St. Johns with her husband and Maner colleague, Nick, three animals, Willow, Sully, and Zelda, and two sons, Geo and Jackson.

I learned early on that while I could look up to others in the firm, and always have role models or go to them for guidance, my career path, progression, and focus didn't have to look like someone else's, because we are fair but not equal.

Maureen Miller, CPA, Senior Manager

Maureen is a senior manager in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department. With more than 30 years of accounting and tax experience, she joined the firm in 2023 as part of a merger with Hall & Romkema, PLC. Prior to Maner, she devoted 17 years of her professional career to Hall & Romkema, PLC, and has prior experience as an auditor and controller, where she performed financial accounting for a multi-national company.

In her role at Maner, Maureen specializes in individual tax returns and small to midsize business returns. Her passion for accounting started at a young age when she worked in her family’s accounting practice while in high school.

Maureen is passionate about taking care of her clients, building relationships and providing exceptional service to meet (and exceed) client needs. She is driven to grow professionally so that she can better serve her clients.

A graduate of Lake Superior State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Maureen resides in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Todd. The pair have four children and two grandchildren. In her free time, Maureen loves spending time with her grandchildren, being in the kitchen cooking and baking, quilting, and taking walks with her dog Mackinac.

Your life should reflect what you value. Investing in people, building relationships, and helping people to succeed both personally and professionally is a life well lived.

Amber Rathbun, CPA, Senior Manager

Amber is a senior manager in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department. She joined the firm in 2014, shortly after graduating from Michigan State University. Prior to joining Maner Costerisan full-time, she had accounting and tax internships in the Lansing area. As part of her daily responsibilities, Amber provides tax support to individuals, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses.

As an active member of the firm’s Nonprofit team, Amber appreciates the opportunity to learn continuously. She gives presentations and training to clients and internal staff members and provides tax compliance and consulting support to nonprofit clients so they can focus on carrying out their mission.

Amber loves working at Maner because it offers a family feel while providing tremendous growth opportunities. The firm’s countless resources and talented team help push her to continue to become the strongest professional she can be. Amber enjoys the work she does and the people she works with daily.

A graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting, Amber is passionate about music and animals. She enjoys singing and playing an instrument and has plenty of scenery nearby for birdwatching and observing other wildlife. Amber and her husband moved from Lansing to southern Georgia in 2021, where they currently reside with their cat, Honey, and two dogs, Franklin and Rio.

Trust your instincts and continue to step out of your comfort zone because that's how you grow and learn. I'm proud to work for a firm that challenges employees and constantly strives to deliver quality products and advisory services.

Kristy Roeder, CPA, Manager

Kristy is a manager in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department. She started her career at the firm as an Audit associate in 2004 but quickly found her passion resided in tax and made the shift to focus on supporting Maner’s tax clients. Kristy rejoined the firm in 2022 after spending some time gaining experience in the private sector doing private accounting, transfer pricing, and international, federal, state, and local tax compliance.

In her current role, Kristy is responsible for tax compliance and preparing and reviewing business and individual tax returns. Her passion for accounting started in high school. She loved math and decided accounting was the route for her. Kristy enjoys her job because of the friendly and talented people she gets to work with.

A graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Tax, Kristy resides in Sandusky, Ohio, with her boyfriend, Shawn and dog, TJ. They are in the process of building a house in Port Clinton, Ohio. In her free time, Kristy enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog. She likes traveling, watching MSU sports and doing crafts. Also, Kristy has recently joined the board of directors for the Humane Society of Erie County and is a member of North Coast Young Professionals and Working Women’s Connection.

Something our president, Trey Williams said, sticks with me:

"It is ok to fail and make mistakes.”

I find this so true and usually when I do make mistakes, those are the things I learn and grow from the most.

Will Kwiecinski, CPA, Manager

Will joined Maner Costerisan in 2020 and is a manager in the Tax department. He specializes in small to mid-size businesses & partnerships with an additional focus on personal property taxes.

Will’s deep interest in finance and accounting, combined with his detail-oriented perspective and appreciation for working with clients, is what led him to choose a career in the accounting industry. Driven to learn and continually expand his skillset, Will is passionate about working with a variety of individuals in different specialties and niches.

A graduate of Aquinas College, Will earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. He lives in Kentwood, Michigan, with his wife and their Australian shepherd. Outside of the office, Will enjoys hiking and playing board games.

I take a people-centric approach to how I live my life and am focused on leaving my work and the world better than I found it.

Ken Schafer, CPA, CGMA, RPA, Senior Manager

Ken is a senior manager in Maner Costerisan’s Tax department. He brings over 30 years of tax and accounting experience, 25 years of experience supporting clients at Maner, and an additional 7 years of tax experience with a bank holding company. In his role, Ken provides tax compliance and planning expertise for individuals and small and midsized family-owned businesses. An active member of the firm’s Telecommunications, Employee Benefits and CPE Planning committees, Ken’s technical expertise and tax knowledge make him a go-to resource for many across the firm.

Ken’s years working for a bank holding company allowed him to experience accounting from the client’s perspective in working with corporate management and outside CPAs. This experience has been very beneficial in helping him relate to the many challenges clients face.

Ken enjoys his job at Maner because of the genuine appreciation he gets when he helps a client find a solution to their problem. He believes public accounting is a challenging and rewarding career, and to be successful, you have to be willing to work hard and complete your work on time.

Ken is a Michigan State University graduate who currently lives in Westphalia, Michigan, with his two children. When he is not in the office, he enjoys following the MSU Spartans, golfing, fishing and spending time with family.

Tax busy season comes with pressure and it's important to be reliable, accurate and timely. This helps to be steady in your work ethic and be someone others can count on.

Kevin Todd, CPA, EA, USTCP, Senior Manager

Kevin joined Maner Costerisan in 2022 and is a senior manager in the Tax department. Kevin’s responsibilities include tax compliance in reviewing for-profit business returns, individual returns, as well as tax planning. He also provides support for federal and state tax controversy work.

Prior to Maner, Kevin owned a practice in southeast Michigan. His practice focused on representing taxpayers to resolve federal and state tax issues as well as tax compliance for a range of businesses and individuals, including US expatriates and tax residents. Kevin also has previous experience in controller-level positions in retail, healthcare services, property management and other roles such as database systems design and administration.

Kevin’s undergrad was in accounting information systems, and he was able to tie his technical knowledge and experience into financial services. After graduation, Kevin discovered that he enjoyed tax work and working with clients to ensure they were well-informed and understood how their choices impacted their tax situations.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accounting, Kevin resides in Fowlerville, Michigan, with his partner, Heather, and their cat, Ava. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys reading, creative writing and playing tabletop games.

I'm most proud of my admission to the US Tax Court. There are approximately 300 accountants with this privilege and to my knowledge, I'm the only one in Michigan. I am a lifelong student and I'm constantly striving for that next level of knowledge, both professionally and personally.

Christopher Young, CPA, Senior Manager

Christopher joined Maner Costerisan in 2023 and is a senior manager in the Tax department. At Maner, Christopher is a part of the tax technical team with a focus on affordable housing and cannabis niches. He has 12 years of public accounting experience in tax and 22 years of work experience between Ernst & Young, Katz, Sapper & Miller, and Peachin, Schwartz & Weingardt. Prior to joining Maner, Christopher served as Tax department lead for a small firm in Indianapolis, where he mainly focused on closely held businesses and high-net-worth individuals.

After graduating from college, Christopher began his career in sales. While pursuing his MBA, he took a series of tax and accounting classes where he discovered his passion for the craft and changed his focus to a Master of Science in Accounting. He enjoys the industry because it is ever-changing and always presents a new challenge.

Pleasant and empathetic, Christopher is passionate about learning and is determined to help his clients achieve their goals. Having most of his experience as a tax generalist, he is knowledgeable in state and local taxation, consulting with clients for possible cost segregations and research credits. Christopher brings a wide variety of skills to Maner.

Christopher is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and Indiana University of Indianapolis. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Accounting. He lives in Westfield, Indiana, with his wife and two sons. In his free time, Christopher enjoys cycling, kayaking and hiking.

My ultimate goal in life is to live life to the fullest and enjoy every minute.