Thomas Lillie Principal
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As a Principal at Lewis & Knopf, PC, Tom enjoys working with clients who are interested in growing their business and personal wealth. Tom helps clients to first establish goals, objectives, and risk tolerances, and then assists them with planning and proper implementation. Tom works with clients in a variety of industries including: real estate, retail and wholesale, professional service, and construction. In addition to his assurance and tax planning capabilities, Tom heads up the firms Financial Planning Division. In working with his clients, Tom subscribes to the old IBM adage “We don’t solve problems, we overwhelm them.”
Tom maintains very active involvement in the accounting industry for a variety of reasons – specifically so he can have a positive impact on the trade. He has served as past chairman of the State and Local Tax Committee; subcommittee chairman of the Single Business Tax Committee, Fee and Compensation Committee; and served as editor of the State and Local Tax Clinic for the Michigan CPA. Tom also has served as vice-chairman, treasurer and secretary of the Eastern Chapter of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. Tom has held all of the offices of the Flint Estate Planning Council including Chairman. Tom has been a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. He has also served as a speaker on Michigan taxes at the State Tax Forum.
Tom also focuses on helping the greater Michigan community to improve financial planning and tax planning skills. He has presented financial planning workshops at the University of Michigan-Flint; held seminars on understanding taxes and liabilities and financial management for non-financial managers; and presented for the Imlay City Chamber of Commerce on business planning.
When asked what inspired him to become an accountant, Tom says “While I was in high school, my grandparents were in a serious auto accident involving a drunk driver. After the accident, I spent most of one summer driving my grandfather around to various minority businesses that he was helping to build their businesses. During my travels with him I had a real opportunity to see the trials and tribulations and success and failures that a small business can go through.”
Beyond his passion for business leadership and client service, Tom enjoys golf, international travel and investing. He and his wife, a retired 9th grade English teacher, also enjoy spending time with their eight nieces and nephews.