Our Team:

Clergy Tax Experts Committed to Improving Your Financial Future

Ask our clients to describe us.  Most would call us “clergy tax experts” or “church tax specialists.”  But then you’d also hear things like, “exceptional, caring and knowledgeable.”  You’d hear stories about how much money we’ve saved them and how our specialists are some of the only professionals in the country that fully-understand clergy taxes, especially in a total financial plan.

Our team of professionals, collectively, has more than 150 years of tax and retirement-planning experience.  Whether your situation calls for a CPA, an Enrolled Agent, a CFP or a Retirement Specialist, we’ve got you covered. That’s why we’re able to provide the most comprehensive advice for every area of your financial plan.

Here are a few of our key players:

Steve Merriman, CEO and Enrolled Agent, 31 years experience

Steve's-photo-2007Steve has personally overseen the preparation of more than 60,000 clergy tax returns and represented 1100 pastors in IRS proceedings. Steve is an expert in clergy housing allowance and has developed advanced strategies that greatly enhance their effectiveness in a total tax plan. This came after devoting 4 years of his life to researching housing allowance issues for the highly publicized court case involving Rick Warren. These efforts also resulted in the “The Clergy Housing Allowance Clarification Act of 2002,” that secured your housing allowance benefits better than ever. More recently, Steve was responsible for negotiating with the IRS on behalf of ministers everywhere to avoid computer selection practices that unfairly targeted ministers. Few firms are more dedicated to improving your financial future, or will pursue your welfare more aggressively, which is why thousands of clergy continue to rely on us for their financial futures.

Zan Pensack-Rinehart, CFP, Master of Divinity, 22 years experience

ZanZan is currently in his 23rd year of tax preparation, retirement planning and financial consulting for ministers. Zan graduated with a degree in accounting and economics from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania and received his Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theology Seminary Berkeley, California. He pastored congregations in New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado before he settled in Colorado at Clergy Advantage®.

Zan is a Tax Advisor, a Certified Financial Planner.  His ability to customize coordinated tax and investment strategies for his clients is a unique calling that allows his pastoral care to take on new dimensions. Zan also provides incredibly valuable Clergy Housing Allowance Strategies through seminars and consultations. His meticulous service to clergy and their families is the perfect marriage of his gifts, skill and interests.

Cheryl Hemphill, EA, 14 years experience

Cheryl-HemphillCheryl came to Clergy Advantage® with twelve years of tax preparation experience in 2007.  She graduated Cum Laude from Geneva College in western Pennsylvania with a degree in Business Administration and has earned the status of Enrolled Agent.  Her meticulous attention to the individual needs of whomever she serves will be evident when you work with her.

Cheryl is a pastor’s daughter, a pastor’s wife and an accomplished pianist, vocalist and music instructor. Her concern for ministers and their unique situations comes quite naturally. Cheryl’s father pastored for 45 years. Her husband of 30 plus years has been commissioned for church planting in Laramie, Wyoming. Cheryl tele-commutes from Laramie and is available by phone and special appointment.

Chuck Trimble, CPA, 24 years experience

Chuck Trimble, CPA, is our newest tax professional at Clergy Advantage®. He is by no means new to clergy tax preparation. Chuck graduated with a BBA in Accounting in 1976 from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He recently sold his very successful CPA Practice in Wylie, TX to relocate near his extended family in Colorado with his wife, Tena.

Chuck also spent 12 years as a pastor of his church’s worship team, where he played guitar and provided vocals. A self described “tinkerer” and music lover, his passion for music is almost as strong as his passion for helping clergy.  He looks forward to becoming your trusted tax advisor for this and many tax seasons to come.

Myron Berg, EA, 41 years experience

MyronMyron Berg, EA, is a veteran accountant with 41 years of tax preparation under his belt. They say that experience is the best teacher, and with Myron this is certainly true. Myron is a native of Minneapolis, MN but completed his tax education at Southern Illinois University. He began his career in Mount Vernon and earned his Enrolled Agent Status in 1976. In addition to his expertise with ministers’ taxes, Myron specializes in business tax and especially, Sub-Chapter S-Corporations and Partnerships (LLC’s), in our Loveland office.

He lives in Greeley, CO with his lovely bride of 44 years, Marsha. When he’s not in the office or a mission trip, Myron and Marsha moonlight in their second career, doting on their three grandchildren.

Sherrye Merriman, CFO

Sherrye-MerrimanIt can be said that Clergy Advantage’s development is directly attributable to Sherrye and her father’s need for answers to clergy tax questions over 30 years ago. Since actively becoming a member of the professional team ten years ago, Sherrye has assumed leadership of the accounting department and coordinated the process for obtaining exempt status with the IRS for hundreds of non profits.

Her attention to the smallest detail is why we enjoy almost a 100% success rate with our new non profit start ups. Sherrye is especially concerned with educating clients about the responsibilities and benefits involved with this decision. She and Steve provide expert guidance through the set-up process and explain the steps involved and all necessary management procedures.

You owe it to yourself to see if a Roth IRA is a good strategy for you. We’ve used and advocated converting retirement income into a Roth IRA for many people over the years, but it has become even more appealing due to new tax provisions for 2010.  Some of the restrictions on converting money to a Roth have been removed and you can actually undo any portion of  the conversion as late as October of next year. 

Who should look at a Roth IRA Conversion?

This is an individual discussion because of all the various concerns and factors for each situation. We’re suggesting that everyone take a look at the benefits of converting some or all of a regular IRA into a Roth, particularly if you’re a married minister or in a high or low tax bracket.  Many ministers in the 0% tax bracket don’t realize it because of their housing allowance. These people definitely meet some of the criteria to consider a Roth conversion.   However, you can’t automatically disqualify yourself if you fall into the middle ( 10-15% ) tax brackets either.  Don’t believe you’re too young or too old for this strategy to work for you, either.  For many, but not all ministers, the best time to consider this strategy is when housing espenses are highest.   

Your state tax and estate plan need to be taken into account, as well as,  the cost and possible tax ramifications for the year of the coversion and a myriad of other factors, so it’s not as simple a calculation as one would hope.   Most people shouldn’t  try  to  figure this one out on their own.  The best way to determine and weigh all of the necessary factors is to evaluate your situation carefully with a qualified tax planner and financial advisor.  We’ll go deeper into the ramifications and criteria if you’d like to call us for a personal evaluation or join us for a  free webinar for more details. Learn more details of Roth IRA Conversions  in a free webinar to discover more about Who should convert and Why. Click here for information or to Register.