2024 Trusted Advisers: Lindsay Owens

For nearly 12 years, Lindsay Owens has been a certified public accountant providing support to clients at Forvis Mazars LLP, especially when it comes to estate and trusts.

“Throughout my career, I have witnessed families be forced to liquidate assets and incur debt in order to pay estate tax after the death of a loved one,” she says. “This is never an easy experience, especially when coupled with the associated loss.”

Owens, now a director in Forvis Mazars’ Private Client department, says she has helped many families plan and implement strategies to provide tax savings and reduce the possibility of a difficult tax outcome, so that families can continue their legacies for years to come.

“I spend a lot of time working with families, after the death of a loved one, to help them navigate the complexities that arise,” she says. “The death of a family member can be a very overwhelming and frustrating time, as they are often tasked with managing the administration of the estate, while also grieving a major loss. As their trusted adviser, I work with them throughout the process to provide support and help simplify the complex.”

In her role, she provides income, gift and estate compliance consulting, and planning services to individuals, families and fiduciaries. Working with high-net-worth clients, she researches complex tax issues, the preparation and review of their returns and how she can best help meet their needs.

Owens says she had the opportunity to focus on this area early in her career.

“I have been consistently involved in high-level estate planning meetings and trust accounting discussions from the beginning, which has afforded me more experience in this area compared to others at a similar level,” Owens says.

Outside of the office, she uses her learned skills to help in the community and continues to learn skills to help in her career. She’s a member of the Greene County Estate Planning Council, The Network, The Missouri Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. She also serves on the board and finance committee for the Child Advocacy Center.

Like many industries, Owens says there is a decline in the number of professionals that work in estate planning, because of a high number of retirements and a decrease of professionals stepping into the niche.

“This creates an additional need for staying up to date on the current developments and issues in the estate planning area to make sure I am able to meet our clients’ needs,” she says.

Overall, Owens says she takes the holistic approach, to help her clients’ needs.

“Reducing taxes is not always the main focus or goal for our clients,” she says. “Part of that approach is making sure the right parties are at the table, including their estate planning attorneys and financial advisers, and working together to create a plan and implement strategies to accomplish those goals.”