Somerset Tax Partners, LLC

Joe hails from Crisfield, MD, but his upbringing as a pastor’s child took him to various locations. He spent 23 years in South Florida before relocating to Waynesville, North Carolina, in 2018. Joe and his wife, married since 1999, have four children. Their move to Waynesville was driven by a desire to escape Florida’s hurricanes, heat, and traffic, and to  settle in a place they felt called to be.

He graduated from Indian River Community College in 1996 with an A.A. degree in Business Administration, followed by a B.S. degree in Business Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1998. In 2013, he further enhanced his credentials with a Certificate in Financial Planning from Florida State University. Joe’s background includes advanced accounting courses and a keen interest in business finance.

Joe’s professional experience is extensive. From 1996 to 1998, he worked for Thomas N. Silverman, P.A., a Florida Bar board certified tax attorney, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He returned to Mr. Silverman’s firm in 2004 as a Senior Paralegal, where he conducted advanced legal research, prepared legal documents, and administered probate and trust proceedings. Joe’s expertise includes tax research, real estate contracts, probate and trust administration, managing corporate books and documents, and fiduciary accountings.

In 2012, Joe pursued the CFP® certification, achieving the Certificate in Financial Planning within one year. This milestone marked a significant step towards his goal of providing comprehensive financial counseling. He founded Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to assist families in need of professional financial guidance.

In 2014, Joe transitioned to becoming an independent, self-employed professional. Joe’s specialty lies in helping small family-run businesses, but Somerset Tax Partners, LLC is also equipped to handle multi-million dollar clients. His motivation to assist struggling families led him to develop a practice that is heavily focused on tax planning, while also offering financial counseling and planning through Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc.