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Melanie specializes in estate and succession planning for owners and executives of closely-held businesses, which include automobile dealerships, real estate entities, construction companies, manufacturing companies and service providers. She has more than 25 years of experience advising clients on transferring wealth to succeeding generations and implementing the agreed upon plans.
Melanie also is dedicated to working with families on multigenerational planning. She regularly works with all family members from the patriarch or matriarch who leads the family, to the youngest generation desiring to learn about the wealth transfer within their family.
During her career, Melanie has been responsible for overseeing the preparation of thousands of tax returns incorporating issues such as gift tax, estate tax, inheritance tax and fiduciary income tax. Her involvement with the family members makes her extremely knowledgeable about transactions that would benefit the family. She also works with trustees and beneficiaries to maximize the funds available to the beneficiaries while minimizing the income tax burden.
With legislative changes occurring regularly in the estate and fiduciary areas, Melanie considers it her responsibility to notify the decision-makers within the family to evaluate if any changes should be made to the existing plans in light of any new laws. Once decisions are made, she continues to work with the family to implement their decisions. Melanie continuously interacts with the family’s estate planning advisors to assist with any needed changes, and to make sure all levels of the family understand those changes.
Melanie is currently the president of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, previously serving as vice president, secretary and treasurer. She is also very active in her church serving as a congregational trustee, usher and lector.
J.D.—Duquesne University School of Law
B.S.—Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh
Member—American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants; Pennsylvania Bar Association; Allegheny County Bar Association
President—Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra
Prior Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University Graduate School of Business
Our Thoughts On
Our Thoughts On
Big Problem: Large Tax Burden In The Succession Plans Of A Family Business.
Big Thinking: Creating A Grantor Trust To Save $1.5 Million.
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Schneider Downs is a Top 60 independent Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm providing accounting, tax, audit and business advisory services to public and private companies, not-for-profit organizations and global companies. We also offer Internal Audit; Technology Consulting; Software Solutions; Personal Financial Services; Retirement Plan Solutions and Corporate Finance Services. Schneider Downs is the 13th largest accounting firm in the Mid-Atlantic region and serves individuals and companies in Pennsylvania (PA), Ohio (OH), West Virginia (WV), New York (NY), Maryland (MD), and additional states in the United States with offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, and McLean, VA.
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