Attention to detail, and client education and satisfaction have always been important to me, from my early career days as a dental hygienist to now, as the owner of Foster Financial Group. I have a passion for learning and honoring my father Jim’s legacy in our family business. I am personally invested in my relationship with every single client.
Career Roots in Dental Hygiene
My career didn’t start in accounting. I was a dental hygienist for 25 years. My then boss allowed me to have a flexible schedule around tax time so I could cut my hours back and help my dad, Jim Foster during his busiest time of year at Foster Financial Group (FFG), a small tax business he had started in 1985. Yearly, after April 15, I would go back to my scrubs and full-time dental schedule.
For the Love of Learning
I’ve always loved learning. I got that from my dad: he valued education above all, and I’ve always wanted to make him proud. In the early 1990\\\\\\'s, between pregnancies with my three kids, I completed my MBA in Accounting. I also took the H&R Block tax course in 1998. Challenged by Jim, I earned my Enrolled Agent license in 2002. I maintain my continuing education requirements for my dental hygiene license, which I still keep active, a profession I practiced until 2008. Recently, I sat for all 4 parts of the CPA exam, passing all 4 on my first try, after taking 21 additional credits of accounting college classes to qualify to take the exam. I value education, not only to honor my dad, but also as a commitment to my clients.
Working with Jim Full-Time
After my MBA, I didn’t think to join a traditional accounting firm and its demanding work-week time commitments was a good fit for my young family. FFG was growing and becoming a year-round operation. Dad offered me a job and I joined the practice, first as an employee; then as a partner. Working with my dad taught me everything about life and the value of doing your job with pride and love. He also helped me gain the confidence to become a small business owner and entrepreneur.
Legacy and Future
Jim instilled these values in me, not only as my father, but also as my professional mentor. Since his passing in 2010, I’ve continued to incorporate these values into our business every day: he set a very high standard I try hard to maintain. I\\'m very particular about anyone I bring in to work with me because I truly feel that whoever represents FFG will need to care deeply about the quality of their work and be willing to take personal responsibility for it, helping clients understand their tax situation, and wanting, ALWAYS, what is best for the client, just like Jim always did. I aspire to someday bring someone to mentor into the practice, like he did me, and continue to build his legacy into the future.