March 29, 2024

Switching over

Michael Brentnall, CPA, to change ownership in 2016

Ricky De Hamer and Michael Brentnall sit next to each other, laughing at a joke someone said or discussing the best places to hunt and fish in southwest Iowa.

The camaraderie is apparent even during the short interview De Hamer and Brentnall have with the Creston News Advertiser Thursday, where together they discuss a change in ownership of Michael Brentnall, CPA, a tax and accounting business Brentnall has owned for the past five years.

“I’ll keep the retirement part, the administration of retirement plans and things like that,” Brentnall said. “But, the major work is in the tax work and accounting he’ll be taking over. He’s a lot younger, a lot smarter and better looking.”

Brentnall

Brentnall, 72, left for California after graduating from college. He worked in San Francisco and Palo Alto before returning to Creston, his hometown, in 1973 and managing the medical clinic.

“And then, in 2010, the physicians went to work for the hospital, and I set up my own practice at that time,” Brentnall said. “I wasn’t ready to retire, I guess. I’ve always done something. Still, like now, I’m still going to do the investment side of it, the retirement plans.”

Trust Ex, the business attached to Michael Brentnall, CPA, is a retirement and data processing company. Brentnall is maintaining that side of the business, while De Hamer purchases the accounting side.

“I was born and raised here. We’ve raised kids here. It’s been very beneficial, in my opinion. It’s a good community,” Brentnall said. “The people. I guess I’ll miss the people the most.”

Brentnall said he decided to sell his accounting business because he lost respect for and no longer trusted those in the federal government.

“I just look forward to him taking over,” Brentnall said. “He’s a much younger person, and there’s opportunities here. I think he will do a great job.”

De Hamer

De Hamer, 31, is formerly of Johnston. He graduated from Central College in Pella with a degree in accounting before moving to Austin, Minnesota, where he worked for Hormel for eight years and met Holly Hanson, formerly of Creston, who became his wife.

“I knew that Creston is a good community to work in and be a part of,” De Hamer said. “That’s how I feel like I’m pretty familiar with Creston. Ever since we started dating, I’ve been coming here.”

De Hamer Accounting Services, the new name for Michael Brentnall, CPA, will go into a transition year Jan. 1, where De Hamer can still get tips and help from Brentnall if needed. Then, Jan. 1, 2017, the business will formally be owned by De Hamer.

“When you’re purchasing a practice, you’re partnering with the person you’re purchasing the practice from, and you’re also partnering with their clients,” De Hamer said. “You want to make sure it’s a good match with the person you’re purchasing from, and you want to make sure it’s a good match with the clients.”

De Hamer Accounting Services began approximately 30 years ago, when his father began his own practice under the name. De Hamer said he has been working with his father ever since, as well as in corporate accounting through Hormel.

“I’ve actually got a couple clients in Creston, so it’s been a nice transition since I have a few people I’ve been working with here,” De Hamer said.

There will be no other change in the accounting business, including no change in employee numbers.

“I think it’s good for Creston to continue to have people providing them services here, where they don’t have to leave Creston,” De Hamer said. “For somebody to come here and not just provide them a service, but, in my opinion, provide them a good service, is obviously helpful for everybody.”

Thanks to his experience in corporate accounting with Hormel, De Hamer understands building relationships with small-town clients, something he says will be the most rewarding part of becoming a part of Creston more wholly.

“The role of a tax person in a smaller community is to be part of that company and help them with financial decisions, and I think Ricky will do a great job in that,” Brentnall said.

De Hamer and his wife, who currently have a two and a-half year-old daughter and another child on the way, live in Cumming, where he commutes to Creston and Holly commutes to Des Moines to her job at Pine Ridge Farms.

“Like with anything, there’s always some new things you’re going to be learning, just like in any job someone takes on,” De Hamer said. “I was feeling a little bit of everything. I’m definitely excited with all the different opportunities here.”