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Post, Smythe, Lutz & Ziel celebrate 60 years

By Sarah Shurge “After 60 years, our business goal client, then you have a lifelong client.
Three Cleary University gradu- is to stay alive and stay in the com- We have had clients for 20-40 years.
ates and one of their professors de- munity,” said Traskos. “We have a They stick with us and never leave,”
cided to create a small business in great client base. We just need to add said Traskos.
1961. 60 years later, that business fresh blood to the organization to Communication isn’t the only
has grown and is still going strong. work alongside Wendy and me. We’ve change PSLZ has gone through over
Post, Smythe, Lutz & Ziel, LLP had everyone on board for over 20 the last 60 years.
(PSLZ) was originally founded as an years, we need some fresh people “When I first started, we did tax
accounting firm with the mission to here.” returns on paper. Now we use a soft-
provide the best for its clients with a “We are very interactive with our ware program for changes. I couldn't
full range of services from account- clients. I don’t put up any barriers. imagine in today’s area doing tax re-
ing, auditing, tax compliance, book- I’m available anytime,” said Traskos. turns on paper still,” said Traskos.
keeping, to business planning Post, Smythe, Lutz & Ziel, LLP is located “Back in the day, when you left the of- “We’ve gone from pencil and green-
services. on Wayne Road just south of Annapolis. fice, you were done working because bar paper to digital, that's for sure.”
Today, PSLZ LLP concentrates Traskos to PSLZ in the first place there was no communication con- Over the years, where they do
mainly on the areas of accounting, many years ago. necting you to the outside world. business has changed too.
tax planning, and management con- After graduating college, Traskos Then we went to pagers, then bag “It went from leaving to go to the
sulting while still providing the best began working for Arthur Andersen phones in the car, now we have cell- office, to going to the conference
for its clients. But there is another LLP. Fast forward eight years into the phones. I get calls on Sunday after- room office, to online video,” said
focus that has played a large part in firm, and Traskos came to the real- noons. It doesn’t bother me. We have Traskos.
why the business has lasted so long: ization he was working too much. He excellent relationships with our PSLZ is currently in its fourth lo-
family. realized he was missing out on clients.” cation in Wayne. PSLZ LLP is located
“Our work atmosphere is family watching his kids grow up. He de- Being available with no barriers on South Wayne Road and the hours
focused. A lot of firms are run by the cided to leave the firm to find some- has created a deep loyalty with PSLZ of operation are 9AM through 5PM
numbers. We have a great client base thing local to stay close to his family and its clients. Monday through Friday.
but it’s family first,” said Ron and be more present for his kids. “We get very personal with our For more information, visit
Traskos, PSLZ LLP partner. “We al- Frank Smythe opened PSLZ in clients, you get embedded into their www.pslzllp.com, or to schedule an
ways say ‘Raise your kids. Your fam- Wayne in 1961. Harol Post had an of- personal lives. If you bond with your appointment, call (734)722-9190.
ily comes first. You only get one fice between Ann Arbor and Ypsi-
chance to raise your kids. But some- lanti. Ronald Lutz and Harvey Zeil
how get your work done and keep opened an office in Plymouth.
your clients happy.’ And it’s worked.” Traskos joined the Wayne firm in
Putting “family first” has created 1976. There he gained the flexibility
a loyalty with PSLZ and its employ- he was looking for and after finding
ees. Traskos explained that the that, he wanted to pass it on to every-
seven employees of PSLZ have been one else. That was when “family first”
working together for 25-30 years. truly became the focus of PSLZ.
“We have very little turnover “My work has never been work. I
here,” said Traskos. “Our employees love my client base. I love what I do,”
have the flexibility to put their family said Traskos.
first. They have the availability to go After Frank Smythe retired,
to PTA meetings or sport events. Kathy Billings joined the firm as a
They have the flexibility you can’t partner, and then Wendy Leung
find anywhere else.” joined the firm as a partner along-
That flexibility is what drew side Traskos.

8 · January 2022 · The Wayne Dispatch