Bethanie Pollock – About Me

For the majority of my adult years I have sought the perfect “balance” in life. Whether it was actively participating in the early growth of flexible work arrangements during my tenure in the Big 4, participating in all facets of my children’s lives, or eventually creating the concept behind Balans Consulting – striking the right balance amongst my personal pillars of faith, family, friends, health, and career, has always been a priority. I have an innate drive to succeed at everything I do (with the exception of housekeeping and laundry), and am always up for a good challenge. But over the years, I have found that true satisfaction does not come from simply checking tasks off the list, but rather by making a difference in someone’s life. This difference can come by way of tax planning counsel, mentoring students, or by simply spending real time with family and friends.

I spent much of my childhood in competitive gymnastics. That experience instilled valuable lessons in discipline and work ethic, and eventually led me to Northern Illinois on an athletic scholarship. An injury brought me back home to Michigan State University where I obtained my undergraduate degree in Finance. After a short stint in banking, I decided to further my education in law school (I am not averse to a good argument if I feel strongly about something). I earned my Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton, and it was there that I realized my passion for taxes – not paying them but analyzing them. Admittedly, this warped fascination with the Internal Revenue Code is not shared by many people! It seems I have always had the ability to see through the chaos and understand the logic behind the rules and how to best apply them to any given situation.

My husband and I married shortly after law school and at that time I focused primarily on my career. It was not until after my three wonderful boys were born that I began to better appreciate the value of overall life balance. I simply didn’t want to miss a minute of anything, but quickly learned that wasn’t possible. Obtaining better balance has allowed me to enjoy all aspects of life – and frankly it has made me better at all of them. The concept behind Balans Consulting was predicated on my desire to combine my work ethic and expertise in taxes with my commitment to my core values. The firm was co-founded on this premise with a great partner who shares these same values. I believe that applying my gifts in a way that helps others, either clients through personalized tax counsel or employees through providing a nurturing and balanced work environment, will not only create a legacy for our firm, but will hopefully help others strike the right “balance” in their lives.

Deb Thomas – Administrative Assistant

My journey to becoming a member of the Balans team is a little unusual. I am a physical therapist by background and obtained my bachelor’s degree at Wayne State University and a Master of Health Sciences from GVSU. Throughout my career I have worked in many different settings and am currently providing therapy for short-term rehab and skilled nursing residents. I work as an “on call” therapist, providing extra help to cover staffing needs. This type of schedule allowed me to have more time with my kids, manage the house and to take time off when needed. I loved the flexibility, and it is a schedule that I continue to enjoy.

So how did I end up at Balans? The Covid pandemic reduced my therapy hours and I started getting bored. I wanted to find part-time work that was interesting, a departure from health care, and that allowed me to be able to continue working as a PT. A friend told me about Balans and their need for office help. I met with Bethanie and the rest is history!

Although I do not have formal business office training, my past experiences have helped develop other strengths which I use at work. I was very involved in my children’s activities when they were young; often planning, organizing or leading various groups. Whether it was starting a reading club, running band fundraisers, planning team meals, or bringing organization to the robotics team, I was always willing to jump in and help where needed. I like to learn new things and value good communication. I tend to be organized and detail oriented, yet flexible. These traits and skills have been useful while I support Bethanie and Olivia and help the office run smoothly.

On a personal note, I grew up in the Detroit area and moved to West Michigan when my husband and I married. We have three young-adult children, all very different and pursuing different paths. I like to plan trips and travel, hike, read, garden, and do fun and creative projects around the house (my husband is a good sport and always helps me turn my ideas into reality). I am thankful to work with two truly remarkable and principled women who provide outstanding service to their clients