About Us

Mission Statement

Neumeister & Associates provides clear and timely accounting solutions to allow individuals, businesses, and their affiliates to place their trust in us. We have established credibility and technical expertise to deliver valuable insights and excellent service. Through our services, our ultimate goal is to free up clients’ time to spend more time focusing on their business, family, and themselves.

Our Founders

Jeff Neumeister, founder of Neumeister Associates LLP

Jeff A. Neumeister, Partner

Background
Jeff Neumeister is a well-educated and experienced forensic expert and consultant in accounting and financial advisory services. Small organizations, startups, holding entities, high-net-worth individuals, and middle market companies, directly and through their retained counsel, have relied upon Jeff to identify problems, uncover frauds, improve efficiencies and to initiate and defend against litigation. Over his 19 years of professional experience, he has worked in firms ranging in size from large international entities to smaller regional practices.

Jeff has been designated as an expert in multiple cases and has provided valuable deposition testimony for his clients. He has provided litigation advisory services to clients spanning a breadth of industries including construction, entertainment, health care, investments, information technology, professional services, retail, oil and gas, real estate, education, food and beverage, transportation, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing. Jeff has provided business valuations for litigation and non-litigation purposes. Jeff has also managed the financial due diligence process for both buy and sell transactions. Through the use of sophisticated analytic solutions, investigative techniques, and an understanding of accounting, he has found effective solutions for a range of clients’ problems including those related to tax strategies, operational efficiencies, and internal controls.

Interests
Outside of his time servicing clients, Jeff facilitates the professional development of future and current accountants as an adjunct professor and chair of the accounting department at Woodbury University. In his free time, he also enjoys participating in distance events (e.g. marathons and triathlons) and has recently participated in the 2017 Marathon Des Sables, which is ~150-mile run through the Sahara desert. He next plans to take on a similar race through the Amazon rainforest.

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Jeff A. French, Managing Partner

Background
Jeff French is an income tax and accounting professional specializing in small businesses and individual taxation. Rather than seeking the shortest and easiest path, Jeff always looks at the entire picture, works with the client to create a plan, and implements according to their unique situation to achieve the highest tax savings or best solution within the confines of the law. This usually results in thousands of dollars in tax savings by discovering missed write-offs, tax credits, optimizing current entity structure, and/or by proposing an entirely new and more efficient organizational tree. He frequently reviews processes to help clients simplify their accounting systems, allowing them to spend more time in their business.

The clients he serves come from various industries, including but not limited to Entertainment, Consulting, Motion Picture/Photography, Real Estate, Computer Software/Technology, Law Firms, Graphic Designers, E-Commerce, and Non-Profits.

Jeff has been a CPA license holder since 2007 and obtained his Master’s degree in Business Taxation from the University of Southern California in 2010. He has successfully defended and guided his clients through IRS audits and penalty abatement.

Interests
Jeff lives in Rogers, Arkansas, and enjoys camping, sports, and outings with his wife and four children. He lives an active lifestyle and has recently started running and mountain-biking on his local trails.

Michael G Kaplan, Senior Advisor of Neumeister & Associates, LLP

Michael G. Kaplan, Senior Advisor

Background

Mr. Kaplan has more than 40 years of experience in the areas of forensic accounting, business valuation, and litigation consulting. He is the principal of Kaplan Forensics, Forensic Valuation Consultants, headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA.

He has rendered services in numerous litigation matters, including business litigation, professional malpractice matters, fraud and embezzlement, intellectual property, marital dissolution, loss of earnings, employment matters, and partner and shareholder disputes. He is called upon regularly to testify in court as an expert witness. Mr. Kaplan has also served as a court-appointed expert and accounting referee.

Mr. Kaplan is actively involved in the educational field. He has served on the faculty of the Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting at the University of Southern California and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences for attorneys, accountants, and valuation professionals. He has also served on the faculty of the National Judicial College. Mr. Kaplan has developed and presented continuing education programs in financial and management accounting, economic damages, forensic accounting, business valuation, expert communications, and the CPA’s role in litigation. He has authored publications in the areas of Business Valuation, Economic Damages, Litigation Practice Marketing, Valuation Practice Management, and Expert Testimony.

Mr. Kaplan is a principal member of the training development team of the Consultants’ Training Institute. Mr. Kaplan is the recipient of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) Magna Cum Laude Award, NACVA’s Circle of Light Award (the highest distinction awarded to NACVA instructors), Instructor of the Year Award, and Instructor of Exceptional Distinction.

Educational Programs

Education has been a primary focus of Michael Kaplan’s professional career. He has served on university faculties for more than 24 years, the most recent being at his alma mater, the University of Southern California.

Mr. Kaplan is a managing member of Courtroom Boot Camp, LLC, where he is actively involved in the development and presentation of continuing education programs for attorneys and forensic experts.

Mr. Kaplan is actively involved in the development and presentation of continuing education programs for the valuation, legal, and accounting professions through Consultants’ Training Institute.

Meet the team

Abhinav Soomaney, Senior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPAbhinav Soomaney, Senior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Abhinav Soomaney
Senior Associate

Alexander Maassarjian, Senior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPAlexander Maassarjian, Senior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Alexander Maassarjian
Manager

Janice Kang, Operations Manager in Neumeister Associates LLPJanice Kang, Operations Manager in Neumeister Associates LLP

Janice Kang Guardado
Operations Manager

Jerica Tapia
Human Resources Generalist

Faisal Faseehuddin
Director

Christina Babikian, Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPChristina Babikian, Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Christina Babikian
Associate

Christian Gutierrez, Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPChristian Gutierrez, Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Christian Gutierrez
Associate

Shirley Ma, Senior Forensic Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPShirley Ma, Senior Forensic Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Shirley Ma
Senior Forensic Associate

Jeff French
Managing Partner

Jeff Neumeister, founder of Neumeister Associates LLPJeff Neumeister, founder of Neumeister Associates LLP

Jeff Neumeister
Founder & Managing Partner

Hannah Chu
Senior Forensic Associate

Julie Plat, Forensic Accounting & Litigation Manager in Neumeister Associates LLPJulie Plat, Forensic Accounting & Litigation Manager in Neumeister Associates LLP

Julie Plat
Forensic Accounting & Litigation Manager

Terri Frazier
Senior Tax Associate

Karen Palencia Administrative Office Assistant of Neumeister Associates LLPKaren Palencia Administrative Office Assistant of Neumeister Associates LLP

Karen Palencia
Operations Coordinator

Kimberly Gallardo, Executive Assistant in Neumeister Associates LLPKimberly Gallardo, Executive Assistant in Neumeister Associates LLP

Kim Gallardo
Executive Assistant to Jeff Neumeister

Sako Avagyan
Associate

Steve Cortez, Junior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLPSteve Cortez, Junior Associate in Neumeister Associates LLP

Steve Cortez
Forensic Associate