Dexter Financial Adviser Celebrates Third Anniversary

As the U.S. economy continues to rebound from 2010's recession, trusting your life savings to someone else can seem like a scary prospect for some. However, since opening his office in Dexter three years ago, Thomas Paup has been a financial white knight for the community.

Paup, a personal financial advisor with , is part of a growing profession of analysts designed to help clients map out their long-term goals.

“Now more than ever folks are seeking financial advice,” Paup said. “We’re striving to be a more permanent financial services firm in the Dexter area.”

Paup boasts a portfolio of more than 200 clients in the Dexter/Ann Arbor area.

“I think a lot of my success comes from the fact that I’m out in the community building relationships,” he said. “I’m regularly meeting with business owners and residents who appreciate face-to-face interaction to talk about issues that affect them."

A resident of Dexter for the past six years, Paup is a member of the Dexter Rotary Club, Dexter Community Orchestra Board of Trustees, and vice commander of the American Legion Post 557.

“I work with everyone from businesses to families looking to start a college or comprehensive retirement savings fund,” he said. “Most of my clients are 55 and older, but I also have a lot of young families because Dexter is a younger community.”

Village Clerk Carol Jones has known Paup for several years and said she has been very impressed with his professionalism in the community.

“I first met Tom when he knocked on my door to introduce himself, being new to the community six years ago. I was impressed with his initiative and sought out his services when I retired in 2009,” she said. “I have been very happy working with Tom. He checks with me often and I don't feel I am just a number. I have retirement funds invested with him as well as some stocks.

“Having someone local is convenient for me as well as Tom knows what is happening in the community.”

Jones said it’s also important to have a financial advisor who is “knowledgeable but not pushy.” That characteristic has helped boost Paup’s number of clients yearly.

“We’ve grown 50 percent from last year,” he said. “A lot of that is credited to referrals from other clients. We seem to be growing more every year, which is fantastic to see.”

Paup, who received his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, specializes in retirement planning, 401(k) rollovers, education savings, estate planning and debt management.

“You are never too young to start thinking about paying down debt,” he said. “By the time you are 40 you should at least have a plan.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit Paup's website or call 734-424-2753.