About Us

profile

We’re a family business working out of a home office. Why? Because that’s what works for us. We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients and recommending strategies that work best for them. Put simply, we practice what we preach!

Our Strengths

  • No non-sense straightforwardness
  • Clear communication
  • Competency
  • Timeliness
  • Putting your mind at ease
  • Understanding and applying tax law
  • Getting taxpayers out of tax trouble

Our Experience

Our business clients are good at what they do. They’re landscapers, engineers, financial advisors, computer programmers, restoration & installation experts. They trust us to consult on the books, prepare the financials and file the tax returns. They come to us because we are good at what we do.

We have also been the trusted tax preparers for hundreds of individual clients over the last 9 years. They come to us because of the strengths listed above. They come to us for expertise. They come to us because of our Enrolled Agent credential. They come to us because we do it right the first time.

Why would you go anywhere else?


Staff Profiles

Heather Baum

As Cofounder of VanBaum and Associates, Heather keeps the office organized and running smoothly. Excellent Customer service is our priority and Heather is at the for front of making this happen. She organizes all the documents you send us to get them “just right” for Keith and Jodi to work on your tax returns. After a return is complete, she notifies the client and sends the documents for review and signatures. Having technical troubles with signing or the client portal?? Well, Heather is your gal! Give her a text/call at 847-366-6099 or email heather@vanbaumaccounting.com and she will be happy to assist you. 

 

 

 

Jodi Baum

A professional tax preparer since 1989, licensed realtor since 1991 and a bookkeeper for various small businesses along the way, Jodi has always been comfortable wearing many hats. She works our busy season as a tax preparer/reviewer and then transitions to bookkeeping for our year round clients. Oh yeah, she’s also Keith’s mom!

 

 

 

 

Keith Baum

Co-founded VanBaum and Associates in 2014 after working for 3 other firms in northern Illinois. A federally licensed enrolled agent since 2012, a fellow of the National Tax Practitioners Institute and an instructor at the University of Illinois Tax School since 2017, it’s safe to say that he loves everything about the tax business. When not at his desk he can be found volunteering in the community, walking around a golf course or at the dog park with his wife and two doodles.