Photo of Rachel Keller

I have a 2013 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe and a 2020 CVO Street Glide — they’re my babies! I belong to a women’s riding club, and my first handle, “Rockstar,” was inspired by my love for Def Leppard.

Rachel Keller
Partner, CPA

Experience

Tax issues can be complex, and I’m here to simplify them. As the co-leader of Plante Moran’s professional services firm practice and a member of our state and local tax team, I serve a range of privately held middle-market organizations — from architecture/engineering firms, consulting companies, and law firms to marketing and production companies — most of which do business in multiple states and many with operations outside the United States. I also work with high-net-worth individuals and their families. My clients appreciate my responsiveness and critical thinking, up to and including — in one instance — investigative work from me that led to a six-figure refund.

But tax isn’t the only thing I’m interested in — far from it. Around the office, colleagues know me not only for my tax expertise (especially SALT, of course), but also for my problem-solving skills and high energy. This energy led me to take dance as a kid; the only problem was, I lacked the skill needed to become a professional dancer. Years later, in college, I had a professor whose passion for tax was contagious, and I knew immediately this was the career for me. When I joined the firm, I discovered that I enjoyed something else — emceeing one of our annual conferences. Doing the prep work required to carry off a 2,000+ person event wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed it because solving complex problems is second nature to me.

I have authored and been quoted in articles about multistate taxation. I have a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and a master’s in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.

When I’m not at work, I like to keep active. I’ve run three marathons — Detroit once and the notorious Boston twice. I also enjoy scrapbooking — yes, you read that right!