Archive for category: General Information

By Keith Sherman, Business Development at Swartz and Associates

In business circles today, the conversation around transactions verses relationship building is louder than ever. The two are not mutually exclusive, but they certainly are not equal. I spent my entire life as someone who has “never met a stranger,” which is really just a polite way of saying I’m comfortable talking to anyone. I see the good in people. I see potential friends, future collaborators, and meaningful connections everywhere I go.

Over the years, people have introduced me as someone who “knows everyone.” That’s not quite true. I have met a lot of people – coast to coast, in countless industries and communities – but meeting someone and knowing someone are two very different things. A real relationship is not built from a quick hello at a networking event or a 30‑second elevator ride that ends in a LinkedIn request. It’s built over time, with intention.

A New Chapter—and a New Pace

Two years ago, after nearly four decades in marketing and advertising, I joined Swartz + Associates as a Business Development Executive. When I sat down with Don Swartz to talk about the opportunity, he said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Keith, I want you to say goodbye to your sense of urgency. Our business takes time. Be patient signing new clients. There’s no quota. No timeline. Just go out there and be yourself.”

Wait, go out there and be myself? That I can do. In fact, I can do it better than ever.

Because at this stage in my life, I am intentional about nurturing my past, present, and future connections. I have lived and traveled all over the country, and those experiences have taught me how differently people behave depending on where they’re from—and how similar we all are at our core. One universal truth: trust rarely happens quickly. It takes time. So do genuine relationships.

You can’t rush your way into someone’s inner circle. You can’t expect access to their network before you’ve earned their confidence. You have to show up with the goal of getting to know them, not closing a deal.

A Real Example of the Long Game

This past spring, I was invited to a networking event by someone I worked with back in the late 1990s. That’s a relationship nearly 25 years in the making. At the event, I hugged someone I hadn’t seen in ages, and I also met a person who Swartz + Associates completed a successful project with recently.

That moment did not happen because of a transaction. It happened because of a relationship that had been built, maintained, and respected over decades.

The True Return on Investment

I have been part of countless business transactions throughout my career. But the real effort—the real reward—comes from building relationships that last. Transactions may pay the bills, but relationships build a life. They shape your reputation, your opportunities, and your personal growth.

Don’s advice was spot-on. These past two years have been both fun and successful, and the best part is that it feels like I’m just getting started.

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By Donald Swartz, President

As 2025 comes to an end and we set our sights on 2026, I want to express my appreciation to all the employees that make Swartz & Associates, Inc. (SAI) and Indurante & Associates, Inc. (Indurante) be the companies they are. 2025 was a very challenging year in many respects. Our teams are keeping things in order and ensuring we’re taking care of our clients in the world of property taxes.

Finishing my 39^th year of property review and analysis, I’m not quite sure I’ve experienced a year quite like this.

Kansas City

The reassessment in MO, particularly Jackson County (Kansas City), kept us on our toes and the interim Jackson County Executive ordering a roll back on all commercial properties with valuations less than $5,000,000 only added to taxpayers’ confusion.

Iowa

We continue to find the court systems backlogged from shutdowns related to the Covid years. Several Iowa appeals from the 2023 tax year are finally being scheduled for hearing and our 2025 cases which have been appealed to District Court are not being set for hearings until 2027 and early 2028.

Nebraska

The Nebraska Tax Equalization Review Commission (TERC) continues to be delayed in issuing decisions.  We presented a case before TERC in the fall of 2023 and we have yet to receive a decision notice…

Indurante

Earlier this summer we were notified one of our large Indurante clients was set be acquired at the beginning of 2026 and another large client declared bankruptcy.

Should I do my best ostrich imitation and stick my head in the sand?

This does not really fit my personality or my approach to handling challenging situations 😊 And here’s why:

1. We continue to work in our client’s best interests; we know what we are supposed to be doing and I believe we do our work very well.
2. We have strong and long-lasting relationships with our client base. This is invaluable in a service industry business. We are so grateful and appreciative of our clients.
3. Our pipeline of cases under appeal is significant, and when the opportunity to hear/try our cases take place – we will be ready!
4. Our work environment remains positive; looking forward to what’s ahead as opposed to dwelling on what has transpired in the past.

Looking forward to 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, the power of networking and meaningful touches with clients, friends and prospects is extremely impactful and I cannot stress this enough to my employees. It’s easy to hide behind an email and it takes effort to go above and beyond. I want us to continue to meet, have lunch or coffee, Teams/Zoom, conference calls, whatever is necessary to keep our clients abreast of situations relating to their properties and their businesses.

I look forward to building new relationships; strengthening current ones and reconnecting with prior touches. If we continue to do things the right way, I am optimistic that 2026 will be an exciting and fulfilling year!

Happy New Year to everyone and please let me know how we can assist you. As always, please reach me at or . Or, as I mentioned above, you can call me – (913) 766-8761.

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By David Swartz, Business Development at Swartz and Associates

I’ve written about joining Swartz+Associates, my brother’s firm, in 2023 after spending 35 years in the financial services industry. The legacy financial firm, which once employed over 1,000 people in Des Moines in 1998 experienced many changes over the years and now employs only a small number of people locally. Most of my past co-workers remain in the industry through outside company acquisition or by joining or forming firms specializing in financial planning matters.

Members from this original firm recently held our fourth anniversary reunion to celebrate our joint efforts and teamwork. I proudly shared my original security badge picture preserving the notion that I still represent that younger version of myself. We mostly caught up on family stories and explained current professional roles, but it is remarkable that our collective expertise reflected so many different roles such as sales, operations, and legal/compliance.

Whether you work for a small firm like ours, or a multinational firm where I once worked, success in meeting hard goals and achievements are made easier when a great team is involved. These achievements are often hard to recognize or appreciate in the moment, but become better-celebrated over time when members are able to reflect on their involvement and contributions.

I am thankful for all the mentors and influential teammates with whom I have worked and am glad to add my three years of new property tax experience to Swartz+Associates’ 125 years plus of combined expertise!

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By Gary A. Stone, ASA, Manager at Swartz and Associates

¡WEPA!

¡WEPA! was the greeting we received from the emcee at the beginning of the 2025 ASA International Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, ¡WEPA! is a slang expression used to convey excitement, jubilation, or celebration. The emcee, a native of Puerto Rico, was using this exclamation to convey an excitement to the attendees that Puerto Rico was excited about having us visiting their community. But it was also exciting for many to reconnect with friends from other parts of the world as well as meet new ones.

ASAIC25 – Highlighting the ASA’s Strengths

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) International Conference, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event brought together professionals from across the world, with attendees traveling from as far as India, Australia, Europe, and Israel. Having that kind of global turnout really showed how strong ASA’s network is and how important our work is across the world.

One of the strengths of the American Society of Appraisers is its multidisciplinary focus. The program offers the opportunity to engage with experts across a range of specialties, including business valuation, real estate valuation, personal property appraisal (fine art, jewelry, gems, collectibles, and stained glass), and machinery and technical specialties. The exchange of ideas among disciplines fosters collaboration and a broader appreciation for how each specialty contributes to the overall professionalism and credibility of the valuation community.

You only live Juan-ce!

I saw this pun and could not resist including it-it just feeds my sense of humor. The outstanding educational sessions and networking opportunities would have been enough for a memorable event. However, the setting made it even better. The people of San Juan were warm and welcoming and provided us a wonderful time. My wife, Melissa, and I had an opportunity before the conference to explore Old San Juan. The colorful architecture and rich history were amazing!

The ASA International Conference was an outstanding experience, both professionally and personally. The sessions were informative, but what truly made it special were the people. I left the conference better educated, with new friendships and richer for experiencing the culture of Puerto Rico!

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By Eric Owens, Director at Swartz and Associates

In commercial real estate, our firm realizes that every dollar saved on property taxes goes straight to the bottom line for our clients. At Swartz & Associates, we specialize in uncovering those dollars—through our valuation analysis, strategic appeals, and an understanding of local tax jurisdictions.

Over the past year, our team has helped property owners across multiple states achieve meaningful reductions in assessed value and tax liability.

Below are a few of these wins:

• Big Box Retail – Denver, CO: Secured a $10.9M value reduction, resulting in $393K in real estate tax savings.
• Big Box Retail – Kansas City, KS: Achieved a multi-year $20.15M value reduction, saving our client $833K in taxes.
• Single-Tenant Office – Des Moines, IA: Delivered an $8.7M reduction, generating $218K in savings.
• Multi-Tenant Office – Des Moines, IA: Secured a multi-year $15.2M reduction, saving $482K in taxes.
• Multi-Tenant Office – Kansas City, MO: Achieved a $9M reduction, resulting in $299K in savings.

What’s behind these results?

• Valuation Modeling: We build custom models that reflect real-world income, expense, and market dynamics.
• Jurisdictional Expertise: Every county has its own rules, timelines, and nuances. We know how to navigate them.
• Data-Driven Appeals: Our appeals are backed by evidence—rent rolls, operating statements, market studies—not just opinions.
• Client Collaboration: We work closely with owners, asset managers, and accountants to ensure every angle is covered.

Why it matters:

• Lower assessments mean lower taxes, higher NOI (Net Operating Income), and stronger asset value.
• Successful appeals can improve debt coverage ratios and support refinancing.
• Tax savings can be reinvested into capital improvements, tenant incentives, or portfolio growth.

Whether you own a single asset or manage a multi-state portfolio, property taxes are too important to ignore. If you haven’t reviewed your assessments recently, now is the time—appeal windows are tight.

Let’s connect if you’d like to explore potential savings or benchmark your current assessments. We’re always happy to share insights, run preliminary models, or walk through your jurisdiction’s appeal process.

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!