Paula Bindert
Family Office Advisor
Hometown: Parker, SD
Education: Northwestern College
Learn more about my expertise in Family Office Services →
After growing up on my family’s farm near Parker and attending Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, to earn my accounting and business administration degrees, I landed in Sioux Falls and began a 27-year career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in public accounting.
In 2021, I sold my tax and accounting firm, retired from public accounting, and embarked on a new career journey with First National Wealth Management.
In my role as a Family Office Advisor at FNB Reserve, a division of our Wealth Management department, I can work with you to build a comprehensive financial plan that will help you accomplish your financial goals and minimize taxes. I am also able to utilize my tax expertise to provide a custom framework of family office services for your family — tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.
Outside of financial and tax planning, my favorite way to support members of the community is volunteering with Compassion International and my church.
My husband, Shane, and I have been married for more than 30 years; we raised our three children, Isaac, Becca, and Elizabeth, here in Sioux Falls.
We enjoy traveling and spending time as a family. You can also find us going for walks, playing pickleball, and hiking or kayaking together.
More About Paula
I’m a highly experienced CPA and trusted advisor with more than 27 years in public accounting and a proven track record in financial and cash flow forecasting, tax optimization, estate structuring, and the strategic management of wealth across generations.
Currently serving as a Family Office Advisor with First National Wealth Management, I provide comprehensive financial oversight to help clients navigate cash flow management, tax strategies, wealth structuring, investment analysis, and risk management. I’m dedicated to developing customized financial solutions that ensure long-term wealth preservation, create simplicity, and provide financial peace of mind for clients.
- Strategic Cash Flow Planning – Net worth statements, liquidity forecasting, capital allocation strategies
- Tax Planning & Compliance – Tax-efficient strategies for individuals and their entities
- Estate & Wealth Transfer Planning – Trust structures, estate tax reduction strategies, generational wealth planning
- Investment Review & Analysis – Real estate investment and business venture evaluations
- Risk Management – Insurance coverage analysis, liability protection, financial risk mitigation
- Financial Statement Preparation – Personal and business financial reporting, comparative analysis, forecasting
- Client Relationship Management – Comprehensive wealth management coordination, multi-generational planning
Family Office Advisor and CPA
The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
- Serves as a trusted financial advisor to high-net-worth individuals and families, providing comprehensive wealth management solutions.
- Develops personal net worth statements and forecasts short- and long-term cash flow needs to ensure financial flexibility.
- Implements tax planning strategies, reviewing tax returns and coordinating with CPAs to optimize tax efficiency.
- Collaborates with estate planning attorneys to review and update wills, trusts, and estate structures, modeling tax implications and wealth transfer scenarios.
- Conducts investment analysis, evaluating investment opportunities, business ventures, and portfolio risk management.
- Oversees risk management strategies, reviewing life, property, and umbrella insurance policies to identify gaps and ensure adequate coverage.
- Acts as the primary relationship manager, serving as the main point of contact for all wealth management and banking needs.
Public Accounting | Founding Partner
Fossum & Bindert LLP
- Built and led a successful CPA firm, providing personalized financial services to individuals, families, and businesses.
- Developed and executed strategic tax planning, helping clients minimize tax liability and achieve financial goals.
- Managed federal and state tax compliance for individuals and businesses, ensuring accurate and timely filings.
- Prepared financial statements and accounting reports, providing comparative analysis and forecasting to support decision-making.
- Advised clients on estate planning strategies, working to reduce estate tax exposure and create effective wealth transfer plans.
Additional Public Accounting Experience: Tax Manager
- Lamfers & Maas LLP
- Eide Bailly LLP
- Henry Scholten & Company LLP
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – South Dakota
- Bachelor of Arts, Accounting and Business Administration – Northwestern College (May 1994)
