Doug earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Mass Communications from Taylor University where he was active in student government leadership roles.
After college, Doug enrolled at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where he graduated with honors in 1988. Doug earned the American Jurisprudence Award for Academic Excellence in the area of professional responsibility and was a published member of the University of Detroit Law Review.
After completing law school, Doug returned home to western Michigan and started his own law practice focused exclusively on estate planning and elder law issues. In the course of more than 30 years, he has counselled and created estate plans for more than 1,000 families. In 2018, he was honored by LawFirm500 for owning one of top 200 fastest growing law firms in the nation.
Doug received the designation of Advanced Wealth-Strategist Planner by the Esperti Peterson Institute for Global Wealth Strategies Planning, a one year post-graduate program for estate planning attorneys who serve high net worth individuals. His planning approach has been influence by mentorship and training received through past participation in WealthCounsel, the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, Lawyers with Purpose, and the InKnowVision Institute for Advanced Wealth Strategies Design.
Doug enjoys world travel and met his wife, Karen, while on a trip to Paris in 2018. Karen relocated to Michigan from the west coast and is a professional coach former school teacher. She assists the law firm in client relationship services and human resources.
Doug is the proud father of 3 talented sons: the oldest, Cameron, is an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and a has experience in financial planning and insurance. Cam joined the law firm team in 2023; Thomas is a graduate student at Candler School of Theology at Emory University and works in the law firm as an asset transfer specialist and programmer; and, Taylor is a graduate of Alma College where he was a 3x scholar all American wrestler after earning all-state status at Mona Shores High School. Taylor is Certified Financial Planner® with Northwestern Mutual.
