Probity Appraisal Group

09/04/2026

Our offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

Labor Day was created to recognize the contributions American workers have made to our communities, our economy, and the places we call home.

At Probity Appraisal Group, we see the value of that work every day — in the buildings people create, the materials they craft, and the properties and assets that reflect years of skill, investment, and effort.

This Labor Day, we celebrate the people behind the value.

09/03/2026

As our companies continue to expand, I am always looking to build our local Fredericksburg professional bench. I recently had the opportunity to spend time with Chris Vormund and learn more about his State Farm practice.

I had absolutely no idea how extensive State Farm’s investment services were! Beyond insurance, their offerings include investment advisory services, brokerage mutual funds, 529 plans, annuities, and a range of small-business retirement plans, including 401(k)s, SIMPLE and SEP IRAs, and profit-sharing plans.

And here is my continuing plea to my business clients: please adequately insure the business you are working so hard to build. Review your General Liability, professional liability/E&O, umbrella, and industry-specific coverage regularly. As your revenue, employees, clients, contracts, and assets grow, your risk grows too. An LLC or corporation is not a substitute for proper insurance coverage.

It was great getting to know Chris and adding another local professional to our bench. And a big thank you to the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce for continuing to bring so many local professionals and business owners together. These relationships and connections are one of the best parts of being involved in our local business community.

Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce

09/01/2026

Seven years ago, I opened The Green Mission Inc, followed shortly thereafter by Probity Appraisal Group and then GM-ESG. And of course MAS LLC 26 years ago.

The best hiring decision I ever made was Jennie Lumpkin, who is now our CRO.

I run my companies differently than most. There is no talk of "market domination." We have no ad or marketing spend. We hire who we need and make sure they understand our work policies: no set hours, no vacation or sick days to count. You work when you can, around your personal and family schedule, and you just get things done. Health insurance is 100% paid by the company, because I like team members to be healthy and happy.

We do the work that comes to us and make sure it is done extremely thoroughly, quickly, and efficiently. The client who pays us $1,000 is treated exactly as well as the one paying us $10,000.

We have no mission statement or vision beyond this: study the tax code and appraisal research in excruciating detail, deliver top-notch services and deliverables to our clients, and get it done quickly, efficiently, and with seamless communication. That has been the recipe for organic growth. TGMI and Probity now produce 700 to 1,000 IRS Qualified Appraisals a year, GM-ESG has taken on significant corporate projects, and MAS LLC has grown to over 400 clients, all of whom we know by name and with whom I exercise unhealthy boundaries, like texting them tax advice at 1 a.m.

But the beauty of being a business owner is that I can shelve the corporate speak, decide the whole advertising and marketing game is not for me, and have a heck of a lot of fun in the process alongside leaders like Jennie, who shares my entire strategy: "Just get it done right and quickly."

And it is no coincidence that Jennie and I are both women >50. It is my opinion that women in the tax field are bestowed with superpowers at the age of 50 coupled with a removal of all filters and 100% loss of ability to deal with nonsense.

08/31/2026

The charitable giving landscape changed significantly in 2026, and both donors and nonprofit organizations should understand the new rules before year-end planning begins.

In our latest article, I break down how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshapes charitable giving, including:

• A new charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly who do not itemize
• A new 0.5% AGI floor for itemized charitable deductions
• A reduced marginal tax benefit for certain itemized deductions for taxpayers in the 37% bracket
• A new 1% taxable-income floor for corporate charitable deductions
• Continued planning opportunities involving appreciated property, Qualified Charitable Distributions, and significant noncash gifts
• The substantiation and qualified-appraisal requirements that become particularly important when donating art, antiques, furnishings, salvaged building materials, and other noncash property

The article also looks ahead to 2027, when the new federal Scholarship Granting Organization tax credit becomes effective. Eligible taxpayers may receive a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 annually for qualifying contributions to approved scholarship granting organizations in participating states. Unlike a charitable deduction, this is a direct credit against federal income tax liability, making it an important development for both donors and education-focused nonprofits to begin evaluating now.

For donors, the larger message is that timing, structure, and substantiation matter more in 2026. Bunching charitable gifts, evaluating appreciated-property contributions, and coordinating charitable planning with the new deduction limitations can materially affect the tax result.

For nonprofits, these changes create opportunities as well. Millions of taxpayers who take the standard deduction once again have a federal charitable giving incentive, while corporate and major-donor strategies are changing under the new floors and limitations.

At The Green Mission Inc., we see these rules through the intersection of taxation, charitable giving, qualified appraisal, deconstruction, and sustainability. The objective is not simply to identify a deduction. It is to structure and document charitable contributions correctly so that donors can maximize both their philanthropic impact and the tax benefits Congress intended.

📖 Read the full analysis:
Charitable Giving in 2026: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Reshapes the Rules for Donors

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, in my opinion represents the most consequential restructuring of the federal charitable deduction in a generation.

08/30/2026

Great Work Frankie! 🐾

Frankie recently graduated from his beginning emotional support training program, and he is already making an impression. Whether he is greeting clients or charming everyone he meets at local community events, Frankie brings warmth and joy wherever he goes.

Why does an emotional support animal belong in the workplace? Studies show that interacting with animals lowers cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, while releasing oxytocin, which promotes calm and connection. The documented benefits include:

✅ Reduced stress levels and lower blood pressure
✅ Improved mental health and emotional resilience
✅ Enhanced social connections among colleagues
✅ Stabilized mood through consistent, positive interaction
✅ Better sleep quality and even boosted immune function

In demanding professional environments, where deadlines, complex client matters, and high-stakes work are the norm, a friendly face and a wagging tail can make a genuine difference in team wellbeing and workplace culture.

At our firms, we believe that prioritizing emotional health alongside professional excellence makes us better advisors, better CPAs, better appraisers, and better colleagues.

Frankie is a daily reminder of that commitment.

Stop by and say hello if you see us at an upcoming local event. Frankie loves meeting new people, and we love introducing him!

📖 Learn more about the benefits of emotional support animals: https://aihcp.net/2024/09/04/9-key-benefits-of-emotional-support-animals-for-healthcare-professionals/

08/27/2026

Great afternoon in Richmond with the Virginia Society of CPAs Women’s Collective.

The sessions were excellent: “Speak With Authority: Authentic Voice & Executive Presence” with Michelle Mercurio; “When the Ground Shifts: Finding Clarity, Courage & Choice in Career Transition” with Friderike Butler; and “Building Influence Through Communication and Trust: The Missing Piece of Client Relationships, Collaboration and Leadership” with Sandee Byrd.

An added bonus was making a brilliant new CPA friend, Melody Peace of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, who recently moved to the Fredericksburg area after years of experience in Chattanooga with the Tennessee Valley Authority. So happy the universe dropped her at our table along with my other new friend Gail Jensen, Kendra Morgan, Monish Banga, and Megan King.

I also brought my daughter, Caroline Marschall, who is finishing her M.S. in Accounting at William & Mary and plans to build her career working throughout our companies. I told her this was an opportunity to see how “normal” CPAs act and work.

I took in all of the excellent work/life guidance. I will also continue doing things my own way, Self care is another 2L of Diet Coke and a peaceful 12-hour stretch working through some exciting component of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. 📚 Some people relax differently.

Thank you to Michelle Mercurio, Friderike Butler, Sandee Byrd, and the Virginia Society of CPAs for a great event and for continuing to create spaces where women in the profession can learn from one another, build relationships, and talk candidly about leadership and career development.

VSCPA Women’s Collective

08/25/2026

The countdown is down to single digits! While Stafford County Schools families prepare for next week, a quick reminder to : The 2026–2027 Innovative Teaching Grant application portal is OPEN! Got a big idea for your classroom or department? Grants up to $10,000 are available.

🔗 https://www.thestaffordeducationfoundation.com/innovative-teaching-grant

08/25/2026

Taking time to rest before the big week ahead! Stafford County Schools educators, as you rest and reflect, ask yourself: What dream project could transform my classroom this year? SEF is ready to help fund it! Learn more about our Innovative Teaching Grants at staffordeducationfoundation.com.

08/25/2026

Big milestones today!✨ Happy Transition Day to Stafford County Schools Kindergarteners, 6th graders, and 9th graders stepping into new adventures today! The Stafford Education Foundation wishes all of our students a phenomenal first day!

08/25/2026

Welcome back, ALL Stafford County Schools students! The 2026–2027 school year is officially underway! We are so excited for a year filled with discovery, growth, and community. Here’s to making incredible memories together!