Zuengler takes practical approach to law

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For Matthew Zuengler, practicing law isn’t just a passion; it’s also a family affair.

Zuengler’s grandfather was a lawyer who died in his 30s. When Zuengler was in college, he knew he wanted to do something related to finances but also found himself drawn to law school. So he decided to combine the two into a career that would let him follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.

“My kids will often ask me, ‘Dad, what do you do?’ And I just tell them ‘Dad helps people,’” he said. “I enjoy meeting with other people and navigating through what are sometimes difficult situations to achieve their goals and objectives. Sometimes that entails working through some estate-tax dynamics and putting the pieces of the puzzle together in order to ultimately achieve what families and individuals want to reach.”

Zuengler has practiced law for more than 20 years, primarily in the Green Bay area.

A Sheboygan native, Zuengler graduated from Sheboygan Lutheran High School before attending Carroll College. He earned his law degree from Marquette University in 1996.

Zuengler provides advice to clients on wills, trusts, estates, gift and retirement-distribution planning, business planning, charitable planning, marital-property agreements, and probate and trust administration.

“It’s neat to meet with clients that you’ve worked with over the years and you almost feel like you’re part of their family,” he said. “As their estate plan changes over time, you recall what their goals and objectives were at one point in life and now those are changing as their families grow larger and their objectives change as well.”

His work often has him putting in long hours, meeting with clients and serving on various boards and committees. Amid all that, he manages to find time for his personal life. He’s a coach for his children’s baseball and basketball teams.

In legal circles, Zuengler is highly regarded as a “go-to” person who commands respect for his knowledge of the intricacies of estate planning and wealth transfers. He’s particularly noted for his practical approach to the law.

David Dewick, of Hager, Dewick & Zuengler, said in an email that Zuengler embodies a guiding principle at the firm: that relationships matter. All of his colleagues have learned from Zuengler, who played a big role in establishing their firm.

“All of us look to Matt for his practical and well-thought-out approach, not only to the practice of the law, but also as to the management of the firm,” Dewick said. “This approach often causes others to not make rash decisions, but rather step back and consider all factors when making decisions.”

Zuengler serves on various organizations in the Green Bay Area. He has been on the board of directors of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation; the community advisory committee for the St. Mary and St. Vincent Hospital; the major gifts committee of the Friends of St. Vincent Hospital Foundation; the executive board of the Greater Green Bay-Partners in Education-Drug Alliance; and the planned-giving committee of the Bay Area Humane Society.

Zuengler is also a graduate of the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Green Bay program.

His work has appeared in Marquette Elder’s Advisor; The Practical Tax Lawyer; Probate Practice Reporter; Tax Management Compensation Planning Journal, Journal of Retirement Planning; and Taxes-The Tax Magazine.