Two Central Oregon accounting firms have merged and will serve more than 2,600 individual and small-business clients from three offices.

Capstone CPAs of Bend acquired Dahlen & Associates CPAs of Redmond earlier this month. The merger, effective Jan. 3, brings together six certified public accountants, Capstone partner Jonsi Wangler said.

With the merger, Capstone will be the only Deschutes County firm with offices in Redmond, Bend and Sisters, Wangler said. The combined firm employs 16 people, including the six CPAs.

Capstone is one of more than 45 firms located in Bend, according to the Oregon Board of Accountancy, while Dahlen was one of just five in Redmond. The combined firm has more than 1,900 individual clients and more than 700 small-business clients, Wangler said.

Capstone sees growth potential in the number of retirees moving to Redmond, Wangler said. “The biggest potential here in Redmond is individuals,” she said.

Planning around health insurance, both for small businesses and individuals, continues to be a major theme in the firm’s work, she said.

Most of the firm’s individual clients have too much income to qualify for health-insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, Wangler said.

Because health insurance premiums are high, many of the firm’s clients are skipping coverage and paying penalties, she said.

Capstone is helping individuals mitigate those tax penalties or plan to pay for them.

Many of the small businesses Capstone serves are in medicine, Wangler said. The merger adds expertise in audits of municipalities and low-income housing projects, Wangler said.

Capstone CEO Lance Brant, a 1987 graduate of Redmond High School, stated in a press release that his dream has been to expand the firm to Redmond. He will act as managing CPA for all three offices.

Dahlen & Associates founder Christopher Dahlen is going to work as a chief financial officer at a private firm, which was not disclosed. He’ll continue to advise Capstone on work for his former clients, Wangler said.

Other members of the CPA team include Zachary Harmon, who will oversee audits, Connor Bates leading tax accounting in Sisters and Stacie Phillips leading tax work in Redmond.

—Reporter: 541-617-7860, kmclaughlin@bendbulletin.com