Blog

Whitaker-Myers Tax Advisors has acquired Goude Tax, led by Enrolled Agent Starr Goude, who has served clients since 1996. This partnership preserves a legacy rooted in military-focused tax expertise while supporting Starr’s thoughtful transition toward retirement. Clients will continue receiving trusted care—now enhanced by coordinated tax and financial planning through the Whitaker-Myers team.

Whitaker-Myers Group is expanding its presence in Bluffton, South Carolina with the acquisition of John Mosca CPA, PC. This addition strengthens our integrated tax and wealth management services while preserving the trusted relationships clients value. With John Mosca continuing through 2026 and our CFP® and tax professionals working together, clients benefit from coordinated planning designed to serve families well—today and for generations to come.

Trump Accounts are a new, government-backed investment tool designed to give children a powerful financial head start. With a one-time federal seed contribution, tax-deferred growth, and long-term investing in broad U.S. stock market index funds, these accounts harness the power of time and compounding. For parents and grandparents, Trump Accounts offer a forward-thinking way to build financial confidence and opportunity for the next generation.

The IRS increased retirement contribution limits for 2026, giving investors more room to build wealth. IRA and Roth IRA limits are now $7,500, with a higher catch-up for those 50 and older. Income limits and deduction rules still apply, so knowing where and how to invest matters. This update breaks down what changed and why you may need to adjust your monthly contributions to stay on track.

Most people don’t realize you can make a one-time, tax-free transfer from an IRA into an HSA. If you’re covered by an HSA-eligible health plan and not yet on Medicare, this strategy can quietly turn tax-deferred IRA dollars into tax-free money for future healthcare costs. For people in their early 60s with large IRAs, it can reduce future RMDs and create meaningful flexibility for medical and long-term care expenses.

Whitaker-Myers Tax Advisors is proud to announce that John-Mark Young has earned his Enrolled Agent designation. This achievement allows him to represent clients before the IRS, file tax returns, and offer the informed guidance our clients expect. His expanded expertise strengthens our commitment to true holistic financial planning.

November may be the eleventh month of the year, but for many families it feels like the busiest. While we enjoy the traditions and history of the season, it also brings real-life responsibilities—especially for parents with college-bound seniors. And when it comes to college planning, nothing seems to raise the blood pressure faster than the financial aid process.

Terms like “debt,” “overspending,” and “pressure” imply that these statistics tell a negative story about the average consumer's decisions during this time of year. While it is unwise to spend above your budget or take on debt for gifts, I believe it also reveals a broader societal or moral pressure to purchase extravagant gifts for the most important people in our lives.

Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps suggest saving for retirement before college — but that doesn’t mean you have to finish one before starting the other. Financial Advisor Matthew Harris breaks down how to balance both goals, use time and compounding interest to your advantage, and make smart choices that keep you on track for retirement without sacrificing your kids’ education.

Ensuring adequate savings for a lengthy retirement stands as the paramount concern for retirees and individuals nearing retirement. Recent years of elevated inflation have diminished the buying power of cash reserves, creating additional hurdles.

As 2025 winds down, now is the perfect time to make strategic financial decisions that can lower your tax bill, grow your investments, and set you up for a strong start to 2026.

It’s that time of year again, benefits enrollment season! Financial Advisor Andrew Young gives an overview of the various benefits you may access through your employer-sponsored benefits program. As shared in the article, these benefits make up approximately 30% of your compensation, so understanding how to use them to their full potential is of extreme benefit to you. (Pun intended!)

With the Federal Reserve’s recent announcement that is will drop interest rates, many investors are asking how a rate change could impact their portfolios. One of the most important — yet often misunderstood — relationships in finance is that between interest rates and bond prices. In this article, we’ll break down how they interact and why changes in rates can directly affect the value of your bond holdings.

One item that Dave Ramsey consistently hits on is the importance of a side hustle to increase income and better reach your financial goals. Side hustles come in all shapes and sizes: food delivery, lemonade stands, woodworking, buying and selling trading cards, and/or starting a lawn care business. The possibilities are virtually endless.

How much can you safely withdraw in retirement without running out of money? While the 4% rule is a good starting point, research by Bill Bengen—and tools like Monte Carlo simulations—help us build smarter, more personalized plans. At Whitaker-Myers, we go further by using strategies like rebalancing, managing sequence of return risk, and diversifying into non-correlated assets to help your retirement income last as long as you do.

This month, let’s talk about how to make wise, informed choices in the college application process—without letting emotions or pressure lead to financial regret.

Choosing between a 529 plan and a UTMA account can shape your child’s financial future. 529s offer tax-free growth for qualified education expenses, while UTMAs provide flexibility for any use benefiting the child. A balanced approach—starting with a UTMA and shifting to a 529—can mix tax benefits and preserve eligibility for education tax credits. Saving just $166 per month from birth can grow to $65,000–$100,000 by age 18, giving your child a strong start in life.

Morningstar’s research leaders, Damian Conover and Dan Rohr, shared insights on the power of wide moat investing—focusing on companies with lasting competitive advantages and sustainable profitability. Their rigorous research process, independence, and long-term perspective align with investors seeking resilient portfolios. The VanEck Morningstar Wide MOAT ETF exemplifies this strategy, outperforming the S&P 500 in most five- and ten-year periods.

If you’ve owned your home for several years, there’s a good chance the value of your property has increased over that period (especially in a high-demand area). Selling a home with a large capital gain can eat into years of equity by way of taxes to the IRS, which is why some homeowners choose to stay in the same home indefinitely.

Philanthropy has expanded far beyond writing a year-end check. Today, tools like Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) allow individuals and families to give more strategically, unlock valuable tax advantages, and even grow their charitable assets over time.