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Baby Step 4 Savings Explained
Baby Step 4 of the Ramsey Plan recommends saving 15% of your gross income for retirement. This guide explains how to structure those savings using a 401(k), Roth IRA, or taxable brokerage depending on your income, filing status, and employer plan access. Key rule: “Match beats Roth, Roth beats Pre-Tax.” Whether you're single or married, with or without a plan, there’s a strategy to fit your situation. Consult a financial advisor to create a plan that works for you.

Kelly Kranstuber
May 196 min read


Navigating Tariffs with Dave Ramsey’s Four Investment Categories
Tariffs can greatly impact investments, and Dave Ramsey’s four categories—Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, and International—respond differently. Growth stocks may be hit hardest, while Aggressive Growth and International companies may benefit. Diversifying across all four can help reduce risk. Understanding these effects with the help of a financial advisor can guide smarter investing in uncertain times.

David Gearhart
May 54 min read


STRS Early Retirement Option Announced
STRS is offering an early retirement incentive for defined benefit plan members with 33 years of service or age 60 with 5 years of service between June 2025 and July 2027. Deciding whether to accept depends on your full financial picture. Run benefit estimates for different retirement points and factor in any salary increases. Then, meet with an STRS counselor and your Whitaker-Myers advisor to determine the best option for your goals.

Andrew Young
Apr 82 min read


How To Start Saving as a Young Adult
Starting your financial journey as a young adult begins with building a budget and following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps—starting with a $1,000 emergency fund and progressing toward saving 15% for retirement. Use a money market fund for emergency savings and take advantage of employer retirement plans and Roth IRAs for long-term growth. The earlier you start, the better. For personalized help, connect with a Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers financial advisor today.

David Gearhart
Feb 202 min read


Generational Wealth Transfer
Over the next 20 years, an estimated $84 trillion will transfer from baby boomers to their heirs—marking the largest wealth shift in U.S. history. This transition, driven by 401(k)s, rising home values, and disciplined savers, will reshape the economy and widen the wealth gap. For those expecting an inheritance, now is the time to meet with a financial advisor to plan wisely, maximize tax efficiency, and set long-term goals. Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers can help you prepare

Jake Buckwalter
Feb 32 min read


SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k)
For self-employed individuals and small business owners, SEP IRAs and Solo 401(k)s offer powerful, tax-advantaged retirement savings beyond traditional IRAs. SEP IRAs are simpler to set up and ideal for businesses with employees, while Solo 401(k)s allow higher contributions and catch-up options for owners with no employees. Each has unique rules and benefits—consult a Whitaker-Myers advisor to choose the best fit for your retirement goals.

Kelly Kranstuber
Jan 215 min read


Maximizing Your Cleveland Clinic Retirement Plan: The Benefits of BrokerageLink® with Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers
Cleveland Clinic and Fidelity BrokerageLink - a powerful combo for retirement savers

John-Mark Young
Dec 14, 20244 min read


Ohio STRS Announces Temporary Retirement Eligibility Changes: What Teachers Need to Know
Ohio STRS announced recent changes to the benefit eligibility of the defined benefit plan.

Whitaker Myers
Dec 14, 20242 min read


Planning Ahead – 2025 Retirement Contribution Limit Changes
The IRS recently announced the changes to the retirement contribution limits for 2025 for the various retirement account types. To...

Andrew Young
Dec 9, 20243 min read


Traditional 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k)
Saving for Retirement Many people have an opportunity to save for retirement through an employer-sponsored 401(k). This is a great way...

Kelly Kranstuber
Oct 14, 20244 min read


Actively Managed vs. Passively Managed Funds
With the number of available funds seemingly endless, it can be hard to tell what a fund’s investing strategy is. With so many ways to...

David Gearhart
Sep 30, 20243 min read


OPERS MEMBERS - YOU HAVE 3 RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS
If you are an OPERS employee, you may or may not already know that you have a choice in the type of retirement plan you participate in....

John-Mark Young
Sep 16, 20245 min read


Options for Retiring Before 59 ½
Although retiring early, let alone before the penalty-free distribution age of 59 ½, seems like an impossible dream for some, it is...

David Gearhart
Sep 3, 20243 min read


A Breakdown of SIMPLE IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs are often mentioned when talking to clients. They either have one with a previous employer or want to know if they would...

Clay Reynolds
Jun 24, 20242 min read


What are “Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs),” and how do these affect me?
Often, in the financial world, terminology can be used that the average person may not understand or have a firm grasp on what is being...

David Gearhart
Jun 10, 20243 min read


Roth IRAs and Backdoor Roth IRA Contributions
What is a Roth IRA A Roth IRA is an investment vehicle that allows people to save for retirement using after-tax dollars. Those dollars...

Kelly Kranstuber
Jun 3, 20242 min read


The Phases of Retirement
Work Graduation! Congratulations! You’ve graduated from work! You’ve probably gone through numerous graduations by now, but none as...

Summit Puri
Apr 22, 20244 min read


Baby Step Motivation
A Quick Backstory People told me growing up that I needed debt in my life and that debt was good. “I can’t get a mortgage without a...

Kelly Kranstuber
Mar 18, 20244 min read


What Should I Consider Before the End of the Year?
As the end of the year approaches, there is no better time to analyze your finances to ensure you have maximized your accounts for the...

David Gearhart
Dec 7, 20233 min read


Intrinsic Value vs. Market Value – What Do They Mean?
The concepts behind finance and investing can be very complex to most people. Often, looking at your portfolio can prove challenging to...

David Gearhart
Nov 30, 20233 min read
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