March 16, 2025 • 24 mins
Aaron Bates is the CEO of Whitcomb & Hess CPAs & Financial Advisors, which is based in Ashland, Ohio - serving clients locally in Mid-Ohio, and all over the United States. The company was founded in 1983, and has continued to guide clients at any stage of their life to plan, grow and thrive. Whitcomb & Hess has 27 employees and offers business planning, tax, wealth management, accounting, investments and more. Learn more about Aaron Bates, and Whitcomb & Hess here on the podcast. Find out more at Whitcomb.com
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by Witcom and Hess CPAs and Financial Advisors.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hi, I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman, Hess CPAs and
Financial Advisors, helping you plan, grow and thrive in your
business and in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic
CEOs from midd Ohio visit us at Witcomb dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Our guest this morning, and we are excited as we
have Aaron Bates with us in studio. He is the
CEO of Witcomb and has CPAs and financial Advisors, and
we're thankful for them as they are helping us bring
you the CEO you should know and feature and put
a spotlight on some great local businesses organizations here in
(00:49):
north central Ohio. Aaron, good morning and thanks for coming
in today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thanks for having us and allowing us to be a
part of the show today and to sponsor the program
here for the next several months.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Excited about it as you mentioned that, and you guys
you know, are presenting this program and you and I
were chatting off there. Now we turn the MIC's on.
I mentioned to you it's a great program because we
learn about so many great businesses, organizations and the people
like yourself that are running these organizations, right, but we
get to hear from you guys.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, it's exciting. I think you know, in the work
that we do as CPAs and financial Advisors, we're connected
to a lot of CEOs and small business owners who
are running businesses and leading teams and doing their thing
on a daily basis here in our region. And when
the opportunity came across my desk to sponsor the show,
it just it kind of made perfect sense for us
(01:41):
with something that our team at the office was excited
about and thought it would be a great, great partnership
to share the stories. I think that's the kind of
cool thing is we get there's so many great stories
here locally, success stories that you know are worthy of
being shared, and we're excited to be a part of that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Thrilled to heavy in this morning again. Aaron Bates is
with us, all right, So let's learn you are the
CEO of witcom and has CPAs and financial Advisors. So
tell us about you guys, And it sounds like, you know,
there is so many things when you talk about finances
that you guys do, but kind of give us a
bit of an explanation on what you guys do overall.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So as the name implies as CPAs, we work in accounting,
in tax primarily and working with business owners, people approaching retirement,
young professionals who are growing businesses, transitioning businesses, trying to
optimize their businesses, and then ultimately with the tax side
of things, helping people in retirement, approaching retirement, young professionals
(02:46):
just trying to minimize the amount of tax they pay
every given year. As financial advisors, we're working in wealth management,
helping people with investments and retirement planning and estate planning
and insurance and all of those things that help people
grow their wealth. So a lot of times I say
it's like offense and defense on a football team or
(03:07):
basketball team. We've got the offensive side trying to grow money,
and on the accounting and tax side, the defense trying
to save as much on tax so people can keep
as much of their own money as they can. And
we really cover the gamut from the tax return to
the wealth management to financial statements and all of the above.
We often say about the only thing we don't do
(03:28):
in finances prepare legal documents, which is where we partner
with local lawyers and attorneys to actually prepare those documents.
But yeah, we really are able to cover the full gamut.
In fact, we're one of the only firms in the
region that has a CPA on staff, a CFP which
is a certified Financial planner, and then a CFA which
(03:50):
is a Chartered Financial Analyst, so kind of all three
specialties in our financial professions to focus in on serving
our client's needs and making sure that they get comprehensive,
holistic advice when they come to our firm.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, it sounds like you guys check all the boxes
in terms of finances. And as you were talking some
sports analogies you mentioned offense defense. Sounds like it's a
good team at Wickham and Hess. Huh, that's the goal.
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
We've been in business for forty two years. The business
was started by Ed Whitcomb and Jim Hess in nineteen
eighty three, and the core of our success really has
always been having great people on our team who are
working together, who are sharpening their skills and developing the
mastery of their skills each and every day, who ultimately
(04:36):
want to make the lives of the people we serve better.
And if we can do that and do that collaboratively
and with diligence, then that's a pretty good combination. And
we've been fortunate over those years to have really great
people that we work with on our team and clients
that we work with as well well.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I interview a lot of people. I talk to a
lot of people, whether you're a mayor, you're a police chief,
you're a business owner, you run a nonprofit, they always
talk about having good people, good you know that, trust
and all of that. So we're going to talk about
a lot of that this morning with CEO Aaron Bates
of Whitcomb and has CPAs and Financial Advisors. They're a
(05:14):
proud sponsor of our CEO You Should Know program here
on iHeartRadio. All right, So you mentioned the business has
been going on you so better than forty years now? Correct?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Correct? Forty two years?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Where are you guys physically? And I know you help
people everywhere. You were telling me where are you guys
located at? Yeah, our office is located in Ashland, Ohio.
We're on Cleveland Avenue and we've been there since nineteen
eighty six and building has expanded a few times since
our tenure there, but all twenty seven of our team.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Are there locally. And yeah, we serve people all across
the country. We've got clients in Alaska, California, Arizona, Florida,
and many of them all have some connection to Ashland
or the region. But yeah, it's kind of interesting these days,
how with technology and the ability to connect with people
all over the all over the world. Quite frankly, you know,
(06:06):
our our reach continues to grow and grow and grow.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, and that's a great thing because as you talk
about your reach and because of technology, you could have
somebody that was born in Ashland, Mansfield, Richland County, you know,
in the north central Ohio region, but you know, maybe
they took a job that they move. But hey, you know,
I got really really good advice. I got really really
good you know things from Witcom and HESSE where they're
able to advise me and help me, and I don't
(06:30):
I want to stay with them and you can help
them no matter where they go. That's a great thing.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Sure, yeah, we have I mean, businesses expand and have
multiple locations, and families expand and have multiple generations. And
so I've been at Wickham and hess for.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Twenty one years.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So seeing the expansion of how families and businesses and
people grow is really exciting and being able to grow
with them is a real honor.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Again, we are chatting today with CEO Aaron Bates of
wit Come and has CPAs and Financial Advisors, and I
love your line advisors to plan, grow and thrive. And
you think about it, you mentioned it. Maybe somebody's in
their forties and retirements twenty some years away, maybe their
late fifties towards sixties just a few years away. But
(07:17):
you always need to plan. And there are so many
things nowadays you and I talking here early twenty twenty
five that you know, people are like, okay, I want
to make sure I'm you know, on sound financial footing.
I have a good plan. And that's where it comes out.
You guys are the experts, right they give you a
call and you you help formulate a plan and make
sure they're on that right track.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Would you walk us through a little bit of about
what you guys do there? Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So the plan grow Thrive came out of some just
reflection about you know, what it actually is that we
do naturally as as CPAs and Financial advisors. The work
we do involves finances, and we put together financial statements
and tax returns, investment portfolios, and a state plan. But
(08:00):
at the end of the day, what people want is
they want a sense of confidence that they're heading in
the right direction. And so I always like to say,
we're really in the advice business. And when we sit
down with people, it's critical to understand where they are today,
where they want to be tomorrow, whatever timeframe tomorrow might be,
(08:22):
and then we ultimately are able to help them create
a plan to get from point A to point B,
whether it's a business, whether it's a retirement plan, whether
it's saving for college, a state plan, whatever you might have.
And so most plans involve growing at some point. And
then ultimately it's never about the money. It's about what
(08:45):
the money can do for you. People want a life
that is thriving. However, that gets defined for each of
us as individuals, and so the heart of what we
do is essentially planning. I like to say planning gives purpose.
Planning so that you can grow and that you grow
so that you can thrive. And so that's where the
(09:06):
plan grow thrive came from. And again, whether it's a
business that's just getting off the ground, or whether it's
a business that's coming to a transition, whether it be
succession or you know, transitions of any kind, whether it's
people planning for retirement or even have retired and then
the laws change, or you know, things are always changing,
(09:27):
right and so this plan Grow Thrive is kind of
a process that really never stops.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I like to say we're.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Tour guides, not travel agents, because as advisors we want
to walk with you through the whole journey and be
guiding you and advising you with each and every twist
and turn and up and down that may come. And
that's really the joy that we get out of this
is being able to walk with people and help them
succeed at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Great conversation this morning, learning about our CEO, and that's
Aaron Bates of wit Co and has CPAs and financial
advisors based in Ashland, but they help people everywhere all
across north central oo Ole. Hi want across the country?
All right, So Aarin, before we learn a little more
about you, I want to bring this up if somebody
(10:14):
is interested in reaching out, they want more information, they
want to talk to somebody they're they're looking at their finances,
thinking about retirement. But you mentioned tax is anything. What's
the best way to go about that? Website phone number either,
what's the best way to get ahold of you? Guys?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, our website witcom dot com, that's Whitcomb dot com
has a lot of information about our process, about who
we are, our core values. You get to know our
team on there, and certainly you can interact with us
through the website that way. You can also call our
(10:48):
office locally. It's four one nine two eight nine seven
zero zero seven. And either way you can initiate a conversation.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
That way.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You can follow us on social media Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram.
Were there as well, But I'd start on the website.
That's probably the best place to find information and get
to know us a little better, and then we can
go from there.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Awesome, man, I mentioned I was on the website at
witcombe dot com. He mentioned the phone number four one
nine two eight nine seven zero zero seven. Aaron Bates,
CEO Whitcomb and has CPAs and financial advisors. All right,
so I want to learn about you. You were telling
me you were not born locally here, but not too
(11:29):
far away to tell us a little bit about you.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yeah, So I grew up in Ashtabula County, a little
town called Williamsfield. Grew up on a dairy farm, and
when I went to college, I knew I liked math
and farming, and so I went to Ohio State and
my major was engineering and my minor was business. Figured
those two complemented each other pretty well. Naturally, after I
got out of college, the business route is the route
(11:54):
I went rather than engineering, but I still think the
skill sets crossover pretty well for both of those. And
I moved to Ashland in nineteen ninety nine after graduating
from Ohio State and I have been there ever since.
Worked five years in other vocations right out of college,
more in sales and insurance actually for a year, and
(12:16):
then started as an investment advisor at Wickham and Hess
in two thousand and four, and started as an advisor
and have worked my way up through the company and
now the CEO.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
How long have you been CEO kind of in that
role now.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So really this is the first year.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Jim Hess will be retiring at the end of April,
and he was a co founder of the firm back
in nineteen eighty three, which the firm still bears his
name along with Ed Whitcomb, and we plan to keep
it that way. So we're kind of starting our second generation,
if you will, of leadership at the firm, and we're
excited about it. It's, you know, again, been a transition
(12:57):
that's taken place over many many months, very intense, and
we've been planning for this for a while and I'm
excited to step into this role something I've always dreamed
about and have looked forward to. And we give this
advice and we help advise clients through these things, and
so now we're doing it now ourselves. And we've been
really fortunate again to have great people. Jim's been a
(13:19):
great mentor to me, and it's really been a blessing
to be able to have this opportunity and to have
it transition as well and as smoothly as it has.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
But I can tell you're excited for this role just
by the smile on your face. I can tell you
mentioned you're really excited. And we're going to keep him
for a few more minutes. I got a couple more
questions again. We are chatting with our CEO this week,
Aaron Bates of Whitcomb and Hess CPAs and financial advisors.
And I didn't realize this. Aaron and I were chatting
(13:51):
before we turn the MIC's on that I covered some
games for your son when he played basketball a few
years back at Ashland High School. So I know you
have I think a couple kids. But tell us a
little more about the family. I'm interested here.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So, my wife, Aubrey, and I have been married going
on twenty three years. We have three kids. Our oldest son, Kessler,
is a college student at the University of Cincinnati. He
played high school basketball for the Ashland Arrows a couple
of years ago. And my next son, Tye, is a
junior at Ashland High School now plays golf, track and
(14:25):
basketball as well. And my daughter Annie's in eighth grade
at Ashland Middle School and she's swimming in track, in sports.
And so yeah, we're a busy group and lots going on.
But it's you know, as excited as I am about
being a CEO, I'm even more excited about, you know,
my family and all the things that they're involved in.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, and you and I talking right now as we're chatting,
and it's in mid March, this is you know, with
you know, tax returns and different things going on, this
is a busy time for you guys. I'm sure you're
always busy, but this probably is one of those times, right.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah, this is the busiest time for sure, and our
team has been working very diligently to you know, get
the work done. And this time of year, you know,
kind of like a basketball season, right you have an
off season where you're sharpening the blade and reviewing your
processes and procedures and doing the workouts to get better
for the next season. But when January first hits, it's
(15:23):
it's go time. And so we are kind of in
the grind of it right now. And I know, with
the nice weather, people are getting anxious to get outside
and enjoy the sunshine and the warmer weather. And you know,
thankfully tax season doesn't happen in the summertime. We've had
CPAs that say they'd probably never entered the profession if
they did. But yeah, we've again, we've been blessed with
(15:45):
a great team that works really hard and really is
passionate about clients and making sure that they have what
they need and that we've got quality work done on time.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Well, I want to circle back before I let you go,
and I got just a couple quick questions for you again.
Aaron Bates our CEO this week of Whitcomb and has
CPAs and financial advisors advisors to plan, grow and thrive.
You told me twenty seven on staff. Correct, correct? Right?
So I always kind of reserve this time, and I
always word it this way. Almost wants you to brag
(16:16):
about yourself speak just because you know you're in your
profession and you could tell you have a great staff.
But you know, talk about you know why somebody they're
they're thinking about their finances. They have a lot of questions.
Everybody does now, just the way things you know are going.
People are like, you know, what move do I need
to make? What should I do? Talk about why somebody
should come see you guys at Whitcomb and Hesse, if
(16:37):
you wouldn't share a little bit a little bit there.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, I think the thing that really makes us unique
is the ability to provide the holistic and comprehensive experience
for clients because of all the specialties that we have
on our staff, having the tax experts, having the planning experts,
having the investment expert, a social security planning expert, and
(17:03):
that just scratches a surface. There's a lot of our
team have specialties and lots of different areas and experience
in lots of areas. So we're kind of blessed to
have a lot of young people coming in, a lot
of talented young people on our team, but we've also
got a number of experienced people that you know, collectively,
I don't know how many hundreds of years of experience
(17:24):
we have on our team, and so, you know, there's
still things that surprise us because life is always changing,
but you know, there's a lot of experience that we have,
and so to be able to have the experience to
coordinate the approach and to be able to deliver it
professionally and personally, I think is what separates us. And
you know, we really are aim is to be our
(17:46):
client's most trusted advisor, and trust is earned a little
bits at a time over longer periods of time. And
we have been really blessed to have some clients that
have been with us almost all of those forty two years.
We have some that have been with us forty years,
many that have been with us thirty and you know,
it's just a It's a blessing and really a privilege
(18:08):
to work with clients now in the second third, even
working on the fourth generation of businesses or families that
we work with. And so that really, I guess makes
you feel good when you know you can earn that
kind of relationship with folks and guide them along the way. Again,
like I said, we like to be tour guides, not
travel agents, and so that relationship is really what's most
(18:32):
meaningful to us.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, you mentioned second, third, fourth generations. You know, you've
been helping people for years and you know the next
generation wants to go to Wickham and he s because
the generation before, you know, had such a great experience
and I just think about it now as we wrap
it up here and you know, just everything now early
twenty twenty five, people are, you know, financially, they're they're
thinking what do I do? They hear you know, stock
(18:53):
market economy with the word of the year I think's
tariffs right now, there's there's so much going on now
where you don't you know, you want to make make
sure you're making the right move and that's why you know,
reaching out to you guys Wickhaman. Has you mentioned you know,
what do you guys think, Well, you know, what should
I do? Right now? Would be the time to give
you guys a call?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Right, Yeah, the future is always uncertain, and no matter
what's happening, the future is always uncertain. And I think
that's the thing I've learned most over my twenty plus
years is you never know what's around the bend. There's
always going to be things that are unexpected. Laws change,
(19:30):
rules change, presidents change, markets change, businesses change, and so
while change can be unsettling and create a sense of anxiety,
you know, I kind of use the analogy of what
we do as like sailing a boat, although I've never
sailed a boat full discretion, but you know, the winds
(19:51):
and the tides are totally out of our control and
all you can do is adjust the sail, adjust the rudder.
And you know, as advisor, that's what we help our
clients do through times of uncertainty, is you know, adjust
the sales, adjust the rudder, take one more look at
the financials, take one more look at you know, the
(20:12):
circumstances at hand. And again, the core of our business
really then being able to advise people about how to
move forward, because we have to move forward. And so
again we can't predict the future. We don't know exactly
how things are going to go, but we believe if
we can stack the odds in your favor, then more
often than not, good things are going to happen and
(20:34):
we'll be able to endure times of change and times
of uncertainty. And you know, and that's where we want
to be. We don't want to just complete tax returns,
we don't want to just complete financial statements or just
put together investment portfolios. It comes back to the thriving, right.
We want to help people plan to grow so they
can thrive. And at the end of the day, if
(20:54):
we can make the lives of people better, that's why
we do what we do.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, and I know you guys offer a lot lot
at witcom dot com. We mentioned more information for one
nine two, eight, nine seventy zero seven CEO Aaron Bates
of witcom and has CPAs and financial advisors. Last thing
I forgot to bring up when you are not working,
and we mentioned you know, wife, kids, you know business.
There's a lot happened and a lot a lot of
(21:19):
I know, school activities and things like that. But you know,
what do you like to do hobby wise, spare time
when when you're not at work, kickback and relax. What
do you like to do?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, So our family has kind of recently really taken
to hiking. Has been something we've enjoyed together. So my
wife likes to hike.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I like to hike.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
The kids have come along and discovered hiking. So hiking
and I would say boating. We've got some kayaks and.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Just to get outdoors.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
I guess that's probably the thing that we find that
recharging and kind of resting in nature and God's wonderful
creation has really been a source of of recreation and
restoration for all of us in our family.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
As we circle back, one final thing, is there anything
we missed today that you want to share that we
didn't bring up that people should know about witcoming has?
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You know, I think just Ed Wickham and Jim Hess
when they started the company really built the company with
a foundation of integrity and treating people with respect and
integrity and a lot of successful businesses. I think if
they build their business on those things, they can go far.
And I think you know that's another phrase it comes
(22:35):
to mind is alone you go fast, and together you
go far and I think our team embraces that, and
our leadership embraces that, and you know, we're really thankful
to Ed and to Jim for setting us up for
success for generations to come, quite frankly, and it's been
a great ride and we look forward to the great
ride continuing.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Yeah, you mentioned an integrity, trust, relationship experience. It's all
of that. You guys offer so much at wickcoman HES.
Let's go out the information again. If you want more
information with witcom and HES, CPAs and Financial Advisors against
CEO with us in studio Aaron Bates, you can go
to witcom dot com. That's whitcomb dot com, or you
(23:17):
can call four one nine two eight nine seventy zero seven. Well,
it's been great to learn about you. Love to have
you guys on board with the program helping us shine
that spotlight on great businesses, organizations, nonprofits, everybody in the area. Aaron,
thank you so much. Great to learn your story and
we wish you continued success.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Thank you. Thanks for having us on CEOs. You should
know here from local leaders in the community, made possible
by witcoman HESS, CPAs and Financial Advisors.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Hi, I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman Hess CPAs and
financial advisors, helping you plan, grow and thrive in your
business and in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic
CEOs from Middle Ohio. Visit us at whitcom dot com
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by Witcom and Hess CPAs and Financial Advisors.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hi, I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman, Hess CPAs and
Financial Advisors, helping you plan, grow and thrive in your
business and in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic
CEOs from midd Ohio visit us at Witcomb dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Our guest this morning, and we are excited as we
have Aaron Bates with us in studio. He is the
CEO of Witcomb and has CPAs and financial Advisors, and
we're thankful for them as they are helping us bring
you the CEO you should know and feature and put
a spotlight on some great local businesses organizations here in
(00:49):
north central Ohio. Aaron, good morning and thanks for coming
in today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thanks for having us and allowing us to be a
part of the show today and to sponsor the program
here for the next several months.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Excited about it as you mentioned that, and you guys
you know, are presenting this program and you and I
were chatting off there. Now we turn the MIC's on.
I mentioned to you it's a great program because we
learn about so many great businesses, organizations and the people
like yourself that are running these organizations, right, but we
get to hear from you guys.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, it's exciting. I think you know, in the work
that we do as CPAs and financial Advisors, we're connected
to a lot of CEOs and small business owners who
are running businesses and leading teams and doing their thing
on a daily basis here in our region. And when
the opportunity came across my desk to sponsor the show,
it just it kind of made perfect sense for us
(01:41):
with something that our team at the office was excited
about and thought it would be a great, great partnership
to share the stories. I think that's the kind of
cool thing is we get there's so many great stories
here locally, success stories that you know are worthy of
being shared, and we're excited to be a part of that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Thrilled to heavy in this morning again. Aaron Bates is
with us, all right, So let's learn you are the
CEO of witcom and has CPAs and financial Advisors. So
tell us about you guys, And it sounds like, you know,
there is so many things when you talk about finances
that you guys do, but kind of give us a
bit of an explanation on what you guys do overall.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So as the name implies as CPAs, we work in accounting,
in tax primarily and working with business owners, people approaching retirement,
young professionals who are growing businesses, transitioning businesses, trying to
optimize their businesses, and then ultimately with the tax side
of things, helping people in retirement, approaching retirement, young professionals
(02:46):
just trying to minimize the amount of tax they pay
every given year. As financial advisors, we're working in wealth management,
helping people with investments and retirement planning and estate planning
and insurance and all of those things that help people
grow their wealth. So a lot of times I say
it's like offense and defense on a football team or
(03:07):
basketball team. We've got the offensive side trying to grow money,
and on the accounting and tax side, the defense trying
to save as much on tax so people can keep
as much of their own money as they can. And
we really cover the gamut from the tax return to
the wealth management to financial statements and all of the above.
We often say about the only thing we don't do
(03:28):
in finances prepare legal documents, which is where we partner
with local lawyers and attorneys to actually prepare those documents.
But yeah, we really are able to cover the full gamut.
In fact, we're one of the only firms in the
region that has a CPA on staff, a CFP which
is a certified Financial planner, and then a CFA which
(03:50):
is a Chartered Financial Analyst, so kind of all three
specialties in our financial professions to focus in on serving
our client's needs and making sure that they get comprehensive,
holistic advice when they come to our firm.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, it sounds like you guys check all the boxes
in terms of finances. And as you were talking some
sports analogies you mentioned offense defense. Sounds like it's a
good team at Wickham and Hess. Huh, that's the goal.
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
We've been in business for forty two years. The business
was started by Ed Whitcomb and Jim Hess in nineteen
eighty three, and the core of our success really has
always been having great people on our team who are
working together, who are sharpening their skills and developing the
mastery of their skills each and every day, who ultimately
(04:36):
want to make the lives of the people we serve better.
And if we can do that and do that collaboratively
and with diligence, then that's a pretty good combination. And
we've been fortunate over those years to have really great
people that we work with on our team and clients
that we work with as well well.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I interview a lot of people. I talk to a
lot of people, whether you're a mayor, you're a police chief,
you're a business owner, you run a nonprofit, they always
talk about having good people, good you know that, trust
and all of that. So we're going to talk about
a lot of that this morning with CEO Aaron Bates
of Whitcomb and has CPAs and Financial Advisors. They're a
(05:14):
proud sponsor of our CEO You Should Know program here
on iHeartRadio. All right, So you mentioned the business has
been going on you so better than forty years now? Correct?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Correct? Forty two years?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Where are you guys physically? And I know you help
people everywhere. You were telling me where are you guys
located at? Yeah, our office is located in Ashland, Ohio.
We're on Cleveland Avenue and we've been there since nineteen
eighty six and building has expanded a few times since
our tenure there, but all twenty seven of our team.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Are there locally. And yeah, we serve people all across
the country. We've got clients in Alaska, California, Arizona, Florida,
and many of them all have some connection to Ashland
or the region. But yeah, it's kind of interesting these days,
how with technology and the ability to connect with people
all over the all over the world. Quite frankly, you know,
(06:06):
our our reach continues to grow and grow and grow.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, and that's a great thing because as you talk
about your reach and because of technology, you could have
somebody that was born in Ashland, Mansfield, Richland County, you know,
in the north central Ohio region, but you know, maybe
they took a job that they move. But hey, you know,
I got really really good advice. I got really really
good you know things from Witcom and HESSE where they're
able to advise me and help me, and I don't
(06:30):
I want to stay with them and you can help
them no matter where they go. That's a great thing.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Sure, yeah, we have I mean, businesses expand and have
multiple locations, and families expand and have multiple generations. And
so I've been at Wickham and hess for.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Twenty one years.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
So seeing the expansion of how families and businesses and
people grow is really exciting and being able to grow
with them is a real honor.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Again, we are chatting today with CEO Aaron Bates of
wit Come and has CPAs and Financial Advisors, and I
love your line advisors to plan, grow and thrive. And
you think about it, you mentioned it. Maybe somebody's in
their forties and retirements twenty some years away, maybe their
late fifties towards sixties just a few years away. But
(07:17):
you always need to plan. And there are so many
things nowadays you and I talking here early twenty twenty
five that you know, people are like, okay, I want
to make sure I'm you know, on sound financial footing.
I have a good plan. And that's where it comes out.
You guys are the experts, right they give you a
call and you you help formulate a plan and make
sure they're on that right track.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Would you walk us through a little bit of about
what you guys do there? Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So the plan grow Thrive came out of some just
reflection about you know, what it actually is that we
do naturally as as CPAs and Financial advisors. The work
we do involves finances, and we put together financial statements
and tax returns, investment portfolios, and a state plan. But
(08:00):
at the end of the day, what people want is
they want a sense of confidence that they're heading in
the right direction. And so I always like to say,
we're really in the advice business. And when we sit
down with people, it's critical to understand where they are today,
where they want to be tomorrow, whatever timeframe tomorrow might be,
(08:22):
and then we ultimately are able to help them create
a plan to get from point A to point B,
whether it's a business, whether it's a retirement plan, whether
it's saving for college, a state plan, whatever you might have.
And so most plans involve growing at some point. And
then ultimately it's never about the money. It's about what
(08:45):
the money can do for you. People want a life
that is thriving. However, that gets defined for each of
us as individuals, and so the heart of what we
do is essentially planning. I like to say planning gives purpose.
Planning so that you can grow and that you grow
so that you can thrive. And so that's where the
(09:06):
plan grow thrive came from. And again, whether it's a
business that's just getting off the ground, or whether it's
a business that's coming to a transition, whether it be
succession or you know, transitions of any kind, whether it's
people planning for retirement or even have retired and then
the laws change, or you know, things are always changing,
(09:27):
right and so this plan Grow Thrive is kind of
a process that really never stops.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
I like to say we're.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Tour guides, not travel agents, because as advisors we want
to walk with you through the whole journey and be
guiding you and advising you with each and every twist
and turn and up and down that may come. And
that's really the joy that we get out of this
is being able to walk with people and help them
succeed at the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Great conversation this morning, learning about our CEO, and that's
Aaron Bates of wit Co and has CPAs and financial
advisors based in Ashland, but they help people everywhere all
across north central oo Ole. Hi want across the country?
All right, So Aarin, before we learn a little more
about you, I want to bring this up if somebody
(10:14):
is interested in reaching out, they want more information, they
want to talk to somebody they're they're looking at their finances,
thinking about retirement. But you mentioned tax is anything. What's
the best way to go about that? Website phone number either,
what's the best way to get ahold of you? Guys?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, our website witcom dot com, that's Whitcomb dot com
has a lot of information about our process, about who
we are, our core values. You get to know our
team on there, and certainly you can interact with us
through the website that way. You can also call our
(10:48):
office locally. It's four one nine two eight nine seven
zero zero seven. And either way you can initiate a conversation.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
That way.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You can follow us on social media Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram.
Were there as well, But I'd start on the website.
That's probably the best place to find information and get
to know us a little better, and then we can
go from there.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Awesome, man, I mentioned I was on the website at
witcombe dot com. He mentioned the phone number four one
nine two eight nine seven zero zero seven. Aaron Bates,
CEO Whitcomb and has CPAs and financial advisors. All right,
so I want to learn about you. You were telling
me you were not born locally here, but not too
(11:29):
far away to tell us a little bit about you.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yeah, So I grew up in Ashtabula County, a little
town called Williamsfield. Grew up on a dairy farm, and
when I went to college, I knew I liked math
and farming, and so I went to Ohio State and
my major was engineering and my minor was business. Figured
those two complemented each other pretty well. Naturally, after I
got out of college, the business route is the route
(11:54):
I went rather than engineering, but I still think the
skill sets crossover pretty well for both of those. And
I moved to Ashland in nineteen ninety nine after graduating
from Ohio State and I have been there ever since.
Worked five years in other vocations right out of college,
more in sales and insurance actually for a year, and
(12:16):
then started as an investment advisor at Wickham and Hess
in two thousand and four, and started as an advisor
and have worked my way up through the company and
now the CEO.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
How long have you been CEO kind of in that
role now.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, good question.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So really this is the first year.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Jim Hess will be retiring at the end of April,
and he was a co founder of the firm back
in nineteen eighty three, which the firm still bears his
name along with Ed Whitcomb, and we plan to keep
it that way. So we're kind of starting our second generation,
if you will, of leadership at the firm, and we're
excited about it. It's, you know, again, been a transition
(12:57):
that's taken place over many many months, very intense, and
we've been planning for this for a while and I'm
excited to step into this role something I've always dreamed
about and have looked forward to. And we give this
advice and we help advise clients through these things, and
so now we're doing it now ourselves. And we've been
really fortunate again to have great people. Jim's been a
(13:19):
great mentor to me, and it's really been a blessing
to be able to have this opportunity and to have
it transition as well and as smoothly as it has.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
But I can tell you're excited for this role just
by the smile on your face. I can tell you
mentioned you're really excited. And we're going to keep him
for a few more minutes. I got a couple more
questions again. We are chatting with our CEO this week,
Aaron Bates of Whitcomb and Hess CPAs and financial advisors.
And I didn't realize this. Aaron and I were chatting
(13:51):
before we turn the MIC's on that I covered some
games for your son when he played basketball a few
years back at Ashland High School. So I know you
have I think a couple kids. But tell us a
little more about the family. I'm interested here.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So, my wife, Aubrey, and I have been married going
on twenty three years. We have three kids. Our oldest son, Kessler,
is a college student at the University of Cincinnati. He
played high school basketball for the Ashland Arrows a couple
of years ago. And my next son, Tye, is a
junior at Ashland High School now plays golf, track and
(14:25):
basketball as well. And my daughter Annie's in eighth grade
at Ashland Middle School and she's swimming in track, in sports.
And so yeah, we're a busy group and lots going on.
But it's you know, as excited as I am about
being a CEO, I'm even more excited about, you know,
my family and all the things that they're involved in.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, and you and I talking right now as we're chatting,
and it's in mid March, this is you know, with
you know, tax returns and different things going on, this
is a busy time for you guys. I'm sure you're
always busy, but this probably is one of those times, right.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah, this is the busiest time for sure, and our
team has been working very diligently to you know, get
the work done. And this time of year, you know,
kind of like a basketball season, right you have an
off season where you're sharpening the blade and reviewing your
processes and procedures and doing the workouts to get better
for the next season. But when January first hits, it's
(15:23):
it's go time. And so we are kind of in
the grind of it right now. And I know, with
the nice weather, people are getting anxious to get outside
and enjoy the sunshine and the warmer weather. And you know,
thankfully tax season doesn't happen in the summertime. We've had
CPAs that say they'd probably never entered the profession if
they did. But yeah, we've again, we've been blessed with
(15:45):
a great team that works really hard and really is
passionate about clients and making sure that they have what
they need and that we've got quality work done on time.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Well, I want to circle back before I let you go,
and I got just a couple quick questions for you again.
Aaron Bates our CEO this week of Whitcomb and has
CPAs and financial advisors advisors to plan, grow and thrive.
You told me twenty seven on staff. Correct, correct? Right?
So I always kind of reserve this time, and I
always word it this way. Almost wants you to brag
(16:16):
about yourself speak just because you know you're in your
profession and you could tell you have a great staff.
But you know, talk about you know why somebody they're
they're thinking about their finances. They have a lot of questions.
Everybody does now, just the way things you know are going.
People are like, you know, what move do I need
to make? What should I do? Talk about why somebody
should come see you guys at Whitcomb and Hesse, if
(16:37):
you wouldn't share a little bit a little bit there.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, I think the thing that really makes us unique
is the ability to provide the holistic and comprehensive experience
for clients because of all the specialties that we have
on our staff, having the tax experts, having the planning experts,
having the investment expert, a social security planning expert, and
(17:03):
that just scratches a surface. There's a lot of our
team have specialties and lots of different areas and experience
in lots of areas. So we're kind of blessed to
have a lot of young people coming in, a lot
of talented young people on our team, but we've also
got a number of experienced people that you know, collectively,
I don't know how many hundreds of years of experience
(17:24):
we have on our team, and so, you know, there's
still things that surprise us because life is always changing,
but you know, there's a lot of experience that we have,
and so to be able to have the experience to
coordinate the approach and to be able to deliver it
professionally and personally, I think is what separates us. And
you know, we really are aim is to be our
(17:46):
client's most trusted advisor, and trust is earned a little
bits at a time over longer periods of time. And
we have been really blessed to have some clients that
have been with us almost all of those forty two years.
We have some that have been with us forty years,
many that have been with us thirty and you know,
it's just a It's a blessing and really a privilege
(18:08):
to work with clients now in the second third, even
working on the fourth generation of businesses or families that
we work with. And so that really, I guess makes
you feel good when you know you can earn that
kind of relationship with folks and guide them along the way. Again,
like I said, we like to be tour guides, not
travel agents, and so that relationship is really what's most
(18:32):
meaningful to us.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, you mentioned second, third, fourth generations. You know, you've
been helping people for years and you know the next
generation wants to go to Wickham and he s because
the generation before, you know, had such a great experience
and I just think about it now as we wrap
it up here and you know, just everything now early
twenty twenty five, people are, you know, financially, they're they're
thinking what do I do? They hear you know, stock
(18:53):
market economy with the word of the year I think's
tariffs right now, there's there's so much going on now
where you don't you know, you want to make make
sure you're making the right move and that's why you know,
reaching out to you guys Wickhaman. Has you mentioned you know,
what do you guys think, Well, you know, what should
I do? Right now? Would be the time to give
you guys a call?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Right, Yeah, the future is always uncertain, and no matter
what's happening, the future is always uncertain. And I think
that's the thing I've learned most over my twenty plus
years is you never know what's around the bend. There's
always going to be things that are unexpected. Laws change,
(19:30):
rules change, presidents change, markets change, businesses change, and so
while change can be unsettling and create a sense of anxiety,
you know, I kind of use the analogy of what
we do as like sailing a boat, although I've never
sailed a boat full discretion, but you know, the winds
(19:51):
and the tides are totally out of our control and
all you can do is adjust the sail, adjust the rudder.
And you know, as advisor, that's what we help our
clients do through times of uncertainty, is you know, adjust
the sales, adjust the rudder, take one more look at
the financials, take one more look at you know, the
(20:12):
circumstances at hand. And again, the core of our business
really then being able to advise people about how to
move forward, because we have to move forward. And so
again we can't predict the future. We don't know exactly
how things are going to go, but we believe if
we can stack the odds in your favor, then more
often than not, good things are going to happen and
(20:34):
we'll be able to endure times of change and times
of uncertainty. And you know, and that's where we want
to be. We don't want to just complete tax returns,
we don't want to just complete financial statements or just
put together investment portfolios. It comes back to the thriving, right.
We want to help people plan to grow so they
can thrive. And at the end of the day, if
(20:54):
we can make the lives of people better, that's why
we do what we do.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, and I know you guys offer a lot lot
at witcom dot com. We mentioned more information for one
nine two, eight, nine seventy zero seven CEO Aaron Bates
of witcom and has CPAs and financial advisors. Last thing
I forgot to bring up when you are not working,
and we mentioned you know, wife, kids, you know business.
There's a lot happened and a lot a lot of
(21:19):
I know, school activities and things like that. But you know,
what do you like to do hobby wise, spare time
when when you're not at work, kickback and relax. What
do you like to do?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, So our family has kind of recently really taken
to hiking. Has been something we've enjoyed together. So my
wife likes to hike.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I like to hike.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
The kids have come along and discovered hiking. So hiking
and I would say boating. We've got some kayaks and.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Just to get outdoors.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
I guess that's probably the thing that we find that
recharging and kind of resting in nature and God's wonderful
creation has really been a source of of recreation and
restoration for all of us in our family.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
As we circle back, one final thing, is there anything
we missed today that you want to share that we
didn't bring up that people should know about witcoming has?
Speaker 2 (22:14):
You know, I think just Ed Wickham and Jim Hess
when they started the company really built the company with
a foundation of integrity and treating people with respect and
integrity and a lot of successful businesses. I think if
they build their business on those things, they can go far.
And I think you know that's another phrase it comes
(22:35):
to mind is alone you go fast, and together you
go far and I think our team embraces that, and
our leadership embraces that, and you know, we're really thankful
to Ed and to Jim for setting us up for
success for generations to come, quite frankly, and it's been
a great ride and we look forward to the great
ride continuing.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Yeah, you mentioned an integrity, trust, relationship experience. It's all
of that. You guys offer so much at wickcoman HES.
Let's go out the information again. If you want more
information with witcom and HES, CPAs and Financial Advisors against
CEO with us in studio Aaron Bates, you can go
to witcom dot com. That's whitcomb dot com, or you
(23:17):
can call four one nine two eight nine seventy zero seven. Well,
it's been great to learn about you. Love to have
you guys on board with the program helping us shine
that spotlight on great businesses, organizations, nonprofits, everybody in the area. Aaron,
thank you so much. Great to learn your story and
we wish you continued success.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Thank you. Thanks for having us on CEOs. You should
know here from local leaders in the community, made possible
by witcoman HESS, CPAs and Financial Advisors.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Hi, I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman Hess CPAs and
financial advisors, helping you plan, grow and thrive in your
business and in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic
CEOs from Middle Ohio. Visit us at whitcom dot com
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