GREENFIELD — Andrew Winters still has the first check written out to his grandfather, Bob Winters, who started the family business in 1959.
It was written for $20 for accounting services.
“We do charge a little more for services now,” Megan Winters, Andrew’s wife and colleague, said with a laugh.
Six decades after that first check was cut to Bob in Carthage, Winters Financial Group has moved to Greenfield. Andrew, owner and CEO, carries accounting into the fourth generation of the family.
The firm, located at 1111 E. Main St., provides tax services, financial planning, insurance and business services.
Before Bob got his start, his father and Andrew’s great-grandfather, Clifford Winters, had an accounting practice in Connersville. Clifford also served as an IRS agent.
Bob ran his business out of his Carthage home and would hold tax meetings with clients in his garage. Then he bought a property next door, which housed the firm over the decades that followed.
“We never would have had the client base and the reputation that we have without my grandpa, Bob, starting it up in Carthage,” Andrew said.
Robert Winter, Andrew’s father, bought out the business around 1980. Andrew grew up mowing the grass and helping out in the office.
Robert remained owner until 2014, when he sold to Andrew and Megan, and retired about a year ago.
Winters Financial Group and its staff of seven moved into its new Greenfield office a few weeks ago.
“We always talked about trying to get into a little bigger of a town, getting some more exposure,” Andrew said.
The 2010 U.S. Census tallied Carthage’s population at 927 while Greenfield’s was more than 20,000.
Andrew said they didn’t want to move too far away, however, as their clients are very local.
“Greenfield was a good fit because we have tons of clients right here in Hancock County,” he said.
Andrew and Megan have also lived in Greenfield for the past 10 years.
“We wanted to work in the community that we’ve been a part of,” Megan said.
Just like the business, much of its clientele is also multi-generational, Megan said.
“Generations just keep following us because we build that layer of trust with them,” Andrew added.
Andrew said he enjoys quelling clients’ fears, adding many come into his office not knowing what their tax return is going to look like.
“It turns out a lot of people come in here scared,” he said. “It’s nice to help them out.”
He also does taxes for a large number of small-business owners.
Winters Financial Group truly remains a family affair. Andrew’s brother-in-law, Ian Clark, is a financial adviser and partner while Ian’s wife and Andrew’s sister, Allison Clark, is the firm’s client relations manager.
Rick Winters, Andrew’s uncle and a home builder, led the project to turn the Greenfield property from the auto body and glass shop it once was into the office building it is today.
Andrew recalled a statistic from college reporting that less than 2 percent of businesses make it past 50 years.
“We’re fortunate,” he said. “Obviously we’ve had some smart, good people in our family that have helped carry it on. We beat the odds so far… The previous owners before us did a great job of being smart managing their finances, caring about their business enough to make sure it lasts a long time.”
Megan agreed.
“We hope to be able to continue that,” she added.
