Williams-Keepers LLC, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants

09/02/2026

🧭 The tax decision that already happened

Most tax conversations start once the year is basically over. But the decisions that actually shape a tax bill happen months earlier, in meetings that have nothing to do with tax at all:

✅ A hiring plan
✅ A new market
✅ A compensation change
✅ An equipment purchase

Alissa Adams, CPA, breaks down why growing businesses often outgrow the tax strategy that used to work fine for them.

What made sense at $2 million in revenue can create real friction at $10 million, not because anyone made a mistake, but because the business kept running on a framework built for a different size and stage.

Read Alissa's full article: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07B5ZQ0

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

Many costly tax outcomes begin with business decisions. Learn why proactive tax planning creates greater flexibility and control.

09/01/2026

📊 Your business doubled in size. So why do simple questions suddenly take a week to answer?

That's the pattern John P. Vaclavek, CPA, CFE, CGMA keeps seeing with growing businesses. Cash flow tightens and leadership starts leaning on instinct instead of real numbers, even while the business looks like it's thriving from the outside.

In his latest article, John breaks down four warning signs that financial visibility hasn't kept pace with growth:
- Simple questions no longer have simple answers
- Numbers vary by department
- You spend more time explaining reports than using them
- You're relying more on instinct than information

Read John's full breakdown: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07yz-40

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

Growth can hide financial visibility gaps. Learn 4 warning signs your business may be missing before they turn into costly surprises.

08/28/2026

🤝 True North's Men as Allies Breakfast

This week, WK co-sponsored and attended True North of Columbia's Men as Allies Breakfast.

True North is one of the most important organizations we have. It works to empower the community toward greater safety and offers shelter, education and transitional support to those affected by intimate partner violence, s*xual violence, stalking and s*x trafficking.

WK's Kristen Brown, CPA, serves as True North's Board Treasurer and was joined by WK teammates and family:

- Dr. Eric Schultz, spouse of WK's Amanda Schultz, CPA
- Nick Mestres, CPA
- Jeremy Morris, CPA
- David Sprague
- Jeff Echelmeier, CPA
- Shawn Barnes
- John Vaclavek, CPA
- Ryan McCullough, CPA

WK's glad to back the work True North is doing in our community, and we'll keep showing up for it.

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/27/2026

💻 IT Support Specialist Wanted: Help Desk Skills, Forward-Thinking Mindset

WK is looking for a tech-forward IT Support Specialist to join our Columbia office. The core of this role is help desk support: hands-on, day-to-day problem solving for our team.

The ideal candidate will also bring genuine curiosity about emerging tools like AI to help us address new challenges over time.

You'll join an experienced IT team at one of Missouri's largest privately owned accounting and consulting firms, working on:

✅ End-user support, hardware and software installs
✅ Conference room AV setup
✅ Reporting in Power BI and Access
✅ Documentation and training materials for staff

Qualifications:

✅ Associate degree in IT or a related field
✅ 1-2 years of IT support experience
✅ CompTIA A+ or Network+ certification is a plus, not a requirement

If this sounds like you, check out the full job description: https://williamskeepers.com/open-positions/

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/25/2026

🎉 Way to go, Mercedes!

Passing the CPA exam while carrying a full audit workload is no small thing. Mercedes Kindle, CPA, did it while serving clients with care and expertise.

"Passing the exam feels like the natural next step after everything I've learned working alongside this team," says Mercedes. "I'm grateful to WK for the support along the way, and I'm looking forward to putting the designation to work for our clients."

Congratulations, Mercedes. This one was well earned.

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/24/2026

🏆 WK Accountant Olympics 2026: Jefferson City Defends the Title

This year's WK Accountant Olympics brought our Jefferson City and Columbia offices back together for a day of friendly competition across dodgeball, kickball, volleyball, basketball and other events, all in support of United Way.

Jefferson City walked away with the championship again, and Columbia is already talking about next year.

WK's culture runs on more than serving clients well. It's built on days like this, when the whole firm shows up for each other and for the community.

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/21/2026

📋 Three 1099 changes are landing in 2026, and one comes with a real deadline

1099 rules have shifted more than once over the past few years, and it's easy to lose track of what actually applies now. WK Tax Manager Rhonda Bowne, CPA breaks down what's changing: the NEC and MISC filing threshold jumping to $2,000, the 1099-K threshold reverting to $20,000 and 200 transactions and the IRS retiring its FIRE filing system on December 31, 2026 in favor of IRIS.

Two of these changes mean fewer forms going out next year. The third is the one to act on now, IRIS enrollment isn't instant and old FIRE credentials won't carry over.

Read Rhonda's full breakdown, including what to check in your accounting software before year-end: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07mC4J0

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

Learn more in this blog about 2026 1099 changes for NEC, MISC, and K, plus a FIRE-to-IRIS deadline you can't miss.

08/19/2026

🏆 WK just cracked the IPA Top 200.

WK is ranked No. 199 in the 2026 IPA 500, published annually by INSIDE Public Accounting.

It's the first time in the firm's history we've placed among the top 200 accounting firms in the country.

WK Chairman Jeff Echelmeier, CPA, put it simply: "This ranking belongs to our people and to the clients who've trusted us with their businesses for more than 100 years."

It's quite a humbling honor, and as Jeff points out, we didn't get there alone. Thanks to all who have been part of the WK family.

Read the full announcement: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07j9PV0

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/17/2026

👕 Shirts ON our backs, for a good cause

Community rooms don't usually double as loading docks, but ours did last week. Tables were lined with t-shirts and sweatshirts for WK employees.

We designed and sold WK merch internally to support our local United Way campaign. The new duds were WK-branded and featured 70s, 80s and 90s themes.

Proud of the team for creating a fundraiser that also refreshed our wardrobe!

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.

08/14/2026

🧭 Friday morning, and next week is already worth a thought.

Most of what's landing on your desk today was decided weeks ago. Today is just paperwork catching up with a choice someone already made.

There's usually a window before that, where more than one path is still open and a conversation could actually change the outcome. Worth thinking about where that window is for you right now.

This might be a good morning to look at what's actually still open, not just what's due.

Have a good weekend.

🌳➡️ Rooted Here. Ready for What's Next.