Financial Advisors Serving Union County, OH

A financial advisor in Union County, Ohio, mostly works with young, two income households that bought in the last decade and now carry bigger mortgages and bigger 401(k) balances than their parents did. The county has 73,446 residents (2025 Census estimate), and Marysville is the county seat, about 30 miles up US 33 from Columbus.

Union County at a glance

Union County is younger and better paid than Ohio as a whole. The U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, puts the median household income at $112,322 against $71,389 statewide, and the median age at 38.5.

Only 13.2 percent of residents are 65 or older. Most people who call a financial advisor here want help saving while raising kids.

Growth along US 33 and what it does to household money

New subdivisions around Marysville, Plain City and the Union County part of Dublin have pulled in families from the Columbus area. A financial advisor in Union County hears about the mortgage first. Many buyers paid close to the $344,900 median home value, and some stretched to do it.

Commuting is the next cost people underestimate. Two cars and a daily drive down US 33 can run several hundred dollars a month in fuel, insurance and wear. Many Ohio cities and villages also levy their own tax on wages, so a move from a township address into a city can change each paycheck. Check the rate with your city or village tax office.

Property tax bills tend to climb as new schools and roads get built, so long term owners should budget for increases.

Union County money math, step by step

These five steps use the Census ACS medians for Union County. Swap in your own numbers.

1. Owner cost with a mortgage is $1,968 a month. Times 12, that is $23,616 a year.
2. Divide $23,616 by the $112,322 median household income. Housing takes about 21.0 percent, under the 28 percent many lenders use as a ceiling.
3. Renters pay a median of $1,247 a month, or $14,964 a year. That is about 13.3 percent of median income.
4. A six month cash cushion at median income is $112,322 divided by 2, or about $56,161. Most families keep less and build toward it.
5. A home insurance deductible of 1 percent on the $344,900 median home is $3,449. At 2 percent it is $6,898.

One more: if you retire at 60, you have five years to cover before Medicare starts at 65. With a median age of 38.5, many Union County couples can still save for that gap on purpose instead of finding it at 59.

Wealth management with a financial advisor in Union County

Wealth management usually starts when a household has several accounts to juggle. A typical local mix is a workplace 401(k) for each spouse, stock from an employer plan, a 529 account and a house with real equity. A financial advisor who coordinates them can plan taxes and timing across every account.

For higher earners, tax planning is a big share of the value. Contribution order, Roth conversions in low income years and how employer stock gets sold all change the bill. Our tax planning guide covers the basics. Families with children often add an estate planning review, since a will and guardian choice matter more with young kids than with grown ones.

When should Union County families start retirement planning?

For most households here, retirement is 20 or more years away. Ohio generally does not tax Social Security benefits, while pension and IRA withdrawals are generally subject to Ohio income tax, with some credits for retirees. Ohio has no estate tax. Confirm current rules before you act, since state law changes.

The main lever for a 38 year old in Marysville is the savings rate. A household at the median income that saves 15 percent puts away about $16,800 a year. Our retirement planning guide shows how that grows and when to raise it.

Financial planners and household budgets

A financial planner working with Union County families spends a lot of time on cash flow. High incomes can hide thin margins once daycare, two car payments and a new mortgage stack up. A written monthly budget, with a target savings figure, is usually the first deliverable.

If debt is the problem, start with card balances above 20 percent interest before anything else. Our guides on budgeting and saving and debt management lay out the order.

How much life insurance does a Union County family need?

Most young families here need term life insurance sized to cover the mortgage and several years of income. A common starting point is 10 to 12 times one earner’s pay, adjusted for savings already in place. Workplace coverage is often only one or two times salary and ends when the job does.

Read our life insurance guide before you buy, and price at least two term quotes.

Investing in and around Columbus jobs

Investment questions here often come down to concentration. Some residents hold a large block of one employer’s stock through a 401(k) or a purchase plan. A financial advisor can set a schedule to sell down a single stock position and move the money into broad index funds.

College savings is the other big investing question. Ohio has its own 529 plan, and our college savings guide compares 529 accounts with other options. New investors can start with investing basics.

How to choose a financial advisor in Union County

1. Write down the one problem you want solved first, such as a budget, a stock sale or a 529 plan.
2. Ask each advisor how they are paid and what that comes to in dollars for your accounts.
3. Look up their record on FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC investment adviser search.
4. Ask how they handle Ohio and local income tax questions, or who they bring in for them.
5. Ask for a sample plan with names removed, so you can see what you will get.
6. Pick someone who meets by phone or video at hours that work around a commute to Columbus.

Compare advisors for your Union County plan

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How much does a financial advisor in Union County cost?

Here is how the common pricing models look in dollars. The household figures are hypothetical.

• Percentage of assets: often near 1 percent a year. A couple with $400,000 invested would pay around $4,000 a year.
• Flat yearly retainer: a set fee for ongoing planning, commonly a few thousand dollars a year. It suits a family with high income and modest invested assets.
• One time plan: a single written plan, usually priced as a project. A Marysville couple might use one to set savings targets and check insurance.
• Hourly: useful for one question, such as whether to roll an old 401(k) into an IRA.

Insurance agents are usually paid by commission. Ask every financial advisor you interview which model applies to you before the first meeting.

Areas we serve in Union County

We connect residents across the county with financial advisors who work by phone or video. That includes Marysville, Richwood, Plain City, Milford Center, Magnetic Springs, Unionville Center and the Union County portion of Dublin, plus farm country along Big Darby Creek and Mill Creek.

Frequently asked questions