The Best Financial Planners in Ohio
We graded 3 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 2,621 Google reviews of 34 top-rated financial planners nationwide; 3 of them in Ohio. Updated November 2, 2026.
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Best financial planners in Ohio for income tax return preparation
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Plaza Tax AdvisorsHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Income tax return preparation”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%30Overall Experts Score 20%91Job match= 97Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.93★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.97Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Income tax return preparation” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about income tax return preparation
Plaza Tax AdvisorsThe folks at Plaza Tax Advisors are Honest, Very Kind, Very Knowledgable & have their clients Best Interest First & Foremost. They are Real People that have been where you're at, so they understand our situations. It is a Family, Peter Friendly Atmosphere.
Plaza Tax AdvisorsPlaza Tax Advisor’s really know their stuff!!!! They get you back the most from your return, and make you feel right at home. I highly recommend them for getting the job done right!!!
Plaza Tax AdvisorsI am very pleased with Kristen on my taxes this year. She did a fabulous job. I recommend Her any time she’s very professional, very knowledgeable and very honest when she does your taxes
Plaza Tax AdvisorsJerry is great to work with. He has been completing our taxes for years. We appreciate not having to stress over doing taxes on our own, as well as having a good conversation.
Plaza Tax AdvisorsI am really good at my profession - that does not include doing taxes!! Several years back, I made mistakes and decided I needed help. A friend recommended Plaza Tax Advisors and, working with Shannon, I have never had another moment of worry. Friendly professionals who get the job DONE WELL and in a timely manner.
Plaza Tax AdvisorsHave been coming to plaza tax for several years always do a good job and Jerry is really good to work with.
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of financial planners).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Superior Retirement SolutionsNewark, OH | A 99How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%99+68.5Reliability 31%98+30.2Experts Score= 99Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 5.00 | — |
| 2 | Plaza Tax AdvisorsNewark, OH | A 91How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%96+52.4Reliability 24%93+22.5Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%37+2.6Craft & service penalty95−0.5Experts Score= 91Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAD | 4.95 | — |
| 3 |  V L James AccountingNewark, OH | B 73How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%82+52.1Reliability 28%65+18.4Replies to reviews 8%79+6.5Momentum penalty61−3.9Experts Score= 73Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AB––BB | 4.89 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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Financial Planners in Ohio at a glance
How the 3 financial planners we rated in Ohio compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A267%
- Grade B133%
- Grade C00%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up267%
- 4.80–4.89★133%
- 4.60–4.79★00%
- Below 4.60★00%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality8225%
- Professionalism9730%
- Responsiveness8025%
- Punctuality00%
- Value6420%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price13255%
- Reasonable9339%
- Overpriced21%
- Not sure135%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.