Julie Merrill

I'm a licensed CPA of over 25 years and a business and tax strategist with a knack for simplifying the complex. As a military spouse for more than two decades, my career has taken me all over—from public audit, to scaling startup companies, to launching and running my own businesses, and ultimately building my own tax practice. When my husband retired from active duty during COVID, I jumped into tax full-time and found my passion: helping clients save serious money on taxes while implementing smart, sustainable business practices.

I run a fully remote tax advisory practice serving clients across the U.S., specializing in small businesses, stock options and equity compensation, real estate investors, military families, and California tax planning.

I'm also a real estate investor and a bit of an automation nerd, always on the hunt for the next great investment and new ways to streamline processes and make life easier for myself and my clients. I've lived in Italy and Japan, speak Italian, and love being out on the water, whether it's paddleboarding or kayaking. Prior to COVID, I hosted a podcast called The Paddleboarding CPA.

My goal is to truly get to know my clients and work with people who want to be proactive and are ready to take action to save on taxes again and again. I'm there for them year-round—not just at filing time.

I'm now based in Chattanooga, Tennessee after moving from San Diego, California in the summer of 2025. While I'm loving everything Tennessee has to offer, California taxes remain a specialty of mine. I'm here to help you thrive and reach your wealth-building and tax-saving goals.

Let's chat and see if we're a good fit—book a call at: https://www.juliemerrill.me/calendar