Ben Whitacre was born and raised in Stephens City, Virginia, a small town about 85 miles west of Washington, DC. His formative years were enriched by his family and community, who helped shape him into the man he has become. 

Ben’s mom, Mary Jo, was instrumental in helping him with his studies and offering him an early example of unconditional love. His dad, Dennis (who happened to be Ben’s best man at his wedding), set an example of kind and respectful leadership. Growing up alongside his two brothers, Dan and Brad, Ben was given the gift of a childhood filled with laughter, play, and adventure. 

After graduating from high school, Ben was recruited to be the kicker for Towson University’s football team. He studied electronic media and film and served as the Student Government Association President while hoping to become an NFL kicker and sports broadcaster. While Ben did go on to play one year of pro football with the Baltimore Blackbirds of the American Indoor Football Association, he soon turned his attention toward a career in financial services.

Ben shares, “When I was 24 years old and deciding what I wanted to do, I knew that I wanted to find a career where I would be able to impact people and make a difference in their lives. I have always had a drive to want to succeed in anything that I set my mind to and wanted to find something that challenged me in a positive way to work hard and leave a legacy. I was looking for a career, not a job.”

That search ultimately led Ben to start his career in finance in 2005. Over the past 19 years, he’s helped countless individuals and families manage their wealth, save for retirement, and make the best financial decisions for themselves and their future.

In 2019, Ben took the next big step in his career, founding Whitacre Wealth Management. His vision was to create an independent organization with the primary goal of serving clients’ best interests.

“My company helps people in a variety of ways, such as guiding them through life with their financial decisions from buying a home, paying for college for their children, funding a comfortable retirement, and protecting their family along the way,” Ben explains. “Having an unbiased, independent lens through which we view financial planning, we can take an objective look at what is most important to our clients and how to partner with them towards their financial goals.”

In 2020, Ben took another big step, transitioning his business and family to Florida. As COVID-19 shut down schools around the country, families struggled with how to educate their kids and keep their mental health intact. Ben had long dreamed of moving to Florida, and while he assumed he’d make that move after his kids graduated high school, the COVID-19 pandemic fast-tracked that move.

“With our schools in Maryland being shut down due to the pandemic and our kids struggling with virtual learning, we decided to make a change and move to Florida to get our kids back in the school building and continue their learning in person. Things happen for a reason, and God is in control. Being here and around the great people we have met from Florida and other parts of the country has been a blessing. The Nocatee community has been a great place to raise our family over the past three-plus years.”

When he’s not working, you’re most likely to find Ben spending time with his family at home, around town, or out on the sports fields coaching. He’s been with his wife, Trisha, for 20 years, and they have two children, Lexi and Drew.

“Trisha is my best friend and an incredible mother who is instrumental in our children’s educational growth and exudes love and compassion,” Ben beams. “Lexi is hard working, kind, beautiful, and smart. She plays soccer, sings, and loves spending time on our lanai and throwing the ball to our dog, Bella. Our son, Drew, is all sports all the time and always smiling. His charisma and kind heart will take him far in life. Last but not least, our multi-poo, Bella, is our four-year-old dog who is definitely spoiled because of how cute she is.”

Ben and his family enjoy traveling, going to sporting events, spending time with friends, and exploring Jacksonville’s restaurants. Being present with his family and the other relationships he’s developed is priority number one in his life. Whether at home with his wife and kids or serving a client, Ben stays present to the connections he’s nurtured above all else.

“The relationships I have built over 19 years in this business are beyond my wildest dreams… What a gift to work with people that I truly care about.”