Kenneth A. Whittaker  |  CPA/PFS*, CFP^®, CLU/ChFC
Kenneth A. Whittaker is a principal with Whittaker Cooper and serves as branch manager with Raymond James Financial Services. He primarily concentrates his practice in the financial planning division. Ken has extensive experience in income tax planning, and compliance issues from his background as a field auditor and appeals officer for the Internal Revenue Service, where he began his career in 1977. Ken established his CPA practice in 1985 and located the office in Melbourne, Florida. In meeting with clients, the benefits of combining his background in tax with that of his knowledge in financial planning became increasingly evident. In 2000 he expanded the firm to include a financial planning division and in 2006 established Whittaker Cooper Financial Group.

Areas of practice consist of investment and tax planning for retirement, retirement plan design and implementation, estate and succession planning for businesses and the business owners. Ken has represented business clients in the medical, dental and legal communities as well as real estate development and heavy and light manufacturing industries.

Ken has earned the following two designations within the industry from The American College. The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation reflects advanced study in economics, finance, government and employee benefits, insurance investments, taxation and estate planning. The Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation is awarded after the completion of studies relating to comprehensive financial planning and the application of insurance, investments and tax benefits to achieve long-term benefits for clients. The Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) designation is earned by further study of all of the above followed by a comprehensive board certified examination, which demonstrates the command of financial planning strategies, and in so doing Ken has earned membership in the Financial Planning Association (FPA). As a CPA he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and holds the designation of Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) from that organization. He is also a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) and a charter member of The Association of CPA Financial Planners (ACPAFP).

Ken is a founder and has served as Treasurer of the Brevard Zoo; a founder of the Suntree Rotary Club and Suntree Rotary Foundation; and a founder of the Friends of the Children Advocacy Center. Ken currently serves as a board member of the Friends of the Children Advocacy Center and President of Brevard Business Leadership Network. Additionally, he currently serves on the board of the Florida Business Bank Board of Directors.

*Accounting and Tax services offered through Whittaker & Cooper, P.A. and are not a service of Raymond James

I. Wayne Cooper  |   CPA
Financial Advisor, RJFS
Wayne is a principal with Whittaker Cooper and holds CPA licenses in the states of Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. He has 30 years of experience as a practicing CPA dealing with various types of financial and tax issues for businesses, not-for-profits and individuals.

Wayne specializes in individual and business income tax planning, estate and gift tax planning, business consulting, government contracting*, litigation support*, family business issues* and divorce tax issues*. Wayne has represented business clients engaged in retail, wholesale, real estate, service, entertainment, communications and contracting, ranging in size from the small “mom and pop” operations to large international corporations.

Additionally, Wayne holds licenses for Life, Health and Variable Annuity from the state of Florida and a general securities license. He is a member of the AICPA, FICPA, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the West Melbourne Business Association and is actively involved in the Space Coast Early Intervention Center, Inc. (SCEIC). Wayne is currently serving on the Financial Committee and was the past Chairman of the Board for SCEIC during the 2005-2006 budget year.

*These services are provided by Whittaker & Cooper, P.A. and are not a service of Raymond James.

Carolyn Shott  |   CPA
Carolyn is a Raymond James Financial Advisor and a CPA with Whittaker & Cooper, P.A. She holds licenses for Life, Health and Variable Annuity from the State of Florida and a general securities license. In addition, she has been a CPA for over 10 years and has 15 years experience in the trust and estate area of taxation. Carolyn is a member of the AICPA and FICPA. She is past Treasurer of the Cancer Care Center of Brevard Foundation and is currently a Lifetime Honorary Member of this tax-exempt organization. Carolyn is an active fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, particularly raising funds for breast cancer research.

*Accounting services offered through Whittaker & Cooper, P.A. and are not a service of Raymond James