Story & Lesson Highlights with Dedre Wilson, MBA. EA of McDonough

Dedre Wilson, MBA. EA shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Dedre, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day actually start really early. I wake up before the sun so I can hug my husband before he heads off to work. After that, I’ll usually grab a little more sleep until my real alarm goes off. From there, it’s non-stop. I’m helping my son get ready for school, dropping him off, grabbing breakfast, and fitting in moments for meditation to set a calm and grounded tone for the day. Once that’s done, I shift into business mode; whether it’s bookkeeping, tax prep, or strategy sessions. Having that mix of family time, routine, and mindfulness helps me show up fully for both my clients and my own household.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dedre Wilson, and I’m the founder of The Legacy Accounting Firm and Master Tax Service. I’m an Enrolled Agent, MBA holder, and a U.S. Air Force Veteran, but most importantly, I’m a wife and a mom. My husband and boys are truly the foundation and motivation for everything I do.

At The Legacy Accounting Firm, we help small business owners and independent contractors bring clarity to their finances. We offer traditional bookkeeping and accounting services for those who want things done for them, but I also created The Legacy Setup™ for entrepreneurs who are in the early stages and want to learn to do it themselves the right way. It’s all about empowering them with systems, education, and confidence.

On the tax side, our sister company, Master Tax Service, provides tax preparation and, more importantly, tax strategy. Filing taxes is necessary, but strategy is where clients save money, reduce stress, and truly plan for the future.

What makes us unique is that our work isn’t just about numbers, it’s about family and legacy. I built this business to create freedom and stability for my own family, and now I help others do the same. Right now, I’m most excited about expanding The Legacy Setup™ because I believe every entrepreneur deserves a strong financial foundation, whether they hire a professional or start by learning to manage it themselves.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother, Annie Webb, saw me clearly long before I saw myself. She always stood up for me, spoke life into me, and came through no matter what. When others labeled me negatively, she chose to believe in me; in my intelligence, in my heart, and in the potential she knew was there. I was advanced and smart, even if I got into some trouble growing up, and she never let me forget that I was capable of more.

When I graduated high school, she was one of the biggest reasons I joined the Air Force. She wanted the world for me, and I started to want it for myself. Even today, she still shows up, not just for me but more for my son because he’s her favorite now and she makes sure everyone knows. Her love, belief, and consistency have been the foundation of my strength, and I carry her influence into the way I run my business and the way I show up for others. She saw legacy in me before I even knew I was building one.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. It taught me strength when life felt heavy, resilience when I was knocked down, and courage when fear tried to hold me back. It showed me how to do more with less; how to stretch resources, make a way out of no way, and still keep moving forward. Most importantly, it taught me to never give up or quit. At some point, I looked back on my life and realized that everything I had set out to do, I had accomplished. There is nothing I can’t do. When I set my mind to something, create a plan, and lock in, I always succeed. Those experiences shaped me into the woman, mother, and business owner I am today. Success is beautiful, but it’s the suffering that built my character and gave me the grit to create legacy for my family and help others do the same.”

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would tell you that what matters most to me is my son, Teagan. Helping him grow, teaching him, and watching him learn lights me up in a way nothing else can. I love giving him the freedom to explore life and try new things and honestly, I take him to every kid-friendly place I come across just so he can have fun. Through those moments, I end up unlocking parts of my own inner child that never got to experience those things, and I have just as much fun as he does.

Teagan is incredibly smart and clever. His critical thinking skills amaze me, and he’s not even five yet. I admire him, I love him, and I’m so proud of him. He’s my greatest motivation and the heart of everything I do. He’s also the reason I built The Legacy Accounting Firm; to model what it looks like to create a strong foundation, build generational wealth, and leave a legacy that lasts.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my role, and every possession I own, what would remain is my ability to be a mother to my son. That, to me, is everything. Being Teagan’s mom is my greatest role and my greatest joy. Long after titles and material things fade, the legacy I leave through him will carry on. That’s why I built The Legacy Accounting Firm; not just to help entrepreneurs with their finances, but to live out the truth that legacy is about what you build in your family and in the lives you touch. At the core of it all, my legacy as a mother will always remain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thelegacyaccountingfirm.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelegacyaccountingfirm/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedrewilson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelegacyaccountingfirm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLegacyAccountingFirm

Image Credits
Jay Photography