We’re looking forward to introducing you to Margaret Montague. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Margaret, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think the biggest misconception about my business is that we’re “just tax preparers.” A lot of people assume accounting firms only come into the picture once a year to file taxes, but at Secured Financials, we’re so much more than that.
What we really do is help business owners — especially therapists and beauty professionals — build sustainable, profitable companies through year-round financial strategy. Taxes are just one piece of the puzzle. We also focus on bookkeeping, cash flow, payroll, and tax planning so our clients aren’t caught off guard or left guessing about their money.
Another misconception is that accounting is dry and transactional. For us, it’s relational. We educate, guide, and walk alongside our clients so they understand why the numbers matter. I tell people all the time: our job isn’t to hand you a spreadsheet, it’s to help you make better decisions for your business and your life.
That’s the difference. We’re not just filing returns — we’re building financial clarity and peace of mind.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Margaret Montague, and I’m the founder of Secured Financials, a tax and accounting firm that specializes in working with service-based entrepreneurs — especially therapists and beauty professionals. What makes us unique is that we’re not just focused on the numbers; we’re focused on the people behind the businesses.
I started Secured Financials as a one-woman operation, balancing everything myself. Over the years, I realized that to truly serve clients at the level they deserved, I couldn’t do it alone. Today, we’ve grown into a team of five, and together we provide tax preparation, monthly bookkeeping, and financial strategy designed to help business owners feel confident, compliant, and in control of their money.
What makes our work special is that we bring strategy and education into every interaction. We don’t just prepare a tax return or reconcile books — we teach our clients how to understand their numbers, avoid costly mistakes, and build wealth with intention. I like to say we give people “peace of mind with their money.”
Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding our monthly masterclasses and digital products, which allow us to reach even more entrepreneurs across the country. My ultimate goal is to make financial clarity accessible, so that business owners stop operating out of fear or guesswork and start leading with confidence.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that believed I had to do everything by myself.
When I first started Secured Financials, I wore every hat — tax preparer, bookkeeper, marketer, admin, customer service. At that stage, being hyper-independent and resourceful served me well. It taught me grit, creativity, and resilience. But as my business grew, I realized that same mindset was holding me back.
I had to release the idea that asking for help was weakness. I had to let go of the belief that no one could do it “as good as me.” That version of me helped me survive, but it wouldn’t allow me to scale.
Now, I’m embracing collaboration, leadership, and trust. Building a team has not only multiplied what Secured Financials can offer, but it has also freed me to focus on the bigger vision — strategy, growth, and impact.
The old me built the foundation. The new me is building the future.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — right after I had my son, Karter.
I gave birth on a Friday, and by Monday I was already back to work. Not because I wanted to, but because I felt like I had no choice. Even though I had a small team at the time, I hadn’t yet learned how to really lead them. Everything still fell back on me, and I carried the weight like I was still running the business alone.
In that moment, I questioned everything. I had a newborn who needed me, a business that demanded me, and a body and mind that were both exhausted. It felt like too much, and I thought about walking away.
But here’s what I learned: tough times don’t mean you’re failing — they mean you’re being stretched. That season forced me to grow as a leader. I had to stop micromanaging, start trusting my team, and build systems that didn’t rely on me being everywhere at once.
For anyone going through a season where you feel like you can’t do it anymore, know this: it’s not the end, it’s the turning point. Sometimes the hardest moments are what shape you into the person — and leader — you were meant to become.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in our industry is that clients only care about refunds or compliance. What I’ve seen in working with therapists and beauty professionals is something completely different — they want so much more than a tax return.
For example, I’ll never forget a therapist who came to us saying, “I just need help filing my taxes.” But as we talked, it became clear what she really wanted was clarity. She was tired of feeling like she was just guessing at her numbers. Once we showed her how to read her reports and explained things in plain English, she lit up — it was like a weight lifted. She finally felt in control.
Another client, a beauty professional, told me her biggest fear was getting an IRS letter she couldn’t handle. What she was really asking for was peace of mind. She wanted to know she was protected, that her books were clean, and that someone had her back. That’s not about a refund — that’s about sleeping well at night.
And then there are clients who come in thinking all they want is bookkeeping, but once we dive deeper, what they’re really craving is growth. They want to see their hard work translate into consistent paychecks, hiring help, and scaling their businesses without burning out.
The truth is, clients care about so much more than tax season. They care about building a business that supports their life. The industry may tell itself people just want a refund — but I’ve learned they want clarity, peace, and growth. That’s what keeps them coming back, year after year.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope the story people tell about me isn’t just about the business I built, but about the way I lived — rooted in faith, love, and purpose.
I want people to say I was a woman of integrity, that I trusted God in every season, and that even when life threw storms my way, I never let go of the belief that He had a bigger plan for me. My ultimate goal has always been heaven, and I want my life to be a reflection of that — a life that points people back to God through the way I treated others, the way I showed up for my family, and the way I served my clients.
I hope my children remember me as a mother who fought for them, who created a life by design that allowed them to be seen, loved, and free to be who God created them to be. I hope they see that even in the hard moments — like working with a newborn on my hip, or navigating Kingston’s autism journey — I never gave up, because I wanted them to know resilience runs in their blood.
And for my clients and my team, I hope the story is that I didn’t just help them with taxes or bookkeeping — I helped them believe in themselves. That I gave them tools to build wealth, yes, but more importantly, that I poured into their confidence and reminded them they were capable of more.
If people remember me as a woman who lived by faith, who gave more than she took, and who left people better than she found them — then I’ll know my story was worth telling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.securedfinancials.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securedfinancials/
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/margaret-montague-20
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecuredFinancials/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLPcvDx8u5YQj0sXThbF9g
Image Credits
Visual Moments Photography
