My first job after graduating from college was in the mortgage industry. It was too transactional for me, so I left after two years. I had the good fortune of being recruited into an Atlanta financial services firm that emphasized comprehensive financial planning.

My foundation was set from the start with good training and mentorship. I focused on successfully completing industry exams and gained licenses for insurance, annuities, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

This foundation of education led me to passing all the exams from the American College Charter Financial Consultant curriculum. Followed by passing the rigorous 2-day exam sponsored by the College for Financial Planning in 1996. This undertaking is a challenge enabled by passing the ChFC required curriculum and meeting the other standards put in place. Each of these curriculums is centered on the best ways to plan for clients financial needs and a solid future¹.

The scope of these licenses and certifications were of great value to me and my clients because I didn’t want to be like some financial advisors I’d heard about and observed that didn’t do much more than the minimum to pass exams for a license so they could sell products for a living. I felt that clients deserve a broad consideration of strategies and solutions based on a time-tested planning philosophy. The value of these achievements and my education remains relevant today.

Furthermore, I discovered what motivated me most was diving deep and seeing many possible solutions to the client’s needs. I relished how their challenges and goals appeared very similar on the surface but upon closer examination, different solutions were more appropriate. Comprehensive planning reveals that everyone is quite unique.

As I advanced in my career, I noticed that to provide advice that was not unduly influenced by a broker-dealer for clients, I needed to become independent. So, in 2004, I helped co-found Integrated Financial Group with about 25 other independent advisors. We wanted to have as much leeway as possible outside the influence of the domain of insurance or investment-owned financial service companies. IFG has been recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Top 25 Firm 2004-2020².  IFG has also been recognized by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as the AJC Top Workplaces- 2015-2020³.  Additionally, I have received the 5-Star Wealth Manager Award⁴ in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021.

Most recently, I went through a business development program which helped me rethink and devise a new program that is the culmination of all my 25 plus years in financial services. This program includes a 6-Step Planning and Implementation process. I merged this process with personalized retirement income generation using The Income for Life Model™. This combination really helps me guide clients toward a realistic income in retirement. Consequently, I now focus most of my time helping those within just a few years of retirement best understand how they can prepare to live a confident retirement and worry less about running out of money.

In 2010, I co-founded the Atlanta Wealth Care Network⁵. This is an organization centered on helping our members’ clients learn to do more independently, while also making it easy to connect with other professionals when help is needed. This is incredibly valuable to me because I pride myself on being as comprehensive as possible when helping clients. But, of course, I can’t be an expert in everything, so WCN makes it much easier to set my clients on a path to help live their best life.

I like to think I am living my best life possible with Melanie, my wife, our golden retriever, Fletch, and my three teenage sons from my previous marriage, where we are all active in our church and community. 

I love being outdoors— in fact, I thrive outdoors – whether that be working around the house landscaping our yard, playing golf, or off somewhere on my mountain bike. Melanie and I love to travel, play tennis, snow ski, hike, or take in sites and unique experiences of each destination. When we are not doing any of these things, we love spending time with family and friends, especially if it involves college football, a boat, a lake, or a mountain cabin.

¹ No longer renewing these two designations by American College and College for Financial Planning. 

² Based on assets under advisement 

³ Integrated Financial Group was recognized as a Top Workplace solely on surveys about the workplace completed by their employees. 

⁴ Five Star Professional Manager Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience and assets under management among other factors.  Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2012, 2014, 2016, & 2018 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.

⁵ The Atlanta WealthCare Network and LPL Financial and Stevens Wealth Strategies are separate entities.