PRICE FINANCIAL GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Centralized Service Advisor
- Service Advisor for Merit
Alex Alba is a Centralized Service Advisor for Merit, focusing on serving new & existing clients and growing client relationships. He enjoys building rapport with new & existing clients while providing excellent service and financial solutions to clients. Alex received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Georgia in Financial Planning. Alex likes to travel with family and friends, cheer on his sports teams, play competitive basketball, and visit his home island of Puerto Rico.
Job Titles:
- Chief Transitions Officer Partner
Amelia brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services space, entirely of service to Merit. As the Chief Transitions Officer, she works with the transition team to onboard acquired and independent advisor partner firms to the Merit platform. With her extensive experience in serving the Merit team and specific expertise in accounting, payroll/benefits, compliance, technology, and business management, Amelia is a key resource in the transition process.
Amelia received a bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of South Florida in Tampa and maintains her Series 7, 24 and 63 securities registrations with LPL Financial. After living in the city of Atlanta for almost 20 years, Amelia now calls the northern suburb of Milton home with her husband, Bryan, and their two children, Alex and Olivia. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, traveling, and watching her kids play sports.
As a Certified Financial Planner® professional, Andrew specializes in investment management, retirement planning, and estate planning. His area of expertise is comprehensive financial planning.
Ben Michalski got started in the investment management industry in January of 2012 after receiving a BS in Finance from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. After 2.5 years with Edward Jones, he felt the mountains calling and decided to relocate to Denver in September of 2014. While in Colorado, Ben built upon this foundation working as a mutual fund wholesaler with Transamerica for 5 years. When not at work, Ben enjoys snowboarding, camping, playing guitar, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Merit
Bill Traer is the Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Merit focusing on growing the company thru strategic relationships with other financial advisory firms. He enjoys playing a part in expanding the company thru mergers and acquisitions. Bill received a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of North Florida where he received his CPA™ and CFP®. He likes to spend time with his extended family, traveling, skiing, charitable activities, and other active pursuits.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager
- Wealth Manager for Merit
Billy Focia is a wealth manager for Merit focusing on developing strategies for client's goals for investment and retirement. Billy enjoys helping to guide his clients towards a pursuit of a successful financial future. He received his Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Auburn University at Montgomery. Billy likes to travel with his kids, play golf and mentor the youth.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager, Branch Manager, Partner
David oversees new market development, advisor productivity and the integration of new partner firms. His career started with Ameriprise, where he was promoted to National Director of United Kingdom. In that role, he built sales forces from 0 to 400 Financial Planners and 17 offices in three years. He later returned to the United States to support Ameriprise's domestic integration of technology and field sales utilization. After a long career with Ameriprise, he joined ING as SVP Head of Sales - Retail, Insurance and Advisory Markets, and was integral to the conversion of their field sales into financial planners during his 12 years there. Because he values being close to the client, working with advisors and pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives, he started an RIA in 2009 with several partners and grew it to $500 million in AUM in three years. He served as both the CCO and an advisor, and was awarded the Five Star Wealth Manager Award in 2012. Later in 2012, he was recruited by LPL Financial to drive a new entrepreneurial initiative around their Worksite Solutions/Financial Wellness offering, which he took to unprecedented levels of success in just three years. He joined Wealth Enhancement Group (WEG) in 2015 to head up their M&A division and helped facilitate 10+ external firm integrations into WEG. David joined Merit in June of 2020 and is looking forward to helping Merit build a national wealth management footprint.
Blaine is a Wealth Manager focusing on building client relationships and helping people navigate financial planning and investing. He enjoys helping clients pursue their financial goals. Blaine received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Tech University, and also holds his CFP designation. When not at work, he likes to spend time with his wife and kids, and go skiing with his boys when he is not coaching or watching their sports.
Brian Martin is a Wealth Manager for Merit focusing on providing wealth management and financial planning strategies for clients, including serving corporate employees with respect to their overall benefits plans. Brian enjoys helping clients execute a defined plan of action that addresses their unique financial objectives, while also structuring investment strategies that are in their best interest.
He received his degree in Business Administration from Auburn University and is an avid supporter of everything Auburn. Brian is originally from Mobile, Alabama, and now enjoys living in the Johns Creek/Alpharetta area. When Brian is not in the office he likes to play golf when he can, and enjoys trips to the beach and visiting with family in Alabama. Brian loves spending time with his two kids, Hunter and Olivia as much as he can, and has coached youth teams for the last 8 years
Job Titles:
- Director of Portfolio Strategy for Merit
Caleb Tucker is the Director of Portfolio Strategy for Merit, focusing on investment strategy and research. He enjoys performing market and economic research that helps advisors best meet their client's needs. Caleb received a BBA in Economics with a minor in Spanish from Georgia Southern University. He likes to play tennis, travel, and watch college sports.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager and Partner
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Carly Hensley is a Wealth Manager and Partner. She has been a valued member of our firm since 2003. Carly is a graduate of Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication. She began her career as a newspaper reporter for The Citizen News in Edgefield, South Carolina, and The Augusta Chronicle in Aiken, South Carolina.
Carly is a native of North Carolina and the Charlotte Area. She returned home to be closer to her extensive friends and family. She was referred to Straub & King Retirement Planning by one of our valued clients. In January 2009, Carly completed the Financial Planner Program at Queens University of Charlotte.
When not in the office, Carly enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Carly lives in Charlotte with her husband Brian, son Waylon and daughter Ruby. She is a Registered Representative with LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Chad's primary focus is to provide excellent service to every participant of the retirement plans we serve. He works with business owners to develop retirement plans that are most effective for them and their employees.
In addition, Chad utilizes his knowledge from the CFP® board exam to build intricate financial plans that aim to evaluate every aspect of an individual or family's financial life. This includes investment analysis, cash flow management, risk mitigation, estate planning, education planning, and retirement planning.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager at Merit Financial Advisors
Chad Stevens is a Wealth Manager at Merit Financial Advisors. He graduated from Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the spring of 2019 and passed the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board exam on his first attempt just months after graduation.
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Chris Ceponis, a graduate of Belmont Abbey College, has derived great satisfaction for 35 years guiding clients along their financial journey. He's worked with individuals, small businesses, and executives, honing his experience in positioning and managing assets to pursue a comfortable retirement and effective estate distribution.
He and his family returned to Connecticut from Alabama in 2012, where he ran his 40-member financial firm. He and his wife Julie have three children, and they've participated in many charitable programs directed towards youth and the homeless over the years.
Chris enjoys golf, tennis, and dabbling on the piano in his free time. He's also involved in various community theater groups as an actor, director, and playwright.
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
- Client Development Manager for Merit
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Crista Roemen is a Client Development Manager for Merit focusing on marketing and establishing a relationship with the Merit public through events and strategic communication efforts. She enjoys getting to know our clients and learning better ways to meet their needs. Crista received her Bachelors Degree in Public Relations from Auburn University, but she's a Bama fan...Roll Tide! She likes to spend time with her husband and their 3 fur babies - Lily, Scout and Rose. She also loves to travel and see new places.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director
- Senior Vice President
David oversees new market development, advisor productivity and the integration of new partner firms. His career started with Ameriprise, where he was promoted to National Director of United Kingdom. In that role, he built sales forces from 0 to 400 Financial Planners and 17 offices in three years. He later returned to the United States to support Ameriprise's domestic integration of technology and field sales utilization. After a long career with Ameriprise, he joined ING as SVP Head of Sales - Retail, Insurance and Advisory Markets, and was integral to the conversion of their field sales into financial planners during his 12 years there.
Because he values being close to the client, working with advisors and pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives, he started an RIA in 2009 with several partners and grew it to $500 million in AUM in three years. He served as both the CCO and an advisor, and was awarded the Five Star Wealth Manager Award in 2012. Later in 2012, he was recruited by LPL Financial to drive a new entrepreneurial initiative around their Worksite Solutions/Financial Wellness offering, which he took to unprecedented levels of success in just three years. He joined Wealth Enhancement Group (WEG) in 2015 to head up their M&A division and helped facilitate 10+ external firm integrations into WEG. David joined Merit in June of 2020 and is looking forward to helping Merit build a national wealth management footprint.
Job Titles:
- Regional Operations Director
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David joined the team in 2016 as the Staff Accountant. He has more than 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. In 2017 he was promoted to Regional Operations Director and is responsible for Compliance, Operations and Accounting for the region.
A graduate of Western State Colorado University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, David went on to serve as a United States Naval Officer and is a 17-time decorated Veteran of Foreign Wars.
David, his wife Andrea and their son Jacob, love skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, and hiking, biking, camping and boating in the summer. They are also music festival and street fair enthusiasts and avid Denver Broncos fans.
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
- Relationship Manager
- Relationship Manager and Client Development Manager for Merit
Deb Stamets is a Relationship Manager and Client Development Manager for Merit focusing on client and prospect contact for branch activities and communications. She enjoys building communications with clients and prospects so that we may keep their most important and individual needs the focus of our relationships. Deb received an Associate of Arts Degree from Peace College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from North Carolina State University. She likes to travel, read, spend time with husband Derek, and cheer for N.C. State Wolfpack!
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Doane Harrison received an accounting degree from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA degree from the University of Texas. He served as a US Army Finance Officer in Germany. He's a comprehensive financial planner who provides comprehensive financial services in all ten key areas of wealth care planning, emphasizing tax planning, retirement planning, and investment management for individuals and small businesses with many clients in the health care field. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1972, practicing in Norman since 1977, and is also a Personal Financial Specialist. He is the owner of the Norman, OK CPA firm, Harrison Associates, PC, and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Oklahoma Society of CPAs.
Job Titles:
- CAIA® Senior Portfolio Strategist
- Senior Portfolio Strategist
Donald R. Chambers is the Senior Portfolio Strategist. He previously served as the Associate Director of Programs at the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.
Emily Boothroyd, JD, CFP®, CPWA® is a Partner and Wealth Manager in the Wilton, CT branch of Merit Financial Advisors/Price Financial Group. She has been dedicated to helping her clients to create financial plans that reflect their individual needs for over a decade. Emily has a background in trusts and estates law, as well as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, and holds a certificate in Behavioral Finance from the Investments and Wealth Institute.
Emily has a strong focus on education and coaching and strives to empower her clients to sit in the driver's seat when it comes to their financial lives. Her planning focuses on the articulation of goals and the methods of working towards them while maintaining a strong emphasis on risk management.
Whether her clients are moving forward to start a new chapter after a divorce, focusing on understanding financial management after the loss of a loved one, or seeking advice on how to optimize their executive compensation and stock options strategies, Emily enjoys connecting with each of her clients in a caring and compassionate manner.
She started her career as a legal counsel to the Congress of the Republic of Palau, then moved into estate planning as an attorney with the firm of Bishop, Jackson & Kelly, LLC. Emily transitioned to holistic financial planning and wealth management in 2009 as a natural progression from her experience as an estate planner.
Emily lives in Easton, Connecticut with her family. When she is not with her clients or team at Merit, you can find her at the barn or cooking with her two daughters. She also loves traveling and yoga.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Partner
- Chief of Staff and Partner at Merit
- Member of Merit 's Executive Leadership Team
Greg Gerhard is Chief of Staff and Partner at Merit. He oversees the Integration of newly acquired team members and contributes to the Development of our existing team. Greg's passion for Culture helps drive Merit's focus; we believe our Culture is our bedrock and our future! Greg serves as a devoted resource to the 100 member team and works tirelessly to weave a cultural thread through all facets of the firm. Merit's goal is to provide a dynamic and diverse Culture in which all team members may succeed and realize their personal and professional growth aspirations! Greg oversees Merit's industry conference, UNITE as well as its team conference, EPIC.
As an at large member of Merit's Executive Leadership Team, Greg ultimately contributes to all aspects of the firms initiatives. His passion for building synergistic relationships throughout our industry contributes to the firms overall 3-prong growth strategy; 1. Organic Growth (Niches) 2. the growth and development of our existing RIA Platform Partners 3. Merit's M&A activity. Greg maintains relationships with many industry firms such as Custodians, Institutional Money Managers, recruiters and peer RIA's.
Greg received a Bachelor's Degree from the State University of New York at Oswego and maintains his Series 7 and 63 securities registrations held with LPL Financial and his Series 65 registration held with Merit Financial Group. In his spare time, Greg enjoys spending time with his 2 boys on nature hikes, coaching his kids sports teams and reading. Fun Fact: Greg is an accomplished dart thrower!
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
- Client Development Manager for the Southlake
Heather is the Client Development Manager for the Southlake office. She actively works on building relationships with prospects and existing clients, marketing the firm, and helping our business grow. Heather loves being able to help others, both her teammates and our clients, to pursue their goals and live their best lives.
Away from work, Heather can be found spending time with Mike, her husband of 21 years and their lovely daughter, Alexis. Heather is a lifetime resident of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and a huge Texas Ranger fan. She was just elected as the President of, The HEB Council of PTA's and as the Secretary for the High School Cheer Booster Club.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Advisor
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Hollis Hardiman is a Private Wealth Advisor who joined Price Financial Group in January of 2015. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA™), Hollis specializes in helping clients navigate periods of transition such as divorce, the loss of a spouse, and the sometimes complex period leading up to a much-anticipated retirement. Her expertise includes all areas of financial planning, including investment management, tax strategy, risk management, and estate plan design.
Hollis graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. Upon graduation, she began a 12-year career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, rising through the ranks to eventually manage six retail locations in Fairfield County. In her management role, Hollis oversaw all aspects of sales operations, including developing an ever-growing sales team, expansion of her territory, as well as profit and loss management for her six locations.
Capitalizing on the skills she acquired in this role, especially those related to budgeting and sound fiscal management, Hollis then transitioned to the world of private wealth management by joining Wells Fargo Advisors in Westport, CT, in October of 2013. In the time since, both at Wells Fargo and now at Merit, Hollis has considered it a privilege to utilize her hands-on experience, practical financial expertise, and passion for exceptional service to help her clients pursue their lifestyle retirement goals.
Hollis was born and raised in Fairfield, CT, and now splits her time between Fairfield and Palm City, FL. She enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family, walking her two dogs, and playing tennis in her free time.
Job Titles:
- Compliance Manager
- Vice President of Operations
Jennifer Keegan is the Vice President of Operations and Compliance Manager for Merit focusing on testing and implementing our registered investment advisor and broker-dealer compliance programs. She enjoys all things compliance! And the opportunity to work with each advisor and branch office within the firm. Jen received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Arts in Legal Analysis from Webster University. She likes to go golfing, boating and watch St. Louis Cardinal Baseball games with her husband, John and their son Daniel.
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
Jessi joined the Sharp Advisors, now Merit Financial Advisors, firm in September 2017 as a Client Development Manager. She is here to help our clients make a smooth transition from working into retirement. She enjoys communicating and building lasting relationships with our clients and prospects, so that we may focus on their most important, individual needs. Jessi also organizes and plans for our branch workshops, webinars, and other marketing events to connect you with one of our financial advisors for a complimentary initial review meeting. And she loves coming up with creative ideas and venues for our much-anticipated Client Appreciation Events.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jessi moved to Charlotte in 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University. Jessi had completed seven years of teaching high school students, before taking time to focus on motherhood and raising her two boys, Landen and Brecken. Today, she is a valued member of our Merit Financial Advisors team.
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Jill Crawford guides clients in reaching their financial objectives through a sound financial plan that will allow them to gain peace of mind regarding their financial matters. She believes that every client's situation requires a unique solution and is committed to understanding her client's particular goals, creating the best possible plan, and helping clients execute their plans. She brings over 15 years of planning experience to each client's situation.
Before joining Merit, Jill was a founding member of Consilium Financial Group, served as a Financial Advisor at Ronald Blue & Co, where she obtained her Certified Financial Planner® professional designation. With her previous work experience at Arthur Andersen, LLP, she earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and maintained this license through 2017.
Jill and her husband, Dave, live in Buford, Georgia, and enjoy time spent traveling, boating, and visiting family.
Jim joined Financial Development Systems in 2015, and has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years. Jim provides direction and focus for our clients to help pursue their goals. He also works with retirement plan fiduciaries and participants, helping to prepare and steer them to a comfortable retirement. Jim currently holds 7, 9, 10, 24 and 63 securities registrations through LPL Financial and 65 through Merit Financial Group. He is also licensed for life, accident and sickness insurance. Jim was raised in Marietta, Ga., and still resides there with his wife Kimberly and their two children, Katie and William. In his spare time, Jim enjoys playing golf, traveling, attending sporting events, and spending time with his family.
Jim has always been fascinated by the flow of money, economics and geopolitics. Prior to Merit Financial Advisors, he began his financial and estate planning career with the Mixon Baker Agency National Life of Vermont in 1978. After that, he joined the Al Adams Rare Coins firm in 1980 where he became the Vice President of the company. After becoming a registered representative in 1995, he joined Allegiance Advantage Group. He now serves as an advisor for Merit Financial Advisors.
Jim graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and is also a Chartered Financial Consultant. His naturally compassionate nature and unwavering dedication to his clients' well-being and financial independence make him a personal- yet professional touch in the financial industry.
Jim is an avid scuba diver (Dive Master/ Master Scuba Diver) He shoots sporting clays, reads every day, thoroughly enjoys travel, wilderness hiking, the theater, and working out. Jim also has 3 children and 4 very active grandchildren.
Jody joined Financial Development Systems in 1988. Working with his mentor, Dr. Kay Shirley, Jody helped build the firm into one of the top independent financial services practices in the country. As a University of Georgia business school graduate, Jody holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, as well as series 7, 24 and 63 securities registrations through LPL Financial. He is also licensed for life, accident and sickness insurance, as well as variable insurance products. Jody and his wife, Lauren, have been married since 1990, and they have two wonderful sons, Cal and Cade. Having traveled the world earlier in their lives together, they are now focused on enjoying outdoor activities and sports with their boys.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Client Development for Merit
Jooliana is the Director of Client Development for Merit, focusing on developing relationships with existing and prospective clients by facilitating sales and outreach activities. She enjoys helping people looking for wealth management strategies and guidance to prepare for retirement with advisors at Merit who can assist them. She plays a key role in hiring, training, mentoring, and developing a team of 7+ Client Development Managers across the United States. She also develops the team's sales strategies for new prospects and secures profitable new business by managing marketing activities, competitive analysis, and tracking results for marketing ROI. She meets with the VP of Marketing and the President to review the team's sales efforts to grow the business exponentially. Jooliana received her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia, and she also obtained her Hubspot and Pardot certifications. She likes to exercise, travel, listen to audiobooks, and socialize with friends and family during her free time.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Joy D. Kirsch's career is a testament to her belief that true wealth is not just a measure of one's financial assets, but the sum of a person's health, wealth, and personal relationships. She spends her time helping widows define their values, dream new dreams, and align their wealth accordingly. To enhance this commitment, Joy recently merged her firm with Merit Financial. Merit offers strong executive leadership, expanded portfolio options, and an efficient back office.
This strategic partnership has allowed Joy to return to a client-facing role and train other advisors on her trademarked process for supporting widows. The TruWealth® Process was originally created after she lost her husband and business partner at the age of 30. As a result of that experience, she sought to understand life-changing events and how they affect financial decisions. Joy has since focused her career on helping women navigate the difficulties associated with widowhood, make sound financial decisions, and move forward with confidence and a sense of purpose.
Joy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner, a Certified Financial Transitionist® through the Sudden Money® Institute and the founder of The Widows Journey, a non-profit entity dedicated to educating and empowering widows. She is a member of the Dallas Financial Planning Association and former chairman of the Fort Worth Business and Estate Section of the Tarrant County Bar Association. She is securities and insurance licensed and graduated cum laude from the University of Dallas with a bachelor's degree in Economics.
Although Joy has won several industry awards, she is most proud of her twenty-five talented, beautiful, and exceptional nieces and nephews. When she is not hanging out with those family members, she can usually be found watching the sunset at her East Texas ranch, working on her golf and tennis game, or trying a new restaurant with her beau, Ron.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Vice President of Technology, Wealth Manager, Partner
JP Pattinson is a Partner and the Vice President of Technology. He focuses on wealth management, operations, and branch management. He enjoys providing his clients with confidence in their financial futures. JP received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Texas with a degree in Financial Services. He likes to spend time with his wife Leslie and daughter Brynn. He also enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling.
Justin Eccleston is a Wealth Manager and manages our Princeton, New Jersey location. Justin actively oversees client relationships, co-manages the Biltmore Select portfolios, and is part of Biltmore's Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Biltmore Capital Advisors, Justin worked for Merrill Lynch's Global Wealth Investment Management division (GWIM), headquartered in New York City. He was a senior lead member of the Private Investment Advisory (PIA) team. His role had him heavily involved in managing GPS compliance performance and customized portfolio strategies for 12 of the firm's top 100 senior portfolio managers, with totals of $14 billion in assets under management.
Justin graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in finance and has furthered his education by attending advanced financial courses at The Wharton School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Financial Advisor / Partner at Merit Financial Advisors
Kate Redden is a Financial Advisor/Partner at Merit Financial Advisors. She works one-on-one with clients to help them reach their financial goals using interactive financial planning software and implementing customized investment strategies. Prior to joining the team in 2017, Kate was a Financial Advisor for 16 years at Ronald Blue & Co. (now Ronald Blue Trust), an independent, fee-only wealth management firm based in Atlanta, GA.
Kate earned her BA in Business Administration from Rhodes College where she was awarded the Wall Street Journal Departmental Award in Finance. Kate is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant (CFP®) and also holds the Chartered Financial Consultant designation (ChFC®). She is a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®) and has been involved with the Kingdom Advisors organization since its inception in 2003. She holds the Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses as well as various insurance licenses. She is currently pursuing the Certified Divorce Financial Advisor (CDFA®) designation to better serve people going through this life transition.
Kay Lynn has played many roles in the financial advisory industry: as a successor, partner, seller, and buyer. This unique and diverse background allows her to be able to relate to advisors in all phases of their careers and mergers and acquisitions. With a background in financial planning and leadership, her career expands over several areas, including advising clients, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth.
Kay Lynn worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suites table as President of Merit, which manages over 5 billion in RIA and Brokerage assets under management. She holds her CFP®, AEP®, and RFC® and has been a critical decision-maker for two firms over the past twenty years. Kay Lynn has overseen multiple mergers and acquisitions over the past four years and has been recognized for her position as a female leader in the financial services industry.
She is passionate about helping people take their careers - and themselves - to exceptional levels. Kay Lynn's influence in the industry and her drive for success is a driving factor in Merit's ongoing growth and appeal to growth-oriented advisors.
Beyond the practical aspects of Financial Planning and Investment Management, Kelly Gallimore integrates other components into the equation. A student of Behavioral Finance, she uses various tools to enhance clients' understanding of their financial views and how one's innate strengths and struggles can influence their decision making and ultimate success in reaching their goals.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Partner
- Regional Director
- Senior Managing Partner
Kelly Straub is a Senior Managing Partner and the Founder of SHARP ADVISORS. He is a "CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™" and an active member of the Charlotte Financial Planners Association.
Kelly feels that "Retirement planning is a lifelong journey, not a one-time event." He helps his clients take control of their retirement planning, by providing advice designed to help avoid costly mistakes and accumulating wealth while they are still working and then professionally managing that wealth during their retirement.
He believes in the "Golden Rule", treat others the way you would like to be treated. Kelly says, "If we help enough people get what they want out of life, we'll get what we want out of life. Most people want to do business with someone they know, like and trust. Personal relationships, customer service, and consistent professional advice are the three most important values and services we can provide to our clients."
Prior to founding SHARP ADVISORS and Straub & King Retirement Planning, Kelly was a Regional CEO, for a national financial planning firm, responsible for advisors in North and South Carolina. Mr. Straub is a Registered Representative with LPL Financial., Member FINRA/SIPC, and an Investment Advisor Representative with Merit Financial Group, LLC a SEC registered investment adviser.
Kelly has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Sheri and three children, Jason, Adam and David. Kelly is a volunteer at the Telecomm Pioneers.
Kirk integrates financial planning, investment management, and estate and philanthropic planning into a custom-tailored financial plan that helps clients accomplish their financial goals. He is responsible for bringing together the specialized resources necessary to meet his clients' needs effectively and for building long-term client relationships based on integrity, confidence, and trust.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager for Merit
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Kyle Shores is a Wealth Manager for Merit focusing on advising clients on investments, insurance, estate planning, risk management, and other areas of comprehensive financial planning. He enjoys redefining the norm for the financial advising relationship, which is different for every investor. Kyle received a Bachelors Degree in Financial Planning from the University of North Texas. He also sits on the Board of The Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County. Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife Klair and their four boys Cameron, Dalton, Max, and Harrison.
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
- Client Development Manager for Merit
Lauren Stevens is a Client Development Manager for Merit, focusing on building relationships with potential clients through marketing and events.
She enjoys getting to know new individuals and helping connect them with an advisor who seeks to help clients achieve their financial goals.
Lauren received her bachelor's degree from Florida State University. She likes to cook, travel, relax on the beach, and scuba dive on the weekends.
Lori R. Price, CFP® founded Price Financial Group in 1990 as a boutique independent wealth management firm serving clients in Connecticut, Florida and throughout the country.
For over 35 years, Lori has been providing financial, retirement, estate planning and wealth management services. In February 2021, Lori was again named to the Forbes list of Best in State Wealth Advisors in Connecticut and named one of America's Top Women Advisors.
After earning a certification as a divorce financial planner in 1998, she developed a more specialized focus guiding affluent women through the transition of divorce or losing a loved one. As an acknowledgement for her focus on educating women and helping guide them through transitions, Lori is proud to have earned Women's Choice Award® for Financial Advisors every year since 2014 [1].
Lori and her team of advisors and professional staff also work with clients who are near or in retirement, helping guide their transition from a paycheck to having a plan in place so they will not outlive their money.
The demands of managing a small financial services firm became more time-consuming and complex. Lori merged Price Financial Group with Merit Financial Advisors in January of 2020 in order to gain access to numerous resources ranging from strong compliance oversight, dedicated technology support, a top-notch financial planning department, an excellent marketing team, administrative and operations support, and a fantastic bench of investment professionals.
Lori has been welcomed as a guest speaker at national conferences and has conducted over 350 workshops covering all aspects of financial and estate planning. She has been widely recognized in the industry by Barron's, Forbes, Connecticut Magazine and Wealth Manager Magazine among others.
Acting on her strong belief in the importance of giving back to the community, Lori has presented special programs on "Creative Alternatives for Charitable Giving" and "Empowering Women in Philanthropy." She actively supports several local charities including: Feeding America and local food banks, Alzheimer's Research, The Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Relay for Life, Fairfield County Foundation Fund for Women and Girls, Rock the Street Wall Street, & Special Olympics.
Lori has an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a BA in Business from Rutgers University. She now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Old Saybrook, CT. For fun, Lori is a competitive pickleball player and sports enthusiast and enjoys wine tastings, travel, golf, cycling, kayaking and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Regional Operations Director
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Marci Hoyer is a Regional Operations Director, working out of the Boca Raton office. Her duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, client services, compliance, and office management. Marci leads the team responsible for onboarding new families to the Biltmore platform and oversees securities transfers, wires, and ongoing administrative services for Biltmore clients.
Prior to joining Biltmore Capital Advisors, Marci worked for Northwestern Mutual, where she was an Associate Director of Network Office Supervision. She was responsible for overseeing the administrative functions of investment operations, maintaining required compliance records, and training and developing investment operations staff on administrative functions of investment operations policies and procedures. Marci is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Science degree. She has previously held the series licenses 6,7,9/10, 26, 63, and Life, Health, and Variable Annuities.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Marcus Anderson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM professional and has earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designee with a B.A. in Business Economics from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Job Titles:
- Regional Operations Director
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Margarite joined the team in 2008 and is the Regional Operations Director for Merit Financial.
She holds her Series 6, Series 63, and Series 65 registrations through LPL Financial. In addition to being a Registered Paraplanner (RP) holding the FPQP Designation.
Margarite brings with her many years of client service experience in the financial services industry and is here to assist our clients with all their account service needs.
Mark Christensen is the Chief Compliance Officer/Compliance Associate for Merit, focusing on all regulatory compliance matters for the firm. This includes design and maintenance of the compliance program, partnering with the business to facilitate internal and external change, and performing compliance supervision and testing. Mark enjoys finding solutions to compliance issues that enable the business to achieve its goals, and collaborating with firm colleagues to build out scalable processes. Mark received a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Michigan State University. Mark likes to cycle, having completed a number of multi-day self-supported bike trips in Europe and North America.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Marketing
- VP of Marketing for Merit
Martina Chisholm is the VP of Marketing for Merit, focusing on the planning, development, and execution of all Merit marketing, branding, and advertising initiatives. Martina enjoys creating a memorable digital and in-person experience for existing and potential clients while interacting with the Merit brand. She received her MBA from The University of Maryland - Global Campus. She likes to travel the world, experience different cultures, spend time with her friends and family, and attend all the concerts and sporting events Atlanta offers.
Job Titles:
- Director of Portfolio Management for Merit
Nick is the Director of Portfolio Management for Merit focusing on providing portfolio management solutions to advisors as well as supporting firm operations and compliance. He enjoys providing in-depth analysis to aid advisors and the firm. Nick received his bachelor's degree in financial planning from the University of Georgia. He likes to travel and watch UGA football. Go Dawgs!
Job Titles:
- Client Development Manager
Nicole Denson is a Client Development Manager in the Frisco office. She focuses on marketing and business growth through client satisfaction and experience, community outreach and events. Nicole enjoys meeting new people she can introduce to the Frisco advisors and Merit Financial. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Plymouth State College with a focus on performance. She enjoys traveling and being involved in her church. Nicole also likes to perform locally, go on adventures with her daughter, kickbox and spend time with family and friends.
Peter has been consistently recognized as one of the country's top financial advisors. As a Certified Financial Planner™, he has provided objective investment management advice and financial services in a family office environment since 1984. Peter Tedstrom has been featured in various media including the Denver Business Journal and Channel 9 News on a wide array of financial matters. Additionally, he has co-authored a book, "Getting to the Heart of the Matter: A Revolution in Estate Planning for Wealthy Families."
Rick is an entrepreneur and visionary leader who founded Merit on a servant-leadership philosophy and a commitment to helping individuals reach their financial goals while supporting fellow advisors and entrepreneurs in meeting their professional goals. He has been widely recognized for his contributions to the industry, including being ranked among the Forbes Top 10 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors List in Georgia for 2 consecutive years. Rick has a clear vision for Merit's growth, designing a program that allows advisors to align with Merit in a number of ways. Rick is well versed in the industry and is striving to change it for the better.
Rick delivers high-energy presentations that challenge audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. Audiences appreciate his practical strategies they can apply directly to their business model. Rick offers his insight to business owners, advisors, and executives. Having been a key player in multiple mergers and acquisitions over the past four years, Rick is well versed in the industry and is striving to change it for the better.
Earning many awards for his financial services capabilities, his team, and his vision have further highlighted Rick's journey towards excellence. This perspective motivated him to coach, develop, inspire, and mentor fellow advisors as they strive to keep up with the everchanging financial services industry. He brings this same dedication to his work with business leaders to empower their teams and achieve greater success. Being a successful entrepreneur, Rick started multiple companies making him a diverse leader willing to share his recipes for success with others.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager, Branch Manager, Partner
Scott is a registered representative with LPL Financial and an Investment Advisor Representative with Merit Financial Advisors. An Auburn University graduate, Scott began his career directly out of college with a local independent broker/dealer.
With a clear understanding and commitment to personal finance, Scott decided to pursue a career that builds on his education and his desire to help others manage and work towards their financial goals. Scott joined Merit Financial Advisors in 2011 and has over 10 years of experience in the investment and financial industry. His experience includes overseeing the Central Alabama Region at T.D. Ameritrade where he was responsible for over $300 million in client assets. "Financial planning is a mix of expectations, managing risk, and discipline. However, I feel honesty and character are equally important qualities when working with a professional advisor. These are all attributes I wish to convey to my clients."
Scott lives in Birmingham with his wife, Megan and daughter, Piper. In his free time he can be seen pursuing home renovation projects, spending time with his family and friends, and his dog, Man-man.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager, Branch Manager, Partner
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Scott started his financial planning career at Smith Barney, where he worked with individual wealth management, retirement plans and in the fixed income market. After leaving the large institution, he saw the benefit a boutique firm can offer their clients. The supportive environment, along with best in class service is what attracted Scott to Merit Financial Advisors. Raised in Atlanta, Scott holds a Bachelor degree from Valdosta State University, where he received both golf and academic scholarships.
At Merit Financial Advisors, Scott spends his time advising clients towards the pursuit of their financial goals. From early on in his career, Scott has a passion for helping others set and work towards their financial dreams. "I believe the biggest mistake people make for retirement is the failure to plan for it. That is why we, at Merit, like to work with our clients years before they retire. This personalized approach also allows a trusting relationship to naturally form."
He is an active board member of the Valdosta State Alumni Chapter. In addition to his passion for the financial planning business, Scott enjoys playing golf, running and spending time with his wife Cagney and daughters Austin & Clarke.
Scott's passion for financial planning was instilled in him at an early age, as he would often discuss with his family the value of a hard-earned dollar, as well as the numerous benefits afforded to an individual from proper saving, budgeting, and thoughtful financial planning. With over 15 years of experience presenting educational workshops to numerous corporations, Scott truly connects on an individual level and seamlessly articulates an individual's needs and priorities in a personalized manner that helps them look to the future with confidence and assurance. Raised in Atlanta, Scott holds a Finance degree from Valdosta State University, where he received both golf and academic scholarships. Scott enjoys playing golf, running and spending time with his wife Cagney and two daughters Austin and Clarke.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Wealth Manager
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Sean Moore is a husband, father, and a Wealth Manager at Merit. Sean has spent his entire career helping others in the financial services industry. With more than 20 years of experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
Sean is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and has also earned the professional designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Prior to joining Merit, Sean served as the Vice President and Senior Advisor at a retirement planning firm where he helped hundreds of clients face the complexities of planning for and transitioning into retirement.
Sean has been featured on NBC, CBS & Lifetime television, the Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, and Miami Herald and is a regular contributor to U.S. News & World Report on the topic of financial planning. He is frequently quoted in national publications such as Forbes, Business Insider, Market Watch, Yahoo Finance, Investopedia, and others.
Sean lives in Boca Raton, FL where he enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach with his wife, Tiffany, and their two daughters.
Through their comprehensive five-step planning process, Frank and Sheri help clients with reliable income, assist with the protection of their principal, and plan for enough growth to outpace inflation. They help remove the worry that often accompanies retirement, and work hard to replace it with the confidence that comes from knowing financial affairs are in order. Our goal is to hear clients remark that they are happier, calmer, and enjoying life more.
Frank and Sheri have been a team in marriage and in business for 25 years. They received their Bachelors of Science and Master Degrees sitting side-by-side, and have worked as a team ever since.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager for Merit
- Wealth Manager, Branch Manager
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Stephen Frick is a Wealth Manager for Merit in the Jacksonville branch. Stephen embraces any opportunity for relationship-building and meaningful engagement with his clients. He brings to the table 14 years of experience in both the banking and financial services industries. He learned from a young age that he enjoys collaborating with others and has a passion for working in groups with a common goal. Stephen's personal mission statement is to create and foster an environment of collaboration and togetherness.
As your Wealth Manager, I will get to know you and understand your unique financial goals. I will partner with you to create and implement a personalized investment plan to help you reach those goals. I began my financial services career with Edward Jones as a financial advisor. In 2003 I accepted a position with Vanguard where I served as a Senior Financial Advisor for 16 years. I joined Merit Financial Advisors in 2020. I'm a Certified Financial Planner™ professional with a B.S. from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I also hold an MBA from the University of South Carolina. I enjoy working with clients and developing relationships that will help them enjoy the financial success they strive for. It is rewarding to be able to talk with clients about their life goals, and then analyze their situation, and put a game plan together to help them accomplish those goals. I live in the Charlotte area with my wife and two children. My outside interests include reading, coaching youth sports, and spending time with my family and friends.
Steve Henderson has over thirty years of experience serving small business owners and individuals as their FA and CPA. He understands that each client is in different stages of life and that everyone's economic and life situation is unique. He's dedicated to learning about each client's goals to help them succeed by providing clarity in all key areas of their wealth care planning.
Steve has lived in the Tulsa area since graduating with High Honors from the UofA in 1978 with a degree in Accounting. Soon after graduating from college, he completed the required exam and became a CPA. Later in his career, he continued his studies in the financial planning field and passed the exams and other requirements for the professional designations of PFS, CFP(R), and CKA.
Steve and his wife enjoy traveling, hiking, and spending time with their grandchildren. Steve enjoys following his favorite professional and college sports teams. He is actively involved with his local church and has volunteered for various other non-profit organizations. He believes that being active and helping others better understand their finances can increase financial security and healthier families, businesses, and communities.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager for the Colorado Springs
Tom Williams is a Wealth Manager for the Colorado Springs office. He works directly with clients to provide comprehensive financial planning and customized investment strategies. In addition, he provides guidance in establishing life planning goals, especially around retirement transition. Prior to joining the team in 2020, Tom was a financial advisor and trust officer with a wealth management and trust company in Houston, TX for over 12 years.
Tom earned his BS in Technology as well as his MBA from the University of Houston. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and has more than 20 years of experience in investments, financial planning and trust administration.
Timothy Ralph, Managing Partner, brought a world of experience to Biltmore Capital Advisors when he joined in 2009. At a young age, Tim emigrated from Johannesburg South Africa to New Jersey with his family. Given Tim's geographical closeness to New York City, he was intimately fascinated with Wall Street, later driving his career at some of the most well-known firms in the world, including Smith Barney, AIG, and Morgan Stanley. His vision at those firms helped him make a name for himself, advising high net worth individuals, corporate executives, foundations, businesses, and families on a wide range of wealth and asset management services.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Systems
Tony DiGirolamo is the Director of Business Systems for Merit, focusing on the day-to-day management, configuration, and improvement of the key technology platforms with Merit. He enjoys building integrations, workflows, and automation that help make Merit's advisors' jobs easier. Tony received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Master's degree from DePaul University. He enjoys spending time watching horror movies with his fiancee, Lauren.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Manager and Partner
- Wealth Manager, Partner
Tony Pitzer is a Wealth Manager and partner in Merit. He supervises the entire client experience including the development of financial plans in the TruWealth® Process, designing retirement distributions and investment recommendations, and the Concierge Wealth Management Experience™ process, which helps clients monitor their financial plan, insurance, and investments.
Tony has over 20+ years of service in the financial industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Family Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioner, and holds his securities and insurance licenses.
In his free time, Tony enjoys traveling, working in his yard, and spending time with his growing family which includes his wife Melody, her college age son, their toddler, and the dogs, Charlie and Lucy.
Trey Grissom is a Wealth Manager for Merit and currently holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. He's focused on building meaningful client relationships and wealth management solutions as a liaison between client service and our advisors. He enjoys supporting our clients' needs and learning the skill set needed to become an effective advisor. He likes to spend time with his wife and two boys, read, work out, watersports, and snowboarding. Trey received his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the United States Naval Academy.
Tyler Vernon was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Biltmore Capital Advisors and now the Regional Director of the Florida Region for Merit Financial Advisors. He began Biltmore Capital Advisors in 2007 after a distinguished career on Wall Street. He is a member of the investment committee of the firm which holds responsibility for global investment strategy and portfolio allocations. While at Biltmore, Vernon had eyes toward the future was responsible for the longer-term vision of the firm and the strategy as it relates to the client experience.
Ready to discuss your financial future?
Schedule a free consultation with one of our Wealth Managers today.
Zac Beckerley, CFP® is a Wealth Manager for Merit focusing on investment growth and income strategies through comprehensive financial planning. He enjoys helping clients build and pursue their financial goals for a comfortable and exciting retirement. Zac received both his Bachelors and Master's degree from Texas Tech University. He has always enjoyed numbers, so it was a good fit for him to earn a degree in financial planning. Zac likes to play and listen to music, as well as spend time with his wife and three children.