Michael Thomas Simpson

Payton Ve Strand is a CFP® professional at Morgan Stanley with seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2025, they worked at JPMorgan Securities, LLC and PYA Waltman Capital, LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools.

Derek Kennedy is a CFP® with 24 years of experience and the principal advisor at Kennedy Wealth Management in Knoxville, TN, where he has worked since 2000. He holds a Series 63 license and leads the firm as its sole advisor. Kennedy Wealth Management serves individual investors, trusts, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plan sponsors with financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary, uses diversified asset allocation based on fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and provides pension consulting and employee education services uncommon among similar independent advisors.

David Burnett is a financial advisor at Shepherd's Financial LLC in Knoxville, TN, with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked with Eagle Strategies LLC and NYLIFE Securities LLC. Outside of finance, Burnett serves as clergy at Old North Abbey and is an author of academic books on religious texts. Shepherd’s Financial serves individuals, clergy, churches, businesses, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management along with financial planning and consulting. The firm employs fundamental analysis, tax-aware techniques, and third-party model managers, with a focus on customized strategies for each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

Grayson Niehaus is a CFA® charterholder with one year of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Parity Investment Management, LLC in Knoxville, TN. His prior experience includes roles at Invesco and William Blair. He is the founder and managing member of OneThirty Equity Fund L/S, LP, a privately offered pooled investment vehicle. Parity Investment Management, LLC offers portfolio management and limited advisory consultations to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pooled investment vehicles, and institutional relationships. The firm employs fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods to construct diversified portfolios with an emphasis on equities, options, fixed income, and ETFs.

We believe money is a tool and that every person deserves a guide who will help them use it well. With deep respect for our fiduciary calling, we exist to serve individuals and organizations who are ready to understand their finances and take confident steps forward. We call that stewardship: holding what you've been given with care, intentionality, and purpose. Our relationships go beyond numbers. We take time to listen, learn, and help our clients find clarity around what truly matters, then build every decision on that foundation. This honest, human-first approach is at the heart of everything we do. Our comprehensive planning process creates a proactive partnership rooted in accountability. We walk alongside our clients through what we call Momentum Moments - those pivotal times when decisions carry the most weight. Planning to us focuses on our Life, Resources, Protection, and Legacy. By focusing on aligning these facets of your life, we help prepare for important decisions with confidence and courage, so you can move forward without second-guessing yourself. We don't take lightly the trust our clients place in us. We receive it with gratitude and honor it by holding ourselves to a standard of excellence in every interaction, every plan, and every recommendation. The Core Values which drive us: Stewardship - We treat every client's resources as something worth protecting and growing with care. Clarity - We simplify complexity so clients always know where they stand and what comes next. Gratitude - We don't take trust for granted. We receive it humbly and honor it faithfully. Excellence - We hold ourselves to a high standard in every plan, every conversation, and every outcome. Courage - We ask the hard questions, have the honest conversations, and help clients make bold, confident decisions. Our Mission is Empowering Fulfillment + Enhancing Communities Our Vision is to grow organically through a culture of excellence and genuine care - building a Destination Firm where clients and staff alike feel known, supported, and inspired. Along the way, we will make a lasting impact in the communities where we live and serve through volunteering, generosity, and relationships.

Steven King is a financial advisor at ICON Capital Management, LLC in Powell, Tennessee, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 designation and has been with ICON Capital Management since 1996. ICON Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management, limited financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm is noted for its work with pension and profit-sharing plan clients, including retirement plan consulting and ERISA fiduciary roles.