Kendyl Strickland is a financial advisor with Strickland Davis Advisors LLC in Marietta, GA, holding a Series 65 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Advisors Management, LLC since 1998 and is also a principal and CPA at Strickland & Company, P.C., an accounting firm where he devotes significant time during tax season. Strickland Davis Advisors LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm focuses on long-term, strategic asset allocation tailored to each client’s financial situation and partners with Savant Wealth Management for retirement plan services.

Craig Bober is a CFP® professional at Sard Wealth Management Group, LLC in Atlanta, GA. He has been with Sard Wealth since 2023 and previously worked at Osaic in 2023. Prior to entering the financial industry, he was employed by West Liberty University from 2019 to 2023. Sard Wealth Management Group provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and financial institutions. The firm’s investment approach is primarily long-term and customized, utilizing low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, with the use of individual stocks, bonds, and derivative instruments as appropriate.

Kristin Mauger is a financial advisor at Gien Capital Management LLC with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Concourse Financial Group Advisors. Gien Capital Management LLC is a state-registered investment adviser serving primarily trusts, charitable entities, business owners, and estates. The firm builds individualized portfolios using a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, managing assets on a discretionary basis with the use of third-party sub-advisors.

Lois Bafas is a financial advisor with Anovest Investment Advisors in Marietta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Anovest Financial Services and Anovest Investment Advisors since 2004. Outside of her advisory role, she is also licensed as a health and life insurance agent. Anovest serves individual households, including high-net-worth clients, by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and custom portfolio reporting. The firm employs a bottom-up, total-return investment approach with diversified portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerances and time horizons.

Kenneth O'Leary is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Surepath Financial Services, LLC since 2017. His prior experience includes founding his sole proprietorship in 1999 and roles at Woodstock Financial Group and other ventures. Outside of advisory work, he owns a franchise business providing estate-planning software and is involved in direct sales of nutrition products. Surepath Financial Services provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program and a web-based platform. The firm also conducts educational seminars and customizes investment strategies based on clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Loyd Crowe is a financial advisor with Optimum Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Optimum Wealth Management since 2017 and has been associated with LAC Wealth Management since 2006. Outside of his advisory roles, Crowe serves as managing partner of P&C Partnership, LLC, focusing on administrative and investment matters. Optimum Wealth Management provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individual and high-net-worth clients and small businesses. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation approach combining passive index and ETF core holdings with selective active satellite managers, implementing investment decisions under discretionary authority with regular client reviews.

Alexander Duncan is a financial advisor at A & P Wealth Management in Woodstock, GA, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MCAP Investment Management and Plurimi Wealth & Asset Management, as well as work as a self-employed consultant. A & P Wealth Management is a supported advisory firm managing approximately $34.2 million for around 56 clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to create diversified portfolios and offers an active trading program that uses advanced option-writing, short sales, and margin strategies.

Robert Vavrina is a financial advisor at Centurion Advisory Group, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BV Associates, Okta, and Freedom Mortgage. Centurion Advisory Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, retirement plan consulting, and project-based general consulting, using a long-term wealth-building approach with a mix of mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and investment history.

As a life-long learner with great curiosity, I've seen a lot over the years and learned what works and what doesn’t. My experience led me to join a long-time friend to build a firm that is mission-driven…not profit-driven. A prior mentor would often say, “Always do what’s right, and everything else will work itself out.” That stuck with me and it still (along with my faith) guides me today. Now, we're working to redefine wealth management. We help families and individuals gain clarity and empower them to live their best life. Ultimately, life isn't about the money...it's about the journey, the memories you create, and the legacy you leave behind. Everyone deserves to live their best life! Sampling of how we help families and individuals (we do much more): - Clarify what's important (life goals, decisions, priorities, etc.) - Build for retirement (using 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, etc.) - How to tax efficiently produce income in retirement - Invest wisely using low cost, tax-efficient funds - Coordinate with CPA on tax saving ideas and opportunities - Coordinate with attorney on estate planning - Integrate charitable planning with the investments and tax planning - Protect your assets and income through insurance planning (note: we don't sell insurance) - Fund current or future education for children/grandchildren - Review company benefits during open enrollment I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional. I'm also a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute and hold the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation, completing the program administered by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I also received training at the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, which has given me the tools to have much more meaningful conversations about life goals with the families I serve. I am a 2018 graduate of the Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership program and a 2019 graduate of the Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute, led by the three Balser Professional Advisors Council partnership organizations: the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. In my personal time, I enjoy being with my kids, dating my wife, working our farm, dabbling in woodworking, hiking, learning new things, and singing in my church choir. Favorite quote: "When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier." - Roy E. Disney What is a problem in the industry that you want to fix? How firms view their clients as "numbers". Some firms refer to their client as "A, B, or C" clients while others reference the portfolio size (a "$5 million client" as an example). I want the industry to stop putting dollar signs above clients' heads. A client is a "who" not a "what". Advisors should be here to serve people, and our industry (and clients) will thrive once we embrace life-centered planning over asset-centered planning. What are the values that drive you? I value faith, integrity, family, and service. To learn more, visit: https://journeybeyondwealth.com/the-jbw-difference/who-we-are

Sean O’Toole is a CFP® professional with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at 1776 Wealth LLC since 2017. Prior to this, he worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for ten years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in multiple business ventures including financial technology software development through 1776ing LLC and business process improvement consulting via Clairvoyance Consulting LLC. 1776 Wealth LLC serves entrepreneurs, executives, and their families with integrated wealth management centered on financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, pension consulting, and family office services. The firm manages approximately $372 million and emphasizes tailored portfolio strategies coordinated with tax and legal advisors, offering a broad range of investment options and extensive family office support.

Ravi Kahan is a financial advisor with Creative Financial Partners in Atlanta, GA, holding a Series 66 designation and over 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions with Osaic Advisory Services, Arbor Point Advisors, and Securities America. Outside of advisory work, he owns several business ventures, including a coworking space and an insurance agency. Creative Financial Partners offers financial planning and employee-benefit consulting primarily to individual clients and employer plan sponsors. The firm provides non-discretionary, client-directed advice based on fundamental analysis, with clients retaining implementation authority, and operates as a solo practitioner with multiple outside business affiliations.

David Budnik is a financial advisor with Carlyle Wealth Planning in Atlanta, GA, holding a Series 63 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He also works as a CPA providing tax return preparation services. Carlyle Wealth Planning offers comprehensive financial planning and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional entities. The firm focuses on non-discretionary planning and serves a small client base, advising on a wide range of investments while not directly managing client assets.

Mark Anglin is a financial advisor at Bales Financial Advisors, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at firms including Retirement Wealth Advisors and Anglin Insurance Group, which he owns. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales through his own agency. Bales Financial Advisors provides discretionary asset management and financial planning primarily to individual clients, using a client-profile-driven approach that includes long-term investments, trading, and technical analysis. The firm serves a broad base of smaller individual accounts and maintains affiliated insurance businesses alongside its advisory services.

Manoj Madhavan is a CFP® and CFA® with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Oxford Chase Advisors LLC since 2013. Oxford Chase Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals, trusts, estates, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model-driven investment process focused on publicly traded equities, ETFs, dividend-paying and preferred stocks, and warrants, managing approximately $83 million in discretionary assets across about 220 client relationships.

Jacob Jones is a financial advisor at 755 Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial and Milliken & Co. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with 755 Mortgage, providing mortgage and real estate services. 755 Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser that offers portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients through discretionary and non-discretionary managed accounts. The firm tailors investment strategies to client objectives and employs various techniques including asset allocation and dollar-cost averaging.

William Parker is a financial advisor at ABG Financial Services, Inc. in Atlanta, GA, with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. Parker has been affiliated with ABG Financial Services since 1995 and has a long-standing role as owner and agent at Assured Benefits Group, Inc., where he is engaged in insurance sales. He also serves as managing director of AECS International, LLC, a non-investment related business focused on developing database management systems. ABG Financial Services is a solo registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides financial planning, educational seminars, and non-discretionary equity advice, while outsourcing portfolio implementation to third-party managers. Its investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory and long-term trading, with ongoing due diligence and tailored model portfolios.

Steven Wykoff is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience and has been with Mersereau, Lazenby & Rockas, L.L.C. since 2005. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Suwanee, GA. Mersereau, Lazenby & Rockas, L.L.C. provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, profit-sharing plans, estates, and business clients, managing approximately $76.6 million in client assets. The firm combines investment advisory services with tax, auditing, and accounting capabilities, utilizing goal-based, globally diversified strategies with both passive and active investments.

Jason Flurry is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and has been with Legacy Partners Financial Group, LLC since 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent selling fixed annuities and life insurance and works as a college planning specialist providing financial aid advisory services. Legacy Partners Financial Group offers discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, and business clients, using model portfolios constructed with Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm also provides company-sponsored retirement plan management and operates a separate college-planning service offering workshops and individualized counseling.

Jason Knope is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 65 credentialed advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Paul Manners & Associates, Inc. since 2002, a firm based in Marietta, GA. Paul Manners & Associates, Inc. provides investment supervisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable foundations, and trusts. The firm manages separate long-only portfolios tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, using an actively managed, broadly diversified, low-turnover approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis.

Brandy Wright is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with over 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at Blake Financial Counsel, LLC since 2019, following prior roles at Modera Wealth Management, LLC and Southern Wealth Management, Inc. d.b.a. Cambridge Wealth Counsel. Blake Financial Counsel primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, including Fortune 500 executives, retirees, and clients undergoing divorce, providing comprehensive wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and specialized divorce financial planning and litigation support. The firm employs a fundamental analysis-driven investment approach, typically using passive, low-cost funds and fixed income, and focuses on tailored strategies for complex client situations.