Paul Kindzia is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Kindzia Investments, an independent firm based in Johns Creek, GA, and has operated multiple businesses since 2008, including Dokonamie Media Corporation and Finish Line Framing, Inc. Additionally, he provides tax and accounting services through a sole proprietorship, dedicating a small portion of his time to these non-investment activities. Kindzia Investments serves individual clients, trusts, and estates with discretionary asset management, focusing on customized portfolio construction and ongoing account monitoring. The firm employs a value-oriented, fundamental approach using various market valuation metrics to assess risk and emphasizes loss prevention through tactical reallocations. It also offers consulting and due diligence services for commercial real estate transactions and private placements.

As the daughter of a banker, I learned early on that if I wanted something, I had to earn it. I rolled my dad’s spare change for a 10% cut and birthday presents were stock certificates … not exactly on my wish list. At 16, I was already investing in the stock market and experiencing the sense of freedom and independence that comes when you understand your money. With this knowledge, I was paving the way to live life on my terms. This was so intoxicating I became a financial advisor to share my passion with others. As a financial advisor, I quickly learned that most women did not share my love of investing. In fact, many felt intimidated, guilty, and uncomfortable with their lack of knowledge, yet they yearn for financial independence. That’s why my true purpose as a financial advisor is to create an environment where women (and those who love them) feel heard, where they are encouraged and supported to express their fears and concerns without judgement. My unique brilliance is creating a positive wealth management experience, so they become more engaged in the conversation, while building the knowledge and confidence they need to live life on their terms.

Christopher Williams is a financial advisor with Inceptive Financial in Atlanta, GA, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. Before founding his firm, he worked at North Highland and Novelis. Outside of advising, he serves as a partner and CFO of a preschool, where he manages financial and tax-related responsibilities. Inceptive Financial provides financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on long-term asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing aligned with Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm offers fixed-fee financial planning and tax preparation services, does not manage client assets, and serves a focused client roster.

You've built something meaningful. Maybe it's a startup, a career in tech, a creative practice, or a business that finally found its footing. But with that growth comes complexity, and suddenly, your financial life doesn't feel like it's working for you. You're fielding K-1s, juggling RSUs, navigating AMT surprises, and wondering what to do with all these "opportunities" no one prepared you for. That's where I come in. I'm Mark Stancato, CFP®, EA, ECA, CRPS®, and founder of VIP Wealth Advisors. I work with people whose lives don't follow a straight line - tech professionals, business owners, executives, creatives. People with vision and drive but who don't have the time or desire to untangle spreadsheets, decode tax law, or second-guess every financial move. They want clarity. Confidence. A partner they can trust with the stuff that keeps them up at night. I didn't come from Wall Street. I came from the startup world, the stage, the grind of building something from nothing. I've bootstrapped businesses, advised founders through life-changing equity events, and helped creatives transform uncertain income into real wealth. I've been in rooms where ambition collides with identity, where money isn't just about numbers - it's about freedom, leverage, and making sure this all means something. That's the lens I bring to financial planning. At VIP Wealth Advisors, I combine deep tax expertise, thoughtful investment management, and white-glove service into one integrated experience. I file your returns, manage your assets, and help you make smart decisions with long-term impact. I'm not here to sell you products or overwhelm you with jargon. My purpose is to help you breathe easier, sleep better, and take action - knowing someone's watching the details. VIP stands for Very Intentional Planning, because that's what your life deserves. If you've outgrown generic advice and want a true partner who understands both the strategy and the story behind your success - we should talk. This isn't just planning. It's designing a life on your terms, with clarity and confidence at every step.

Christian Koch is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 16 years of experience in the financial industry. He is the sole advisor at Kam-South, LLC, an independent firm based in Atlanta, GA. Koch has a background that includes an ongoing academic appointment alongside his advisory role. Kam-South provides fee-only investment management and financial planning to individuals, families, and a select group of institutional and tax-exempt clients. The firm employs a long-term, value-oriented investment approach grounded in fundamental research and offers customized portfolios with specialized strategies and performance-based fee arrangements.

Lawrence Mcdonald Jr. is a financial advisor at Tricord Investment Advisors, Inc. with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has managed Tricord since 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he is president and owner of L-J Financial Associates, Inc., which offers health insurance, life insurance, and employee benefit services. Tricord Investment Advisors provides discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing long- and short-term equity strategies with an emphasis on individual equities and exchange-traded funds. The firm utilizes the Interactive Brokers platform for customized equity basket holdings and dynamic portfolio re-optimization.

Hovey Garvin is a financial advisor with Strategic Advisors, Inc. in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He served 30 years at Lamon & Stern, Inc. and is the owner and president of Pension Financial Services, a firm he manages alongside his advisory role. Garvin dedicates significant time to designing qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, including plan design, investment offerings, and employee communications. Strategic Advisors focuses on consulting retirement plan sponsors and investment committees, providing investment analysis, participant education, and enrollment support. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and delivers written reports quarterly, without exercising investment discretion, distinguishing itself through its participant-focused educational approach.

Casey Metcalf is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor and owner of Metcalf Investment Management, LLC, an independent advisory firm he founded in 2020. Prior to establishing his firm, he worked at Aon Securities LLC and Aon Hewitt from 2013 to 2020. Metcalf Investment Management provides discretionary asset management, non-custodial investment advice, and retirement plan (ERISA) services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm customizes portfolios based on client objectives and constraints, employing a blend of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analyses, and maintains a pension consulting practice that offers ERISA plan services and limited-scope 3(21) fiduciary functions.

Stephen Johnson is a financial advisor with Great Bay Wealth Management in Roswell, GA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He founded Great Bay Wealth Management in 2017 after a brief tenure at Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. The firm provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and pension and profit-sharing plans, managing approximately $29.4 million in client assets. Great Bay Wealth Management emphasizes fundamental analysis to create diversified, goal-based portfolios primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income, while also incorporating tactical strategies such as options, margin, ADRs, and bitcoin ETFs when appropriate.

Charles Lassiter is a CFP® professional and founder of Lassiter Financial Advisors, LLC in Marietta, GA, with 15 years of industry experience. He has led his independent advisory firm since 2010, having transitioned the majority of his prior client base to the new practice at its inception. Lassiter Financial Advisors, LLC provides financial planning and consulting services to individuals, trusts, and estates, focusing on recommending and monitoring third-party money managers. The firm serves primarily high-net-worth clients by evaluating manager firms, recommending allocations, and reviewing performance without exercising direct portfolio management.

John McKinney is the sole advisor at McKinney Asset Management Inc. in Atlanta, GA, with 14 years of industry experience. He has led the firm since 1997, operating it as an independent, owner-run practice. McKinney Asset Management offers customized investment management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, small businesses, charitable organizations, and pension plans. The firm employs a range of analytical methods and integrates third-party technology to deliver discretionary portfolio management and a formal Pension Consulting program.

Jeffrey Payne, Jr., CFP® is the sole advisor at Payne Financial Management, L.L.C. in Kennesaw, GA, with 22 years of industry experience. He has led his firm since 1999, holding the CFP® designation and Series 65 license. Payne Financial Management, L.L.C. serves individual clients, focusing on those planning for, transitioning into, or already in retirement. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services tailored to each client’s goals and risk tolerance, with an emphasis on client education and regular portfolio reviews.

Conor Sen is a financial advisor at Peachtree Creek Investments with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Bloomberg and New River Investments. In addition to his advisory role, Sen is a contract writer and columnist for Bloomberg, focusing on economic and financial topics. Peachtree Creek Investments is an independent advisory firm managing approximately $37.4 million across 21 client relationships. The firm provides financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and institutional investors, utilizing a range of investment strategies including fundamental, macroeconomic, technical, and cyclical analysis.

John Peterson is a CFP® and ChFC® with 17 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Corners Financial Planning, LLC in Peachtree Corners, GA, where he has worked since 2018. He also has experience with Dempsey Financial Network and Dempsey & Associates Inc. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales through Dempsey & Associates. Corners Financial Planning, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and small businesses. The firm offers tailored advisory work using various strategies and manages a small client base with discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Bryan Ellis is a financial advisor with Horizon Investment Counsel LLC in Marietta, GA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 17 years of industry experience, including 10 years at Horizon Investment Counsel and its predecessor firm. In addition to his advisory role, Bryan operates a licensed insurance agency offering life, property, and casualty insurance products. Horizon Investment Counsel provides discretionary portfolio management through two equity-focused programs, serving moderate to high net worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes long-term ownership of high-quality companies purchased at reasonable prices, managing primarily common stocks with a defined sell discipline.

Christopher Brown is the sole advisor at Brown Capital Advisors, LLC in Marietta, GA, holding a Series 66 designation with 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Hennsler Financial before founding his current firm in 2018. Brown Capital Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and CFO advisory services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and entrepreneurs or small-business owners. The firm manages approximately $16.7 million across about 20 client relationships, emphasizing fundamental analysis, asset allocation, diversification, and risk management, with the use of equities, ETFs, and select alternative investments. Its CFO advisory services to small businesses, combined with a willingness to utilize derivatives and complex investment vehicles, distinguish its offerings from many independent advisory firms.

Joel Smith is the principal and owner of Joel Smith & Associates, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Atlanta, GA. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 27 years of industry experience, including 20 years at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a director for the FBI Georgia Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and assists the Euharlee Police Department on weekends. Joel Smith & Associates provides financial planning, investment advisory, and consulting services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations, foundations, and municipalities. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and emphasizes strategic asset allocation, diversification, and periodic rebalancing in its client portfolios.

Tung Ngo is a financial advisor at Focus Investments, LLC in Duluth, GA, holding a Series 65 designation with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Focus Investments since 1995. Focus Investments serves individual and corporate clients by providing discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services, primarily investing in corporate securities using fundamental and economic analysis. The firm manages accounts directly for individuals, does not participate in wrap fee programs, and employs a tiered percentage-of-assets billing method.

Raymond King is a financial advisor with Clarity Wealth Solutions LLC in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at St Bernard Financial Services, Inc. and Woodstock Wealth Management, Inc. He also owns a non-securities insurance business, which he has operated since 2003. Clarity Wealth Solutions LLC is a veteran-owned registered investment adviser providing portfolio management, pension consulting, subadviser services, and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm employs multiple analytical methods and a long-term trading approach while maintaining a documented investment policy for client objectives and risk tolerances.

Cecily Welch is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, operating through her firm Welch Financial Investments, LLC in Atlanta, GA. She also owns Welch Financial Advisors, a CPA firm, and integrates accounting and financial advisory services. Welch has worked continuously with her firms since 2010. Welch Financial Investments serves a select group of individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charities, and business entities. The firm focuses on diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory, typically using mutual funds and ETFs, and provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary management, often coordinating with third-party managers for portfolio implementation and reporting.