Top financial advisors working with military members and veterans in Birmingham, AL

Hamilton Poynor is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, LLC and RFG Advisory Group, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the boards of St. Luke's Episcopal Church Foundation and Lutheran Services Florida and is involved with the Million Dollar Round Table finance committee and the Make A Wish Foundation of Alabama. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management, proprietary model allocations, and third-party sub-advisers, and integrates affiliated financial businesses and product channels in its operations.

Joshua Rich is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at firms including Merrill Lynch and Ingram Whatley LLC. Rich serves on the advisory board for the Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analytics Board at Samford University's Brock School of Business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers non-discretionary, tailored planning and analytical tools to support client goals and is known for its municipal advisory affiliation and employer advisory services.

Laree Kennedy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Cadence Investment Services/Huntington National Bank, ProEquities, Inc., and Brookline Investments, Inc., among others. She also serves as a FINRA arbitrator. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that offers advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, and trust companies.

Delynn Zell is a CFP® certificant with 37 years of industry experience, currently serving at Savant Wealth Management since 2023. Prior to joining Savant, she spent 11 years with Bridgeworth, LLC and LPL Financial. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and related services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a blend of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation alongside actively managed strategies, supported by integrated accounting, legal, and trust services.

Kenneth Carlson is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Greybox Investments in Birmingham, AL. He has worked at DMC Group, LLC since 2015 and maintains active roles in several family-owned businesses, including Albemarle Corporation, Martin Farm, and Rockhouse, LLC, where he contributes to farm operations outside of trading hours. Greybox Investments provides portfolio and wealth management services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations and other registered investment advisers, using a quantitative multi-factor investment approach combined with fundamental analysis. The firm offers customized single-sleeve models to other RIAs and focuses on forward-looking risk and return estimates while avoiding hedge funds and structured products.

Craig Schwegman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Erie, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1995. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

Jonathan Pollack is a Financial Consultant currently serving clients at Fidelity. He has held several roles within Fidelity Investments since 2023, including Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, and Financial Representative. Prior to joining Fidelity, he was a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC from 2022 to 2023. His professional background is complemented by his service as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, which has contributed to his strategic approach to financial planning. Jonathan holds a California Insurance License, supporting his work in financial consulting. Born and raised in Northern Nevada, Jonathan is committed to serving his community. His personal interests include family activities, fitness, football, military service, pets, and volunteering.

Quintina Wallace is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in small business retirement plans and qualified plan education. She partners with business owners to design, implement, and service retirement plans that align with their workforce needs and business objectives. Quintina helps plan sponsors evaluate plan designs, fulfill fiduciary responsibilities, and improve participant outcomes by coordinating with recordkeepers, TPAs, accountants, and other service providers. Quintina holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned her Bachelor's degree from Albany State University. Quintina also serves as a resource for retirement plan participants, providing education and personalized guidance to assist them in making informed financial decisions throughout life transitions such as retirement and career changes. Beyond her professional role, Quintina is involved with organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, the COVA Christian Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Plan Advisors. Her personal interests include camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.

WHAT I DO: I help Locum Tenens physicians and advanced practice providers gain clarity about their finances, identify opportunities and pitfalls, and stay on track with a trusted accountability partner. WHY IT MATTERS: Three recurring concerns stand out in my conversations with Active Duty Military and Civilian physicians and advanced practice providers: Skill Atrophy – Concerns about staying clinically sharp and staying competitive due to limited patient volume or exposure to diverse clinical settings. Financial Catch-Up – After years of training, many feel the pressure to fast-track savings and build long-term financial security. Time Flexibility – A deep desire for greater control over one’s schedule to prioritize family, entrepreneurship, or personal goals. These pressures often lead physicians to pursue Locum Tenens work—part-time or full-time—for its higher earning potential and flexible structure. But with that flexibility comes greater financial complexity, making a clear strategy and support system more important than ever. HOW I DO IT: Together, we assess your strengths and gaps across the six pillars of financial planning: Cash Flow Management, Risk Management, Estate Planning, Tax Strategy, Retirement Planning, and Investment Management. Then, we develop action items over 3 months to strengthen your financial foundation. Clients are empowered to self implement recommendations or collaborate with us for efficiency and accountability. NEXT STEPS: Ready to take control of your financial future? Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out directly at [email protected]—I’d love to learn more about your goals and how I can help. MORE ABOUT ME: I rediscovered my love for running three years ago thanks to one of my sons, starting with local 5Ks around the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, I’ve become especially fond of the half-marathon distance, with races like the Oakland and San Francisco Half under my belt. Marathon training is next on the horizon, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. I also love exploring new places—favorites so far include Ilocos Sur (Philippines), Tokyo, Seoul, Busan, Barcelona, Lisbon, and London.

Scott Cadieux is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors before founding Echelon Private Wealth LLC, where he has been since 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a vending machine business and works as an independent insurance agent. Echelon Private Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and goal-based financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, offering customized investment strategies including options programs managed on a discretionary basis.