Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Kentucky

Julie Smith is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Prestonsburg, KY, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at Community Trust Bank and held various roles in healthcare and therapy organizations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jordan Pruden is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Bowling Green, KY, and has eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2019, including time at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., and previously spent two years at Merrill and one year at Service One Credit Union. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial and estate planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and models to support its advisory services.

Tyler Peter is a financial advisor at Fidelity with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in various roles within Fidelity since 2016, including positions at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm employs a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Marcia Lewis is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Avantax Planning Partners, Blue & Co, LLC, and Trustee Empowerment & Protection, Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Director Emeritus at Blue & Co., a regional CPA firm, where she provides tax, consulting, and business valuation services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm emphasizes diversified allocations using mutual funds and ETFs tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, and provides additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning solutions through third-party providers.

Michael Dawahare is a financial advisor at Dupree Financial Group, LLC in Lexington, KY, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Dupree Financial Group, he spent ten years as a senior consultant. Dupree Financial Group provides discretionary portfolio management and asset-management services primarily to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts, focusing on retirees and those planning for retirement. The firm employs a modified value-focused, bottom-up investment approach combining individual securities and ETFs, emphasizing valuation metrics and dividend history for long-term holdings.

Arjun Swarup is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and has an academic background from NYU College of Arts and Sciences. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing managed account services within a fiduciary framework, including acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Kevin Harper is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently with RFG Advisory, LLC in Birmingham, AL, where he has worked since 2015, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Ameriprise. Harper is a co-owner of LHP Capital LLC, a commercial real estate business. RFG Advisory provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and select institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary investment strategies through model portfolios, third-party platforms, and serves as a sub-adviser to multiple ETFs, with additional specialized services for retirement accounts and alternative investments.

Jacob Heinz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His previous positions include roles at Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE Capital Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of thousands of financial advisors and branch offices.

Lindsey Egan is a financial advisor at EFS Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at First Republic Securities and First Republic Investment Management from 2016 to 2019. Outside of her financial advisory role, Lindsey is the owner of Women Who Explore, a community offering outdoor adventures and small group travel experiences for women. EFS Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to a broad client base, including individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a client-centric suitability scoring process combined with technology tools to recommend model portfolios and supports clients through discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Scott Stevens is a financial advisor at Medallion Wealth Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Morgan Stanley and American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. Stevens is also the proprietor of Stevens & Associates, LLC, a separate business. Medallion Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, and retirement plans for educators and nonprofit organizations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting with a long-term investment approach that includes discretionary and non-discretionary account management and may utilize third-party managers when appropriate.