Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Sandy Springs, GA

Eda Driver Owen is a financial advisor at COR3 Investment Partners, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has held management responsibilities at Metro Logics, a third-party logistics firm. Outside of her advisory role, she has been involved with Calvary Episcopal Church in various capacities. COR3 Investment Partners provides discretionary portfolio management to high-net-worth individuals and related entities, focusing on a research-driven, fundamental equity approach with an emphasis on U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks. The firm also offers sub-advisory and model delivery services to other advisers and platform sponsors.

Richard Vaughan is a financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently operating at 401K Advisory Group, Inc. in Sandy Springs, GA. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at his current firm since 2009. Prior to that, he spent five years with Domino's Pizza. 401K Advisory Group, Inc. focuses exclusively on advising pension plan sponsors and participants in qualified retirement plans, particularly 401(k) plans and other defined benefit and contribution plans. The firm provides fiduciary guidance and personalized financial-wellness coaching, employing a conservative, fundamental-analysis approach centered on mutual funds and ETFs.

Laura Rosenberg is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Hayes Wealth Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. She has been with Hayes Wealth Advisors since 2023. Outside of wealth management, Rosenberg works as an optometrist at The Eye Gallery, an optometry practice she has been associated with since 2012. Hayes Wealth Advisors serves individual clients, including many high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and small businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and consulting services with a predominantly passive, long-term investment approach.

Brandis Barnes is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Sandy Springs, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Fidelity Investments, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Scottrade. Barnes also owned and managed an online retail store, Gold Racks Boutique, and was involved with Living N Luxury LLC, providing rental housing services. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC offers investment management and advisory services to a variety of clients, utilizing a process that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Laurie Schaeffer is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 23 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Independent Financial Partners, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and MetLife Securities Inc. She is also a commissioned notary in New York. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines a network of independent advisory representatives with technology-driven portfolio management and planning solutions, including access to third-party managers and estate-planning platforms.

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.