Knoxville, TN Sutherland Ave. Office

Team
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Creative Planning

Enterprise

Firm-wide stats for Creative Planning

Total advisors

1,179

Across 413 offices

Clients per advisor

74 Typical

Avg AUM per client

$2,113,277 Very High

HNW client ratio

45% Very High

About

Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base that includes individuals (including high‑net‑worth and ultra‑affluent clients), pension and profit‑sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, institutional and retirement plan services (including ERISA 3(38)/3(21) engagements), sub‑advisory arrangements, and access to private market investments and collective investment trusts, managing roughly $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors and 151 offices.

The firm describes a financial‑planning‑led investment approach that favors low‑cost indexing and buy‑and‑hold strategies for long‑term goals while using short‑term passive allocations for liquidity needs, supplemented by direct and enhanced direct indexing, tax‑loss harvesting, individually managed equity and bond strategies, and selective private market exposure. Creative Planning also uses sub‑advisors and model portfolios for retirement plans, offers managed account and payroll services, and acknowledges its fiduciary duties when advising retirement accounts.

Compared with many peers, Creative Planning has several uncommon structural features: it is affiliated with a law firm (Creative Planning Legal, P.A.) and maintains relationships with accounting and audit resources (including BerganKDV and related accounting entities), and it operates an affiliated trust company and multiple non‑investment service affiliates (payroll, lending, TPA). The firm does not participate in a wrap fee program, states it does not advertise performance or hypothetical performance, and discloses that a minority investor (TPG) and the firm’s role as manager or recommender of certain private funds create specific conflicts of interest that are disclosed in its brochure.

Based on Creative Planning

Expertise

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy

Based on Creative Planning

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired

Based on Creative Planning

Location

3834 Sutherland Ave.

Knoxville TN 37919

Advisors at this office

12

Advisors at this office

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Ryan M

Series 63

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Ryan Manaker is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, holding a Series 63 license and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera and Sageview Private Client Group. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as director and treasurer of the GlobeChek Foundation, a nonprofit focused on preventing blindness. Creative Planning provides wealth management and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting, individually managed strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Justin W

CFP®

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Justin Wohlford is a CFP® affiliated with Creative Planning in Knoxville, TN, with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at SageView Advisory Group and Regions Bank, where he spent a combined six years. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm utilizes a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Derrick B

CFP®, Series 63

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Derrick Byrd is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently advising at Creative Planning. He previously worked at Cetera Wealth Services, Sageview Advisory Group, and First Tennessee Brokerage. Byrd serves as a board member for Senior Citizen Home Assistance Service, Inc. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach featuring low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Brien S

CFA®, Series 66

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Brien Stewart is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2025, Stewart spent 12 years at Cetera Wealth Services and has been associated with Creative Planning Institutional Advisors since 2008. Outside of his primary role, he serves as an advisory representative for registered investment advisors operating under the names SageView Advisory Group and SageView Private Client Group. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach with an emphasis on low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in assets.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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John M

CFA®, Series 63, Series 65

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

John Majors is a CFA® charterholder with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Creative Planning in Knoxville, TN, having joined in 2026, and previously worked at Cetera and Sageview Private Client Group. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Christopher M

CFP®, Series 66

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Christopher Martin is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. He currently works at Creative Planning and previously held roles at Merrill, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Cetera Wealth Services, and Sageview Advisory Group. Martin is also involved with USA Prime Sports. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, implementing a financial-planning-led investment approach that includes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Charlotte V

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Charlotte Valentino is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 15 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 63 designations. Her prior experience includes roles at SageView Advisory Group and Cetera Wealth Services. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by selective private market exposure and various managed account solutions.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Nolan E

Series 65

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Nolan Early is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Sageview Advisory Group, Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, and the University of Tennessee. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and offers a financial planning–led investment process with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and other portfolio management techniques.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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John S

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

John Schindler is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera, Sageview Advisory Group, Raymond James Financial Services, Woodbury Financial Services, and Todd Rechenbach, CLU. In addition to advisory work, he is an insurance agent specializing in life, disability, fixed annuities, and long-term care insurance. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure managing approximately $217 billion in client assets.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Mallory J

CFP®

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Mallory Jackson is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning, Jackson worked at SageView Advisory Group and spent four years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Creative Planning offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by private market exposure and tax-efficient techniques.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Douglas W

Series 63

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Douglas Webster is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, holding a Series 63 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Cetera, Sageview Private Client Group, and Retirement Plan Consultants, spanning over two decades. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of the Cancer Support Community in East Tennessee and is a member of Nucleus Knoxville, a private club for young professionals. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by specialized services such as private market investments and fiduciary retirement plan management.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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Monica I

CFP®, Series 63

Knoxville, TN

Creative Planning

Monica Ivins is a CFP® with three years of experience in the financial advisory industry. She is currently with Creative Planning and has previously worked at SageView Advisory Group, Cetera Wealth Services, Rather & Kittrell, and Cetera Advisor Networks. Ivins serves as a board member for CASA of East Tennessee, a nonprofit organization focused on serving the community. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach featuring low-cost indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors.

Private / alternative investments Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired
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