Financial advisors help put their clients in a position to make money work for them instead of chasing it their entire lives. Arkansas Money & Politics asked readers to reveal their favorite financial advisors, and they delivered. The professionals listed in this special section are committed to guiding their clients through the sometimes intimidating world of investments and transforming finances from a potential source of stress to a golden opportunity.
Stacey Alston
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
Edward Jones is a different kind of investment firm, one in which face time and think time make sense. Stacey Alston meets with clients to learn their individual needs and develop a strategy to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Whether clients want to plan for retirement, save for college, reduce their tax bills or ensure they have income to cover their expenses, they can expect personalized service and long-term investing strategies instead of the latest investment fads. Prospective clients are invited to join the nearly seven million investors who know. Financial advisors such as Alston can develop an investment strategy that makes sense for most anyone.
Ben A. Bailey, WMS
Financial Advisor
TMB Capital Partners/Raymond James
Ben Bailey has remained at one firm his entire career, dating back to 2006 at Morgan Keegan, which was later merged and acquired by Raymond James in 2012. Early in his career, Bailey excelled as a trainee in the Morgan Keegan Financial Advisor Development Program, earning honors of reaching the Rising Stars Club. Shortly thereafter, he became a member of the Morgan Keegan and Raymond James President’s Club and went on to earn a designation as a Wealth Management Specialist in 2014.
Bailey merged his practice with the Tabor Group to form TMB Capital Partners of Raymond James. Today, his team manages and advises more than $1 billion in assets for high-net-worth families, young professionals, corporate retirement plans, non-profit foundations and more.
Ryan Bartholomew
Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor
Small & Associates Financial
Ryan Bartholomew is a seasoned financial advisor with an impressive 23-year track record in the industry. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his clients’ financial journeys. Throughout his career, Bartholomew has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of the financial landscape by providing tailored strategies that align with individual goals and aspirations. His extensive tenure in the field has enabled him to develop a deep understanding of market trends, investment opportunities and risk- management techniques. His dedication to fostering strong client relationships and his commitment to staying up-to-date with evolving financial dynamics make him a trusted partner for individuals seeking expert guidance in wealth management and financial planning.
Scott Bennington
Wealth Advisor
Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors
Scott Bennington is a wealth advisor with Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors. In this role, he is able to serve clients in a multitude of ways, including providing financial plans and advisory services. Bennington fell in love with financial planning when he was able to connect a purpose with the mission – seeing individuals impact their communities and care for their families with proper financial planning and preparation brings the impetus to his everyday life.
He takes pride in providing top-of-the-line service to his clients, and it is his mission to investigate his clients’ needs and deliver unparalleled customer service with exceptional communication and results.
Jim D. Blount, CFP
President/Registered Principal
The Point Financial Group/LPL Financial
Jim Blount founded the Point Financial Group in 2001. Starting with only two advisors and transaction-based insurance and investment products, he has grown the firm into a comprehensive and competitive financial planning and investment management firm. Based in Northwest Arkansas, his firm services clients in nearly all 50 states. Blount has been recognized as a top producer since 2003 at LPL Financial and is currently in the top 1 percent of LPL’s 22,000 advisors. He leads a team of highly experienced advisors that team-manage all client relationships.
Jeremy Booe, CFP
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
Jeremy Booe grew up with an interest in the stock market. Seeing families struggle financially, he saw that it could be an avenue to help people. His life’s mission is to ensure that he takes care of clients’ interests and treats them as he would want to be treated.
Booe derives great personal gratification from serving people. Being a financial advisor means that he gets to help people reach their most important financial and life goals, and he wants to understand what is most important to clients. He will use an established process to create a personalized strategy, and then partner together with clients to help keep them on track.
Booe’s team is diligent about making sure that it regularly looks over clients’ accounts to see if there is a better option for them.
Todd C. Boswell, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CASL, RICP
Certified Financial Planner
Northwestern Mutual
Todd Boswell is a Certified Financial Planner and wealth-management advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping families and businesses protect and prosper. Boswell and his team’s integrated financial planning approach means they seek to understand each client’s priorities and goals before helping clients design and implement a strategy to connect their goals to a plan. Each plan includes risk management and wealth accumulation. Boswell and his team want clients to feel confident in addressing the risks to financial security, such as longevity, tax and inflation erosion, chronic illness, and market risk. The team follows a disciplined wealth-building approach that incorporates multiple dimensions of diversification — not only investment style and money manager diversification, but also time, tax and asset location. No matter the client’s goals, Boswell and his team follow a comprehensive process to achieve superior outcomes.
Lori Brown
Financial Advisor
Raymond James
Lori Brown strives to provide her clients the highest level of personal service and care, delivered with enthusiasm, honesty and dependability. Her focus is to sit on the same side of the table with her clients and help them navigate through the often overwhelming task of retirement, estate and educational planning.
Brown graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with an emphasis in finance. She started her career with Morgan Stanley and has been a financial advisor since 2001. She happily joined Raymond James with her partner, Sonia Graham, and sales assistant, Linda Healy, in 2009.
Brown has previously served as president of the Junior League of North Little Rock and has been active with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Project Zero.
Judy Busbey
Partner/PIM Portfolio Manager
BVJ Wealth Management/Wells Fargo
Since 1985, Busbey has been committed to helping clients build and manage wealth, especially in the areas of retirement planning. She believes that investment planning is about client’s values, not just their money. Her mission has been to help ensure clients have a clear financial path to their future. She wants to help each client pursue creating enough wealth so that they have the resources to reach their financial goals and to live the life they have always dreamed about.
After attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Busbey worked for the state of Arkansas before beginning my career as a financial advisor. She has completed training courses in retirement planning, investment planning and estate planning and holds the Series 7, 63, 65, and 31 securities registrations. Busbey has also been involved in world mission outreach efforts, serving on multiple teams in Brazil and Peru
Marshall Butler
Director of Commercial Services
Pinnacle Advisors
Marshall D. Butler, MBA, APMA, AAMS, is a seasoned financial advisor with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of finance.
Marshall’s specialization lies in business financial management, efficient portfolio management, and mergers and acquisitions for small businesses. His strategic insights and financial solutions have made him a trusted advisor for businesses seeking to optimize their financial performance and navigate complex financial transactions, as well as the individual owners for their personal planning.
Phillip Butterfield
Senior Vice President,
Private Wealth Management
Stephens
Phillip Butterfield serves as senior vice president in the private wealth management division at Stephens in Little Rock. He works with high-net-worth clients in investment management and complex retirement planning. He advocates the importance of building relationships on trust through judgment and integrity. He said that by being fully engaged with clients, his team carefully considers their financial goals and risk tolerances, allowing them to identify strategies designed to meet their objectives.
Prior to joining Stephens, Butterfield earned his degree in finance with a minor in accounting in 2012 at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro and obtained his Certified Financial Planner license. He earned an MBA two years later. He was also a quarterback and selected as team captain with the Arkansas State Red Wolves football program.
Additionally, he is a board member of the Arkansas State University System Foundation and volunteers with several public service organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.
Larry Chance,
CPWA®, CIMA®, CFP®
Wealth Management Advisor,
Senior Vice President
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Larry Chance is a certified financial planner, certified private wealth advisor and certified investment management analyst. He has been a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management for nearly three decades, offering a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with getting to know a client, their family, their financial situation and what matters most to them. He is driven by a passion for delivering excellent service and helping clients pursue their goals, and he also supports the local community through volunteer work. Chance obtained his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and his master’s degree from Purdue University.
Dale E. Colclasure, Jr., CFP
President and Wealth Management Advisor
RetirePath
Dale Colclasure Jr. has been in the insurance and financial-services industry since 1998 and is able to offer both a variety of investments and insurance products and services. He oversees the wealth-management division of RetirePath, which he co-founded with Mark Smalling in 2017. Colclasure focuses on working with clients who are seeking lifetime income and protecting their individual and business assets during all phases of the economic cycle.
In addition to having his Arkansas insurance license, he has passed the Series 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65 securities exams and is registered as an Investment Adviser Representative. He also holds the Certified Financial Planner professional designation. Colclasure has a Bachelor of Science in business administration finance with an emphasis in insurance and real estate from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Brian Cole
President
Signature Private Wealth Management
Brian Cole is the president of Signature Private Wealth Management in Fayetteville. Cole’s path to wealth management is a non-traditional one. After receiving his BSBA in marketing from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, he earned his law degree from the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock. He practiced law for six years, focusing primarily on banking and probate law. In 2000, Cole transitioned to the banking industry as the manager for Arvest’s asset management office in Fayetteville.
Cole joined Raymond James under the flag of the Signature Bank of Arkansas, where he has developed a team and portfolio from the ground up. Cole and his team have grown Signature Private Wealth Management to an asset portfolio of $770 million.
Beckie Comstock, CRPC
President
Comstock Private Wealth Management/Raymond James
Beckie Comstock has been serving the financial needs of families, professionals and retirees for more than 25 years. Located in Hot Springs, she opened Comstock Private Wealth Management in 2020. Prior to that, she worked for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch for 24 years. She is responsible for the supervision of the practice along with construction and management of investment strategies. Beckie and her team take a comprehensive approach to address your financial needs. She strives to develop long-term relationships with her clients with the objective of understanding their goals and providing personalized strategies for every element of the wealth management equation.
Originally from Seattle, Beckie has made Hot Springs her home since 1994. In 2011, she earned the professional designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor from the College for Financial Planning. She is currently a volunteer with the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.
Bill Criswell
Partner
Garland & Greenwood Wealth Advisors
Bill Criswell is a partner in the Little Rock firm of Garland & Greenwood Wealth Advisors. Criswell and the team at Garland & Greenwood prioritizes clients’ experiences and consciously works to create an atmosphere that is transparent, trustworthy and comfortable. Garland & Greenwood Wealth Advisors is a fully independent RIA that offers financial planning and wealth management services in a fiduciary capacity.
Before joining Garland & Greenwood last year, Criswell served as president of Arkansas Wealth Management/Criswell Wealth Management. Prior to that, he was the owner of the former Vesuvio Bistro, an award-winning Italian restaurant in Little Rock. Criswell is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University.
Kristin N. Daniel, RICP
Founder/Financial Advisor
Parity Financial Group
Kristin N. Daniel started in the financial industry in 2010 with the goal of helping entrepreneurs intentionally scale their business. Her desire to help others began from being raised in a small town by a blue-collar family that instilled values of honesty and hard work to help shape the person she has become.
Over the years, Daniel’s goal has grown into a passion for working with business owners and entrepreneurs to balance living a fulfilled life as they build their wealth and legacy.
In addition, Daniel is involved in several nonprofit organizations. She serves on the board of directors for the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center. She is on the executive team for the Justin Moore St. Jude Golf Classic in Little Rock.
Scott Daniel, CEPA, AIF
Managing Partner, Financial Advisor
Wealthpath investment Advisors
Scott Daniel, CEPA, is a managing partner and financial advisor at WealthPath’s Little Rock office, bringing unique experience in advising a wide range of clients with personalized strategies. After earning a degree in business and managerial economics from Lyon College, Daniel began his career as a financial consultant at PaineWebber & Co. He then went on to establish his own firm, which he ran for 17 years before joining WealthPath in 2015.
Daniel is Series 7, 63, and 65 registered, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary and holds life, health and disability insurance licenses. He has been honored as one of AdvisorHub Top Advisors to Watch under 1 Billion in 2022 and 2023. Daniel is also an active member of several other organizations, serving as executive finance committee board member for the Museum of Discovery, board president of the JDRF Arkansas Chapter, a trustee of Lyon College and commissioner for Little Rock Parks & Recreation.
Amber Fonseca, CRPC
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
As an Edward Jones financial advisor, Amber Fonseca genuinely cares about her clients and wants to know what is important to them.This is the first and most important step in the organization’s established process to develop a personalized strategy for clients while partnering together to achieve their financial goals.
She came to Edward Jones in May 2018 because she wanted to help individual investors and small business owners work toward achieving their goals. It soon became very apparent that she loved helping clients retire on their own terms, so she began studying to become a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, a professional designation she has held since June 2021.
Brantley L. Foster,
CRPC, APMA
Financial Advisor
Foster and Associates/Ameriprise
Brant Foster is a lifelong Arkansan. He received a BA in business from the University of Arkansas and was hired by Ameriprise before he graduated in 1996. He has been dedicated ever since to helping his clients meet their financial goals. His areas of focus are investments, estate planning strategies, retirement planning strategies, wealth management, business retirement plans and education savings planning.
Foster holds the designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™) and Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA™).
Jim Garner
SVP, Investments
Garner Wealth Management/
Raymond James
For Jim Garner, there is nothing greater than developing meaningful, long-term relationships with the individuals, families, business owners and physicians who he serves. He is driven to provide the superior service his clients need to help preserve and manage their wealth, gain clarity in their financial situation and pursue financial independence through a disciplined, strategic approach that all begins with financial planning.
Garner has more than 28 years of experience helping financially successful individuals and companies pursue their short- and long-term investment goals. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2015, he served as vice president of investments for UBS from 2006 to 2015. Before that, he was employed as senior vice president of Stephens’ private client group for more than 13 years. Garner earned his bachelor’s degree in business finance from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Sarah Catherine
Gutierrez, CFP, CRPS
CEO
Aptus Financial
Sarah Catherine Gutierrez is the CEO of Aptus Financial and holds an MPP from Harvard University and the Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist designations. Aptus provides flat-fee financial planning services to early-career attending physicians and other young professionals. Aptus has helped more than 800 physicians DIY their finances by providing financial mentorship, personalized guidance and simple, unbiased investment advice. In addition, her firm serves as fiduciary advisor to retirement plans and manages financial wellness and student loan advice programs for healthcare organizations and other companies. The plans encompassmore than 30,000 employee participants. She is the author of But First, Save 10: The One Simple Money Move That Will Change Your Life.
Jimmy Hackelton, AAMS
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
As an Edward Jones financial advisor, Jimmy Hackelton believes it is important to invest his time to understand what clients are working toward before investing their money, as well as the level of risk they are comfortable accepting when investing. That way, Hackelton can work with clients to balance those factors with the steps necessary to reach their long-term goals.
Whether planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren, or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones clients care for the most, Hackelton works with clients to develop specific strategies to help them achieve their goals.
Through Edward Jones, Hackelton has the support of thousands of people and advanced technology so he can help ensure clients receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, Hackelton welcomes the opportunity to work with a clients’ attorney accountants and other trusted professionals to deliver a comprehensive strategy that leverages everyone’s expertise.
John Hoefl, CRPC
LPL Financial Advisor
Aspire Wealth Builders
As a financial professional and an active member of the community, John Hoefl is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses build their financial futures. To stay on top of his field and develop his professional skills, he regularly attends industry training and certification programs.
Academic achievements include a B.S. degree from Texas A&M, along with a degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Hoefl’s education, experience and professional affiliations have fostered his practical approach to offering financial services and advice to his clients. Maintaining a strong sense of community and a solid professional foundation are very important to him. He is involved in Hot Springs Rotary and Hot Springs Civitan.
Abigail Hollar, CFP
Financial Advisor
Conger Wealth Management
Abigail Hollar is a financial advisor with Conger Wealth Management who helps professionals and small business owners become retirement ready. She has more than 13 years of experience in financial planning. Her approach is to simplify and clarify problems so that clients can easily make well-informed decisions. She works to help clients create additional wealth by coaching them through paying off their debt quickly, saving seriously and investing intelligently. She has worked at Conger Wealth Management since 2010 and became a Certified Financial Planner in 2012. She earned her bachelor’s degree in financial counseling and planning from Purdue University in 2006, and she earned her MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2015.
Scott Inman
Financial Advisor
GenWealth Financial Advisors
Scott Inman spent 17 years as an award-winning television news anchor at KATV in Little Rock before joining the GenWealth Financial Advisors team. He also spent 13 years as the football pre-game show host and fill-in play-by-play announcer for the Razorback Sports Network.
His passion for people and their stories and experience as a communicator led him to become a financial advisor with a mission to listen, plan and guide people toward their goals of true financial independence. Inman works with clients who are preparing for retirement and those who have entered retirement, and he considers it a privilege to do so.
Inman did not fully let go of broadcasting upon becoming a financial advisor. He still hosts the “Get Ready for the Future Show” and “The Fastest Four Minutes In Finance” and is a frequent guest on Yahoo Finance Live.
Marshall Ipsen
Founder
Ipsen Advisor Group
A Certified Financial Planner with more than two decades of experience, Marshall Ipsen started his career at American Express Financial Advisors. In 2020, he left to begin his own firm, Ipsen Advisor Group, which offers the same array of services that Ipsen has always offered to his clients but has access to a broader spectrum of financial technology and tools.
Ipsen and his team are dedicated to every detail of their clients’ portfolios and get to know each client and their families on a deeply personal level. Integrity and trust are the pillars of the firm, a point which the team takes pride in. Ipsen specializes in sustainable investing, investment strategies that consider financial returns, and social and environmental good. Ipsen Advisor Group offerings include financial planning, wealth management, tax planning and estate planning.
Bob Jackson, CFP
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
As an Edward Jones financial advisor, Bob Jackson believes it is important to invest his time to understand what clients are working toward before investing their money, as well as the level of risk they’re comfortable accepting when investing. That way, Jackson can work with clients to balance those factors with the steps necessary to reach their long-term goals.
Whether planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren, or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones clients care for the most, Jackson works with clients to develop specific strategies to help them achieve their goals.
Through Edward Jones, Jackson has the support of thousands of people and advanced technology so he can help ensure clients receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, Jackson welcomes the opportunity to work with a clients’ attornies, accountants and other trusted professionals.
Matt Jones, J.D., CFP
Co-founder
Legacy Capital Wealth Partners
Matt Jones began working in the wealth management industry in 1994 after receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his law degree from UA Little Rock. Having completed the requirements to become a Certified Financial Planner, Jones worked locally for both Morgan Keegan and Stephens. In 1997, he joined the late Frank McGehee to form what is now Legacy Capital Wealth Partners. Legacy is now one of the state’s largest Independent Registered Investment Advisors and has more than $1 billion in assets under management.
Frank Kelly
Financial Planner
Ifrah Financial Services
Frank Kelly is a financial advisor at Ifrah Financial Services in Little Rock. He began at Hutchinson-Ifrah in 1997 and stayed on when the firm transitioned to Ifrah in 2008. Kelly, who received a degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, also is owner of Solar Source Consulting and has served on the Arkansas Renewable Energy Association since 2010. He currently serves as its chairman.
John Shane Knoernschild, CFP, ChFC, FIC
Wealth Advisor
Thrivent Financial
John Shane Knoernschild has been a wealth advisor with Thrivent Financial since 2006. He started his career in finance as a bank teller for First Community Bank and now holds the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designations. He also holds the Certified Kingdom Advisor designation with Kingdom Advisors..
Knoernschild graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Arkansas.
David Lukas
Financial Advisor
David Lukas Financial
David Lukas is a financial advisor, author, radio host and instructor who is passionate about creating businesses that serve the needs of consumers and businesses alike. Inspired by Robert Kiyosaki’s book Rich Dad Poor Dad, Lukas entered the financial services world and started his own company. Now more than three decades into his career, Lukas appears regularly on local news channels, and his radio program, “The David Lukas Show”, has been rated by Nielsen as one of the top 100 financial shows in the United States. Lukas’ success was even recognized by Kiyosaki himself in his book Rich Dad’s Success Stories. For Lukas, it is not just about numbers or financial strategies; it is about making a tangible, positive difference in people’s lives when they need it the most.
Lester Matlock,
APMA, CFP, CRPC
Private Wealth Advisor and CEO
Natural State Private Wealth Group/
Ameriprise
Lester Matlock is CEO of Little Rock’s Natural State Private Wealth Group and has more than 28 years of experience in the industry. His retirement income strategies include wealth preservation strategies, investments, retirement plan distribution, tax planning strategies, estate planning strategies and charitable giving. He holds the APMA, CFP and CRPC designations.
Matlock and the team at Natural State received the Ameriprise Client Experience Award, a testament to the loyalty of its clients, and the Ameriprise Client Experience Award for 2021-2022.
William McMillan, WMS
Financial Advisor
TMB Capital Partners/Raymond James
With more than 22 years in the financial services industry, McMillan strives to help clients realize their financial and personal aspirations through sound, tailored wealth management. He has expertise in comprehensive financial planning with a specialty in portfolio management and retirement planning. Levelheaded and trustworthy, he provides thorough financial guidance, always keeping the clients’ best interest at the forefront.
McMillan began his career at UBS and joined Raymond James, formerly Morgan Keegan, in 2002. He holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation as well as Series 7 and 66 licenses. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and later, an MBA from the University of Memphis.
Nick Merriweather, CFP
Operations Manager and Financial Advisor
Ipsen Advisor Group
Nick Merriweather has worked with Ipsen Advisor Group since graduating from Henderson State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Merriweather’s initial role was paraplanner, and he soon recognized he wanted to be a true financial planner. Working toward that goal, he obtained his securities licenses and received his insurance license to help clients plan for the unexpected by utilizing health, disability and long-term care insurance. He went on to study for and earn his Certified Financial Planner certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in 2023. This has cemented in him a client-focused mission to help people achieve their goals.
Pat Moon
Managing Principal and President
Meridian Investment Advisors
Pat Moon is managing principal and president of Meridian Investment Advisors. Founded in 1983 in Little Rock, Meridian is a Registered Investment Advisor managing $800 million for companies, foundations, families and institutional investors. He has almost 40 years experience as an investment manager, wealth advisor and retirement plan consultant.
Moon’s greatest reward is helping people realize the life they imagine. He enjoys building relationships with clients, exploring what they value, guiding them to make informed decisions and giving them confidence that their vision can become reality.
A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Texas Christian University, Moon is also a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.
Geoff Niebaum
Partner, CEO
Mendel Capital Management
Geoffrey H. Niebaum brings 18 years of investment advisory experience to his role leading Mendel Capital Management. As President & CEO, he focuses on investment management and overall strategic growth of Mendel Capital. Niebaum works diligently to maintain the firm’s client-first focus. Prior to joining Mendel Capital, he was a partner and portfolio manager for Integra Capital Advisors. His investment management career began with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Niebaum earned a MBA from the University of South Florida and a BA in Marketing from St. Leo University.
Patricia C. Nuovo, CFP
Financial Advisor
Signature Private Wealth Management
Patricia Nuovo was the first female stockbroker at her firm in Philadelphia and has excelled in the financial world in the Northeast, where she grew up. She has broken down barriers in the financial industry and uses her knowledge and experience to help others achieve their financial goals by taking a wholistic view of their personal finances.
With almost three decades of experience in the fast-paced financial industry, Nuovo has established herself as a powerhouse and an innovative leader, advisor and fiduciary. Her seminars and books on the concepts of money, emotions and abundance were an integral part of her message about educating and empowering the individual regarding their personal finances.
Clay Partridge
Financial Advisor
Crews & Associates
As a financial advisor for Crews & Associates, Clay Partridge provides investment services to individuals in and around the Little Rock area. His focus is on providing his clients with distinctive strategies tailored to fit their individual investment objectives. Before joining Crews, he worked for nearly 20 years in the mortgage banking industry.
Partridge earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia and his master’s degree in business from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He also maintains his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.
Greg Pillow, CFP
Financial Advisor
Conway Wealth Management
Greg Pillow has been a financial advisor since 1999. He worked for a couple of national firms before founding Conway Wealth Management in 2010. Pillow grew up in Conway and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas. Pillow enjoys being an advisor and helping his clients pursue success in life. Pillow and his team provide comprehensive financial planning for clients so that they can give the best advice possible. Areas of focus for Pillow’s practice include retirement planning, estate planning, business-succession planning and investment planning. Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC.
Charlie Porter, CRPS
Senior Vice President,
Private Wealth Management
Stephens
Charlie Porter serves as senior vice president in the private wealth-management division at Stephens in Little Rock. He joined in 2007 to partner with his father, Dr. Rob Porter. Charlie Porter and his team focus on delivering an exceptional client experience while providing comprehensive wealth management planning services to high-net-worth families, endowments and foundations. Prior to joining Stephens, he was a branch manager at another financial institution, where he worked in the lending division.
Porter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising and public relations from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Lisa Rabatin, CFP
Wealth Advisor
Simmons Investment Services
Lisa Rabatin is a Certified Financial Planner with Simmons Investment Services. Rabatin has four decades of investment experience and has been with Simmons since 2008. She began her career with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in 1982 after obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. After joining Dean Witter Reynolds in 1985, she spent 20 years with Morgan Stanley. Rabatin then joined Northwestern Mutual in 2005 to further her holistic planning approach. In 2008, she joined Delta Trust Investments, which was later bought out by Simmons Bank. Rabatin obtained her Certified Financial Planner designation in 2002.
Stephen Raborn
Senior Vice President, Investments
Diamond Family Financial Partners/
Raymond James
Stephen Raborn began his investment career in 1993 in Little Rock and has a wide variety of financial-industry experience that helps clients achieve their goals and manage financial blind spots. He currently holds his Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 63 and 65 securities licenses. Raborn understands the importance of long-term relationships and enjoys the privilege of serving clients and supporting his team, Diamond Family Financial Partners of Raymond James. He graduated from Carlisle High School, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Webster University.
Kymberlie Reed
Financial Advisor
Small & Associates Financial/Ameriprise
Kym Reed is a distinguished financial advisor in Arkansas, recognized as one of the best in 2023. With a Certified Military Financial Advisor certification acquired last year, she has exhibited dedication to her craft. Her 17-year tenure at Ameriprise showcases her commitment to clients’ financial well-being. Her team’s passion for financial planning is evident by the recognition in Forbes as one of the Best In State Wealth Management Team’s for 2023. Reed’s passion for guiding clients towards their financial aspirations drives her work.
Alex Richmond
Financial Planner
Strategic Financial Partners
Preparing for that next step in life is not always easy. New clients approach Alex Richmond, a financial planner with Strategic Financial Partners in Little Rock, with similar concerns: increasing demands on their time and resources prevent them from taking appropriate steps to make positive financial outcomes possible. Richmond guides clients through the team-based, process-driven approach to financial preparedness that has helped many of his clients. Clients often say the greatest benefit from the collaboration-based approach is the clarity and financial peace of mind they have come to enjoy as a result. Richmond is a life-long Arkansan that understands that a harvest only comes after the seeds have been planted and the crop is maintained.
Larry Root, CFP, CFS, APMA
Founder
Larry Root & Associates
Larry Root’s practice has changed over the years with its clients. Many clients have worked with the firm for 25 years or longer. He understands the impact the firm can have in clients’ lives through a fulfilling retirement, education of children and grandchildren, as well as facing the difficult events of life. The firm works to make a difference in the lives of its clients. Root was named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Financial Advisors in 2022, and Larry Root & Associates has been named to the 2023 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list.
Kyle D. Scott
Co-founder, Financial Advisor
Four Corners Wealth Management Group/Wells Fargo
Kyle Scott has served Russellville and the surrounding area since 2009, when he began his career with Edward Jones as a financial advisor. In 2011, he joined Investment Professionals, where he worked for three years before moving his financial practice to Wells Fargo Advisors. In 2022, he joined Jared Smith and Tyler Goodson to form Four Corners Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.
Scott and his team offer a comprehensive approach to wealth management by focusing on the “four corners” of wealth management: plan, advise, invest and protect.
Rocklin Senavinin, CFP
President and Co-founder
Fiduciary Wealth Management
Rocklin Senavinin is president and co-founder of Fiduciary Wealth Management, a fee-only registered investment advisory firm in Little Rock. As a Certified Financial Planner, he has advanced training in the holistic process of creating a personal financial plan that addresses a person’s comprehensive needs for both the short and long term.
Senavinin has more than 20 years of experience in the investment and financial planning industry and has dedicated his career to helping individuals live comfortably in retirement. He has experience working at large firms and decided to start Fiduciary Wealth Management because he appreciates the personal relationships he is able to develop with his clients.
Thomas Shurgar
Partner
Oak Crest Wealth Management
Thomas Shurgar is an accredited asset management specialist with a Master of Business degree from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in Fayetteville and a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He spent several years managing a portfolio of agricultural assets before joining a national investment firm, where he worked from 2003 to 2018 and achieved partner status. Shurgar joined Oak Crest Wealth Management as partner, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge in asset management, financial planning and employee development.
Joey Small
Founder, Private Wealth Advisor
Small & Associates Financial
Joey Small is a private wealth advisor at Small & Associates Financial. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1993, where he received his BBA in finance. He opened his firm in 1999 and has become an industry leader in the financial world, leading with a passion for empowering clients to reach their goals. With an unwavering commitment to his clients’ success, he goes beyond numbers, crafting personalized strategies that turn aspirations into realities. Small’s journey is defined by his dedication to making a positive impact, and his leadership at Small & Associates Financial reflects his commitment to excellence. Through his approach, Small continues to set new standards in the industry.
Grant Smith
Senior Partner
Lighthouse Financial
Grant Smith is a senior partner at Lighthouse Financial, a comprehensive financial-planning firm headquartered in Northwest Arkansas that focuses on combining tax and investment strategies to significantly reduce the amount of taxes their clients pay over their lifetime.
He loves to engage other people because he enjoys connecting with individuals and learning about their background and who they are. He has a desire to have a positive impact on the lives of others and that is why he is in this business.
Smith graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a degree in finance in 2015. In 2016, he was named Equitable Advisors National Rookie of the Year. In 2019, he was Equitable Advisors National DSF Advisor of the Year. In 2020, he earned his Certified Financial Planner license, and in 2021 he was recognized by the American Bankers Association in their National 40 under 40 in Wealth Management list.
Hatim Smouni,
CPFA, CRPC, CFP
SVP, Wealth Management Advisor
Smouni Bradley Group/Merrill
Hatim Smouni focuses on offering a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with getting to know a client and the client’s family, financial situation and what matters most to them. Then he helps them create a customized wealth-management approach that can be flexible as their needs and market conditions change. Smouni provides access to the investment insights of Merrill and banking convenience of Bank of America to help address the various aspects of clients’ financial lives. He is driven by my passion for delivering excellent service and helping clients pursue their goals.
Jenine Stafford, CLTC, FIC
Financial Professional
Thrivent Financial
After 37 years in the industry, working at Thrivent Financial has afforded Jenine Stafford the ability to look at things through a different lens. As opposed to concentrating only on growth of assets, she finds satisfaction in taking a deeper look at tax strategies and how they may affect distribution options. This has lent itself to her love of working with families who have children or grandchildren with special needs.
Since her son was born with Down syndrome, she has learned that individuals must plan, change course when things do not work out as imagined, and plan again. Her unexpected curveballs have enabled her to help clients of all ages and stages of life prepare for the unexpected, adapt when plans change and celebrate their victories.
Candice Stanley, RICP
Financial Advisor
GenWealth Financial Advisors
Prior to joining the GenWealth Financial Advisors team, Candice Stanely owned and managed an insurance agency for several years. Her passion for helping others achieve their financial goals has been present since college, and insurance allowed her to cultivate a part of her ambition. She graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance in 2006 and holds Series 7, 6, 63 and 66 licenses through LPL Financial.
Travis Swanson
Certified Financial Planner
Camienne Financial/Northwestern Mutual
Travis Swanson is a Certified Financial Planner at Camienne Financial, one of the largest wealth management firms nationally within Northwestern Mutual. Camienne Financial operates in the high net-worth market, delivering comprehensive investment, insurance, charitable and estate planning to clients from coast to coast. Swanson has been recognized by Northwestern Mutual as the top financial advisor in the South for his tenure. He has also been awarded Northwestern Mutual’s Life Impact Award, Pathfinder Award and Achievement Award. He grew up in Kingwood, Texas, before earning a football scholarship to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a four-year letterman, an All-American and a two-time captain for the Razorbacks. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent five years in the NFL as a starting center.
Scott Tabor, WMS
Financial Advisor
TMB Capital Partners/Raymond James
With more than 30 years of experience in the financial-services industry, Scott Tabor provides seasoned expertise to guide clients in all aspect of wealth management. Knowledgeable in comprehensive financial planning, he helps individuals and businesses address their needs for estate and retirement planning, succession planning, portfolio management and more. Honest and personable, he enjoys developing lasting relationships with each of his clients and designs strategies tailored to their individual financial needs and goals.
Tabor has been a financial advisor with Raymond James, formerly Morgan Keegan, since 1992. He earned a degree in business and finance from the University of Arkansas.
Eric Thessing, CMFA
Small & Associates Financial Advisor
Eric Thessing is a proud Arkansas native with passion for making life easier for others. He graduated from Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock and pursued his finance degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where he graduated cum laude in 2020. With a passion to serve those who have served, he obtained his Certified Military Financial Advisor designation in 2022. Inspired by his father, who has been a police officer for 28 years, Thessing is deeply involved with military and first responder personnel by guiding them to financial security. His goal is to empower his clients to understand, achieve and manage their financial independence with confidence.
Chris Vanlandingham
Partner/PIM Portfolio Manager
BVJ Wealth Management/Wells Fargo
As part of an experienced team of financial professionals, Chris Vanlandingham proud to help a select group of families in the area grow, manage, preserve and transition wealth. His team’s clients are like family and are treated as such. Vanlandingham takes pride in customer service and understanding each client’s total financial situation.
In addition to providing a full suite of investment strategies, he also believes in giving back to the community. With a passion for the arts, he served on the board for the Little Rock Wind Symphony for several years, most recently as president. He was honored to be appointed by the mayor of Little Rock as a city commissioner on the Little Rock Historic District Commission.
Kenny Wasson, AAMS, CRPC
Vice President, Senior Client Advisor
Arvest Wealth Management
Kenny Wasson serves a select group of clients, helping them build, manage and protect their wealth. He knows that life is full of transitions, planned and unplanned, and is committed to being there for his clients by celebrating their successes and overcoming challenges and setbacks. His practice focuses on comprehensive wealth management services, including investments, liability management, non-portfolio risk management, estate planning strategies and fiduciary services.
Wasson strives to understand his clients’ circumstances and empathize with their emotions about money to help him build a strong client-advisor relationship.
Victor S. Werley CFP, ChFC, CDFA, CVA, MAFF, CFE, CEPA
Director of Financial Planning and
Managing Partner
Pinnacle Advisors
Victor Werley is a Certified Financial Planner and partner at Pinnacle Advisors in Little Rock, which he formed in 2003. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lyon College in Batesville in 2003, and he has served on the college’s board since 2013. In addition to his CFP credential, he is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, a Certified Valuation Analyst, a Certified Fraud Examiner, a Chartered Financial Consultant and a master analyst in financial forensics. Legal support services provided by Werley and his team include forensic analysis, expert witness services and settlement structuring.
Lara C. Wilkerson
LPL Financial Advisor
Aspire Wealth Builders
As a financial professional and an active member of the community, Lara Candice Wilkerson is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses build their financial futures. To stay on top of her field and develop her professional skills, she regularly attends industry training and certification programs.
Her experience and professional affiliations have fostered her practical approach to offering financial services and advice to clients. Maintaining a strong sense of community and a solid professional foundation are very important to her. Wilkerson is involved in child abuse prevention with Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, No Child Hungry, among other organizations.
Jared R. Zeiser, CRPC
President and CEO
Zeiser Wealth Management
Jared Zeiser is president and CEO of Zeiser Wealth Management and has been a financial advisor for 25 years. Specializing in investment advisory and financial planning with an emphasis on risk management, he offers comprehensive financial planning with tactical investment management to help clients grow, protect and harvest their wealth. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and received his chartered retirement planning certification from the College for Financial Planning in Centennial, Colo.
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