AVENUE WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP - Key Persons
Prior to joining The Avenue in 2019, Alesha spent a few years as a stay-at-home Mom with her young kids after leaving a career in the medical field. Alesha is reliable and dedicated to providing a wonderful experience for all the clients she has the opportunity to interact with.
Alesha grew up right here in Oconee County, where she now resides with her husband,Jake and their two children. She earned a bachelor's degree in Health Promotion from The University of Georgia. Alesha enjoys reading, vacationing at the beach, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor, RJFS / Partner, the Avenue Mars Hill
- Partner at the Avenue - Mars Hill Wealth Management
Andy Flippen is a Partner at The Avenue-Mars Hill Wealth Management and a Financial Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services. Andy offers clients more than 13 years of retirement planning and investment management experience. Prior to forming The Avenue-Mars Hill, Andy was a Vice President and Financial Advisor with SunTrust Private Wealth Management. Andy works closely with clients to develop investment strategies that meet their individual goals, whether they are preparing for retirement, navigating income throughout retirement, or planning the legacy they leave to their loved ones. He follows a disciplined process, customized to provide holistic, personal service to each and every client. Andy's relationship with clients may differ from what you have experienced elsewhere. His favorite part of his career is truly knowing the clients with whom he works. In Andy's eyes, the client's needs always come first, and the relationship is always personal.
Andy is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he studied Consumer Economics and Personal Financial Planning. Andy and his wife, Jennie, reside in Bishop, GA, with their 3 children: Nathan, Ty and Anna. They attend Oconee Presbyterian Church in Watkinsville. Outside of work, Andy enjoys spending time with his family. He stays active in coaching his kid's sports teams, cooking, camping, trout fishing, golf, cycling and mountain biking. On Saturdays in the fall, he and his family can be found on campus, loyally supporting their beloved Georgia Bulldogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avenue Leadership Team
- Junior Advisor
- Managing Partner, AWM / Senior Investment Advisor Representative, RJFS
- Senior Investment Advisor Representative, RJFS / Managing Partner, AWM
In 1986, Top Gun was the highest grossing movie, the Chicago Bears won the Superbowl, and Bill Schroth launched his career in finance.
With more than three decades experience, Bill knows that being accessible and willing to talk to his clients about what's important to their lives is essential to helping them pursue their financial goals. For Bill, there is nothing better than sitting with clients and discussing their goals and aspirations over a cup of coffee. When working with Bill, you can count on him to be a complete financial resource for all your wealth management and financial planning needs.
Bill began his career in 1986 as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch. In 2007, he co-founded TSD Capital Group, which was affiliated with Wells Fargo before transitioning to Raymond James in 2013. Bill believes that changing the name to The Avenue Wealth Management Group better reflects the firm's mission of walking down the avenue of life with each and every client.
Bill holds a degree in economics from of the University of Georgia. The former Rotarian has served on the board of directors for Classic City Community Church and was also a board member for the Athens Regional Foundation.
Originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Bill lives in Athens with his wife, Cherie, and the couple's three children. His hobbies include cooking, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, and running.
Kip Dominy joins Joe and Bill as a junior advisor, and becomes a partner soon after
Most 9-year-old boys want to be star athletes, firefighters, astronauts, or superheroes, but young Bruce Kelly wanted to be a financial advisor. Bruce's dream came true and now he applies his own set of superpowers to managing the assets of his clients.
Bruce takes pride in his work and treats his clients as he would want someone to treat him. Whether establishing and managing IRAs, investment accounts, 401(k)s, he will go the extra mile to be sure that his clients' needs are being met. Bruce has expertise in creating asset preservation strategies and professional financial plans tailored to individual goals.
Prior to joining TSD Capital Group in - now The Avenue Wealth Management Group - Bruce was a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Financial Network.
Originally from Monticello, Georgia, Bruce earned his business degree from Georgia College & State University. He lives in Watkinsville with his wife, Melissa, and their two children. Bruce is a Group Service Leader at Athens Church and serves on the board of Campus Crusade for Christ's athletic ministry. He supports numerous local organizations, including ESP, the Downtown Academy, United Way, the NE Georgia Cancer Foundation, and more. In his spare time, Bruce enjoys golf, travel, cooking and watching Georgia football.
Bruce Kelly joins the Avenue Watkinsville as an Investment advisor representative
Cody's clients appreciate his straightforward demeanor as he helps provide clarity to the decisions that shape their financial lives and help them pursue their most meaningful goals. He works to develop deep relationships built on trust with his clients to curate and maintain plans and investment accounts to suit their lives. These partnerships, he knows, can only be built through unimpeachable integrity. He holds himself to a high standard of ethics so his clients know he is working in their best interests.
In addition to his affinity for numbers, Cody is a natural "people person" and problem solver. These skills help him guide his clients through life's big questions and through determining what's most important to them. He knows that everyone has unique circumstances and tolerances for risk, and Cody knows there is no one-sized box to meet everyone's needs. He takes the time to work with each of his clients individually so they understand their plan and can see progress along the way.
Prior to joining Raymond James in 2021, Cody was affiliated with Edward Jones. He was drawn to Raymond James for its resources, investment platform and commitment to professional independence, integrity and the importance of the relationship between financial advisors and their clients.
Cody is a graduate of Marshall University in his home state of West Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance prior to moving to Georgia. He is an active volunteer at his church, Cornerstone Athens, and its various ministries. Cody enjoys CrossFit training and pickleball. He lives in Watkinsville, Georgia, with his wife, Heather, and their two dogs, Luna and Marley. In their free time, you can likely find them on the water at Lake Oconee water skiing, wakeboarding or just relaxing.
Job Titles:
- Senior Registered Client Service Associate
Colleen Boggess joined the firm June 2021.
She is a fully licensed sales assistant and has been in the business since 1995.
Born and raised in Michigan, Colleen and her family moved to the Athens area in 2017and have really become accustomed to the southern culture and charm, not to mention the warmer weather!
Colleen has a passion for travel and exploring new areas everywhere from the mountains to the beaches. She also enjoys boating, hiking, spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- SVP, AWMG Financial Advisor, RJFS
I am a 1985 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Economics. I have spent my entire career in the financial services industry starting as a teller in a community bank. I have worked as a lender,and a branch manager and in 1994 I started as a financial advisor with a regional bank. I was employed by A.G. Edwards for almost ten years until I moved to Morgan Keegan in 2008.
David Lilliston joins the Avenue Watkinsville as an Investment advisor representative
With 17 years in the financial services industry, Erin brings a wealth of experience in customized planning for her clients. Throughout the years, she has spent her career going the extra mile in her attention to individual goals and needs. She enjoys working on wealth accumulation strategies with younger clients as much as helping retired clients with asset preservation and legacy plans.
After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2000 with a Bachelors of Science, Erin returned to Atlanta for 10 years to begin her professional life in financial services. During that time, she worked with estate planning attorneys and gained a deep respect for proper estate planning in conjunction with personalized investment advice. She moved back to Athens in 2011 and joined an independent financial advisor team affiliated with ING. While establishing new client relationships, she achieved her own goal of becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner in 2014. The team affiliated with Suntrust Investment Services in March 2015 where she was fortunate to engage with more local clients as she was beginning her own family.
The transition to Raymond James Financial Services in 2018 allowed her to regain the independence to help clients attain their financial goals. Planning is a family affair and she truly enjoys the multi-generational aspect of her craft. She has set roots in Athens with her husband Russell and daughter Emerson. In free time, she loves to venture away on trips with her own family. She also enjoys her hometown culture, music and of course Bulldog football.
After a decade in operations management within themanufacturing industry, Jake transitioned to financial advising to pursue histrue passion of serving others by assisting clients in planning for theirfinancial futures. His extensive background equips him with real-worldknowledge, enabling him to comprehend the current and future needs ofindividuals, families, and small businesses. Jake is dedicated to buildingmeaningful, long-lasting relationships with his clients, guiding them throughthe achievement of their financial goals. This commitment forms the cornerstoneof his daily approach. Whether celebrating triumphs or navigating challenges,Jake works hand-in-hand with his clients, serving as a trusted partnerthroughout their life's journey.
In his leisure time, he relishes moments with his wife,Ashley, and takes joy in witnessing the growth of his daughter, Caroline. Jakeis also passionate about spending afternoons on the golf course, hiking throughthe mountains, hunting, fishing, and anything related to University of Georgiaathletics.
Jake earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)with a focus in Banking and Finance from The University of Georgia in 2012.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Financial Advisor, RJFS / Partner, the Avenue Mars Hill
Jeremy Hobbs is a Partner with The Avenue-Mars Hill Wealth Management and Financial Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services. He offers clients more than ten years of financial services, retirement planning and investment management experience. He is a native of Tifton, Georgia and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Jeremy enjoys spending time with his wife Leah and their three children.
Jeremy's focus is on assisting clients in creating sustainable income during retirement. Jeremy follows a disciplined process of assessing a client's financial situation, determining risk tolerance and forming and executing an appropriate investment/income plan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avenue Leadership Team
- Managing Director / Partner, AWM / Senior Financial Advisor
- Senior Financial Advisor, RJFS / Managing Director / Partner, AWM
As a founding partner of The Avenue, Joe played a key role in constructing The Avenue Way: "Ritz-Carlton service with FedEx efficiency." One of Joe's greatest joys comes from guiding clients in a direction of abundance and success. Clients become part of The Avenue family, where victories are celebrated and the unique challenges of their lives are navigated together.
Clients appreciate the way Joe takes care of all the details - both big and small - and the personalized way he provides asset management, estate planning, and business succession strategies. With more than 25 years experience, Joe brings a thorough approach to financial planning, but it all begins with listening carefully to the goals of each individual client. After understanding where his clients want to go, Joe develops specific financial plans with the end result in mind.
Joe's career began in the financial services industry in 1988, when he joined Trust Company/SunTrust Bank as head of investment banking for Northeast Georgia. In 1996, he moved to Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Advisors) before deciding in 2007 to co-found TSD Capital Group. In 2013, TSD became The Avenue and moved their affiliation from Wells Fargo to Raymond James.
A Georgia native, Joe has an ABA from Middle Georgia College and a BBA in accounting from the University of Georgia. He lives in the Athens area with his wife, Hayley, and the couple's two children. He stays active in the community as a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church and as a trustee for the Prince Avenue Christian School. He is a member of the Northeast Georgia Coaches and Southeast Regional Boards of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Joe serves as the finance chairman for Emmanuel International Ministries. Joe enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf in his free time.
For many people, remembering the Golden Rule is a way to stay in the good graces of your elders. For John Bishop, it is the way he has led his life from a very young age.
With more than 30 years in the financial sector, John knows a few things about wealth management. By treating his clients with the same respect and understanding he would expect to receive, John applies his vast experience to ensure that his clients receive individualized plans and exceptional service.
The Avenue's "client first" approach perfectly matches John's own philosophy, as well as the high standards he holds for himself in service and efficiency. John comes to The Avenue from SunTrust Investment Services where he was Senior Vice President and Private Financial Advisor.
John holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Berry College and the University of Georgia respectively. A native of Rome, Georgia, John is active in the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and the Rome Rotary Club. He supports numerous community organizations through gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
Job Titles:
- Senior Investment Advisor Representative
Chivalry is not dead. Jon will not only open the door for you at the office but financial doors that create opportunities for thoughtful, comprehensive financial plans.
Since 1999, Jon has been putting the needs of his clients first and foremost. Jon's customer focus and experience have allowed him to develop lasting, successful relationships with his clients. By developing personalized investment models, catering to the unique requirements of each client, Jon is able to foster an atmosphere of trust that he believes is essential to managing financial assets.
Jon began his financial career with Edward Jones almost 20 years ago before moving to Wells Fargo Securities. Jon holds the designation of Accredited Wealth Management Advisor ℠ from the College for Financial Planning®, the nation's original and most well-respected designation for providing financial advice to high-net-worth clients. In 2015, Jon brought his accolades and experience to The Avenue Wealth Management Group.
Originally from Greensboro, Georgia, Jon attended Georgia College and Georgia State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science. Today, Jon and his three children, Emilee, Jonathon, and Jacob, live in Bishop, Georgia where they attend Athens Church. Jon is active in the community, serving as president of the Lion's Club and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. For fun and relaxation, Jon enjoys playing tennis, hunting, and fishing.
Jon Sisson joins the Avenue Watkinsville as an investment advisor representative.
Kayla Legg joined the Avenue Wealth Management in April 2020. When calling or visiting The Avenue Wealth Management Office, you will be greeted by Kayla's warm smile and cheerful greeting. Kayla also assists with opening client accounts, answering client questions and providing outstanding client service.
A native of Rockmart Georgia, Kayla graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration and degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management from Georgia Highlands College.
Away from work, Kayla enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their friends and families. She enjoys travel, photography, and playing with her dog, Harry.
Job Titles:
- Registered Administrative Assistant
As The Avenue has grown, so have Kayla's responsibilities. Her career path began as an intern, but she was quickly promoted to full time receptionist. Not long after, she advanced to a registered sales assistant, and now she is one of The Avenue's registered principals and our team's Operations Manager.
While her roles have changed, one thing has stayed the same; her commitment to simplifying the lives of our clients and teammates. Whether she's answering client questions or helping a new advisor transition hundreds of clients to our company, Kayla's primary focus is making the process as easy as possible.
Born and raised in Georgia, Kayla graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration and degree in Marketing from the University of Georgia. During her six years with The Avenue, Kayla has earned her series 7, 66, 9 and 10 securities licenses.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Representative
Kayli handles all aspects of the client experience and strives to exceed clients' expectations. Reliable and easygoing, she makes a point to be responsive to clients' requests. Kayli worked for Voya Financial Advisors and SunTrust Investment Services before joining Raymond James in 2018.
A South Georgia native, Kayli earned bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Finance from Valdosta State University. When she is not in the office, Kayli enjoys dancing and teaching at a local dance studio and performs in several events in the Athens Community. She also enjoys hiking, kayaking, fishing, spending time at the beach, and pretty much anything that involves the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avenue Leadership Team
- CFO, AWM
- Registered Principal, RJFS / CFO, AWM
As an Athens native, Kendric joined The Avenue Wealth Management in 2018. Before joining the team as an Internal Finance Director, Kendric worked at Classic City Computing as an IT consultant for 2 years. Now, Kendric spends his time organizing quarterly financial reports, working on new project valuations and projections and managing cash flow. The favorite part about his career is seeing the projection and valuation methods he created be put to use in current and future business ventures. He enjoys being able to effectively help partners with the goal of simplifying a client's financial life.
Kendric graduated from The University of Georgia, Terry College of Business with Magna Cum Laude honors where he studied Finance in 2018. He has also obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 License. When Kendric is not in the office, you can find him outdoors playing a round of golf, hitting tennis balls, or fishing in a nearby lake.
The mission of Align Wealth Advisors is to bring joy to our clients. We do this by aligning their wealth with their purpose. At the helm of the practice, Kimberly leads the team and partners with clients to make complex simple, allowing them to make sound choices for their future.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avenue Leadership Team
- Chief Strategist / Partner, AWM / Senior Investment Advisor
- Senior Investment Advisor, RJFS / Chief Strategist / Partner, AWM
When you get to play at Pebble Beach, you want someone who knows the challenges of the course ahead. No two rounds are identical, but having an expert on your side will make it a little easier, and a little more enjoyable. As one of the founding partners of The Avenue, Kip helped create the unique, customer-focused model the firm has used from day one to help clients achieve their dreams.
A former business owner, Kip understands what clients look for in a wealth advisor. He brought his business knowledge into the financial services industry over 17 years ago with a strong emphasis on personal attention. Clients know that Kip listens carefully to their needs and goals, and always works with their best interest in mind.
Kip began his career in the financial services industry as an advisor with Wachovia Securities. In 2007, he co-founded TSD Capital Group, which would later become The Avenue Wealth Management Group. Kip shares a sense of satisfaction with the firm's other members that the firm's name aligns with the firm's ethos of walking down the avenue of life with each and every client.
Kip attended the University of Georgia before completing his degree at Mercer University while playing collegiate golf. He lives with his wife, Angie, and two children, Noah and Lily, and attends Lake Oconee Church, where he also serves as a volunteer on the Production and Stewardship teams. He is a board member on the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation, as well as an active member of the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam and serves on the golf tournament committee of Reynolds Lake Oconee. Kip and his wife founded RememberTheOne.org, a nonprofit organization inspired by the life and loss of their son Hogan that aims to support families dealing with life-threatening illness and other challenges. For fun and relaxation, he enjoys tennis, golf and working out.
Job Titles:
- Senior Financial Advisor, RJFS
A good book will often have a plot twist that no one expects. Life can imitate art by changing your needs when you least expect it. With over 20 years in the financial industry, Kirk knows how to handle these changes when they arise. He understands that not everything can be accounted for in any plan, but he is prepared to help you handle whatever twists come your way and help get you to the next chapter in your financial story.
Kirk has extensive experience to offer clients for effectively managing their wealth. He excels in providing comprehensive financial planning services, including retirement and estate planning, investment management and tax planning.* His objective with every client is to develop a strategy that best suits their financial needs and goals, ensuring they can effectively pursue long-term growth and financial confidence.
Prior to joining the family at The Avenue, Kirk had been a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors since 1996. Kirk enjoys the sense of family and mutual admiration The Avenue creates, not only for the employees but the clients as well.
Originally from Branson, Missouri, Kirk grew up in Southern California and has lived in Athens since 1994. He is an active member of the community, serving as president of the Rotary Club of Athens, board chair for United Way of Northeast Georgia, and volunteering with many other organizations. When he's not in the office, Kirk can be found coaching football, reading, or golfing.
Kirk Dunham joins the Avenue Watkinsville as an investment advisor representative.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor, RJFS / Managing Partner, AWM
Leanne makes it her mission to help ensure her clients are financially prepared to joyfully step into each new chapter of their lives, confident in their financial abilities and prepared to pursue their dreams. As she likes to say, dreams of tomorrow are both made and broken by our decisions of today.
Working with a variety of clients, including executives, women, and multiple generations of high-net-worth families and business owners, Leanne takes a holistic approach to financial planning that focuses on the individual needs, wants and wishes of each client.
Through each tailored strategy, she helps them preserve the wealth they have built, with plans designed to help meet their family's goals, including leaving a legacy. She specializes in investment strategy and financial planning, including retirement planning, education funding, risk management through insurance planning, and tax and estate reduction strategies.
A longtime member of the Memphis financial services community, Leanne joined Raymond James in 2011 and established The Avenue Wealth Management Memphis. She began her career with Union Planters Bank, now part of Regions, and would eventually become president of Union Planters Brokerage Services when she left in 1997. Between 1997 and 2011, she was a Senior Vice President with both Young Stovall and Wunderlich Securities. Leanne was also educated in her hometown and holds a BBA and an MBA from the University of Memphis.
Since joining Raymond James, Leanne has attained recognition club status each year: Leaders Club in 2016 and President's Club in 2015, 2017 and 2018.1 In 2017 and 2018, she was humbled to be named on the Top Wealth Advisor Moms list by Working Mother magazine and Shook Research.2 In 2018 and 2019, Leanne was named to the Forbes list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors.3
Personally, Leanne enjoys spending time with her husband and son. The family makes many memories boating on Lake Hamilton with relatives and friends. They are also active members of Grace Evangelical Church. When she is not laser focused on her family and practice, Leanne gives back to her community, and has served as a tutor and Christmas chair for AB Hill Elementary and a member of the Grace Evangelical Church's venture strategy committee.
Job Titles:
- Registered Administrative Assistant
Leigh Anne handles all aspects of the client experience from start to finish. She holds herself to rigorous standards and strives to always exceed client expectations. Leigh Anne is reliable and easy going, but attentive and highly responsive to the needs of her clients.
Prior to joining The Avenue in 2013, Leigh Anne spent time at Wells Fargo and Wachovia Securities. Her days are now spent attending to the needs of her clients, while her nights are spent loving and caring for her two young children, all of whom are a welcome part of The Avenue family!
A Georgia native, Leigh Anne earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Valdosta State University. She lives in Athens with her husband, Casey, and their two children. When she's away from the office, Leigh Anne enjoys running, spending time at the beach, and volunteering at her son's preschool.
Linsey began her career in the financial industry in 1998 and worked in the field for over for 7 years.While she loved working in the industry, she got a service opportunity to become the director of a local weekday preschool. It was a great opportunity to highlight her bubbly and outgoing personality for nearly 15 years. Now she has come full circle and knows the importance of building relationships with her coworkers and her clients.
Linsey grew up in Athens and graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in child and family development. Soon after, she married her high school sweetheart, Johnny Jarrett, and they started a family. They have two daughters in college. Linsey has been through many challenges in life, but she has shown her many talents and can make the best out of any situation, which is why she enjoys working here at the Avenue.
Lou Perno and Michael Burns join the Avenue as Perno Burns Advisory Group
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor / Portfolio Strategist
Mac has a passion for helping clients reach their goals through the process of financial planning. At the Avenue WealthManagement Group, Mac will be supporting our team by focusing his analytical skills on asset management and helping families attain their goals.
Mac obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Law concentration from Western Carolina University. While at WCU, he excelled academically while performing at a high level on the track and field team.
Originally from Gainesville, Georgia, Mac now resides in Athens. While away from the office, Mac enjoys an outdoor lifestyle. You can find him on the golf course, in the river fly fishing, or on the lake with his friends and family.
Focusing on portfolio management and financial planning for his team, Mike applies his specialty in crafting tailor-made financial plans to help those he serves work toward their short- and long-term goals. He taps into his analytical yet practical nature in his daily work, and makes it his mission to help his clients experience a dignified, fulfilling lifestyle throughout retirement.
Before joining Raymond James in 2018, Mike served with Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessor firms for 21 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in agribusiness from the University of Georgia. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, Mike is dedicated to helping his clients work toward their financial goals by guiding them through the investment planning process set forth by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. The CFP® certification is one of the most respected financial planning credentials among consumers and the recognized standard of excellence in personal financial planning.
Mike - a lifelong resident of Georgia - lives in Watkinsville with his wife, Allison, and their children, Lyle and Belle. He can often be found farming from a John Deere tractor, fishing and enjoying an outdoors lifestyle when he's not in the office. Mike is a past president and current member of the Athens Sertoma Club and a James F. Byrnes Foundation Honorary Scholar.
The "Gold Standard" is often used as a benchmark for excellence but, for Michael Malone, that just isn't good enough. Michael lives by "The Platinum Rule," holding himself to a higher standard for the way he treats those in his life, and for the quality of work he expects of himself.
Michael treats every client as a member of The Avenue family, just as he was welcomed when he joined the practice. This open, inclusive atmosphere is the same that Michael creates for his clients. He truly wants to improve the lives of everyone with whom he interacts, clients or not. With more nearly 20 years experience in the financial sector and time as a small business owner, Michael understands the importance of a sound financial plan.
Holding a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Georgia, Michael is a proud Georgian, born and raised in Athens. Michael and his wife, Amy, are active in the local community where they are members of Athens Church and support several local organizations, including The Boys & Girls Club, FCA, North Georgia Food Bank, and North Oconee High School.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Avenue Leadership Team
- COO & CCO, AWM
- Registered Principal, RJFS / COO & CCO, AWM
Building a successful team requires people that have a will to win, but do so by following the rules. For The Avenue, Mike Carbajal is just the guy to do that.
Mike brings nearly 10 years of management experience in the financial sector to The Avenue. His leadership skills have been developed with firms large and small, across a variety of specialties, cross-functional teams, and single-focus divisions, but all with a diverse group of advisors. Mike understands that developing a successful, well-rounded group can involve personalities that may typically clash but can also create, if properly structured and guided, world-class service that clients appreciate and trust. His "team focus" falls directly in line with The Avenue's values and goal of creating a family, not just a wealth management firm.
Mike is passionate about sharing his financial knowledge with clients, family, and, especially, young people. He feels that the subject of finance is minimized in lower education, and many high school graduates do not grasp the crucial role that understanding financial matters can play. One of Mike's favorite quotes comes from Frederick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men," and this is why he takes every opportunity to share what he knows with future generations.
Mike and his wife relocated here from Florida to be a part of The Avenue. He is a graduate of The Citadel with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Mike supports a program to help underprivileged children receive better educations at top-level boarding schools, both through financial contributions and giving his time to speak with the students.
Olivia's focus is outstanding client service and ensuring everyone feels welcome at Align Wealth Advisors. Often the first point of contact, she is devoted to fostering meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues with her southern hospitality style. She works closely with our founder building and implementing processes that ensure we deliver a compassionate client experience. She supports the team with meeting preparation, communications, and marketing driving efficiently and keeping us connected.
Olivia graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2021 with a double major in Psychology and Child Development. This taught her the value of building quality relationships. She learned the relevance of teamwork playing softball and tennis Holy Innocents' Episcopal School. She obtained her strong southern roots growing up in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. When she is not at work, you can find her traveling anywhere with warm weather and spending time with family and friends.
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Job Titles:
- Senior Client Service Associate
Scott joins our team with over twenty years of client service and investment management experience. He believes putting clients' needs front and center is what builds successful relationships with them. Each client has a unique story. Understanding their desired goals and outcomes is critical. After that, it's efficient execution and thorough follow through that drives individualized success for each client.
Scott is passionate about the investment and portfolio management side of the business. He takes a data-driven approach to understanding market trends. He is a lifelong student of the markets. Reviewing the charts, trendlines, and moving averages provides historical perspective and is beneficial for forecasting. That combined with fundamental research, can often yield the best ideas for successful investing. Too often, a client may allow emotions to get the best of them when volatility strikes. Having the right financial advisory team to provide perspective is key to executing a successful investment strategy over time.
Scott has a degree in Accounting from Rochester Institute of Technology. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Growing up in a blue-collar town taught him the value of a hard day's work and the importance of family. Scott is a proud father of Amanda, who is currently working on her master's degree. When not at work, you'll find Scott and his wife Deidra traveling for their favorite passion, mountain biking. You can find them most weekends in North Georgia riding with friends. Scott loves enduro bike racing and long epic days in the saddle. He and Deidra completed the BC Bike Race in 2021, a seven day, seven stage mountain bike race in British Columbia, Canada. He has a bucket list of places yet to ride. Riding bikes is what allows him to stay young and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Job Titles:
- Senior Client Service Associate
Fortunately for our clients, Stephanie made the decision to leave a leadership position in the retail industry to join the wealth management business in 2000. In her initial position with Wachovia Securities (formally Interstate/Johnson Lane), she worked in the Operations Department supporting the entire branch. Ultimately, Stephanie realized she enjoyed working closer with clients and advisors. In 2005 she joined the team of Michael L. Burns (formally Perno Burns Financial Advisory Group) as a lead assistant.
Stephanie is a graduate of Mercer University in Atlanta, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. She fine-tuned her organizational and interpersonal skills working with Macy's for fourteen years as a Junior Executive. Stephanie's focus on service and attention to detail have earned her several levels of professional recognition.
Stephanie's official title is Senior Client Associate, but a more apt description might be Senior Service Specialist. Stephanie's main role is to assist clients with any service requests, follow up and complete any outstanding operational issues, and basically, help manage Mike's and Mac's workday. Often time, she is the first "voice" of the team when clients call in and need some guidance.
Stephanie is originally from Tucker, Georgia but now resides in Good Hope, GA with her husband, Jeff and son, Coy. When she is not working, she enjoys gardening, taking care of animals and going on trips with her family.
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
Not everyone feels comfortable in dealing with financial issues, but not everyone gets to work with someone like Todd Whitaker. Todd's core personal values for excellence guide his daily life, and he applies those same expectations in how he works with his clients.
With more than 15 years in finance, Todd has a broad scope of experience which he applies to provide the best solutions to help his clients pursue their goals. He understands that not everyone is fully versed in the wide variety of financial products offered, and he puts himself in the shoes of his clients to ensure they understand and are comfortable with the plans he creates.
Todd has lived in Watkinsville since he was 10 years old, graduating from Oconee High School before earning a degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Giving back to the community he loves is very important and Todd volunteers hundreds of hours each year through a variety of organizations. Todd is the co-founder, and a current member, of the North Oconee Rotary Club, active in the Athens Jaycees Club, and participates in opportunities through local churches and chambers of commerce.