Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top 50 Financial Advisors of Dallas for 2022. This city, home to twenty-four Fortune 500 company headquarters, has grown remarkably fast over the past few years. Dallas has survived through the COVID-19 pandemic with less employment loss than any other metro area largely due to inbound migration and the surge in its foreign-born population. This year’s awardees are driving growth for individuals, families, institutions and entrepreneurs in the area and beyond. They are excelling in their field and provide advice to maintain the financial viability for their clients today and for the future.
Among this year’s awardees is Judy Barton, Wealth Manager and Transition Advisor for BNY Mellon Wealth Management, who has 25 years of expertise in wealth management strategies for ultra-high-net-worth men and women who find themselves in life-altering transitions, such as divorce, sale of a business or major inheritance. Also awarded is Ginnie Baker, Partner and Wealth Manager with Beaird Harris, who primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and families and has a niche in the healthcare industry. Awardee Robert Berg, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Services for Carter Financial Management, works alongside his son with serving corporate executives, business owners and individuals planning for or involved with retirement.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Financial Advisors of Dallas for 2022.
1. Judy Barton
Wealth Manager & Transition Advisor, BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Judy Barton is a Wealth Manager and Transition Advisor of BNY Mellon Wealth Management. She is passionate about guiding clients through life-changing events with a laser-like focus, keen intuition, and genuine concern for them and their families. For more than 25 years, she has built an expertise in wealth management strategies for ultra-high-net-worth men and women who find themselves in life-altering transitions, such as divorce, sale of a business or major inheritance. Her personal experiences and background add an important dimension and insight to guiding her clients.
Currently, Barton is assisting clients with rebounding from the impact and uncertainty of the COVID-19 market fluctuations. Her target is to maximize wealth preservation and growth, uniquely customized for every client. Through "Active Wealth," including in invest, spend, borrow, manage and protect, Barton is working with her BNY Mellon investment team to identify strategic opportunities in this rapidly changing investment landscape. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law with a master ‘s degree in legal studies in conflict resolution and business law and from the University of Oklahoma with an undergraduate degree in finance.
2. Jen Colby
VP & Financial Advisor, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Jen Colby is a Vice President and Financial Advisor with Bernstein Private Wealth Management.
In her role, she helps clients persevere through complexity, working through the unknown challenges of selling a business, navigating through the difficulty of a divorce and paving the way toward clarity and peace of mind, helping philanthropic boards wade through the competing priorities of their organizations. Her clients appreciate her ability to build trust quickly, attack the tough questions, and find strategic solutions. Colby has 16 years of experience. She began her career in 2006.
Before joining Bernstein Private Wealth Management, Colby was a financial advisor at Edward Jones and before that, a deputy director and admissions liaison officer with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Colby graduated from The University of Maryland Global Campus with an MBA and from United States Air Force Academy with an undergraduate degree in humanities.
3. Travis Whitten
Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST
Travis Whitten began his professional career 21 years ago. Today, he is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with CAPTRUST. He is an experienced retirement plan consultant who specializes in providing comprehensive advisory services to fiduciaries of businesses and tax-exempt organizations who sponsor defined contribution, defined benefit, and executive deferred compensation plans. Whitten also provides wealth advisory and financial planning services to affluent families and individuals.
Prior to joining CAPTRUST in 2011, Whitten was an investment advisor with a benefits and insurance consulting firm, Holmes Murphy. A Texas native, he graduated from Texas Tech University with an undergraduate degree in agriculture and applied economics and received a master’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University. He holds the Certified Financial Planner™ certification.
4. Mario Barone
Vice President of Private Wealth Management, First United Bank
Mario Barone is the Vice President of Private Wealth Management at First United Bank, a progressive and innovative community banking organization. His career began in 1983 with a financial planning firm. With over 30 years of experience, Barone has worked with a variety of individual and corporate clients, with the objective of helping each establish and reach specific individual goals.
Barone’s roles have included financial confidant, trust officer, conflict resolver, and educator. He has worked with attorneys, CPAs and other advisors, often interpreting all of their complex terminology into an understandable client message. He has previously served with Sterling Bank, Howard Financial Serices, Merrill Lynch and the Bank of Texas. Barone graduated from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in economics and an MBA in finance.
View the complete list of awardees.
5. Morgan Nichols
Private Wealth Advisor & Chief Executive Officer, Nichols Financial Group
Morgan Nichols is a Private Wealth Advisor and Chief Executive Officer for Nichols Financial Group of Ameriprise Financial Services. She is passionate about working with clients to enable them to experience financial confidence today and in retirement. Her areas of focus include retirement planning strategies, investment management, divorce financial planning, women’s financial strategies and estate planning. Nichols has 11 years of experience. She began her career in 2010.
Before joining Ameriprise Financial Services, Nichols was a 529 Hybrid Investment Wholesaler for John Hancock Investments where she focused on helping financial advisors maximize the opportunity with their clients in the 529 college savings space. She graduated from Harvard University with a master’s degree in liberal arts and finance, and from Pepperdine University with an undergraduate degree in international business.
7. Stewart McLauchlan
Private Wealth Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services
Stewart McLauchlan began his professional career 35 years ago. Today, he is the Private Wealth Advisor at Harmony Financial Advisor of Ameriprise Financial Services. Since they were founded by John Tappan in 1894, they at Ameriprise Financial have stayed true to their mission: To help people feel confident about their financial future. During trying economic times their strength, integrity, their breadth of services and personal relationships have made them a longstanding leader in financial planning and advice. Ameriprise is a trusted financial firm that empowers you to enjoy the full and rich life you've earned. Ameriprise Financial is committed to giving back to their communities by supporting organizations whose shared goal is to improve the lives of individuals from all walks of life.
McLauchlan graduated from The University of Texas with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
9. Chris Garcia
Chief Executive Officer and Private Wealth Advisor, Azimont Group
Chris Garcia is the Chief Executive Officer and Private Wealth Advisor of Azimont Group of Ameriprise Financial Advisors. He first joined the firm in 2019. Azimont Group was born out of the desire to find a better way to help clients improve and organize their financial lives into an easy-to-understand format. Their objective is to take all the pieces of a financial plan and put them in place.
Garcia’s primary focuses include tax planning strategies, family finances, business retirement plans, employee stock options, wealth preservation strategies and saving for education. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Texas State University.
11. Robert Berg
Wealth Manager, SVP & Director of Corporate Services, Carter Financial Management
Robert Berg is a Wealth Manager, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Services for Carter Financial Management. Robert joined Carter Financial Management in 1988 after a successful career in executive financial management. The Berg Team includes his son and partner, Joel C. Berg, CFP®. Their practice specializes in serving the needs of corporate executives, business owners and individuals planning for or involved with retirement. Robert spearheads the Carter Corporate Advantage (CCA) program, a service designed to help leading businesses provide a financial planning perk to their key executives. This strategy helps improve workplace benefits packages and enhances businesses’ abilities to attract and retain talented leaders. The perk, provided to employees through CCA, includes guidance on stock-related compensation, personalized wealth preservation and risk management, estate planning and tax planning.
Named by D Magazine as one of “The Best Financial Planners in Dallas” from 2012-2016, Robert holds the advanced credential "Investment Management Consultant", demonstrating his knowledge of planning solutions for high-net-worth individuals. He is a sought-out leader for continuing education workshops on topics including asset allocation and portfolio management, the basics of financial planning and small business planning. Robert earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Northland College.
12. Paul Schaufele
VP & Private Wealth Advisor, Americana Partners
Paul Schaufele is a Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at Americana Partners. Americana Partners is an independent wealth advisory firm working with a select group of families and individuals to help them simplify the management of their substantial wealth. Their clients include patriarchs and matriarchs, executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs, both established and emerging. Americana Partners is a member of the Dynasty Financial Partners network, one of the industry’s pre-eminent advisor platforms. Through Dynasty, they have access to a full array of capital markets and investment banking capabilities, including research, institutional grade technology and analytical tools. Schaufele has 12 years of experience. He began his career in 2010.
Before joining Americana, Schaufele was a Goldman Sachs VP for the Institutional Securities group. Prior to that, he worked as an associate for J.P. Morgan within the Asset-Based Lending group. Schaufele received an undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration from Washington and Lee University.
13. Brian Weatherly
Vice President and Wealth Manager, Ross & Blumenthal
Brian Weatherly of Ross & Blumenthal of Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management, focuses on helping clients with their financial goals within the consumer and wealth management division of Goldman Sachs. Being part of Goldman Sachs Personal Finance Management allows him to work face-to-face with a diverse client base and develop deep relationships with them, along with a comprehensive understanding of their financial lives.
During his professional career, Weatherly has worked with high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, focusing on comprehensive financial planning and investment management. Prior to joining what is now Goldman Sachs Personal Finance Management in 2018, he was a wholesaler for multiple alternative investment firms that focused on real estate, private equity and hedge funds. Weatherly earned his degree in finance, with a concentration in personal financial planning, from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is also a Certified Financial Planner™.
15. Kyle Rainwater
Senior Wealth Advisor, B. Riley Wealth Management
Kyle Rainwater is a Senior Wealth Advisor with B. Riley Wealth Management. He specializes in retirement income planning and investment management for high-net-worth clients. Whether he is working with young bitcoin entrepreneurs or older retirees, Rainwater enjoys assisting clients as they grow their wealth and live their best financial life.
Since graduating college, Rainwater has specialized in various areas of finance for Fortune 500 companies. He transitioned into private wealth management in 2011 where he enjoys helping clients grow their wealth. He earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and his CFP® designation through Southern Methodist University.
View the complete list of awardees.
16. James Maher
Wealth Advisor & Director, MAI Capital Management
James Maher is a Wealth Advisor and Director with 8 years of experience in financial planning, investments, retirement, behavioral investment counseling, estate planning, education funding and insurance. He believes in a personalized approach to wealth planning to address multiple goals and believes in behavioral investment guidance to help clients stay on track to reach their long-term goals.
Maher graduated from Tarleton State University with an undergraduate degree in business administration and an MBA. He also graduated from Texas A&M School of Law with Master’s of Jurisprudence in wealth management. He has served in the United State Air Force since 2002 and is currently in the USAF Reserves stationed at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas.
17. Chris Hudnall
Financial Advisor, Ashford Advisors
Chris Hudnall is a Financial Advisor at Ashford Advisors. Ashford Advisors’ mission is to help families achieve peace of mind and financial clarity. They are a partner to help each of their clients reach their vision for the future. Hudnall entered the financial services industry with a desire to help friends, family, and clients to understand and simplify the complexities around managing their finances. He strives to be a voice of reason for his clients and guides them to achieve financial clarity by helping organize their finances and make sound financial decisions.
Hudnall’s passion for finance began during childhood and led him to win 3rd place across the entire state of Texas in the SIFMA Stock Market game while in high school. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from Texas A&M University and has been in the financial services industry ever since.
19. Ginnie Baker
Partner and Wealth Manager, Beaird Harris
Ginnie Baker joined Beaird Harris Wealth Management as a Financial Planner in December 2015 and became a Partner in 2020. She works with high-net-worth individuals and families and has a niche in the healthcare industry. She helps guide clients through financial decisions, educating them about their investments, insurance, estate plan, employee benefits and retirement plans, and works with clients to coordinate, implement and monitor their financial plans.
Baker is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, licensed investment advisory representative and member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). She currently serves as the chair of the DFW Chapter of FPA. She also serves on the FPA Advisory Council’s Executive Committee. She is active in the Personal Financial Planning Program at Texas Tech and served as the president of the Texas Tech Financial Planning Alumni Association Board in 2019. She has previously served as the chair of the Mentorship Program for the Alumni Association Board and actively participates in Zero Alpha Group’s Women’s Forum. Baker earned a master’s degree in personal financial planning from Texas Tech University and an undergraduate degree in business administration.
21. John Neri
Wealth Management Advisor, Finity Group
John Neri is a Wealth Management Advisor at Finity Group, a privately owned and truly independent financial services firm providing objective, situation specific recommendations to individuals, businesses and the medical community. Neri aligned himself with Finity Group during his junior year at Oregon State University as an intern. After completing his licensure by obtaining the Series 7 & 66 and earning his Life & Health Producers license that summer, he became immersed in Finity’s culture and knew this would be the place to launch his practice.
Neri earned an undergraduate degree in finance at Oregon State University. He has continued his education in the industry by becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and also earning the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies which certifies he has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. Neri is a major proponent of education first when meeting with clients and wants them to understand all angles of a given recommendation to make the best decision for themselves and their families. He makes it a point to give back to the community by educating undergraduates at local universities the basics of financial planning to give them the tools they need to succeed to make sound financial decisions today and later in life.
22. Anne Salick
Financial Advisor & Certified Exit Planning Advisor, Adaptation Financial
Anne Salick is a Financial Advisor and Certified Exit Planning Advisor with Adaptation Financial. She provides professional recommendations and solutions based on clients’ specific needs through a holistic and comprehensive consultation and analysis that is unique to each client.
Salick’s focus is in the small to medium sized business market where she can show business owners how to achieve an expanded vision of their financial future as well as their employees. She helps identify and solve needs and issues such as succession/exit planning, wealth building and retirement, and key employee benefits for recruiting and retention strategies. Salick also helps individuals with protection, estate planning and tax and wealth management through proactively planning for issues such as retirement and investments, tax effects, protection of their lives and incomes, college education funding, and for other life events.
Before joining Adaptation Financial, Salick was a financial planner at Rockgate Financial Partners and before that, a financial advisor at Principal Financial Group. Earlier in her career she worked with Exxon/Mobil Oil Corporation as an information systems project manager for the marketing and refining division. Salick graduated from the University of North Texas with an MBA in finance and with an undergraduate degree in business computer information systems.
24. Josh Hargrove
Financial Advisor, Insight Wealth Partners
Josh Hargrove is a Financial Advisor at Insight Wealth Partners, an independent, fee-only wealth management and advisory firm committed to providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management expertise to enable its clients to achieve their personal financial goals and live out their dreams. Hargrove brings a passion for serving families, providing guidance, and a teacher's heart in every meeting, whether it's with existing or prospective clients. It is his belief that everyone has the ability and responsibility to maximize the positive impact of their wealth, and his dream is to help clients effectively achieve that impact through sound financial planning. Hargrove has 16 years of experience. He began his career in 2006.
Before joining Insight Wealth Partners, Hargrove was a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual. He graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in recreation, park, and tourism sciences.
25. Michael Cochran
Wealth Advisor, BentOak Capital
Michael Cochran is a Wealth Advisor with BentOak Capital. He first joined the firm in 2021. BentOak Capital has been offering wealth management services since 1994, spanning decades and generations. Both then and now, relationships have been at the core of what they do. They’re local community members, but they’re also nationally recognized professionals. They will work hard to fully understand objectives and financial backgrounds, so they can craft an individualized financial plan that accounts for specific wishes and worries. Cochran is an accomplished financial planning professional with CFP® certification and more than 14 years of comprehensive investment and financial services experience.
Previously, Cochran was a private client advisor at Charles Schwab and before that a portfolio manager at Frost Wealth Advisors. Earlier in his career he worked with Kanaly Trust Company as an associate financial planner and investment specialist. Cochran earned an MBA in finance from Texas Christian University and an undergraduate degree in financial planning from Texas Tech University.
View the complete list of awardees.
26. Braden Schaffner
Financial Advisor, Fluent Financial
Braden Schaffner is a Financial Advisor at Fluent Financial. He first joined the firm in April 2021. Within his role, Schaffner is responsible for meeting with clients for their portfolio reviews, day-to-day financial transactions, and preparing comprehensive financial plans for his clients. With over 10 years in the investment industry, he holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses with Private Client Services.
Prior to joining Fluent Financial, Schaffner was an EVP and financial advisor for a private wealth management firm in Midland, Texas where he was responsible for client relations, market research, investment strategy execution, and account management. He serves on the Strategic Committee for the Business Advisory Council at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with an undergraduate degree in finance.
28. Brad McConkey
Wealth Advisor, Frontier Investment Management Company
Brad McConkey is a Wealth Advisor at Frontier Investment Management Company. Founded in 1994, Frontier Investment Management Company provides a deeply resourced suite of wealth management solutions. Headquartered in Dallas, they manage assets for individuals, families and institutions. They partner with their clients to maintain, manage and maximize their wealth. Utilizing a goal-based process, they work with clients to address complex estate, financial planning and investment management challenges.
McConkey joined the firm in 2013 after serving as relationship manager at Fidelity Investments where he was the primary point of contact for a group of high network clients for 14 years. He received his undergraduate degree in business administration in finance from Eastern New Mexico University and earned his Certified Financial Planner™ title, as well as his Series 65.
30. Melissa Kirtley
Private Wealth Advisor, Bank of Texas
Melissa Kirtley began her professional career 32 years ago. Today, she is a Private Wealth Advisor with the Bank of Texas. At Bank of Texas, their clients enjoy the advantages of banking locally with a community partner but also experience the breadth of products, resources and expertise only a regional powerhouse can offer. Kirtley serves as a consultant and advisor for delivering a broad array of financial services including managed investments, brokerage, trust and estate planning as well as traditional banking services to high-net-worth individuals, families and businesses.
Kirtley first got her start in 1999 as a private client manager at Bank of America. She graduated from Hollins University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
31. Mark Miller
Financial Advisor, North Star Resource Group
Mark Miller is a Financial Advisor at North Star Resource Group. He has a client-centered, independent practice working exclusively with physicians and dentists across the country. He believes in developing lifelong relationships with his clients helping them build and protect wealth on their way to financial independence. Miller accomplishes this with honesty, trust and open two-way communication. He has been distinguished among a select group of financial advisors worldwide by the Million Dollar Round Table.
Miller elects to work with medical professionals specifically because he feels they’re in alignment with his values: strong work ethic, goal-driven, and a desire to help others. It is his priority to help his clients efficiently pursue their financial and business goals so they can focus on what they do best; the betterment of public health. Miller has spent his entire career helping clients overcome the obstacles that are specific to medical professionals as they try to reach financial independence, whether that is done through starting a practice, joining a partnership, independent contracting, or an academic practice. Miller has co-authored The Physician’s Guide to Financial Independence. His main office is located out of Dallas, Texas but because of his work with numerous teaching hospitals he has clients located across the country. He graduated from Baylor University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
34. Ric Kellogg
Vice President of Financial Advisor, Hilltop Securities
Ric Kellogg is a Vice President and Financial Advisor of Hilltop Securities. He first joined the firm in 2019. Since 1946, HilltopSecurities has helped advance the financial opportunities of individuals and families across the country. Their work impacts what matters most - families, the legacy they’ve built, and the savings that sustain them. As an advisor, Kellogg focuses on cultivating long-term relationships built on trust by working alongside his clients to gain a deep understanding of financial goals, and by building a plan to help pursue them.
Previously, Kellogg was a wealth management advisor at IHT Wealth Management and before that a wealth management advisor and senior resident director at Merrill Lynch. Earlier in his career he worked with Equitable as a regional VP. Kellogg earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Texas Tech University.
36. Dave Dick
Financial Advisor and Managing Partner, Kuttin Wealth Management
Dave Dick is the Financial Advisor and Managing Partner at Kuttin Wealth Management of Ameriprise Financial Services. He first joined the firm in 2007 as field VP. Kuttin Wealth Management was founded in 1994 and since then has grown to over 60 team members with offices across the country. Their purpose is to help employees and clients attain happiness and become better human beings. They have built a proven model for success in their home office and now are replicating that framework in beachheads across the nation. Dick leads the Texas operations and works with the executive team to onboard new advisors and implement their leadership development programs. He earned an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from Regis University.
40. Madison Broyles
Private Wealth Advisor, Americana
Madison Broyles is a Private Wealth Advisor with Americana Partners. Madison focuses on the disciplines of financial planning, private and public investments, insurance solutions, divorce planning and wealth-transfer solutions. Before joining Americana Partners, Madison led a team of investment analysts and operation specialists in designing and implementing customized wealth management strategies for female executives, wealthy families, and business owners. Prior to that role, Madison began her career at Merrill Lynch where she won two Global Recognition Awards for her relentless dedication and commitment to her clients. Madison is also a licensed Insurance Specialist.
As an active board member for various charities, Madison spends her free time volunteering as a Regional Council Member for Make-A-Wish North Texas, cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks, and giving back to the Dallas community.
45. Allen Ferguson
Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor, Beacon Pointe
Allen Ferguson is a Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor with Beacon Pointe. In June 2022, Benchmark Private Wealth Management partnered with Beacon Pointe Advisors. Beacon Pointe Advisors is a registered investment advisory firm that takes a comprehensive approach to helping endowments and foundations, retirement-sponsored plans, and high-net-worth individuals and families set and meet their financial goals. They focus on full service financial planning and research driven investments, and they partner with clients to help them make the most informed decisions possible on any issues related to their wealth.
Whether it is preparing for retirement or investing for the next generation, Ferguson has experience in helping clients meet their goals through well thought-out and efficient strategies that maximize returns on their capital. His approach is to identify client needs while working closely with them so goals can be aligned as a team. The key to his success is building long lasting relationships based on trust, transparency and responsiveness. Ferguson earned a MBA in finance from Baylor University of Hankamer School of Business and an undergraduate degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
48. Charlotte Hillegas
Financial Advisor, First Command Financial Services
Charlotte Hillegas is the Financial Advisor at First Command Financial Services. She first joined the firm in 2001. Understanding that the single most powerful contributor to financial well-being is behavior, Hillegas works closely with her clients to develop personalized financial plans that reflect their values, address their priorities and support their goals. Each plan includes recommendations for specific financial products and services to support those goals. Through ongoing planning to address changes in one's financial and personal circumstances, Hillegas is ready to assist clients as they pursue their goals through a lifetime financial journey. Charlotte's experience in the field of sports therapy has helped her to understand the challenges that act as barriers to personal success in all aspects of life. She applies these training principles to supporting her clients toward productive, lifelong financial habits.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with an undergraduate degree in exercise science, Hillegas holds Series 6, 63, 65 and 7 securities licenses plus state life, health and property-and-casualty insurance licenses. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association.
View the complete list of awardees.
