Resource Advisory Services, Inc. Knoxville, Tennessee Financial Services.

When drafting text to describe the firm I want Resource Advisory Services to be, I began with these words:

“I want Resource Advisory Services to be known as a place where clients can trust us with every detail of their personal financial affairs, not only because of our high level of ethical integrity, but also because of our ability to understand their personal and financial needs, and arrange for efficient and effective services that will help them enjoy their wealth.”

These words link the importance of knowledge, experience and skill with our fundamental commitment to the fiduciary standard we choose to uphold. We sincerely believe that many working in financial services do not meet the fiduciary standard primarily because they do not have education and experience to discern whether they are acting in the best interest of their clients – not because they set out to breach this important standard. There is more to money than money.®

It is important to understand that commitment to continuing education and other relevant experience is important to being a fiduciary. Our financial world is complex and all the parts work together. If we do not maintain and build our abilities, we might expose our clients to imprudent risks. The ability to fully understand another person’s situation is fundamental to placing their interests ahead of our own. The way to develop these skills is commitment to studying diverse sources of learning.

After a Banking Degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Finance Department (1970), I worked for a bank in New Tazewell, Tennessee. In those nine years, I attended banking schools where I was among the youngest, representing one of the smallest banks. I completed the University of Tennessee Executive Development Program shortly before working on my Masters of Business Administration (1982). After banking and financial planning related jobs, I formed Resource Advisory Services in 1985 in order to practice the profession as a fiduciary using the Fee-Only compensation model. We do not want compensation from someone other than our clients to influence our recommendations.

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors was formed, around this time, giving me inspiration for my current career. I joined NAPFA in 1986. My first NAPFA meeting, in Nashville, had only fifteen people. It was the Friday and Saturday after a Monday that became known as “The Crash of 1987.” We spent the study time discussing a set of hypothetical client data. We spent the “off time” discussing our fledgling practices and wondering about the significance of “The Crash” for us and our few clients. From those humble beginnings, NAPFA has created the most demanding continuing education requirements in the financial planning profession.

Bryan joined Resource Advisory Services on July 21, 2004, a year after receiving his Finance Degree from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. We chose Kaplan University’s program for his Certified Financial Planner™ preparation because of its depth in educational offerings. He passed the CFP® comprehensive exam in July 2006 and received that certification after demonstrating three years of relevant work experience. Independent peer review of significant client work elevated Bryan’s credentials to the primary designation for National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. That is NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor (July 2007). Maintaining this credential requires Bryan to support the NAPFA Fiduciary Oath and maintain the most rigorous continuing education requirements of the financial planning profession. He is a Knoxville native.

Christie lived in Mississippi until her family was transferred to Knoxville in the early 60’s. They eventually moved to Johnson City, TN where she spent most of the next 31 years working as an administrative assistant and office manager for non-profit organizations. Thirteen of those years she worked for the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church Foundation. In 1999 she returned to Knoxville and worked as office manager for Knoxville Christian Community Foundation. Her primary job with both foundations was working with donors who gave generously to a variety of causes. This experience gives her a unique understanding for facilitating client services. She joined Resource Advisory Services in the spring of 2004.