Gardner Sherrill

I didn’t set out to be a financial planner—I set out to be a portfolio manager.

With an MBA in hand, a CFA in progress, and a career in private and trust banking, I thought my path was set. I loved the challenge of investing, but I quickly realized I was more drawn to working with people than just managing numbers. When my grandmother passed away in 1997, it was a turning point. She had reputable advisors, but no one was looking at her full picture. Her estate ended up paying unnecessary taxes, and her portfolio was concentrated in just a handful of stocks, which left her exposed to risk. That experience opened my eyes to how much can slip through the cracks when financial advice is siloed. I shifted my career, earned my CFP, and dedicated myself to taking a more holistic approach to wealth management. Over time, I saw another gap emerge: private banks kept raising their minimums, leaving many families with $1–5 million in assets without the level of service they deserved. These were hardworking, disciplined families—people who had done well but still needed thoughtful planning to protect what they’d built. In 2012, I started my own firm to fill that gap. My mission is simple: to give retirees and their families clarity and confidence by ensuring all the pieces of their financial lives—investments, estate planning, taxes, and retirement income—work together. When money is clear and coordinated, families stop worrying about what might slip through the cracks—and start enjoying the retirement they’ve worked so hard for.