Founding Partners

Mark is an independent financial advisor and Accredited Investment Fiduciary,^® (AIF,^®). He focuses primarily on retirement, estate, and investment planning. Mark takes great care in helping clients develop a plan tailored to their needs by simplifying the process, allowing them to make well-founded, intelligent, and confident financial decisions.

Mark received a BS in economics with a concentration in finance from the University of Georgia. He began his financial services career in 1986 and brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to individuals, families, and business owners seeking customized strategies as they prepare for or live in retirement.

Before establishing Highland Trust Partners, an independent financial planning and wealth management firm in 2015, he managed a successful financial services practice at Wells Fargo Advisors for two decades and was a member of the Wells Fargo Advisors Premier Advisor Program which is based on performance and production criteria, and reflects a superior level of professional achievement.* Mark joined Wachovia Securities, the Wells Fargo Advisors predecessor firm in 1993. Previously, Mark was a financial advisor and branch administrative officer with a regional investment company in Atlanta.

Mark is a sought-after speaker on a broad range of financial topics, including personal investment planning, and he’s had articles published in the Athens Banner-Herald. Mark serves on the Advisory Board of Integrated Financial Group, which is listed as one of the Top 25 Financial Planning Firms in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2015 (based on assets under management). He’s a past member of the finance committee at Athens First Methodist Church and the Parent’s Advisory Committee for Prince Avenue Christian School. He also teaches Partners Sunday School class and previously served as president. Mark also serves as President of the Board of Trustees for Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Georgia. He served on the Advisory Board of the UGA College of Family Financial Planning & Gardner Webb University College of Financial Planning. He is a former member of the University Greek Housing Steering Committee and the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).

Mark enjoys spending time with his wife, Frances, and their seven children as well as attending college athletics, playing an occasional round of golf, and hunting with his friends.

*The Premier Advisor distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors who meet or exceed Wells Fargo Advisors’ high standards as measured by one or more of the firm’s criteria for revenue generation, educational attainment, and client-service best practices.

Chris is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC conferred by InFRE®), Accredited Estate Planner ®, Chartered Special Needs Consultant ®, and a founding partner of Highland Trust Partners. Chris seeks to help families reduce financial stress by organizing their finances and developing strategies aligned with their goals and values. He helps businesses design retirement plans that are noticed and appreciated by employees with the goal of helping workers retire on time with the assets they require for retirement. 

Based on experience, Chris knows that financial independence is the number one goal most people have for their lives in retirement. His clients rely on him to help them identify and overcome challenges along the path to retirement, anticipating and seeking to avoid obstacles that could come between them and their goals. 

Chris received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. He began his financial services career in 1996 and has experience in trusts, investments, insurance, and banking. Chris has concentrated his efforts over the years on enhancing his financial knowledge to assist clients by earning four accredited professional designations, which combined require more than 30 hours of continuing education each year. 

Chris has been an adjunct professor at Piedmont College, teaching several business courses and occasionally lectures to classes at the University of Georgia. He has served as a board member for St. Mary’s Hospital, Highland Hills Retirement Village, Athens Rotary Club, Athens Rotary Foundation, Food Bank of NEGA, Athens-Clarke Library, and Piedmont College.  Chris is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Northeast Georgia and the National Association of Financial Planners. 

Chris and his wife, Heather, were married in 1999 and have two children, Seth and Natalie.  In spare time, Chris enjoys travel, running, hiking, golf, reading, and of course the Georgia Bulldawgs.