Brandon Courson

Phillip Hulme, grew up believing there was a better way. Money was tight, his parents worked long hours and yet there never seemed to be enough to escape the grind. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. As fortune would have it, Phillip had a mentor in the Army who spotted his curiosity for finance and guided him to read and learn more. It lit a fire inside of Phillip and he has never looked back. After serving in the U.S. Army for over 7 years as a special operations signal soldier, Phillip sharpened his passion for finance and his strategic mindset by earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and an MBA with concentrations in both Finance and Strategy. Phillip went to work in corporate America earning, saving and investing all along. After he achieved financial independence at the age of 34, he decided to follow his calling by sharing his learnings with the people who have given us all so much, the Veterans of this great country.

As a life-long learner with great curiosity, I've seen a lot over the years and learned what works and what doesn’t. My experience led me to join a long-time friend to build a firm that is mission-driven…not profit-driven. A prior mentor would often say, “Always do what’s right, and everything else will work itself out.” That stuck with me and it still (along with my faith) guides me today. Now, we're working to redefine wealth management. We help families and individuals gain clarity and empower them to live their best life. Ultimately, life isn't about the money...it's about the journey, the memories you create, and the legacy you leave behind. Everyone deserves to live their best life! Sampling of how we help families and individuals (we do much more): - Clarify what's important (life goals, decisions, priorities, etc.) - Build for retirement (using 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, etc.) - How to tax efficiently produce income in retirement - Invest wisely using low cost, tax-efficient funds - Coordinate with CPA on tax saving ideas and opportunities - Coordinate with attorney on estate planning - Integrate charitable planning with the investments and tax planning - Protect your assets and income through insurance planning (note: we don't sell insurance) - Fund current or future education for children/grandchildren - Review company benefits during open enrollment I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional. I'm also a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute and hold the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation, completing the program administered by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I also received training at the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, which has given me the tools to have much more meaningful conversations about life goals with the families I serve. I am a 2018 graduate of the Catholic Charities Atlanta Leadership program and a 2019 graduate of the Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute, led by the three Balser Professional Advisors Council partnership organizations: the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. In my personal time, I enjoy being with my kids, dating my wife, working our farm, dabbling in woodworking, hiking, learning new things, and singing in my church choir. Favorite quote: "When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier." - Roy E. Disney What is a problem in the industry that you want to fix? How firms view their clients as "numbers". Some firms refer to their client as "A, B, or C" clients while others reference the portfolio size (a "$5 million client" as an example). I want the industry to stop putting dollar signs above clients' heads. A client is a "who" not a "what". Advisors should be here to serve people, and our industry (and clients) will thrive once we embrace life-centered planning over asset-centered planning. What are the values that drive you? I value faith, integrity, family, and service. To learn more, visit: https://journeybeyondwealth.com/the-jbw-difference/who-we-are

Desmond Blue is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill, specializing in serving business owners, athletes, and families. He holds multiple professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA), among others. Desmond focuses on areas such as business exits, liquidity events, complex wealth transitions, tax-smart strategies, retirement planning, and legacy planning. Desmond earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lee University and an MBA from Liberty University. His professional experience is informed by an eight-year career as a financial advisor and his prior experience as a professional basketball player across five continents. He partners with clients to design strategies for investing, wealth transfer, and managing new wealth. Residing in Canton, Georgia with his wife Jill, Desmond is involved in community organizations including City of Refuge and City Takers. Outside of his professional role, he enjoys playing drums and spending time with his family.

Vincent Rogers is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies. Since joining Merrill in 2007, he has built his practice around collaborating closely with affluent families, individual clients, and business owners to develop customized financial plans that align with their long-term goals. His approach emphasizes quantifiable objectives and hands-on guidance to support informed investment decisions, utilizing the full range of Merrill’s financial resources. Mr. Rogers has been active in the financial services industry since 1997 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Kennesaw State University. He also holds the professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His areas of focus include college education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, tax minimization, retirement income, and strategies for small businesses, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Outside of his professional work, Vincent participates in community efforts through his involvement with Cure HHT. He resides in Dallas, Georgia, and his personal interests include baseball, boating, fishing, football, gardening, golfing, music, softball, and volleyball.

Mitchell Boehm is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings a diverse background to his practice, drawing on experience as a former corporate executive at a Fortune 50 company and as a small business owner in industries ranging from technology to consumer products. Mitchell focuses on providing personalized wealth management strategies that help clients pursue their long-term financial goals. Mitchell holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Business from the University of Tulsa. He began his financial advising career with Edward Jones before transitioning his practice to Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He maintains FINRA Series 7 and Series 6 registrations and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His client focus areas include personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and helping widowed or divorced women manage their financial futures. Outside of his professional life, Mitchell is married to a CPA and has three children. He is committed to ongoing learning and community involvement, volunteering with local organizations. His personal interests include baseball, chess, cooking, football, golf, table tennis, tennis, and spending time with his family.