Howard Varnedoe

I’ve always been fascinated by money, but I never planned on working in finance. Fresh out of college I moved to Columbus, Ohio to live with my wife while she finished up grad school. I needed a job, and I stumbled my way into a role at Morgan Stanley by responding to a sketchy Craigslist ad. I was about 70% certain it was a scam. Luckily it wasn’t, and I got the job! It was a great learning experience, and I got my feet wet while learning the industry fundamentals there. After a few years though my dad recruited me to return to my hometown in Charlotte, NC to help run the family business in the natural gas industry. I loved working with family, but ultimately decided my heart wasn’t in it. Discussing thread counts on screws and the viscosity of silicone didn’t get my intellectual juices flowing. Meanwhile I was spending countless hours of my free time researching personal finance and finally had the realization “why don’t I make a career out of this?” So I made the difficult decision (sorry, dad) to transition back into finance with a job at Vanguard. I was right. This was finally scratching that intellectual itch. But I wanted to make a more personal impact on people’s lives, and I couldn’t accomplish that as a tiny cog in a giant machine. So I took jobs at a few smaller firms where I was able to develop personal relationships with clients, get their finances on track, and help them accomplish their goals. Now this was my jam! During my time there I worked with clients in tech and realized how much complexity there was in managing their finances. Managing their company equity was complicated! Managing their stock options was extra complicated! But I loved the complexity, I loved the people, and I loved the look on their face when it all finally came together. Soon though, I began to get the entrepreneurial itch (thanks, dad) to start my own firm. I knew exactly who I wanted to work with – tech professionals. I saw first hand the impact I could have in their lives. That was my inspiration for founding Tech Financial Planning. Now I get to put it all together: intellectual fulfillment, meaningful relationships, and personal impact, all while working with awesome folk in tech solving their complex problems. Now that’s what I call a dream job! As for a bit about my personal life, in 2022 I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary with my amazing wife, Allie. We met in high school and survived a 4-year long distance relationship during college while she attended school in Ohio and I attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. We have two amazing kids, Elliot and Reya, and an adorable, yet clingy Australian Shepherd named Cassie. I value experiences over things, so my wife and I love traveling domestically and internationally to explore new places and cultures. I’m also a firm believer that you don’t need to spend money to have fun, so I’m always exploring my current hometown, Nashville, for fun, free activities. I love board games, I’m an avid podcast listener, and I’m always on the lookout for a great show to binge.

Joel Busboom is a financial advisor at Joel Busboom Financial, LLC in Franklin, TN, with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Raymond James & Associates and Southport Capital. Outside of advising, he serves as a small group leader in the Army Reserves and owns The Inspired Workplace, a consulting and financial education business. Joel Busboom Financial provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and develops personalized investment policies, managing most accounts on a non-discretionary basis while also offering educational seminars and access to third-party managers.

Peter Shea is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Quantitative Solutions, LLC and has held roles at NAI Nashville and Northwestern Mutual since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in commercial real estate brokerage, marketing properties to investors in Brentwood, TN. Quantitative Solutions, LLC provides financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small pension and profit-sharing plans, managing approximately $11.45 million on a non-discretionary basis. The firm uses asset-allocation modeling and investment-analysis software to develop investment plans, primarily implementing portfolios with mutual funds and tax-free, fee-only variable annuities, while also offering access to automated wrap-fee programs through third-party platforms.

Blair Garner is a CFP®, CFA®, and holds a Series 65 license with 13 years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Garner Financial Management since 2012. The firm is a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Franklin, TN, serving individuals and business entities, including high-net-worth clients. Garner Financial Management provides personalized portfolio management, retirement rollover guidance, and consulting services on both a flat-fee and hourly basis. The firm uses a blend of fundamental and technical analysis along with long- and short-term trading strategies, managing accounts on discretionary and non-discretionary bases while maintaining a small client roster and a $500,000 new-account minimum.

Kurt Stabel is a financial advisor at Andorra Investment Management, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. In addition to his advisory role, he has served as a sworn firefighter for the City of Los Angeles since 2003. Andorra Investment Management provides personalized, fee-only investment management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, foundations, endowments, pension and profit-sharing plans, and small businesses. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation framework combining passive index/ETF cores with actively managed funds and select individual securities, managing a relatively small client roster with a strict fee-only model.

Philip Watson is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He has operated Philip M. Watson Financial Advisors in Franklin, TN since 2001. The firm serves middle-income individuals and families by providing holistic financial planning and investment advisory services focused on tax, estate, retirement, risk management, and small business needs. Philip M. Watson Financial Advisors operates as a fee-only independent firm that does not sell insurance or accept commissions on product recommendations.