facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast phone blog external search brokercheck brokercheck Play Pause

For over 25 years, we’ve been working hand-in-hand with people just like you; people who have worked hard to save up a nest egg and are looking for advice on how to grow and preserve it. We started off providing retirement planning and guidance to employees and executives in the utilities industry, and that is still one of our greatest strengths.  With the addition of more team members, we broadened our services and expertise to include veterans, pilots, healthcare professionals, and business owners. 

If we look like the right team to become your financial partner, taking the first step is very easy.  Contact us through our website or give us a call at 678-932-2500. 



See How We Help

doctor sitting at computer

One of our clients was planning on retiring at the end of 2020 after a long and successful career as a radiologist. Now, after living through Covid-19, would that be possible? Didn’t the market drop 35% in a very short period of time and haven’t we been through one of the worst recessions in our country’s history?

Thankfully, he went into the Covid-19 crisis with a plan that had a very strong probability of success despite market volatility. 


We recently met with him and demonstrated with our financial planning tools that he is still on track to retire – a huge relief to him and his wife. Now, what do we want to do in retirement, they ask?

doctor sitting at computer

Meet Our Team

We're with you every step of the way to keep you financially on-track with your goal — including the evolution of career, family, community, and life. To begin planning for a more confident and rewarding future, contact us today.

Learn More

Why Us

Bringing a Personal Touch to Each Financial Relationship

With the Signature Wealth Management Group, you have a partner and ally qualified to help strengthen your financial future. Yet your relationship with us is about much more than investing money. It’s about sharing your aspirations and building a relationship with your financial advisor. After completing a detailed financial plan, we will introduce you to one of the Signature Investment Management Strategies – a blend of financial instruments designed to match up with your investment attitudes and your own individual income or growth goals. Before you engage in an investment relationship with us, we will fully explain these three things: how it works, the risks involved and the costs of our services. We will keep your financial plan simple and help you clearly understand your investment choices. Our approach to planning isn’t based on financial transactions; it’s based on a personal commitment. It’s about honoring our relationship with you and being fully invested in your success. It’s about being with you every step of the way – through every life event, every stage of the investment planning process, every triumph and every challenge.

Our Clients

Wealth Management Personalized to You

You’ll always find the members of Signature Wealth Management Group to be friendly, approachable and easy to work with. Our structure combines the responsiveness of a smaller investment and advisory firm with the leadership and resources of a financial services industry leader – truly the best of both worlds.

powerlines along road

For over 20 years, our practice has been guiding members of utility companies throughout the Southeast to and through their retirement. We know you, we understand you, we ‘get’ you. So whether you are an executive in Pensacola, a foreman in Clayton, or a mechanic in Valdosta, chances are we are already working with someone you know. We are able to use our insight and experience with your benefits plan, along with our in-depth research of your company stock to help you make intelligent decisions that will balance risk while achieving results. If you would like to take advantage of our process that has been utilized by many of your peers, please contact us below.

Contact Us Today
powerlines along road

Because several members of our team have served in the military and Scott is a former Air Force and airline pilot, we understand the military and the airline community very well.  We know the issues you face on a day to day basis and can provide clarity on your benefits and retirement options. Our financial planning tools help you clearly define where you are and how to navigate towards your retirement goals. If you would like to take advantage of our expertise and processes that have helped many of your peers, please contact us below.

Contact Us Today
powerlines along road

We recognize that every family has a unique situation with unique challenges. Thus, we first seek to understand you and the challenges that face your family. We acknowledge that a solution is not a solution unless the problem is understood first. Whether your family is saving for retirement, seeking retirement income, or passing wealth to future generations, we offer distinct solutions tailored to your needs and goals.

Each of our advisors are accredited Financial Planners with years of experience and we offer our expertise to help your family achieve your financial goals. If you would like to take advantage of our process that has already brought peace of mind to many families, please reach out to us. We can help.

Contact Us Today
powerlines along road

We understand the challenges of running a business as we too must run our own. Through careful planning, preparation, and execution, we have developed a series of portfolios that can help you, the business professional, accumulate wealth while saving for retirement. Furthermore, our team has the proficiency to provide financial solutions tailored to your needs.

Whether you need help with financial planning, investment management, 401-k set up, or establishing a trust, we have the solutions you need to achieve your financial goals.

Contact Us Today
powerlines along road

If you are a physician or medical professional, then you are well acquainted with the stresses, challenges, and rewards of working in a fast paced environment. You don’t need the added pressures of navigating retirement. Our extensive expertise combined with careful planning have provided hundreds of clients with the confidence that their hard work will pay off in a rewarding retirement.

Our numerous tools, plans, and portfolios can be tailor made to fit your goals and risk tolerance so that you can enjoy peace of mind. If you would like to take advantage of our process that has already benefited so many, please contact us below.

Contact Us Today
powerlines along road

As a young professional, you are navigating a complex, yet exciting time in your life. Whether this means beginning to save for retirement, welcoming a family, buying a home, or something else entirely, our team understands the many financial planning decisions that you must make along your journey. Through our comprehensive financial planning process, we will review your current financial situation to see if you are on track in reaching your goals and assist you with finding solutions to any gaps in your plan.

Additionally, we have partnered with Schwab Intelligent Portfolios to develop a program, Ingenious, for clients to start investing with as little as $5,000. If you would like to take advantage of our financial planning process or Ingenious platform so that you can start working towards retirement while remedying the current financial difficulties you may face, please contact us below.

Contact Us Today Learn More about Ingenious

Team

Our Signature WMG Team

The Signature Wealth Management Group was formed in 2008 following several years of combined experience at one of the nation’s largest investment companies. The goal of the team’s members is to provide independent and objective advice to their clients in partnership with a firm that brings a conservative and client-centered approach to investing.

Donna Williams Photo

Donna Williams

Director, Client Service
Read Bio
Donna Williams headshot

Donna Williams

Director, Client Service


Donna Williams is a member of a dynamic team of professionals and is passionate about helping clients achieve their financial goals. As Executive Administrative Assistant, Donna is dedicated to building personal and professional relationships with clients, while supporting the needs of the financial advisors. Responsible for administrative oversight and handling of client inquiries, her energy and depth of knowledge result in a first-class experience for clients.

With nearly 29 years of professional experience focused on client service, Donna’s solid background enables her to provide a seasoned perspective to her team and clients. Donna was honored to be among a select group of teams chosen to complete the Registered Sales Associates Training and Development Program, a year-long mentoring and leadership program which provides additional tools and training to enhance her skills as a resource to the team and clients. Donna is an outgoing person with a positive outlook in her professional and personal life. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, sewing, and gardening.

Scott Bishop CFP®  Photo

Scott Bishop CFP®

Managing Partner
Read Bio

Scott Bishop

Managing Partner


Scott Bishop is a financial advisor providing investment and financial planning solutions for business professionals, military members, medical professionals, and airline pilots. Employing unique tools and processes for working with those preparing for retirement, Scott helps his clients realize their financial dreams and pass along a strong legacy to their families. Scott has been helping clients reach their financial goals since becoming an advisor in 2008. He started his career with Merrill Lynch and Cetera Advisors, prior to joining Signature Wealth Management Group in 2013. A graduate of Auburn University, he earned his MBA with a finance concentration and his undergraduate degree in Aviation Management.

Scott has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) designation which provides him with the knowledge and tools necessary to develop specific strategies to minimize taxes, protect assets, maximize growth and transfer wealth. He is also an Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ (AAMS), a designation signifying a high level of consulting expertise with investments, insurance, tax, retirement, and estate planning issues.  A former officer and pilot in the Air National Guard, Scott amassed over 500 combat hours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Unified Protector. He proudly served in the military for 24 years and retired from the Georgia Air National Guard in 2018. Scott enjoys spending time with his family, particularly watching his son play baseball and his daughter run cross country. For fun and relaxation, he loves boating and spending time outdoors.


James Sims CFP®  Photo

James Sims CFP®

Managing Partner
Read Bio
Scott Bishop headshot

James Sims

Managing Partner


With more than 25 years of experience as a financial advisor, Jim serves a diverse group of individuals wanting to partner with a trusted professional who can be a good steward of their life savings. Jim was a founding partner of SWMG in 2017, after spending 14 years as an advisor with Merrill Lynch and another 8 years at Raymond James. Creating an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm which upholds the fiduciary standard has been the culmination of his life’s work.

It is a testament to Jim’s dedication, expertise and commitment to investment and financial planning that he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) practitioner. He also has the benefit of 10 years of experience teaching the CFP® Investments block of instruction at several noteworthy universities.  Jim graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MBA in International Business and from Wake Forest University with his B.A. in Business and German. Jim is proud of his service in the U.S. Army as an Air Defense and Intelligence Officer. He is an active member of Kennesaw UMC, serving as a former chairman of the finance committee and also as a coordinator of the acolyte program. Jim and his wife, Jan, enjoy life as empty nesters as their daughter Caroline is exploring life as a student at Berry College. When he is not with clients, James enjoys playing the fiddle and fly fishing.


Curt Mangold CFP® Photo

Curt Mangold CFP®

Partner
Read Bio
Scott Bishop headshot

Curt Mangold

Partner

Drawing upon nearly two decades of experience as a Financial Advisor, Curt focuses upon helping families progress towards their life goals by offering comprehensive financial planning, unbiased guidance, and prudent investment solutions.

Over his career, he gained valuable professional experience while affiliated with Raymond James, and employed at Merrill Lynch and Citigroup/Smith Barney. In 2003, he achieved the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional designation after attending Oglethorpe University’s advanced 18-month Financial Planner Program. He continued his professional development at the College for Financial Planning and was awarded the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation in 2004.

After the 2008 financial crisis, Curt recognized that there was an “advice void” as it pertained to making college more affordable for families – Financial Advisors, Accountants, and Guidance Counselors only provide a small degree of assistance in this area. As such, Curt began to specialize in college planning and routinely speaks to parents who find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity and expense associated with this ‘late-stage college planning’ for their high school students.

A native of Atlanta and proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Curt and his family reside in the Johns Creek area. He has been happily married to his lovely wife Dianne since 1997 and is blessed with two sons.

Curt formerly played and coached competitive volleyball and currently maintains an active lifestyle. Away from the business, he enjoys playing golf & tennis, and is an avid outdoorsman.


Brian Ransom CFA®, MBA, MS  Photo

Brian Ransom CFA®, MBA, MS

Research Director
Read Bio
Brian Ransom headshot

Brian Ransom

Research Director


Hailing from small-town, Kansas from a humble background, Brian relies on his do-it-yourself and blue-collar upbringing to devote himself to his work. With his strong scientific and analytical background combined with a willingness to get his hands dirty, Brian employs a streamlined process for evaluating the multitude of equity and fixed income products offered in the marketplace. He develops and maintains the investment models for the Signature Wealth Management Group, utilizing his experiences in equity analysis, cash flow analysis, and accounting. He then works with our Advisors to build flexible portfolios that are tailored to each client’s income and growth expectations along with their time horizon, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.

Brian holds three degrees: Master of Business Administration with a finance focus from the University of Georgia, Master of Science in genetics from Kansas State University, and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Kansas State University. Brian is enjoying his relocation to Georgia and has settled down in Athens, GA. He is an avid rower and was previously a coach of the Lake Lanier Rowing Club. He is also a sports enthusiast, movie buff, and devoted Georgia Bulldawg.


Denise Green Photo

Denise Green

Client Service & Planning Associate
Read Bio
Denise Green headshot

Denise Green

Client Service & Planning Associate


Denise Green serves clients by building professional and personal relationships, providing strong client service, and helping them realize financial well-being. Denise Green is an outgoing person who is quick to solve problems, answer questions, provide solutions, and proactively communicate important information to clients. She has cultivated a strong understanding of client needs and possesses a breadth of knowledge that result in a first-class experience for clients. Denise believes clients appreciate her attention to detail and follow-up skills as well as her ability to listen to each client’s concerns and find a best solution for all.

With more than 32 years of experience in the financial services industry, she has served various operational, sales, and client service-oriented roles during her career. Denise’s strong and diverse background enables her to provide a seasoned perspective and effective client service. Denise earned an Associate of Arts in Accounting from Hammel College. In her spare time, Denise enjoys reading, sewing, hiking, camping, and reviewing fashion trends. Movies from the 50’s era are her favorites.

Tanya Scheder Photo

Tanya Scheder

Client Service Associate
Read Bio
Scott Bishop headshot

Tanya Scheder

Client Service Associate


Tanya summons over two decades of experience as a trusted Administrative Assistant managing business operations and personnel.  She delivers strong leadership and a solid work ethic, focused decision-making, exceptional customer service, and maximizes team performances through positive motivation.

A native Californian, she has called Georgia home since 1986. A graduate of Berry College in Rome, GA, where she met her husband, Ken…who also happens to be a native Californian.  They have been happily married for 25 years and reside in the Cumming area.

Outside the office, Tanya is the constant coordinator for her family and friends.  If she is not organizing outings, you will find her digging through cookbooks, or working on an art or home project.  A cheerleader at heart, she loves watching sports, but leaves the playing up to her husband.


Brian Walker IACCP® Photo

Brian Walker IACCP®

Chief Compliance Officer
Read Bio
Brian Walker headshot

Brian Walker

Chief Compliance Officer


Brian joined Signature Wealth Management in 2017 and became CCO in 2018 after obtaining the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional designation. He oversees compliance, operations, and HR functions at the firm. Brian brings more than 20 years financial services experience to his role and prides himself on finding solutions to help his team be successful and, in turn, assist clients in reaching their financial goals. His career includes advisory and management positions at Raymond James, Charles Schwab, and Ameriprise Financial.

Brian graduated from Westfield State University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Brian and his wife Ivona enjoy spending time with their twins, Ava & Brayden, and love supporting them in their educational and extracurricular pursuits. Originally from Massachusetts, he is an avid Boston sports fan and enjoys watching the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. In his spare time, when he gets the itch, he enjoys playing the drums and guitar.


Russell Harris MBA, AAMS® Photo

Russell Harris MBA, AAMS®

Associate Financial Advisor
Read Bio
Russel Harris headshot

Russell Harris

Associate Financial Advisor


Russell joined Signature Wealth Management in 2020 as an Associate Financial Advisor. He brings significant experience from his previous work with a Guardian planning firm in the Pensacola/Mobile area. Russell is excited to work with clients to help them increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their personal and business finances.

As a former Army Officer, West Point graduate and Eagle Scout, Russell brings a lifetime of character and leadership to his work. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He is married to Dr. Megan Harris and they have two young children. In his spare time Russell enjoys golf, shooting sports, and spending time in the outdoors.

Ian Payne Photo

Ian Payne

Intern
Read Bio
Scott Bishop headshot

Ian Payne

SUMMER INTERN


Ian is a 4th year undergraduate student at the University of Georgia majoring in Economics (BBA) and Finance (BBA) and a former Recruiting and Player Personnel Assistant for the UGA football team. He also spent eight months working as a Team Coordinator Co-Op for Oshkosh Defense in 2021. Ian recently started his summer internship with Signature Wealth Management in Atlanta, GA.


Sarth Patel Photo Sarth Patel Hover Photo

Sarth Patel

Intern
Read Bio

Sarth is a student at Georgia Tech majoring in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Finance and is set to graduate this December. He recently started his summer internship with Signature Wealth Management Group. Last summer, he worked as a Finance Intern for The Hershey Company. In his free time, Sarth enjoys working out and spending time with his friends & family.

Blog

Loading Posts...

Careers

We're Hiring

Our firm is looking for motivated team members interested in serving our clients with the highest level of service. If you are interested in joining a collaborative team of professionals please submit your resume for consideration to info@signaturewmg.com.

business meeting handshake

Benefits & Perks

Healthcare & Wellness

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
  • Onsite Fitness Facility

Education Assistance

  • Paid Training and Professional Development

Financial Planning and Protection

  • 401k Plan
  • Profit Sharing Plan
  • Incentive Compensation Bonus Plan

Additional Benefits

  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • Free Parking

Open Positions

Financial Advisor

Signature Wealth Management, LLC, is seeking to add an experienced financial advisor to its Atlanta team. We are an ensemble practice dedicated to the success of our clients and our firm. Signature Wealth is an independent firm offering services including wealth management and financial planning. We have been working with clients in this area for over 20 years. You will be joining a strong team of professionals that work together to serve our clients with the highest level of service. We offer a competitive compensation structure (salary and incentive compensation bonus), a generous benefit package including health, dental, vision, 401k, and profit sharing plan.

Successful candidates should meet the following requirements:

  • Successful Financial Advisor with a minimum of five years production experience and an established client base.
  • BA or BS in Business/Finance; advanced degree/designation preferable (e.g., MBA, CFP®, CFA).
  • Excellent knowledge of and ability to communicate financial planning concepts and terminology.
  • Excellent knowledge of and ability to explain products, such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, insurance, and annuities.
  • Understand the value of a fee-based relationship in guiding the client’s financial success.
  • Strong sales and/or people skills and a genuine desire to help others.
  • Minimum of $30 million AUM.

Qualified interested candidates should forward a copy of their resume and cover letter to info@signaturewmg.com. No Phone Calls Please. All responses will be kept in strict confidence.

Apply Now


Internship

We are looking for a candidate who can support our team and our clients as they prepare for and enjoy retirement. A strong interest in the financial markets is a must. The ideal candidate will be personable and have strong data analytics, marketing, and valuation skills.

Responsibilities:

  • Drive operational improvements by documenting and streamlining processes for varying functions of the team
  • Complete quarterly stock analysis to determine effectiveness of portfolio strategies
  • Research economic market news and trends
  • Examine multiple investment options and evaluate the fit within each portfolio strategy
  • Attend prospect meetings and client reviews to gain knowledge of challenges in the field and client concerns
  • Manage social media pages

Requirements:

  • Excellent PC knowledge and ability to operate database systems
  • Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
  • Accuracy, attention to detail and ability to explain complex information clearly and simply
  • Ability to analyze market’s financial data and convey that data to the team
  • An MBA candidate with a focus on finance is preferred
  • 2 years of relevant work experience preferred

Qualified interested candidates should forward a copy of their resume and cover letter to info@signaturewmg.com. No Phone Calls Please. All responses will be kept in strict confidence.

Apply Now

Resources

The Signature Equity Investment Series is a group of portfolios whose unifying theme and overarching goal is to create a stable and growing income stream primarily from the dividends of common stocks.

The Current Lineup Includes:

The Signature Equity Income Strategy

Our core income offering is comprised of companies that typically pay a dividend yield higher than that of ‘the market” average. They also have a history of growing their dividend, although that growth is secondary to current income. This Equity Income Strategy is typically paired with a portfolio of individual bonds for risk mitigation as well as additional income.

The Signature Total Income Strategy

This portfolio is an asset allocated version of the Signature Equity Income Strategy. It contains all of the stocks (and ancillary funds) of the Equity Income Strategy and enhances them with primarily fixed income Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’S) to balance out risk and volatility all within one portfolio.

The Signature Capital Growth Strategy

Firms that generate high levels of cash flow growth, demonstrate competitive advantages, develop an economic moat, and have low levels of debt will be targeted for the Capital Growth Strategy. This program is typically more volatile and appropriate either for young investors who have a high-risk tolerance and longer time horizons or accounts such as Roth IRA’s that are usually a smaller portion of a client’s total wealth.

The Signature Capital Preservation Strategy

A strategy that incorporates low volatility, defensive stocks which pass a fundamental screening process and are then used to build a diversified portfolio. The objective of the portfolio is to reduce volatility and protect on the downside while providing income during a time when bonds do not have the necessary yield to do so. This strategy is meant for clients with a low capacity to take risk and who are well ahead of their overall financial goals, but who still desire a return above that which is available in traditional fixed income sources.


Making Your Life Easier

We’ve assembled useful personal financial tools, informative links and documents that will help you prepare for your meetings with us. As always, if there is anything else you ever need, feel free to let us know.

The Signature Mutual Fund Strategies were created to provide a potential for wealth-building that can be critical to reaching long-term financial goals.

We utilize mutual funds in these strategies for greater diversification available through funds or also to access investment themes, processes or strategies that are not available through the Equity Income Series.

These different strategies are typically built around a select menu of core funds which are evaluated based on short and long term performance, manager tenure, third party research evaluations, corporate investment culture, and positioning to meet a particular investment need. For each portfolio, we will attempt to balance such factors as investment size (large, medium, small cap stocks), style (value vs. growth), and domicile (U.S. vs International) within the overarching framework of asset allocation (stocks vs. bonds vs. cash).

The Signature Mutual Fund Series Lineup Includes:

Signature Growth Strategy

This combination of mutual funds is designed for an investor who has a 10 or more year time horizon for the funds they are investing. These investors have a longer time horizon and want investments that will afford growth with a reasonable amount of volatility. The Growth Strategy seeks to smooth out the ups and downs of the market, while providing growth that meets long term investment goals.

Signature Growth & Income Strategy

The Growth and Income Strategy is designed for an investor with a 5-10 year time horizon for the funds they are committing to invest. These investors are willing to accept a slightly lower return than longer time horizon investors in exchange for less volatility. Therefore the asset allocation is different than the growth investor. Many of the underlying investments are the same, but the weightings will be different and favor the less volatile investments that are not as growth oriented and more balanced.

Signature Conservative  Strategy

The Conservative Strategy is designed with the pre-retiree and retiree in mind. These investors will typically have less than 5 year time horizon for potential usage of the funds. With this in mind, this investor is even less risk tolerant than the balanced investor. This investor is seeking preservation of capital with growth as a secondary objective. Therefore, the funds selected will be primarily short-duration fixed income funds with a modest allocation to conservative growth-oriented funds.

Signature Income Strategy

The Income Strategy is designed to provide a current income stream for an investor who may be relying on the asset’s income to provide current cash-flow. The asset allocation favors income producing investments in the form of dividend yield. This investor has a similar risk tolerance as the conservative investor and also requires current income in the portfolio.

Signature Tax-Efficient Growth & Income Strategy

The Tax Efficient Growth and Income Strategy is designed for investors who have excess cash in non-retirement accounts. This strategy offers a less volatile option to investors than the growth or balanced strategies and has enhanced tax-efficiency accomplished by the addition of municipal bond exposure.


Making Your Life Easier

We’ve assembled useful personal financial tools, informative links and documents that will help you prepare for your meetings with us. As always, if there is anything else you ever need, feel free to let us know.

Contact Us

A Financial Approach You Can Be Comfortable With

You’ll always find the members of Signature Wealth Management Group to be friendly, approachable and easy to work with. Our structure combines the responsiveness of a smaller investment and advisory firm with the leadership and resources of a financial services industry leader – truly the best of both worlds.



Fequently Asked Questions

Q: What is financial planning?

A: Financial planning is the process of creating a plan to achieve your financial goals. This may involve developing a budget, saving for retirement, paying off debt, or investing in assets such as stocks and real estate.

Q: Why is financial planning important?

A: Financial planning is important because it can help you make informed decisions about your money and ensure that you are able to achieve your financial goals. It can also help you to avoid financial pitfalls and make the most of your financial resources.

Q: Who can benefit from financial planning?

A: Anyone can benefit from financial planning, regardless of their age or financial situation. Whether you are just starting out in your career, planning for retirement, or anywhere in between, financial planning can help you make the most of your financial resources and achieve your financial goals.

Q: What types of financial planners are there?

A: There are many different types of financial planners, including certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), and personal financial advisors. Some financial planners work for financial planning firms or banks, while others are self-employed.

Q: How do I choose a financial planner?

A: When choosing a financial planner, it is important to consider their qualifications, experience, and reputation. You should also consider whether their services and fees align with your needs and goals. It can be helpful to ask for referrals from friends, family, or professional colleagues, or to conduct research online to find a reputable financial planner.