Mark has assisted clients in identifying and prioritizing their goals while customizing comprehensive investment plans that align with their needs and addressing the various aspects of their financial lives for more than 35 years.

Mark joined Stifel in 2017 from Raymond James, where he served as both Branch Manager and Financial Advisor since 2007.  Earlier in his career, he worked at several prominent wealth management firms, including Wachovia Securities, PaineWebber, and Kidder Peabody.  He attended University of Georgia and Georgia State University.

Active in the community, Mark serves on the board of directors of The Weber School, The Jewish National Fund (JNF), and The Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF).  He previously served two-terms as president of Congregation Dor Tamid and two terms as president of The Cohen Group Home.

Mark has been recognized as a Zaban Leadership Award Honoree, a Goldstein Leadership Award Honoree, and a PALI Participant (Philanthropic Atlanta Leadership Institute).  He also volunteers with a number of animal rights and cancer-oriented charities within his community.

Mark is from Atlanta and resides in Johns Creek, Georgia.  He is actively involved with his four children and is a very proud grandfather.  He also enjoys travel, the arts, and sports – especially Georgia Bulldog football.

+ A Personal Note From Mark About His Passions and Pets

Q. What first attracted you to the investment industry?
A. I bought my first stock at age 13 with money that I was fortunate to receive from my Bar Mitzvah. Against my father's wishes, I invested in Chrysler when it was in bankruptcy at $3 and sold it at $12. I was hooked on investments from that moment on. I love being in a business that enables me to assist people with understanding their financial goals and then creating a plan that will help accomplish them for their spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.

Q. Can you give some examples of your volunteer work?
A. I have been the president of my synagogue, the president of an assisted care home, on the steering committee of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, served on the Board of a not-for-profit that focuses on animal rights and animal education, and served on the Board of Directors of many more organizations over the years. The volunteer work I most enjoy is the strategic planning process that focuses on joint ventures and broadening the reach and scope of an organization for the benefit of our community.

Q. How do you like to spend time with your children?
A. It really does not matter what we do – as long as we do things together, I am in my happy place. That said, we love to travel, go fishing, go to movies, play board games, go to sporting events, and we are all foodies.

Q. Where is your favorite place to travel?
A. We go to Hilton Head Island every year, but any beach is relaxing to us and provides us the opportunity to spend quality time together.

Q. Where have you not traveled that you would like to travel?
A. Our bucket list includes the Galapagos and going on a safari. We are all animal lovers and the opportunity to see these two very different habitats and the unique animals and nature is very intriguing to us.

Q. What type of arts do you enjoy?
A. I have served on the steering committee of the largest film festival in Atlanta for eight years (I am no longer on that Steering Committee/Board, but was enriched by that experience.) I like to go to arts festivals and art galleries and have an interest in folk art.

Q. What are your pets' names?
A. I have two pets, Moxie (a pit bull mix) and Karli, a 12-year-old black-and-white rescue cat that acts like a dog.

Q. When did you get your first pet?
A. When I purchased my first house, I adopted a golden retriever. I have had dogs ever since. I currently have one dog, and one rescue cat.

Q. What do you love that your pet(s) does?
A. I love the way my dogs seem to smile and their unconditional love. I was in a serious accident several years ago, and the doggies were with me every step of my recovery.

Since 1991, Scott has specialized in the design, implementation, and ongoing guidance of his clients’ portfolios.  He loves the intricacies of wealth management and runs our goal planning and analysis resources to help align our clients’ financial decisions with their vision of retirement and other highly personalized goals.

Scott believes in putting his clients’ interests first and tries to handle all projects as efficiently as possible without sacrificing quality.  He is effective at following up on details and helping to ensure that our promises and commitments are kept.  His easygoing nature helps ensure that every conversation with a client puts a smile on their face and improves their day.

Scott joined Stifel in 2017.  Earlier in his career, Scott was a financial advisor at Raymond James, Wachovia Securities, PaineWebber, and Olde Discount Corp.

Scott was born in Toledo, Ohio, but moved to Georgia with his family when he was two years old.  Today, he lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, with his wife, Wendy, daughter, Lydia, and cats, Trixie and Buttercup.  In his free time, Scott enjoys playing tennis (ALTA & T2 leagues), golf, and ping pong.

+ A Personal Note From Scott About His Passions and Pets

Q. What else can you tell us about your family?
A. My, wife, Wendy, and I were married in 2006. We are late-in-life parents. We had our daughter when I was 41. She is now 13 years old. My wife is involved with Lydia's school including the PTA. We have a six-year-old cat who we were told was a girl when we adopted him, so we called “her” Trixie, but it turned out when we took “her” to get fixed, the plumbing didn’t match.  We still call him Trixie. We also have a one year old female cat who is very energetic.

Q. How do you like to spend time with your daughter?
A. Lydia and my favorite activity is to play Halo on the Xbox. We also like to go on walks together and catch up. We enjoy playing cards together. We even enjoy singing together while we do the dishes. She loves to ride around in my convertible because I turn the music up for her.

Q. When did you get your first pet?
A. When my sisters and I were growing up, we had multiple cats and dogs, because I was always a sucker for strays. We always tried to save every little creature we’d find, including baby birds and ducks. I lived in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands when I was 18, and I took in a grey stray male cat, Smokey. When I moved to a different place on the island (about six miles away), I couldn’t take him with me. About two weeks later, he came strolling up the driveway of the new place.  Fortunately, I was able to convince the owners to let me keep him. Prior to Trixie, my last cat was Pookie, a Siamese Manx, who lived a long 18 years.

Q. What do you love that your cats do?
A. Trixie is an unusual cat, but the cutest thing he does is act like a dog – he walks up to my feet, lies down, rolls on his back, and just starts purring. Buttercup is more of a show off and dances for us on her cat tree.

Q. What do you dislike that your cats do?
A. Both of the cats live to eat so if I’m bot up early enough, they are meowing in my face while I sleep.

Q. What do you like about playing golf?
A. For me, golf is all about the enjoyment of hanging out with friends. I do love playing, but I never go by myself. I find it to be a great way to strengthen relationships. The best time in the world is golfing with three of your closest friends. I also love good conversation, and the golf course is a great place for that.

Q. What do you like about playing tennis?
A. I played tennis in high school, but stopped playing for years. I picked it back up in Arizona in the late 80s, but took it way too seriously. I moved back to Atlanta in 1991, but didn’t start playing tennis again until 2004. I’ve played T2 with the same doubles partner since 2007. I love tennis because I’m not into traditional exercise or running, and tennis gives me a great way to get in some exercise on a weekly basis. I’m a B-level player and, as long as the body holds up, I’ll be playing for many years. Also, it’s another way to get to know people.

Q. What’s the best golf course you have played?
A. The Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, a very private and exclusive club. I’ve never actually met anyone who was a member, but a good friend of mine was the sous chef for the restaurant and got to play on Monday when the course was closed, so he’d invite a few of us out a couple times a year. It was the most beautifully manicured course I had ever played, and I rarely ever see a course as beautiful.

Q. What golf course would you like to play?
A. Augusta National because, for one, it’s almost impossible to get invited to play, and two, it is such a historical course.  One of the few sports I watch on TV is golf.  I find it very relaxing.  The Masters is my favorite tournament to watch.  I’ve been to the Masters a few times and have walked the course; it is an amazing place.

Yolanda applies her 28-plus years of experience in the financial services industry to assist our clients with their various needs.  With attention to detail and reliable follow-through, she helps us maintain a top-tier level of personal service.

Earlier in her career, Yolanda worked as a sales assistant for several prominent financial firms, including Dean Witter/Morgan Stanley, PaineWebber, J.C. Bradford, Wachovia Securities, and Raymond James (Morgan Keegan).  She joined Stifel in 2017. 

Yolanda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance from Georgia State University.  She was born and raised in Atlanta and currently resides in Rex, Georgia, with her cats, Brooke and Jake.  In her free time, she enjoys gardening (indoor and outdoor planting) and traveling.

+ A Personal Note From Yolanda About Her Passions and Pets

Q. What do you like best about gardening?
A. I love seeing the “fruits” of my labor. I currently have a vegetable garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini squash, yellow squash, green beans, and several different types of peppers. I grow herbs as well, including basil, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, and mint. I planted two blueberry bushes last year, but the birds are getting the blueberries before I can. I have several gardenia and rose bushes that I've planted. I love having something blooming in my yard at all times, and I also have many house plants as well.

Q. Where is your favorite place to travel?
A. I love Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and taking Caribbean cruises.

Q. Where have you not traveled, but would like to?
A. I would like to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower.

Q. When did you get your first pet?
A. I was about five years old when I got my first cat, Ruff.

Q. What do you love that your pets do?
A. I love the fact that they adore me – unconditional love.

Q. What do you dislike that your pets do?
A. They follow me around the house. It drives me crazy, especially if I'm just going to the bathroom. I have an audience with everything I do.