With more than twenty years’ experience in the financial services arena, Mark Thompson advises individuals, corporations and retirement plans.  He and his group specialize in all facets of wealth management, including estate planning, retirement and financial planning, insurance analysis, risk management and investment allocation, as well as solutions for high net worth corporate executives.  Focusing on legacy planning, Mark works alongside other professionals such as estate planning attorneys and CPAs to design, implement and monitor solutions to help clients reach their financial goals and objectives.  He is the founding member of Thompson Wealth Management.

Born in Philadelphia and spending his formative years in Atlanta, Mark graduated from the University of Florida and was employed for several years as a Unit Manager for Procter & Gamble in Memphis, Tennessee.  He began his career in financial services in 1987 with E.F. Hutton (now Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney), then accepted a Senior Vice-President's position with Raymond James & Associates in 1995 thereby establishing the Melbourne, Florida office.

Mark attained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification in 1993 and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).  He contributes regularly to industry and trade publications such as On Wall Street, Research and Financial Planning magazines, and was also a guest columnist for seven years in Florida Today.  In 2008 he was awarded one of Central Florida's Top "Nest Egg" Managers by the Orlando Business Journal.  In 2009 he won a place in Barron's Top 1,000 Advisors, ranking #43 in the state of Florida (source: Barron's, February 9, 2009). 

At the request of then Chairman and CEO, Thomas A. James, Mark served two years on the Raymond James Executive Council.  The Council represents various business segments within Raymond James Financial, and members convene quarterly to weigh in on issues affecting the firm.  He also represented the firm at a 2004 focus group hosted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in Atlanta.  FINRA is the primary private-sector regulator of the securities industry, overseeing the activities of more than 5,000 brokerage firms and 663,000 registered representatives.  Mark is justifiably proud of an entire career without a single customer complaint.  In addition, 2010 marked another year that Mark and his group achieved the Chairman's Council designation.

In 2008, Mark earned the Investment Management Consultant designation.  The certification program covers essential investment management consulting topics such as asset allocation, manager selection and portfolio construction and, therefore,  provides advisors with knowledge commensurate with high-level institutional money management consultants.  Over the years he has completed numerous hours of instruction earning the internal designation of Trust Specialist, advising on all types of trusts such as living trusts, irrevocable trusts, charitable remainder and charitable lead trusts.  He is also a Retirement Plan Consultant, helping companies review their employee retirement plans for investment suitability, as well as addressing fiduciary concerns.

Mark's community involvement included serving as a board member for Space Coast Early Intervention Center, a school that educates and prepares children with and without special needs for the outside world.  He served as chairman of their capital building campaign, coordinating fundraising activities and sharing the school's message with the local community to raise support for a new facility in Melbourne.  He was also an active fundraiser for several Christian schools in the area.

When not in the office, Mark and his wife Stacy enjoy spending time with their four children Jami, Alex, Chandler and Mackenzie as well as traveling, fishing and playing sports.

*Membership is based mainly on assets under management, education, credentials and fiscal year production. Re-qualification is required annually since prior membership is no assurance of future membership.