With more than twenty years experience in the financial services arena, Mark Thompson advises on over $200 million in assets for individuals, corporations and retirement plans. He and his team specialize in estate planning, retirement planning, financial planning, insurance analysis, risk management and investment allocation--all facets of wealth management. 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 the Thompson Team.

Mark is a graduate of the University of Florida and was employed as a Unit Manager for several years with Procter & Gamble in Memphis, Tennessee. He began his career in the financial services arena with E.F. Hutton (now Smith Barney) in 1987. He accepted a Senior Vice-President’s position with Raymond James & Associates in 1995 and opened the Melbourne, Florida office.

Mark attained the prestigious 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, and was also a guest columnist for seven years in Florida Today. Senior management at the firm continues to request Mark’s input and presentation at regional meetings, giving other advisors and industry leaders the chance to benefit from his experience.

Mark recently served on the Raymond James Executive Council by request of Chairman and CEO Tom James. The Council represents various business segments within Raymond James Financial and meets regularly to weigh in on issues affecting the firm. Mark also contributes to the Mutual Fund Advisory Council and Technology Advisory Committee.

Building on a career without a single customer complaint is one of Mark’s strong points. He was therefore honored when asked to speak for Raymond James & Associates at a recent focus group for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in Atlanta. The 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. He represented the firm at this focus group as a leading advisor, communicating client needs, advisor concerns and a state of the industry.

Mark is also a member of the Financial Advisors Council inside Raymond James & Associates, again using his knowledge and experience to influence firm policy and advisor direction. 2007 marked the eighth year in a row that he and his team achieved the coveted Chairman’s Council designation, an honor reserved for advisors who demonstrate the highest dedication to serving their clients as well as continued desire for professional growth.

In 2008 he earned the Investment Management Consultant designation. The certification program covered essential investment management consulting topics such as asset allocation, manager selection and portfolio construction, providing advisors with knowledge commensurate with high-level institutional money management consultants.

Over the years he has completed numerous hours of instruction to earn the internal designation of Trust Specialist, advising on Charitable Remainder Trusts 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 was awarded the Raymond James Circle of Life award in 1998. This was given to him for balancing his career and donating time to the community, all alongside the challenges of raising three children, two of whom are handicapped twins who continue to face medical hardships.

Finally, until just recently Mark was an active 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 school facility in Melbourne. He has also been an active fundraiser for several Christian schools in the area.