Chuck Lanford was named to the 2025 edition of the Forbes list of Best-in-State Wealth Advisors †.

Chuck Lanford, CFP®, Wealth Management Advisor & Portfolio Manager, brings over 27 years of expertise in the financial services industry, marked by a steadfast commitment to helping clients navigate their wealth management journey.

Chuck's journey into finance began in 1996 when he obtained licenses in securities and insurance with Dean Witter Reynolds & Co. His early years were shaped by a deepening interest in the economy and financial markets, sparked by the 1987 stock market crash during his junior year of high school. This passion for understanding market dynamics has been a driving force throughout his career.

Following his graduation and earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University, Chuck embarked on a distinguished military career as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant. It was during this time that he discovered his aptitude for investment advisory work, a revelation spurred by a mentor's suggestion. Upon transitioning from active duty, Chuck relocated to Atlanta and embarked on building his financial advisory business from the ground up.

Chuck's commitment to providing comprehensive, values-based financial planning and investment advisory services blossomed in 2005. This approach, aimed at helping individuals and families achieve their most important goals and values, became the cornerstone of his practice.

In 2013, Chuck further solidified his expertise by earning the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certification from Boston University’s College of Financial Planning. This certification underscores his dedication to upholding the highest standards of education, training, and ethical conduct in the field of financial planning.

A pivotal moment in Chuck's professional journey came in 2003 when he aligned with Raymond James, a decision he considers among his top three professional choices. The others being his move to Atlanta to establish his practice and the adoption of his values-based financial planning approach.

Chuck and his family currently split their time between Atlanta and Scottsdale, AZ, enjoying the best of both worlds. Beyond his professional endeavors, Chuck enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and their three sons. He finds fulfillment in his faith, cherishing moments spent with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, and passionately supporting his beloved Auburn Tigers.

† The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2025 ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. This ranking is based upon the period from 6/30/2023 to 6/30/2024 and was released on 4/8/2025. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years of experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 48,944 nominations, roughly 9,722 advisors received the award. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Compensation provided for using the rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit

https://www.forbes.com/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/ for more info.