Scott Marion left a consulting manager position at a blue-chip Fortune 100 company to become a financial advisor because he finds higher value in protecting families from financial calamity and preparing them to accommodate future cash needs.

As a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Scott is required to put your needs first and do the right thing for each person he has the privilege of serving. Scott thoroughly researches and carefully presents financial plans to meet his clients’ needs at whatever stage they find themselves - whether it’s debt elimination, saving for college and retirement, or investment strategies to build your financial dreams and goals.

Scott is also a SmartAsset SmartAdvisor residing in and serving Knoxville, Tennessee and the surrounding areas. He firmly believes you must understand where your money is going, instead of wondering where it went. 

An accredited Wealth Management Specialist and National Social Security Advisor, he is uniquely qualified to guide SSA/SSI and SSDI recipients through the complexities of the federal Social Security Administration’s benefits programs.

Scott’s passion is helping people protect their ability to make money and to grow their assets with an eye toward complete and lasting financial freedom. “I help those who are seeking to build wealth learn the secrets of reaching their dreams more quickly than they might think, and I help those who have attained great wealth enjoy and preserve it”.  No matter where you find yourself today you can trust Scott based on his character and integrity to get you where you want to be financially. “I’m in this with you,” says Scott. “I want to be on the journey with you and to coach you through it. I help make the complex, simple.”

Scott currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee and is committed to serving the community with his great ideas and strategies. He and his wife Nada have triplets; two boys and one girl.  Scott enjoys outdoor activities, and family activities with the kids.

Tim Wood, Founder/Broker of SafeMoneyRetirement.com, has a passion to help educate the public about ways to protect their hard-earned retirement from market volatility and losses. He has advised successful professionals, business owners, and high net-worth individuals for over 20 years, and has always had the ability to meet with someone and make them feel comfortable. Tim's goal is to provide a safe, secure and stress-free retirement for his clients. NONE of Tim's client's have ever lost a dollar due to a market downturn because he ONLY deals in fixed products that offer complete protection from losses. This means his clients can sleep well every night, and so can he. He also offers Medicare, Group Health and Life insurance planning.

As a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Tim ALWAYS puts his client's needs first in every situation, ensuring they have the best possible plan in place. This begins with every client by going through a thorough Fact-Finder appointment where the client's current situation is examined in detail to determine the best possible course of action to arrive at their specific desired outcome. Then the clients are thoroughly educated about the products and companies that fit their specific situation before proceeding.

Tim is also a chapter president with American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) where he teaches financial education to the public. You can register for one of his classes at 

Tim is originally from Orlando, FL. After attending Valencia College in Orlando, he worked for the Walt Disney Company at the Magic Kingdom as an audio technician for shows and events for 6 years. When Tim left Disney he worked for the Cox Radio Group in Orlando for several years before founding CyberStorm Technologies, Inc. Tim moved his family to the mountains of Tennessee in 2007 and continued to be very successful in his radio and consulting careers, founding The Plan Advisor in 2017 in order to offer ALL of the Safe-Money Retirement products available in the market to his clients as an independent advisor. Being fully independent, he works solely in the best interests of his clients, not the insurance companies.

Tim and his beautiful wife Melissa live in Johnson City, TN and have been married for over 25 years. They have one daughter currently attending college.

As the weekly host of Safe Money Retirement Radio (www.SafeMoneyRetirementRadio.com) on-air show and podcast, Tim focuses on providing retirement strategies and solutions that explore ways to protect retirement money, increase income, and protect against potential market losses and economic volatility. He also brings into focus potential health circumstances, taxes, and those unforeseen situations that can be devastating to principal assets in retirement.

Tim enjoys fishing, hiking and golf and is an avid college football and basketball fan. Tim and his wife enjoy traveling together and "get away" as often as possible.

"As an independent broker/advisor and a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, I am able to provide for my family and make decisions in the best interests of my clients, not some insurance company. From the initial fact finder appointment to finding the best option to transferring funds, I keep things transparent and pressure-free." - Tim

Tim Wood, Founder/Broker of SafeMoneyRetirement.com, has a passion to help educate the public about ways to protect their hard-earned retirement from market volatility and losses. He has advised successful professionals, business owners, and high net-worth individuals for over 20 years, and has always had the ability to meet with someone and make them feel comfortable. Tim's goal is to provide a safe, secure and stress-free retirement for his clients. NONE of Tim's client's have ever lost a dollar due to a market downturn because he ONLY deals in fixed products that offer complete protection from losses. This means his clients can sleep well every night, and so can he. He also offers Medicare, Group Health and Life insurance planning.

As a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Tim ALWAYS puts his client's needs first in every situation, ensuring they have the best possible plan in place. This begins with every client by going through a thorough Fact-Finder appointment where the client's current situation is examined in detail to determine the best possible course of action to arrive at their specific desired outcome. Then the clients are thoroughly educated about the products and companies that fit their specific situation before proceeding.

Tim is also a chapter president with American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) where he teaches financial education to the public. You can register for one of his classes at 

Tim is originally from Orlando, FL. After attending Valencia College in Orlando, he worked for the Walt Disney Company at the Magic Kingdom as an audio technician for shows and events for 6 years. When Tim left Disney he worked for the Cox Radio Group in Orlando for several years before founding CyberStorm Technologies, Inc. Tim moved his family to the mountains of Tennessee in 2007 and continued to be very successful in his radio and consulting careers, founding The Plan Advisor in 2017 in order to offer ALL of the Safe-Money Retirement products available in the market to his clients as an independent advisor. Being fully independent, he works solely in the best interests of his clients, not the insurance companies.

Tim and his beautiful wife Melissa live in Johnson City, TN and have been married for over 25 years. They have one daughter currently attending college.

As the weekly host of Safe Money Retirement Radio (www.SafeMoneyRetirementRadio.com) on-air show and podcast, Tim focuses on providing retirement strategies and solutions that explore ways to protect retirement money, increase income, and protect against potential market losses and economic volatility. He also brings into focus potential health circumstances, taxes, and those unforeseen situations that can be devastating to principal assets in retirement.

Tim enjoys fishing, hiking and golf and is an avid college football and basketball fan. Tim and his wife enjoy traveling together and "get away" as often as possible.

"As an independent broker/advisor and a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, I am able to provide for my family and make decisions in the best interests of my clients, not some insurance company. From the initial fact finder appointment to finding the best option to transferring funds, I keep things transparent and pressure-free." - Tim

Tim Wood, Founder/Broker of SafeMoneyRetirement.com, has a passion to help educate the public about ways to protect their hard-earned retirement from market volatility and losses. He has advised successful professionals, business owners, and high net-worth individuals for over 20 years, and has always had the ability to meet with someone and make them feel comfortable. Tim's goal is to provide a safe, secure and stress-free retirement for his clients. NONE of Tim's client's have ever lost a dollar due to a market downturn because he ONLY deals in fixed products that offer complete protection from losses. This means his clients can sleep well every night, and so can he. He also offers Medicare, Group Health and Life insurance planning.

As a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Tim ALWAYS puts his client's needs first in every situation, ensuring they have the best possible plan in place. This begins with every client by going through a thorough Fact-Finder appointment where the client's current situation is examined in detail to determine the best possible course of action to arrive at their specific desired outcome. Then the clients are thoroughly educated about the products and companies that fit their specific situation before proceeding.

Tim is also a chapter president with American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) where he teaches financial education to the public. You can register for one of his classes at 

Tim is originally from Orlando, FL. After attending Valencia College in Orlando, he worked for the Walt Disney Company at the Magic Kingdom as an audio technician for shows and events for 6 years. When Tim left Disney he worked for the Cox Radio Group in Orlando for several years before founding CyberStorm Technologies, Inc. Tim moved his family to the mountains of Tennessee in 2007 and continued to be very successful in his radio and consulting careers, founding The Plan Advisor in 2017 in order to offer ALL of the Safe-Money Retirement products available in the market to his clients as an independent advisor. Being fully independent, he works solely in the best interests of his clients, not the insurance companies.

Tim and his beautiful wife Melissa live in Johnson City, TN and have been married for over 25 years. They have one daughter currently attending college.

As the weekly host of Safe Money Retirement Radio (www.SafeMoneyRetirementRadio.com) on-air show and podcast, Tim focuses on providing retirement strategies and solutions that explore ways to protect retirement money, increase income, and protect against potential market losses and economic volatility. He also brings into focus potential health circumstances, taxes, and those unforeseen situations that can be devastating to principal assets in retirement.

Tim enjoys fishing, hiking and golf and is an avid college football and basketball fan. Tim and his wife enjoy traveling together and "get away" as often as possible.

"As an independent broker/advisor and a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, I am able to provide for my family and make decisions in the best interests of my clients, not some insurance company. From the initial fact finder appointment to finding the best option to transferring funds, I keep things transparent and pressure-free." - Tim

I was born in 1974 to Thomas E. and Lisa Herndon. My father worked in the inland water transportation industry all my life and retired as a towboat captain after thirty-one years. My mother was a homemaker and worked in education within our local school district. I graduated from Stewart County High School in 1992. I went on to study at Murray State University.  

In 1995, I started a career in law enforcement. I worked in numerous capacities. I am most proud of being our area’s first School Resource Officer. I also served as a DARE Officer. The skills that I learned from these positions with regard to education coupled with my background in public speaking at Murray State and my interest in amature theatre, serve me to this day in communicating with and educating my clients. 

In 2004, I began my career in the financial services industry with Edward Jones. In 2008, I went independent and opened an office in my hometown of Dover. 

I have been married to my beautiful and supporting wife, Amy, for twenty-five years as of 2023. We have two children, Wyatt, age nineteen, and William, fourteen. Amy works in healthcare and is devoted to her patients. 

We are active in our congregation of our Lord's church. I have been a deacon and currently serve as an adult Bible class teacher and substitute pulpit minister. My wife has served as a Sunday school teacher. 

Whether it be in church or in a professional setting, I follow the example of Barnabas who accompanied the Apostle Paul. I strive to be a source of encouragement and a humble servant.

Benjamin Green

Founder & Wealth Preservation Specialist

A native of Columbia, SC, Benjamin is Co-Founder of Ready2Retire™, the leading retirement planning firm for people who want to retire with confidence. Benjamin greatly appreciates customer service and client satisfaction, honed from over 20 years of experience, and is recognized nationwide as a top retirement, insurance, Medicare, and Social Security planner.

He has over 2,000 clients and has educated over 10,000 people. Benjamin is also President and COO of Insurance Advantage, an employee benefits agency he co-founded 13 years ago. Ben has previously served as COO of a human resources staffing firm and as Vice President of Asia and Europe for an American software company.

Benjamin has extensive experience in economic development and consulting and worked as a Business Recruiter for South Carolina. Since Ben opened the Japan office in 2012, South Carolina has received over $2.2 billion in investment. In 2014, he was hired to write the Strategic Plan for the State of South Carolina.

Based on ten years working overseas in Japan, Brazil, & Spain, he wrote the Amazon Best Seller "The Global Superstar: How Your Students Can Develop an Advantage over Global Competition" to help students prepare for careers in this changing economy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Morehouse College, an International MBA from The University of South Carolina, and certificates from UNC and Temple University.

He’s conversant in Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, and has studied Latin, Italian, and French. He has served on numerous boards, including the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Association, the SC Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbia (SC) Chamber of Commerce. He’s a member of the Nashville City Club, The Entrepreneurship Center, and the Nashville Kiwanis Club.

Benjamin splits time between his homes in Nashville, TN, and Columbia, SC, with his wife Kim, and their two wonderful daughters. He loves traveling, spending time with friends and family, and helping his clients win.

Andrea Carpenter is a Partner and Financial Advisor with Prosperity Partners Wealth Management, LLC. Andrea has been in the financial industry over 25 years and during that time has worked with clients from a variety of industries, including small Business Owners, Teachers and Engineers. Over the years, Andrea has worked with not only clients, but other advisors in financial plan design and training.

With all the twists and turns one can experience in their financial lives, Andrea utilizes her diverse business acumen and financial credentials in helping clients plan for the financial challenges ahead. She works in navigating those paths by focusing on educating clients of their options and opportunities in building a plan to walk through various life stages on their financial journey.

A lifelong East Tennessee native, Andrea graduated from Maryville College with a degree in Management where she met her spouse Joel. They have two children, Madalyn, also an MC grad and Joshua, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee.  Andrea is the former board president of a local nonprofit, Kingdom Design Ministries and is an active supporter of her church.

Craig Hammer, RICP, Certified Financial Fiduciary®, has been assisting clients in the securities and insurance industries since 2007. He is passionate about helping clients reach their financial goals by researching and formulating individualized plans to meet the client’s needs and objectives. 

He holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses as well as his insurance license in Tennessee. In 2018, Craig earned his RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) designation.  He is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary ®.

Craig is a lifelong resident of East Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has been married to Lisa since 1996. They have one daughter, Kayla, who also graduated from the University of Tennessee. He enjoys attending live sporting events and concerts, as well as golf and travel.  He is very active in his church and has served in several lay leadership roles.

Ira started in the investment industry in 1984 as a stock broker working for First Jersey Securities having a desire to help people become financially independent. He went on to work for several other regional and national firms including Shearson Lehman Brothers and Smith Barney. While working for Shearson Lehman Brothers, he completed the prescribed studies and satisfied the requirements for their Guided Portfolio Management Program.In April of 1996, Ira concluded – “to best serve my clients and provide impartial advice, I have to be independent.” As a result, he resigned from Smith Barney and formed the Work Financial Group in West Palm Beach FL.In October of 1996, he completed a one-year course through the Institute of Business and Finance designed to provide a deeper understanding of mutual funds and annuity programs.In 1998, he began his studies with The American College to earn the Chartered Financial Consultant Designation (ChFC®) which he completed in October of 2003.In July of 2003, having completed most of his required courses for the ChFC®, he satisfied the requirements of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and was awarded the RFC® designation.In August of 2008, Ira became part of the coaching team of Paul Winkler, Inc. His focus is helping clients understand the common mistakes investors make and what it takes to build successful portfolios. To enhance his client relationships, Ira provides education programs which help investors gain financial peace of mind. As an author, Ira has written articles that have been published in local newspapers and Financial Playbook magazine.In September of 2011 Ira completed the requirement coursework earning the designation AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary).In December of 2012 Ira completed the required coursework through the American College earning the AAMS® (Accredited Asset Management Specialist) designation.In 2016 he earned the designation CASL® (Chartered Advisor for Senior Living) through The American College.In February of 2018 he earned the CRPS® (Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist) designation through the College for Financial Planning.Ira and his wife Elaine enjoy traveling, motorcycle rides, and golf. They have four children and reside in Nashville.