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Kevin Metzler Founder
Kevin Metzler founded Family Wealth Group in 2007 after 40 plus successful years in the financial services industry because he believed people needed a holistic and balanced approach to retirement.
His passionate commitment to a holistic approach, includes:
- wills and trusts to protect and enable a legacy;
- a focus on tax planning, prior to retirement and in retirement;
- ensuring an individual’s or family’s investment risk and objectives are appropriate;
- a plan for a stable and predictable income; and
- management of their assets and investments for their future needs and objectives.
Kevin’s vision and foundation are the core principles of Family Wealth Group. These core principles are still the foundation of all Family Wealth Group’s activities. His dedication and commitment is key to Family Wealth Group’s success. In January of 2022, Kevin sold his interests in Family Wealth Group, LLC to Donald Bentley and Jeff Sheppard.
He still resides in Lexington with his wife, Brenda. Together they have four sons, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Brian K. Staples Chief Operating Officer/ Chief Financial Officer
Brian joined the Family Wealth Group Team in November of 2020. Over the past 25 years, Brian has served in the financial services industry in a number of capacities, both in private and public sectors. As a member of the leadership team, he recognizes his role is critical in the operational growth and development of every regulated business, and must provide leadership embedded with integrity and the desire for continuous learning and training.
Brian strongly believes in the power of teamwork. Being a former umpire and youth coach, his philosophy has always been: Play Hard, Have Fun, and Believe - give it all you got - enjoy what you are doing - believe in Jesus Christ, your family, your friends, your teammates, and in yourself. If you do that with compassion and integrity, you will always win.
Brian lives in Versailles with his wife, Kelly, and they have two grown daughters, Allie and Natalie.
Donald Bentley Financial Advisor
Offices: Lexington, Georgetown, KY & Hurricane, WV
Jeff Sheppard Financial Advisor
Offices: Lexington, Georgetown, Harrodsburg, London & Somerset
Donald Bentley
Financial Advisor
Donald entered the financial planning industry over 27 years ago. He specializes in wealth transfer, retirement preparedness, tax and estate planning. Donald was the first advisor to join Family Wealth Group when it was started and is a main contributor to the success of Family Wealth Group.
In January of 2022, Donald and his business partner, Jeff Sheppard, purchased Family Wealth Group. Under their leadership, Family Wealth Group has continued to grow and operates five offices throughout Kentucky and West Virginia.
Donald currently holds his C.T.S. (Certified Tax Specialist) designation.
Donald resides in Mount Sterling, KY, where he is active in his church community. Donald and his wife, Tina, have three children: Hunter, Madison, and Jackson. They also have a dog named Winston.
Mr. Bentley is also known for his funny sock collection.
Jeff Sheppard Financial Advisor
Jeff Sheppard met Family Wealth Group founder, Kevin Metzler, through a Christian Businessmen's Association in 2007. He became a client of Family Wealth Group a few years later.
As a two-time national champion for the University of Kentucky Basketball team, Jeff acknowledges the importance that teamwork played during those memorable times in his life, and it's the same spirit of teamwork that he now applies to his work at Family Wealth Group.
Jeff is a Financial Advisor and co-owner with his business partner, Donald Bentley. For the past 12+ years, he has been working with clients at ofices in Lexington, Georgetown, Harrodsburg, London, and Somerset to implement the comprehensive holistic planning that is at the foundation of Family Wealth Group.
In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, Stacey, a former Lady Cat basketball player, and their two children: Madison and Reed. They are active members of Faith Assembly of God in London, KY, where they reside with their dog Willow.
Matt LockettFinancial Advisor
Office: Lexington & Harrodsburg
Matt Lockett
Financial Advisor
Matt joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2021. He was drawn to Family Wealth Group because of the work culture and reputation of Family Wealth Group within the community. Matt has worked as a financial advisor for several years. He is quoted as saying "I got into this industry because I love to help people and watch them succeed and achieve their goals. If I can play a small part in that, I am successful." He has also worked on the regulatory side, having been a Director at the KY Department of Insurance.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University and a Master’s Degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville. He holds FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 licenses as well as Life and Health Insurance licenses.
Matt also serves as State Representative in the KY House of Representatives where he represents the 39th Legislative District, which encompasses a portion of Jessamine County and a portion of Southern Fayette County.
Matt has lived in Nicholasville for 20 years with his two children, who are both in college. When Matt is not helping clients achieve their retirement goals, he enjoys spending time with his children and family, attending and serving at Immanuel Baptist Church, leading small groups, hiking, playing tennis and spending time at the beach.
Jordan shortFinancial Advisor, CFP®
Office: Lexington
Jordan Short
Financial Advisor, CFP®
Jordan joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2021.
Born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, Jordan developed a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the value of financial stability. From an early age, Jordan displayed an aptitude for numbers and a passion for helping others. This led him to pursue a career in finance, where he could combine his natural talent for managing money with his desire to make a positive impact on people's lives.
After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance at Centre College, Jordan embarked on his professional journey, quickly establishing himself as a trusted advisor in the financial industry. Jordan brings a unique perspective to his work, emphasizing the importance of prudence, long-term planning, and building strong relationships with clients.
Throughout his career, Jordan has focused on empowering individuals and families to achieve their financial goals, regardless of their background or means. His deep understanding of investment strategies, risk management, and retirement planning has enabled him to guide clients through both prosperous and challenging economic climates.
Jordan has also earned his Certified Financial Planner™ designation, a designation that only 29% of advisors in the United States have attained.
Today, Jordan Short continues to provide comprehensive financial guidance tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of his clients. With a blend of expertise, empathy, and Appalachian values, Jordan helps individuals and families achieve financial security, enabling them to pursue their dreams and create a better future for themselves and their communities.
Jordan and his wife, Sydney, reside in Lexington with their two sons. When not at work, Jordan enjoys spending time with his family, cheering for his beloved sports teams: the Kentucky Wildcats, Cincinnati Reds, and Cincinnati Bengals, or spending time working on his hopeless golf game. Jordan and his family attend Southland Christian Church.
Alex SchnuloFinancial Advisor
Office: Hurricane, WV
Alex Schnulo
Financial Advisor
Alex joined the Family Wealth Group Team in May of 2024.
Alex is originally from Columbus, OH and in 2018 chose Hurricane as his new home. He is active in serving the
community, currently serving as Advisory Council
President for the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. Alex has been a mentor for Education Elevators and involved with Ohio Business Week, a summer program designed to empower high school students interested in business.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Ohio State University. He has worked in the Hurricane area as a Financial Advisor for the past several years holding a Series 6, 63 and 65 license; and is a licensed Life and Health Insurance agent. To those embarking on their career, Alex believes making consistent, incremental progress towards your financial goals over time is the surest way to achieve them.
Alex married his high school sweetheart, Lauren, in 2016. They have two dogs, Zeke & Zoey, and two cats, Gizmo and Sweetheart.
Sydney Millay Financial Advisor, CFP®
Office: Georgetown
Sydney Millay
Financial Advisor, CFP®
Sydney joined the Family Wealth Group Team in May of 2022. Prior to joining Family Wealth Group, she earned her bachelors of Business Administration in Finance at the University of Kentucky.
Sydney has acquired her series 65 designation, and is a Certified Financial Planner™. She is also a licensed life and health insurance agent in Kentucky and Ohio. She has always had a passion for helping others, and a passion for finance. This is what led her to Family Wealth Group to begin her journey to becoming a Financial Advisor.
Sydney is originally from Florence, but now resides in Walton, KY. She is the middle child of three sisters, and is very close with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys working out and spending time with her boyfriend, as well as her puppy, Jax.
Ashton Lanham Financial Advisor, CFP®
Office: Lexington
Ashton Lanham
Financial Advisor, CFP®
Ashton joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2022. He grew up in Lebanon, Kentucky and went to pursue his higher education at Eastern Kentucky University. He graduated from EKU with a double major in Financial Planning and Risk Management and Insurance. He was drawn to Family Wealth Group because of their holistic approach to financial planning, as he believes that is not only what people want, but deserve.
Ashton always knew that he wanted to become a Financial Advisor. While in college, he obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. He has since received his Certified Financial Planner™ designation. He is excited about the opportunity that he has to be able to serve the clients of FWG throughout their retirement journey.
Outside of work, Ashton enjoys spending time with his wife, Mariella, and their dog, Pretzel. He also likes attending church, watching baseball, and playing golf.
Tina Culp Associate Advisor
Office: Harrodsburg
Tina Culp
Associate Advisor
Tina joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2022 as an Associate Advisor for our Harrodsburg office. Prior to beginning her career at Family Wealth Group, she earned an associate degree in computer science, obtained her Series 7 and 66 Licenses, along with her Property, Casualty, Life and Health Insurance Licenses.
Tina was drawn to Family Wealth Group because of the kindness and compassion that this organization shows to those we serve and to Kentuckians as a whole.
When asked what piece of advice she would share, she said, “Carefully think through situations that you find yourself in. Just because you have the right to do something does NOT make it the right thing to do.”
Tina lives in Mercer County with her husband, Tim. Together they have two children – Hailey and Eli. Hailey has completed her Master’s degree in Psychology and works for Volunteers of America as a Project Coordinator, while Eli is working for an electrical company, studying to be a licensed electrician.
In her spare time, Tina enjoys photography, reading, drawing and painting. She also enjoys classic cars; they own a 1949 Mercury pickup. Her ideal car is a 1962 Chevy Impala SS with a manual transmission.
Rebekah Wells Client Service Associate
Office: Georgetown
Sebastian AlbertsClient Service Associate
Office: Lexington
Dean Abernathy
Client Service Associate
Office: Hurricane, WV
Rebekah Wells Client Service Associate
Becky joined the Family Wealth Group Team in 2013. You probably know Rebekah as Becky. She was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and subsequently moved to Lexington.
Becky is goal oriented and enjoys working with the clients as a Client Service Associate in the Georgetown office. She is passionate about seeing clients get the results they want and achieve their long-awaited dreams.
In her spare time, Becky enjoys spending time with her husband, John, and dog, Zuke.
Sebastian Alberts Client Service Associate
Sebastian joined the Family Wealth Group Team in January of 2022 as a Client Service Associate.
Prior to beginning his career at Family Wealth Group, he received his bachelors in Law. Sebastian has always been interested in pursuing a career in Wealth Management and becoming a Financial Advisor. His passion lies in data analytics, client service, and research. Sebastian is licensed as a life and health insurance agent.
Sebastian and his wife, Emily, live in Lexington, KY. Together, they have two children – Willow Adrienne & Sawyer. Some of his favorite hobbies include youth sport coaching, and aviation.
If he could share one piece of advice, it would be to trust the process.
A fun fact about Sebastian is that he was a member of the South African Equestrian Team.
Dean Abernathy Client Service Associate
Dean joined the Family Wealth Group Team in January of 2022 as a Client Service Associate. He comes to Family Wealth Group with 15+ years of sales, and customer service experience. Dean has also obtained his Health and Life Insurance license in Kentucky.
Dean was drawn to becoming part of the Family Wealth Group team because he enjoys helping people – he sees a bright future at FWG.
When asked what piece of advice he would share, he said, “he believes a positive attitude is the best attitude to have.”
Dean relocated from Lexington to Hurricane, WV in 2024 after Family Wealth Group opened an office there. He has two sons, Isaac and Eli. When not at work, some of his favorite hobbies include attending live sporting events / music concerts and spending time with his family.
JT Culp
Client Service Associate
Office: Lexington
JT Culp Client Service Associate
JT joined the Family Wealth Group Team in September of 2022 as a Client Support Associate. He was drawn to Family Wealth Group because of the family atmosphere and community involvement.
JT attended the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business. His area of focus lies in attention to detail, data analytics, and client interaction. He is licensed as a health and life insurance agent in
KY. One piece of advice he would share would be, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest” – Benjamin Franklin.
JT currently lives on Herrington Lake in Harrodsburg, KY. He and his wife, Lyndsy, have two dogs, Buike and Maggie, and two cats, Winston and Phoebe. In his free time, JT enjoys boating, fishing, water skiing, and other outdoor activities, as well as attending and watching UK sports.
Mandy Reed
Client Service Associate
Office: Lexington
Mandy Reed Client Service Associate
Mandy joined the Family Wealth Group Team in March of 2024 as a Client Service Associate. Mandy came to Family Wealth Group with many years of experience as an employee benefits account manager. She brings a wealth of knowledge and diverse skill sets to her current role.
Mandy attended the University of Kentucky where she majored in theatre. She is also a licensed Kentucky Life & Health agent. When asked what drew her to Family Wealth Group she said “I love to help people, and I love problem-solving. I was drawn to Family Wealth Group because we focus on doing what is best for our clients.”
Mandy is a native of Lexington, Kentucky where she resides with her husband, daughter, and their dog Indie. Aside from spending time with her family and friends Mandy enjoys art, design, and live music.
Melinda Vinson
Client Service Associate
Office: Georgetown
Melinda Vinson Client Service Associate
Melinda joined the Family Wealth Group Team in March of 2024 as a Client Service Associate. She brings over 30 years of customer service experience to Family Wealth Group. Melinda was drawn to Family Wealth Group due to the values the company holds to focus on their clients as part of their family.
Melinda was raised in Lexington Kentucky, but later moved to Texas and then landed in Hilton Head Island, SC for many years. Before joining Family Wealth Group, Melinda moved back to Kentucky to Georgetown, where she can be closer to family.
Melinda has 2 adult sons and has been blessed with 7 grandchildren, 4 granddaughters and 3 grandsons. Melinda is an outgoing and energetic person who is close with her loving and supportive family.
Outside of work Melinda enjoys being outdoors and spending as much time as she can in the sun. She has been showing dogs in conformation and obedience for the last 30 years. She is a lifetime member and Senior Breeder Judge for the Australian Shepherd Club of America which awards her the opportunity to travel the world and judge dog shows which she says is “the best gig ever.”
William Ellis
Client Service Associate
Office: Lexington
William Ellis Client Service Associate
William joined the Family Wealth Group team in May of 2024 as a Client Service Associate.
William graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science – Agricultural Economics degree with a Business Minor. He holds his life and health insurance licenses and looks to obtain his Series 65 designation soon. William’s inspiration behind becoming a part of the Family Wealth Group team is the opportunity to help people plan for their retirement while also growing personally and professionally.
William is originally from Madisonville, KY but moved to Lexington in 2014 when he was a freshman at the University of Kentucky.
Outside of work William enjoys golfing with his friends, UK & NFL Football, UK Basketball, and playing with his English Black lab, Ellie. William is also passionate about giving back to the community and finding ways to be charitable. Family and faith are the most important things to him.
Kimberly Greene
Client Service Associate
Office: Lexington
Lexa Berry Human Resources & Operations
Office: Lexington
Lexa Berry
Human Resources & Operations Manager
Lexa joined the Family Wealth Group Team in October of 2018. She manages all Human Resource functions, and ensures that the office is well kept and is running smoothly.
Prior to beginning her career at Family Wealth Group, Lexa attended Eastern Kentucky University and has over 25+ years of experience in the hospitality and retail industry. She is a member of SHRM (The Society for Human Resource Management), the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, and is a Kolbe consultant.
When asked what brought Lexa to Family Wealth Group, she responded, “I was looking for a forever work family that care about each other and their clients. I found it here.”
In her spare time, Lexa enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her dad. She has 3 children. Her oldest son, Chase, lives in South Carolina and is a CPA. Her middle child, Holden, graduated from UK with his Finance degree and resides in Lexington, Kentucky. Her youngest, Leah, graduated from the University of Cincinnati CCM with a stage management degree and is living in LA.
Terrie OsborneCompliance / Human Resources
Office: London
Terrie Osborne Compliance/ Human Resources
Terrie joined the Family Wealth Group Team in October of 2014. She manages our office in London, Kentucky. She is a native to Laurel County, where she graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders.
When asked what she loves about working with Family Wealth Group, Terrie says, "It's the people - the people we serve and the people I work with are the best part." She feels assured knowing that a plan is being laid out to secure the future of her hard-working neighbors. "It gives them peace of mind during difficult times. We offer them a place to go when they have questions," she explains.
Ladora Bennett Reception & Hospitality
Office: Hurricane, WV
Ladora Bennett Reception & Hospitality
Ladora joined the Family Wealth Group Team in September of 2024. She is the first face you will see when visiting our Hurricane, West Virginia office. Ladora will greet you with a big smile and make you feel very welcome. Ladora is the baker behind the heavenly aroma of Family Wealth Group chocolate chip cookies when you walk in the door.
If Ladora could share one piece of advice with clients, she would tell them to “ask a lot of questions if you do not understand something.”
Ladora lived most of her life in Virginia, but moved to Milton, West Virginia several years ago to be closer to her daughter. Ladora has one adult daughter and one adult son who are both her favorites! She also has 2 grandsons and a granddaughter, all in high school. Ladora’s housemates are two kitties, a Russian Blue and a Calico, who offer endless amounts of entertainment.
Outside of work Ladora loves to hike, go for boat rides and spend time on the water, take walks on the beach, read a good mystery or drama book, sew, watch sports, especially football, and celebrate all the holidays cooking.
A fun fact about Ladora is like Donald Bentley, Ladora also has an extensive fun quirky sock collection. She says, “it's so much fun to find unique socks and wear them!” Be sure to ask Ladora about her socks next time you are in the office!
Bethany Stork Reception & Hospitality
Office: Georgetown
Noelle Brodeur Reception & Hospitality
Office: Harrodsburg
Katie Bowling Reception & Hospitality
Office: Lexington
Bethany Stork Reception & Hospitality
Bethany joined the Family Wealth Group Team in 2021. She is the first face you will see in our Georgetown office - she loves chatting with and assisting our clients. Bethany is also the baker of the famous Family Wealth Group chocolate chip cookies for your meeting in Georgetown.
Bethany is originally from Kentucky, however, married a man from Manhattan, New York, Jason, who is a Navy Veteran. They are a blended family and have enjoyed raising 5 children between them. After living in several places around the United States, they finally settled in Bethany's hometown of Versailles, KY.
In her spare time, Bethany enjoys going to the Lexington Opera House and to Broadway in New York when they visit family. She also enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with family.
Noelle Brodeur Reception & Hospitality
Noelle joined the Family Wealth Group Team in May of 2023. She is part of our hospitality team and is the face behind those delicious, fresh cookies you smell when you first walk into our Harrodsburg office. You might also see her at our Harrodsburg events.
Noelle has her Associate of Arts degree in paralegal studies from Eastern Kentucky University.
Noelle lived in Baton Rouge, LA for 10 years, and now resides back in her hometown of Harrodsburg, KY. She has three children: Lydia, Joshua and Matthew, and one grandson: Alexander.
When asked what she likes to do outside of work, she said that she enjoys: traveling, gardening, reading, and spending time with her grandson and Schnauzer named Heidi. She also volunteers regularly at her home church.
Katie Bowling Reception & Hospitality
Katie joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2023. She is the smiling face you see when you first come into our Lexington office, and a dedicated member of our hospitality team. Katie creates a welcoming and pleasant experience for all our clients and bakes delicious chocolate chip cookies for each meeting.
Katie has her Associate of Arts degree from Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Her expertise lies in building strong client relationships, making people feel welcome and expressing how much their visit matters to us.
Katie is a lifelong resident of Lexington, KY where she lives with her elderly cat Mittens. She enjoys an active lifestyle outside of work that includes hiking, kayaking, climbing, and skiing in the winter. Additionally, she loves long walks and reading a good book in the sunshine. If she had to pick one place to spend her time it would be on any beach in Florida. Katie is very close to her parents and little brother.
When asked if she could share one piece of advice she said “Practice gratitude daily. When you really look there is always something to be thankful for.”
Karen Wantland Director of Community Outreach / Events
Offices: Lexington, Georgetown, Harrodsburg, KY & Hurricane, WV
Layla Slone Client Relationship Specialist
Office: Lexington
Heather Hisle Marketing & Events Manager
Office: Lexington
Karen Wantland Director of Marketing/ Community Relations
Karen joined the Family Wealth Group Team in 2019. If you haven't already met her, your paths are bound to cross. Whether it's at the office, a luncheon, dinner seminar, or client appreciation event, Karen will be there.
She is always up for a cup of coffee and conversation, and always a laugh!
Want to ensure you get invited to the fun events or want to introduce friends, family or co-workers to Family Wealth Group? Call Karen!
When not at Family Wealth Group, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs. She also volunteers for many non-profit organizations. In addition, she loves to paint, and help others downsize / organize their spaces.
Layla SloneClient Relationship Specialist
Layla joined the Family Wealth Group Team in June of 2019. She is the traffic control officer of Family Wealth Group. She makes all of the appointments and keeps everyone running on schedule.
She has had lots of practice for her position raising her two daughters’, Abigail and Addison, who are both very involved in extracurricular activities. Layla is currently on the Board of Directors at Bluegrass Youth Ballet, and involved in her daughters' school.
In her spare time, Layla loves hanging out with her dog Coco Belle, traveling, cooking, and being with family and friends.
Heather HisleMarketing & Events Manager
Heather joined the Family Wealth Group Team in August 2020 with 10 years of graphic design, marketing, and event experience. You will see her at all Family Wealth Group events with her clipboard in hand. She loves to chat and get to know everyone, so feel free to introduce yourself!
Heather is a Kentucky native and grew up in Versailles, Kentucky. She moved to Lexington when she married her husband, Kevin. Together they have one son, Cameron, who keeps them very busy with sports and activities.
In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, photography, travel, reading a good book, and spending time with her family, friends and sweet cat & dog, Mabel & Smokey.
Jennifer Maggard Central Kentucky Marketing & Events Coordinator
Office: Lexington & Georgetown
Jennifer Maggard Central Kentucky Marketing & Events Coordinator
Jennifer joined the Family Wealth Group team in June of 2023, as our Central Kentucky Marketing & Events Coordinator.
She comes to Family Wealth Group with 25 years prior experience in the hospitality industry, and 15 years of prior experience in planning events and collaborating with local nonprofits.
Jennifer states that she loves bringing people together for a good time, a shared interest, or a great cause. She is inspired to work at Family Wealth Group due to our ability to serve our clients on an individual basis according to their needs, while also giving back to the communities we serve.
Jennifer enjoys living an active lifestyle and being out in nature, including, exploring, hiking and visiting State and National Parks, with her husband, Michael, and their 3 daughters.
Linda Angel
Employer Liaison
Office: Georgetown & Lexington
Linda AngelEmployer Liason
After retiring from the Human Resource department of Toyota, Linda thought to herself, "What next?"
After meeting with Family Wealth Group for her own retirement planning, she became an advocate for other Family Wealth Group clients, answering questions and making sure other individuals had the necessary information and resources for their retirement questions.
It only made sense that she join the Team as a contractor. Linda is a great resource for us and for our clients - Put her to work by calling the main office to leave a message & she will respond promptly.
In her spare time, you can find her at the Georgetown Library, or any number of local shops.
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