Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, he now lives right here in Conyers, Georgia. He has also collected a plethora of licenses, registrations and accolades in his time in finance. Raymond currently holds his Series 65 license, his life insurance and long-term care insurance licenses, and a Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®) designation. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and is an active contributor to Kiwanis International, a worldwide service club that helps children in need.
The inception of Pathlight Advisers is truly a dream come true for Raymond. He has owned his own business since 2010, but never has he felt like his vision has been as fully realized as it is now. “When a company is born, you really get to put your own personal touch on it,” he says. “I think I’ve done that, both in the philosophy I’ve instilled and in the team I’ve built. We prioritize education and financial literacy, especially for groups who might need it the most. Retirement gets more and more confusing each day, so I love presenting options to retirees, families, small-business owners, entrepreneurs and more to give them a chance to understand how they can put their futures first and take hold of what’s important.”
In fact, that education is what Raymond believes sets Pathlight Advisers apart from other firms in the business. We offer a more personal, hands-on experience, both in the planning process and in workshops we host to help our clients develop the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their goals. Raymond says, “We also have real-life conversations with real people. So many times, we realize that our clients have never had these important conversations, so they don’t know where they start or finish. We give them that direction and treat them as equals because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who need to make empowered decisions on their own behalf.”
Knowing he has provided that valuable insight is why Raymond first entered the business in 1998. His goal is to leave clients in a better position and help them achieve peace of mind through a comprehensive understanding of how money works. He often uses the phrase “Reach, teach and repeat” when helping clients, and he hopes that he can duplicate that process both inside his firm and outside of it. “If I can do that, I’ve succeeded,” he says. “I’ve worked with so many clients over nearly three decades, and it never ceases to be satisfying when I see a look of confidence on their faces or watch them make a decision they feel comfortable with because they had all the information.”
A graduate of Youngstown State University, Raymond studied criminal law, psychology and communications. His push into finance was more of a spiritual one, as he has always sought to help others find clarity in their lives. He also takes a bit of each day to connect with himself as part of a process he calls “Stay in the Spirit.” He says it gives him the opportunity to understand himself and others every day he walks into the office, and he believes that understanding grounds him and helps him connect with his clients while fighting on their behalf. In his free time, Raymond stays active by cycling and playing his favorite sport, basketball. He’s also an avid fan of professional sports, as well as cowboy movies and television shows.