GAAM Advisors and Management

H. Michael Gilbert, CFP, CEO (Advisor/Management)

Michael Gilbert is the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Co-Owner of GAAM. Michael has been involved in the field of finance for over 30 years and is a nationally recognized retirement expert and speaker. He was named as one of “America’s Top 100 Independent Advisors” by a prestigious financial publication in August 2007. In July 2007, Michael was recognized by George H. W. Bush, the Forty-first President of the United States, as one of the Top Investment Advisors in the country. He has been quoted in many nationally recognized investment publications including “Research Magazine,” “Financial Planning Magazine,” and the prestigious “Journal for Financial Planning.” Michael has also gained a national reputation for creativity and innovation in the field of advanced academic-based asset management.

Michael heads the Investment Advisory Department of GAAM and concentrates the majority of his time in investment research, portfolio design, and client education. In 2007, he designed and introduced the Modular Retirement Strategy (MRS) to GAAM clients. MRS is a highly advanced retirement strategy that is based on the most recent and innovative academic studies in the unique field of Retirement Income Management & Wealth Preservation. The main goal of MRS is to help safety-conscious retirees avoid outliving their income while maintaining their standard of living. Michael is married and has 2 daughters. He is an “honor graduate” with a B.S. Degree. Michael’s hobbies include the study of Quantum Physics, Competitive Chess, the study of Philosophy, and traveling.

Pamela Benzer, CFP, CPA, COO (Advisor/Management)

Pamela Benzer is the Chief Operations Officer and Co-Owner of GAAM. She has been involved in the Field of Finance for over 20 years and has both her CFP & CPA designations. For many years, Pamela was heavily involved in meeting with clients and portfolio management and was invited to speak at the LPL National Conference on several occasions. However, over the last few years, she has concentrated the majority of her time managing the Operations Department, Personnel, and the Investment Processing Department which is a formidable challenge given the fact that GAAM is one of the largest independent firms in the nation. Pamela originally designed the 6000 square foot Johnson City office and directed the design of GAAM’s new 9000 square foot state-of-the-art Kingsport office which opens in the Spring of 2008. She is incredibly skillful in business organization and management and chairs GAAM’s Technology Committee. GAAM’s Institute for Affluent Women was originally conceived and designed by Pamela.

Pamela is married with one “semi-child” named Sedona – a Boykin Spaniel that thinks it is a person. Pamela’s hobbies include scrap-booking, jewelry making, and reading. She is also a Jazzercise Instructor which is her favorite pastime.

Mike Davis, RIS, CFS, VP, (Private Investment Advisor)

Mike Davis, as the firm's Vice President, is responsible for positioning GAAM in the local financial marketplace through development of cutting edge investment designs and strategies under the direction of Michael Gilbert. He also meets with GAAM clients and is involved in individualized portfolio management and design. After a degree in Business Administration & Finance and a minor in Marketing, Mike began as a Marketing VP for a multi-state equipment company before starting his own highly successful technology business. Due to successful business ventures, Mike was able to experience investing as a retiree at a very early age. With a constant thirst for knowledge which quickly lead him away from retirement, Mike obtained two graduate level designations in the financial field: Retirement Income Specialist & Certified Fund Specialist. He is currently finishing a Master of Science degree in Financial Services. Mike has the gift of “creativity and innovation” which is a very rare commodity in the field of financial planning and advisory services. He is also top computer expert and programmer which are invaluable in the technology driven financial industry.

Mike currently resides in Jonesborough, TN with his wife Christy and children Evan and Katie. Mike enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, experimenting with robotics and programming.

Joy Garland, RIS, (Private Investment Advisor)

Joy has been with GAAM for over 10 years and is one of the firm’s most popular advisors. Prior to GAAM, she had many years of experience in the banking industry including branch management. Joy has an in-depth knowledge of the financial field and enjoys meeting with clients most of all. She is part of GAAM’s investment committee and is heavily involved in portfolio management. Joy is frequent guest on local radio talk shows discussing various financial matters. She also assists in directing GAAM’s Institute for Affluent Women. Joy has her certification as a Retirement Income Specialist (RIS) and is currently working on a second designation, the Certified Fund Specialist (CFS). It should be noted that less than 1% of Financial Advisors in the U.S. have the highly specialized RIS certification. Joy also plans on pursuing her Masters in Finance in the near future.

Joy and her husband Scott have two children and live in Johnson City. She loves to read, but most of her spare time is allotted to her children, Savannah and Grayson.

Michael Bird, CFP, ChFC, CFS, MBA, (Private Investment Advisor)

Michael is a financial planner and holds the Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Funds Specialist and the Chartered Financial Consultant designations. He spent 15 years in engineering and management of manufacturing operations for large corporations before giving in to his passion for financial planning and investment management. Having earned an Engineering degree from Texas Tech University and an MBA from the University of Memphis, his approach is more analytical and specific than the typical financial advisor. Michael was an adjunct professor at three colleges in Memphis including his alma mater, the University of Memphis, and has taught prospective CFP candidates at Christian Brothers University. In addition to serving as the Community Services Director and President-elect for the Mid-South Financial Planning Association, he was recently recognized as one of America’s Best Financial Planners by the Consumer’s Research Council. Michael enjoys meeting with clients and is very involved in portfolio management. With his financial background, Michael has added a “comprehensive financial planning arm” to GAAM’s list of client services. He also oversees GAAM’s Long-Term Care service.

At home, Michael spends time with his wife Donna, their twin boys aged 13 and his daughter aged 10 watching movies and reading. He takes advantage of the mountains in East Tennessee by hiking, skiing, and fly fishing whenever possible. He also holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Amy Edwards, CFP, (Private Investment Advisor)

Amy Edwards is a Certified Financial Planner™ with a B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC. She has 10 years experience in financial planning and investment management with additional 8 years relating to business and financial services and employee benefits. Amy was also an Adjunct professor for the College of Financial Planning program at Guilford College, Greensboro, NC. She specializes in Comprehensive Financial Planning, Tax Planning, and Pension Planning; and she is an expert on the new and highly complex Hybrid Guarantees that are being developed by the financial industry to overcome both market and longevity risk. She will complete her Master’s Program in Financial Planning in 2009. Amy meets with clients and is involved in portfolio management. She also assists in directing the Institute for Affluent Women and provides “comprehensive financial planning” to GAAM clients.

Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, a 13 year-old daughter, Katie, and a 5-year old son, Phillip. She and her family enjoy traveling, history exploration, gem mining, and amusement parks. Amy’s personal hobbies include organizational behavior research, reading and baking.

Jeff Kastner, RIS, MBA, (Private Investment Advisor)

Jeff Kastner is from the Jackson, Tennessee area and is one of GAAM’s most popular advisors because if his personality and love of people. Jeff graduated from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee and earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee. He was the first person in history to have completed UT’s 36 hour MBA program in two semesters. Jeff currently holds the designation of Retirement Income Specialist and is currently working on his Board Certification as an Estate Planning Specialist. He will begin work on his Juris Doctorate in 2008. Jeff has served on Senator Bill Frist’s staff and has worked in an Estate Planning Attorney’s office where he developed a strong legal background. Before coming to GAAM, Jeff was a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Jackson, TN. He enjoys meeting with clients and is very involved in the portfolio management process. With Jeff’s legal and estate planning background, he provides GAAM with additional estate and trust planning expertise. He is also a very gifted writer and has written several financial articles for various publications.

An Eagle Scout, Jeff also enjoys college sports, racing, and just about all outdoor sports. Jeff is engaged to be married and enjoys spending time with his family in Jackson, TN.

Michael Spiegler, CPA, (Advisor/CPA Firm)

Michael A Spiegler, a Certified Public Accountant from Abingdon, Virginia, has been in public accounting since 1983. A 1984 graduate of Emory & Henry College, he previously managed both the audit and commercial tax departments for a regional firm before starting his own practice in 1993. His current practice, with offices in Abingdon, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee, focuses on commercial tax and accounting. In 1996 the practice accepted Robert A Blevins into partnership and the firm has continued its exponential growth. Spiegler has led the practice in the establishment of quality systems of efficient operations. His leadership toward “the paperless office” during the late 1990’s has the firm in the forefront of public accounting efficiency and technology. Spiegler is also a securities licensed registered representative allowing him to serve the investment management needs of his clients via his relationship with Gilbert Advanced Asset Management. Michael meets with clients in the Abingdon and Bristol area.

Michael has served on various community boards and committees over the years and currently serves in the capacity of Trustee on the Johnston Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Virginia Small Business Incubator. A father of two children, Mr. Spiegler is married to the former Sherrie Ramsey of Blountville, Tennessee.

Sheri Whitfield, RIS, MBA, VP, (Management)

Sheri Whitfield is GAAM’s Vice President of Client Accounts which is a key position with the firm as it involves almost every aspect of the planning and investment process. Sheri graduated from the University of Tennessee with an undergraduate degree in Marketing and from East Tennessee State University with a Masters in Business Administration. Sheri began working for GAAM in May 1997 in the investment processing department. She received her Para-Planner designation in 1999. Sheri’s department is responsible for the opening of all accounts, processing deposits and withdrawals, trades, and other client requests. Sheri has the credentials to be an advisor but prefers working behind the scenes. She has all her security licenses as well as her certification as a Retirement Income Specialist (RIS). Sheri is also part of our technology team and organizes GAAM’s internal business meetings.

Sheri lives with her husband Chuck in Greeneville, TN. She has two stepchildren, Trey and Briarman. She enjoys playing with her two golden retrievers, Tucker and Jackson. She also enjoys traveling and scrap-booking. She is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church where she plays hand bells.

Dawn Jones, MAOM, VP, (Management)

Dawn Jones is Vice President of Corporate Operations for GAAM. She has been with the firm since 1999 and has been an integral part of all corporate operations. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, where she graduated with honors in 1993. Through her professional endeavors she obtained her Masters of Organizational Management at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee in 2000. Before joining GAAM, Dawn worked at Johnson City Specialty Hospital as Risk Manager and Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. She came to the firm having a wide range of experience in the finance and operations. Dawn’s responsibilities with GAAM include: finance, industry compliance, client relations, special projects, and management of overall office operations for all locations. She also serves on the leadership team, business development committee and technology committee for the firm.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dawn relocated to East Tennessee in 1998. She, her husband Doug and daughters Katlyn Paige and Allison Nicole currently reside in Chuckey, Tennessee. Dawn loves spending time with her children and enjoys the beach, reading, traveling, and is very active in church.

Scottie Hoogkamp, VP, (Management)

As Vice President of Human Resources, Scottie Hoogkamp is responsible for much of the new talent within the firm. Because of her vast experience over a 15 year career in Business Development and Human Relations Management, she is also a driving force behind GAAM’s marketing functions and has been charged with the task of Project Manager for our new Kingsport location. Scottie is a native of Northeast Tennessee and a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Scottie is currently preparing to attain her MBA. She has spent most of her career in regional medical administration management

She and her family are active in many community events and functions. Some of Scottie’s other hobbies include sports and outdoor activities. She lives in Gray with her husband Tim and son Quinton.