MEET THE TEAM

 

Our team at Blue Ridge Wealth Planners is made up of qualified financial professionals who are passionate about helping individuals and families achieve their ideal retirements.

wealth planning

Bob Fugate, CFP®

Wealth Planning, Founder

Bob Fugate

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERBob Fugate founded Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in 2004 and has since grown a strong team of financial professionals who have helped thousands of families throughout East Tennessee lead fulfilling and financially confident retirements. Today, Bob no longer needs to work in the day-to-day operations of the business and instead focuses on one of his most fulfilling activities - educating others. In this pursuit, Bob has taught in classrooms at universities and community colleges around the state including the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Lee University, Northeast State Community College, Walters State Community College, and many more.

After balancing a long career in agriculture with undergraduate and graduate education in finance and economics, Bob began working full time in financial services in 1998. Because of the limitations he encountered within the captive brokerage industry and a genuine desire to work for the best interests of his clients rather than a specific company, he became an independent advisor and founded his own firm with a focus on coordinating the efforts of financial professionals in every field of retirement in order to create comprehensive and personalized financial plans for every family that walks into a conference room with his team. To Bob, cookie cutters just don't work for retirement.

We don't have money for money's sake. From travelling the world to helping our grandkids go to college, we have money to help us achieve our goals. Whether you're seeking advice on income, investments, taxes, healthcare, or legacy planning, Bob Fugate has a passion for educating others and empowering them to achieve their goals and dreams.

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Jonathan Mills

Wealth Planning

Jonathan Mills

Jonathan came to Blue Ridge in 2020 after working as an equity analyst for two years. He is a Knoxville native that graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Finance and Business Analytics. While in school, he served as a portfolio manager for one of the school's student led endowment investment funds. Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys spending his free time exercising, traveling with his wife, Marena, and cheering on the Tennessee Vols.

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John Vandergriff

Wealth Planning Team Lead, Owner

John Vandergriff

As a former football player for the University of Tennessee under Coach Phillip Fulmer and high school state champion wrestler, John Vandergriff brings an important team mentality to Blue Ridge Wealth. John worked in various ministry and coaching positions for five years before joining the team in 2012.

Combining his ministry experience and his financial training from Bob, John has worked with many clients in his time at Blue Ridge Wealth. He is a dually licensed Insurance Agent and Investment Advisor Representative and is currently working to earn his CFP® Certification. John also holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from The University of Tennessee.

In addition to working at Blue Ridge Wealth, John continues to actively teach in his church, and he enjoys filling his extra time golfing, exercising, watching sports, and enjoying marriage with his wife, Ashley, Bob's youngest daughter.

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Elizabeth Caughman

Wealth Planning

Elizabeth Caughman

Elizabeth Caughman joined Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in June of 2021. Elizabeth is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee receiving her Bachelor's in Finance while serving as a portfolio manager to one of the University's endowment funds. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains National Park, traveling to new places and finding new local restaurants.

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Chris Morris

Wealth Planning

Chris Morris

Originally from Tennessee and raised in the Philippines, Chris Morris joined Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in October of 2019. Chris graduated from the University of Tennessee receiving his MBA in Finance while serving as a portfolio manager to one of the University's endowment funds. Chris spends much of this spare time either exercising at the gym, reading about history and philosophy, and enjoying leisure with his wife Destiny and their one year old son, Morgan.

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Client Relations

Josh Bigwood

Client Relations Team Lead

Josh Bigwood

Josh Bigwood joined Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in 2019. He is a native of Knoxville with a background in customer service. Before becoming a member of the Team, he was a student of theatre, and enjoys acting both on stage and in film.

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Emily Houston

Client Relations

Emily Houston

Emily came to Blue Ridge in the spring of 2021. She was born and raised in Knoxville and attended the University of Tennessee where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Emily enjoys spending time with her friends and family, canoeing, kayaking, and going to the beach.

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Jeannie Bullard

Client Relations

Jeannie Bullard

Jeannie is one of the most thoughtful, empathic and funny people you will ever meet. She genuinely cares about the interests and needs of others above herself and has a memory that would make us all jealous. This makes her a true asset to our Client Relations team! Jeannie joined our team in 2009 after moving to Knoxville from Waycross, Georgia. She enjoys kickboxing, spending time reading, walking, going to church, and cooking for her family.

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Kristian Buckner

Client Relations

Kristian Buckner

Kristian came to Blue Ridge Wealth Planners with several years of financial services experience behind him and a wonderful ability to connect with others, making him a great asset to the Client Relations team. He is a Knoxville native, and he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Theatre. Kristian enjoys discussing film, television, and music, making short films, and playing music with his friends.

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marketing

Brad Fugate

Marketing Team Lead, Owner

Brad Fugate

Bob's son Brad has been working full time as the Managing director at Blue Ridge Wealth since completing his Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Tennessee in 2014. He oversees Blue Ridge Wealth's marketing efforts and handles the design and implementation of various systems and procedures within the company.

Brad earned his undergraduate degree in audio production and enjoys writing and recording music with his wife, Rachel, and the rest of their band.

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Neil Ervin

Marketing

 

Neil Ervin

 

Neil came to Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in early 2019. His background in content creation and customer experience make him a great asset to the Marketing team. He is a Knoxville native and freelance videographer. Neil enjoys hiking, filmmaking, and acting in his free time. Being a filmmaker, he also enjoys watching films, his favorite being spaghetti westerns and psychological horror.

 

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Olivia Mitchell

Marketing

Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell joined Blue Ridge Wealth Planners at the end of 2018. She is originally from Memphis but decided to make Knoxville home after graduating from the University of Tennessee with her Bachelor of Arts in History. Her attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects make her invaluable to our team in her role as our founder's executive assistant. Olivia enjoys painting, spending time with her friends, and exploring Knoxville.

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operations

Matthew Sewell

Operations Team Lead

Matthew Sewell

Matthew came to Blue Ridge in the spring of 2021. He is a Knoxville native, and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelors degree in Marketing, and from Wilmington University with an MBA in marketing. Matthew enjoys playing soccer, golf, basketball, visiting national parks, and Disney.

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Autumn Brewer

Operations

Autumn Brewer

Autumn started at Blue Ridge in the spring of 2022. She grew up in Central Florida, just north of Orlando, and moved to Middle Tennessee in high school. She attended the University of Tennessee where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and met her husband. Autumn enjoys being outside, baking, playing board games, and spending time with her friends and family.

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Jordan Reed

Operations

Jordan Reed

Jordan came to Blue Ridge in the fall of 2020. She is a Knoxville native, and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelors degree in Finance. Jordan enjoys playing soccer, visiting national parks, and taking care of her cat named Luna.

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Zoë Goodacre

Operations

Zoë Goodacre

Zoë started at Blue Ridge in the summer of 2022. She grew up in the Chicagoland area in Illinois, and moved to Knoxville Tennessee in high school. She attended South College where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership/Management. Zoë enjoys traveling, going to the dog park with her dog Caboose and spending time with friends and family.

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Caroline Wilburn

Operations

Caroline Wilburn

Caroline started March of 2022. She is from Maryville, TN, went to East Tennessee State University for college in Johnson City where she got her degree in advertising with a minor in marketing, and moved back to the area after she graduated. Outside of work she loves spending time with friends and family and anything outdoors. She spends most of her weekends in the summer on the lake.

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portfolio management

Zach Hill

Portfolio Management Team Lead

Zach Hill

Zach Hill is our Portfolio Management Team Lead. He is originally from Kingsport, TN but has lived in Knoxville since 2009. Zach graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors degree in Finance and received his MBA with a concentration in finance from UT as well. His background with institutional investing and working with a fintech software startup makes him a perfect fit to lead our Portfolio Management team. Most of Zach's free time goes towards running Remedy, a local coffee shop, which he and a friend are co-owners of. When he does have free time, you can find Zach experimenting with cocktails, trying new restaurants, playing video games or traveling.

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Evan Olds

Portfolio Management

Evan Olds

Evan Olds is a Research Analyst on the Portfolio Management Team. He is originally from Michigan, but has lived in East Tennessee since 2013. Evan graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors degree in Finance where he was VP of the UT Investment Group. In his free time, Evan enjoys skiing, rock climbing, and listening to live music with his friends and family.

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administrative

Ashley Vandergriff

Administrative

Ashley Vandergriff

Ashley is a part of our Administrative team and can be found working at a event, helping with events, or scanning papers at the office. She loves to help wherever she is needed, both personally and professionally. Ashley has called Knoxville home since she was very young and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in education focused on audiology/speech pathology in just three years.

When she's not working, Ashley loves being outdoors, getting involved with her church, and enjoying her life with her husband, John, and their adorable dog Couver (named after Vancouver).  

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Robin Fugate

Administrative

Robin Fugate

Robin Fugate is Bob's Wife, Brad and Ashley's Mother, and John's Mother-In-Law. Robin has a Master's degree in Elementary Education. Although she has retired from public education, Robin still teaches the children's choir at her church where she also enjoys playing trumpet and French horn. Robin helps out with events at the office when needed and enjoys decorating the office Christmas Tree and planning the annual office Christmas party. Her favorite job is keeping the Granddogs when John and Ashley or Brad and Rachel are working or travelling.

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Rachel Fugate

Administrative

Rachel Fugate

Rachel Fugate works full-time at Blue Ridge Wealth Planners on the Administrative team. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2016 with a marketing degree. She loves traveling and cooking when she isn't working as a brilliant wedding photographer. She is originally from Memphis and went to high school in Nashville before deciding to call Knoxville her home. She and Brad have been married since 2015.

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The Next Step?

 

For information about any of the products and services we provide, schedule a visit with one of our planners today or register to attend a event.

 

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Or give us a call at (865) 392-4260