Press Releases

Fifty West Virginia investment professionals have been named to the fourteenth annual SMART529 Honor Roll for encouraging families to save for higher education.

“West Virginia’s financial advisors play a valuable role in helping many families prepare for future costs associated with college,” said State Treasurer John Perdue, who serves as chairman of the SMART529 program’s governing board. “Our SMART529 Honor Roll recognizes those who have excelled in spreading the word on the advantages of the state’s SMART529 college savings plan.”

Financial advisors named to the 2016 SMART529 Honor Roll were rated on both the number of new accounts opened and total dollars invested in the SMART529 program.

Investment professional receiving the 2016 award include:


City

Firm

Representative

Barboursville

Edward Jones

Scott Bumgardner

Barboursville

Raymond James

Brian Massey

Beckley

Edward Jones

Douglas Lehman

Beckley

JP Morgan Chase Securities LLC

Deana Gwinn

Beckley

Northwestern Mutual

Richard Showalter

Bridgeport

Edward Jones

Edward Aman II

Bridgeport

Edward Jones

Robert McKinley

Bridgeport

MVB Bank

Samuel Guarascio

Buckhannon

Edward Jones

Lisa Cain

Charleston

Ameriprise Financial

Dale Goff

Charleston

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Shari Akhtar

Charleston

Fifth Third Securities Inc.

Thomas Dillon

Charleston

Fourth Avenue Financial

John Burdette

Charleston

Hilliard Lyons

David Kirby

Charleston

Hilliard Lyons

Kathryn Lester

Charleston

Huntington Investment Co.

Blaise Robeson

Charleston

JP Morgan Chase Securities LLC

James Parsons

Charleston

JP Morgan Chase Securities LLC

Ralph Wagoner

Charleston

Merrill Lynch

John Quisenberry

Charleston

Merrill Lynch

Joel McDavid

Charleston

Raab Wealth Advisors

Terry Raab

Clarksburg

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Sommer Brown

Elkview

Poca Valley Financial

Thomas Anderson

Fairmont

AXA Advisors LLC

James Chadwell

Fairmont

Flowers and Associates

Bryan Flowers

Huntington

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Susanne Eavenson

Huntington

TIAA-CREF Wealth Management

Robert Menear

Hurricane

LOC Investment Advisors

Jeffrey Borman

Lewisburg

Edward Jones

Katie Eads

Martinsburg

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Joanne Wadsworth

Morgantown

AXA Advisors LLC

Brent Wilmoth

Morgantown

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Douglas Davis

Morgantown

Edward Jones

Brian Kurcaba

Morgantown

Northwestern Mutual

John Barnes

Moundsville

BB&T Investment Services Inc.

Douglas Schmidt

Oak Hill

JP Morgan Chase Securities LLC

Christopher Faris

Parkersburg

Hall Financial Advisors LLC

Christopher Hall

Parkersburg

Northwestern Mutual

Casey Lang

Ripley

Edward Jones

Robert Murray

S Charleston

Heritage Investment Group

Greg Cox

Scott Depot

JP Morgan Chase Securities LLC

Christopher Childress

Weirton

Metlife Securities Inc.

Rickey Thomas

Wheeling

Wells Fargo Advisors

Andrew McKenzie

Wheeling

Wells Fargo Advisors

Michael Riedel

Wheeling

Wells Fargo Advisors

Fred Scheeren

Wheeling

SP Financial Strategies

Susan Pokwatka

Wheeling

Raymond James

Christopher Freeman

Wheeling

Raymond James

Tammy Poppe

Wheeling

Wesbanco Securities Inc.

Howard Bertram

Winfield

Poca Valley Financial

Joshua Wood



State residents have the option of opening SMART529 college savings accounts either directly with the program or through investment professionals located in banks, investment firms and other financial service businesses throughout West Virginia.

SMART529 is a program of the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees. At the end of September, the SMART529 college savings plans had more than 127,000 accounts with investments totaling over $2.2 billion. West Virginia’s SMART529 program is open to investors nationwide.


SMART529 college savings plans are issued by the West Virginia College Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has selected The Hartford Life Insurance Company to administer its college savings program.

West Virginia offers special state tax incentives for West Virginia taxpayers who invest in SMART529. Before opening or contributing to an account, if investors or their designated beneficiaries are residents of states other than West Virginia, investors should compare the other state’s qualified tuition program and any state tax or other benefits that may provide.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with SMART529 before investing. This and other information are provided in the Offering Statements for the SMART529 college savings plans and in the prospectuses or other disclosure documents for the Underlying Funds, which can be obtained by calling 866-574-3542. The Offering Statements should be read carefully before opening an account or sending money.

The Treasury does not collect state taxes. Visit the The West Virginia State Tax Department for assistance.

West Virginia State Treasurer's Office
1900 Kanawha Boulevard
Capitol Complex Building #1, Room E-145
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
304-558-5000 Toll Free: 800-422-7498
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm (ET)

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