Biographies
Christopher S. Laws, CFP® President and LPL Registered Securities Principal
Chris is the founding partner of Keystone Wealth Management, a Certified Financial Planner ®, Registered General Securities Principal, and a LPL Financial Registered Investment Advisor Representative. Chris received his undergraduate degree at Emory University and completed his graduate work at Emory University School of Medicine.
For over a decade, Chris has focused his career on providing investment guidance and consultation to wealthy individuals, corporations and foundations. His expertise encompasses investment analysis, risk management, and personalized wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution strategies. Chris uses a combination of asset allocation, modern portfolio theory, and estate planning to formulate unique wealth management solutions for his clients.
Chris is a widely distinguished public speaker, and has addressed dozens of businesses and organizations throughout the Atlanta and North Georgia area, regarding the principals of sound financial planning and strategic wealth transfer. Community involvement and participation is also a very important principle for Chris, as he offers his council to several foundations including The International Dyslexia Association.
Keystone Wealth Management offers securities through LPL Financial, Member NASD / SIPC, the largest independent Broker/Dealer firm in the country.* LPL is driven by a commitment to independence, excellence and the simple premise that achieving financial goals requires: solid, unbiased advice, meaningful, timely information and research, easy access to value-added investments and services and unparalleled customer service.
Chris founded Keystone Wealth Management based on trust, honesty, and dedication in the pursuit of excellence. He also parallels those qualities in his personal life with his wife and two daughters.
* As reported in Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2006, based on total revenues
- Certified Financial Planner, CFP ®
- Registered General Securities Principal – Series 24 License
- Registered Investment Advisor Representative – Series 65 License
- General Securities Representative - Series 7 license
- Uniform State Law – Series 63 License
- Life and Health – Insurance License
Harry R. Bissinger, LPL Registered Representative
Harry graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in marketing. He recently retired from a career as an airline captain with United Airlines. Harry began his financial services career 9 years ago, focusing on retirement strategies as an expert in retirement distribution. Harry's goal is to inspire his clients in making informed decisions through education, communication, and service that exceeds their expectations.
Harry lives in Acworth with his wife Jamie. His two sons have graduated from college. The oldest son lives in Atlanta with his wife and the youngest son is pursuing a career in the NFL. Harry likes to spend his personal time as a member of the Big Chicken Men's Chorus performing music throughout the Atlanta area. He also plays tennis and tries to spend time enjoying his lake home on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina.
- Registered Investment Company Representative – Series 6 License
- Uniform State Law - Series 63 License
- Life and Health - Insurance License
Ed Walter, LPL Financial Registered Investment Advisor Representative
Ed is a LPL Financial Registered Investment Advisor Representative with over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ed received his Business and Finance degree from the University of Missouri.
Prior to his work in the financial services industry, Ed held high level management positions with various fortune 500 companies. His distinguished career expanded throughout Kansas City, Chicago, New York and Atlanta.
As a Registered Investment Advisor Representative, Ed's primary focus is retirement planning, with an emphasis on long term growth strategies and wealth preservation. He works closely with his clients to develop and maintain customized retirement plans that address their specific goals and objectives.
Ed is a long time resident of Roswell, Georgia, and lives with his wife Linda. He is the father of three sons who, having completed college, are concentrating on their own business careers as well as raising the next generation of the Walter family. Ed is active in his church and two non- profit groups in the Roswell area that help foster children and families in need.
- Registered Investment Advisor Representative - Series 65 License
- General Securities Representative - Series 7 License
- Uniform State Law - Series 63 License
- Life and Health - Insurance License
Timothy J. Pheifer, Wealth Consultant
Tim is a municipal bond and option principal with over 10 years of experience in the financial service industry, and for the past decade has focused his career on providing investment guidance and consultation to wealthy individuals and small businesses.
Tim is committed to providing superior, unbiased financial advice to his clients and their families, and accomplishes this through building long term relationships centered on the understanding of each client’s personal financial goals. To achieve those goals, each client receives a customized investment solution based on a comprehensive five-step approach designed to identify and determine the optimal asset allocation necessary to manage wealth and mitigate risk. Tim’s specialty, in addition to providing investment guidance and consultation, is retirement and estate planning that results in a plan designed to provide consistent, sustainable income throughout the retirement years.
During his personal time, Tim enjoys spending time with his two young children and his wife Vicky, at their home in Canton, Georgia. He likes playing golf, tennis, and when time permits, fishing. He also enjoys being a part of the community whether it’s with his church or coaching baseball at the YMCA.
Tim received his Bachelors degree in Economics at Florida State University.
- Registered Municipal Bond Principal - Series 53 Registration
- Registered Option Principal - Series 4 Registration
- General Securities Representative - Series 7 Registration
- Registered Investment Advisor - Series 65 Registration
- Uniform State Registration - Series 63 Registration
- Registered Managed Futures Representative - Series 31 Registration
- Life with Variable annuity – Insurance License
Mark Anthony Gargano, LPL Financial Registered Investment Wealth Advisor
Mark is a LPL Financial Advisor specializing in financial and estate planning, investment management, and retirement plans. He received his undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Global Executive MBA from Duke University. Mark lives in Alpharetta where he is involved in North Point Community Church and volunteer for American Cancer Society.
Mark’s passion stems from over 20 years in the banking industry where he partnered with corporation to expand their business to other countries. This experience managing a global business including Europe and Asia gives Mark a clear understanding of international investing, currency valuations, and market changes as he funded a foreign portfolio of bonds for Wachovia worth $6 billion. Mark unique experience enables him to help people manage both wealth accumulation and income growth.
Mark joined the Keystone Wealth Management offices to expand his services in estate planning, investment management, and tax considerations. He partnered to offer securities through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC, which is the #1 independent Broker Dealer in the country, more than 280 billion in assets under management and 2.7 million client accounts, 20 years of consecutive earnings growth, in both up and down markets, and no capital markets trading, investment banking or proprietary products.* Our partnership with LPL is built around providing you with the best independent service available in the industry.
Mark’s other interests include competitive tennis, golfing, fly fishing, and boating.
* Based on total revenues, as reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996 - 2008
- Registered Investment Advisor Representative and Uniform State Law – Series 66
- General Securities Representative – Series 7
- Life and Health Insurance –Insurance License
Dax Cooke, LPL Financial Registered Representative
Dax is a LPL Financial Investment Advisor Representative, and received his formal education at The University of Alabama, where he studied Investment and Financial Management.
Prior to joining LPL, he worked as an analyst in the Investment Banking Industry with Citigroup, in the European Corporate Office, London, England. Dax worked directly with European CEO, Michael Kirkwood to underwrite and issue over 3 billion GBP's of corporate bonds. While at Citigroup, Dax mastered the fundamentals of international markets and their effects on portfolio management.
After leaving Citigroup, Dax partnered with his father Bill Cooke to form Cooke Financial. As the firm’s founder and partner, Dax assisted high net worth clients with developing plans designed to preserve and protect their assets. To foster growth and expansion, Dax added another element to his financial planning practice and joined National Financial Services Group in Atlanta, Georgia. He worked with business owners and physician groups to develop in-depth, tax efficient pension plans.
Dax’s comprehensive approach to financial planning is based on years of experience and focuses on precise coordination and communication. He recognizes although most people have several micro managers in their lives, many times they fail to communicate effective¬ly. Not replacing these important relationships, Dax creates a macro model to coordinate a comprehensive financial strategy. His professional specialties include: asset management, risk management, estate planning, and retirement strategies.
When not meeting with clients, Dax enjoys coaching baseball at Morgan Falls Park in Sandy Springs and volunteers with Hands on At¬lanta, a non-profit organization helping individuals, families, corporate, and community groups find flexible volunteer opportunities. His hobbies include golf, Alabama football, baseball, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and spending time with his yellow Lab, Bailey.
- Registered Investment Advisor Representative - Series 65 License
- General Securities Representative - Series 7 License
- Uniform State Law - Series 63 License
- Life and Health - Insurance License
Danny Hood, Registered Representative
Danny Hood joined Keystone Wealth Management in 2009, and brings over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. Previously with Fidelity Investments, he received multiple recognition awards including the elite Presidents Circle Award and Achiever Awards, and additionally earned numerous career promotions.
When working with clients, Danny implements a consultative interview style allowing him to fully understand your life goals and requirements. His process focuses specifically on your priorities, developing individualized financial strategies to enhance your life, and continuously grow your financial future.
Danny provides expertise serving successful individuals and business owners in the areas of asset accumulation and protection, income planning, charitable giving, and wealth transfer.
- Registered Investment Advisor Representative - Series 65 License
- General Securities Representative - Series 7 License
- Uniform State Law - Series 63 License
- Life and Health - Insurance License