Faculty Profile: Reese Veltenaar

Reese co-founded Acumen Wealth Advisors when he realized the continuing need for innovative and transparent client-centric asset management integrated with financial planning. Reese provides strategic leadership, planning, and broad executive management to the firm's strategic objectives and is a member of the Portfolio Management Committee.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and with a background in accounting, Reese assembles financial plans and monitors changes as clients’ lives progress. He helps clients reach their long- and short-term financial goals by discussing investment strategies, estate planning considerations, risk management protection through insurance, tax efficiency strategies, charitable intent, and retirement accumulation and distribution tactics. Reese listens, thoroughly explains details, and encourages conversation to help clients feel engaged and important.

Reese holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree, a life insurance license, is a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and an honors graduate of Cannon Trust School. Reese has also been recognized as a member in InvestmentNews’ 2017 40 Under 40 class for his accomplishments, contributions, leadership, and promise in the financial planning industry.

Reese served as Vice President and Relationship Manager for Trust and Private Banking at Regions Bank for ten years and received multiple Chairman’s Club awards.  This award honors the top ten percent of associates across 16 states and is the company’s top annual performance recognition. Reese is passionate about charitable planning and serves as the Foundation Chairman of the Board for Hospice of Chattanooga. Reese is also a member of the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council.

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification is obtained by completing an advanced college-level course addressing the financial planning subject areas the CFP board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, a comprehensive certification exam (administered in ten hours over a two-day period) and agreeing to be bound by the CFP board’s standard of professional conduct. As a prerequisite, the IAR (Investment Adviser Representative) must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or foreign university equivalent) and have at least three years of full-time financial planning experience (or equivalent measured at 2,000 hours per year). This designation requires 30 hours of continuing education every two years and renewing an agreement to be bound by the standards of professional conduct.

The Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) certification is obtained by successfully completing an exam administered by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Institute of Certified Bankers (ICB). As a prerequisite to sit for the exam, individuals must meet one of the following requirements: three years of wealth management experience and complete an ICB-approved training program; or have five years of wealth management experience and a bachelor’s degree; or ten years of wealth management experience. Wealth Management Experience is defined as direct client contact in the various facets of delivering financial planning and fiduciary services relating to trusts, estates, IRAs, and individual asset management accounts. This designation requires 45 continuing education credits every three years with a minimum of six hours in each of the four knowledge areas. The Cannon Trust School program is designed to facilitate the planning, implementation and administration of complex trusts including gift and estate taxes, advanced generation skipping, fiduciary income tax, and split interest and charitable trusts.