Story by Holly Anne Seng | Photos from Nathan Morgan
A bear and bull face off in the form of two towering paintings that anchor either end of the expansive 20-foot walnut-and-epoxy, river-pour conference table. These two creatures have been synonymous with finance since the 18th century: the bear, a metaphor for the pessimism of a market in decline, while a bull serves as an optimistic symbol for a rising market.
Although both realities are present in the world of finance, for wealth management adviser and certified financial planner Mark Joyner (’97), it’s the confident and robust mindset that serves as the driving force — and logo — of The Wealth Management Group in Paducah, Kentucky.
“A bull fights by pushing the threat up with their head as it charges forward,” said Mark. “This bullish thought process is on the forefront of our brand and in the minds of our clients.”
Foundational Assets
Raised in South Fulton, Joyner attended nearby UT Martin to study accounting. This financial focus was inspired by a financial adviser who played an influential role in Joyner’s life. “I thought what he did for people was noble and challenging,” he said. When it came to his studies, Joyner noted the positive impact his favorite professor, Dr. Rhelda Barron, and academic adviser, Gwen Reese (’88), played in pushing him to succeed.
As a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Greek life held special significance in Joyner’s collegiate experience — both for the leadership mindset it instilled as well as the relationships that were formed and continue to flourish. Although he and his wife, Kathryn (’95), an Alpha Omicron Pi from Sharon, grew up merely 30 miles from one another, it was at the Pike house where the couple first crossed paths. The couple have been married for 28 years and share two daughters, Ali Rose, an accounting major at the University of Mississippi, and Peyton, a senior at McCracken County High School.
Following his graduation from UT Martin in 1997, Joyner moved to Nashville and opened his first brokerage office in the Hermitage community. Kathryn, having studied communications, worked as a reporter for WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky, before accepting a position in the marketing department of Western Baptist Hospital. Following their engagement, Mark relocated to Paducah, where he has built a name for himself as a financial titan through years of hard work, patience, and resilience. Most recently, The Wealth Management Group opened its new headquarters — an impressive newly-constructed building situated on a picturesque parcel of land only minutes from the heart of the creative city.
Service Above Self
When asked about his proudest professional accomplishment, without hesitation, Joyner shared that, “Creating a business with the noble purpose of managing the wealth of generations and seeing it flourish while watching my clients flourish has been and continues to be a dream.” Over his career, he has forged deep professional and personal relationships with clients, some of whom are the great-grandchildren of his early clients, spanning 23 states. “My clients, in a lot of cases, have become like family,” he said.
Central to Joyner’s client-centered philosophy is a heart of service comprised of two core principles: compassion and competence. Guiding his compassion is the reminder that it’s his client’s money and not his own. “When someone places you in charge of their life savings, you must realize how important this is,” he said. “One of my mentors told me once, ‘A man with his health has a thousand wishes, while a person without it has one.’”
For Joyner, it’s about keeping the long game in mind and helping his clients not only build wealth for themselves but maintain it for their future generations.
Closely intertwined with the necessity of compassion is competence. “Another mentor once told me that, ‘A crook can lose your money but so can an idiot,’” said Joyner. As someone constantly on the cutting edge of new information regarding his craft, he also maintains the humility to realize he can’t be the expert on everything. Joyner notes this is where surrounding yourself with a network of experts, spanning tax advisers and estate attorneys, sets a great wealth management adviser apart.
Return on Investment
While serving as UT Martin’s Alumni Council president, Joyner received the following advice from then-Chancellor Keith Carver, “If you want to get big, think small.” Joyner and his staff have taken this advice to heart and implement it in their everyday operations. From tasks such as answering the phones or following up on their word, his firm remains committed to their clients in even the smallest of details. “These things are refreshing these days,” he said. “[Clients remember how business once was, and I try to preserve that while combining it with the very best technology.”
In addition to his staff, Joyner instills the values of hard work and showing up in the little things to the future generation through a mentorship program with McCracken County High School that he’s coined The Platinum Project. The program, which features 20 high school seniors each year, introduces participants to a variety of professionals across industries and enables students to seek out mentors in their aspiring profession. The program also gives each of the seniors the opportunity to identify a junior student to mentor, naming the next cohort of participants. “My hope and expectation are that after 10 years I will have 200 men and women who are in trade school, medical school, law school, college, and the work force ready and willing to give back, spreading service and wisdom in their communities,” he said.
Through his experiences post-grad, Joyner has come to appreciate the caliber of education he received at UT Martin — through lessons taught in classrooms as well as those built on shared life experiences. For those entering the workforce to more seasoned professionals, his advice is simple.
“My journey has been filled with guides who have helped me navigate my way,” he said. “I would encourage all to find quality guides to help you navigate until you blaze your own trails. I would also encourage those same folks to guide others as you become a trailblazer.”
