Dick Ferguson

Managing Director/Investments

When it comes to wealth planning for affluent families, you would be hard pressed to find a financial advisor with Dick Ferguson’s resume and experience.

Dick joined Stifel in 2022 with the opening of the firm’s office in Athens.  In his 35+ years in the financial industry, he trained over 1,000 advisors as a Divisional Director at Raymond James and as President of the Private Client Group at its predecessor firm, Morgan Keegan, where Dick began his career in 1987.

One constant throughout Dick’s career has been helping high-net-worth families and individuals manage significant wealth events, such as selling a business or efficiently transferring their corporate benefits into personal wealth.

Recognizing that wealth preservation is a key objective of his clients, Dick likes to say that he is not just in the wealth management business, but that he is in the risk management business, seeking to mitigate risk for his clients.

In addition to carefully developing strategies designed to help clients manage and preserve wealth, Dick’s comprehensive wealth planning process encompasses addressing the many essential services that affluent clients need – such as estate planning and charitable giving strategies, cash management and lending, and generational succession planning.

When it comes to managing family wealth, Dick draws from his personal experience working with his own family members, who have owned a successful business in Athens for generations.  He understands the dynamics and complexities that families often face and knows the strategies for addressing them.

While Dick has enjoyed much personal and professional success over his 35-year career, he continues to faithfully serve his clients.  He will tell you he just enjoys helping people and bringing resolution to their financial challenges.  Dick strives to be open, honest, and authentic as he works to be a good steward of his clients’ wealth, reflecting his personal principles of being prudent with managing his own money.

Active in the community, Dick has served as a trustee of Athens Academy for the past 17 years and serves on the endowment committee of First Presbyterian Church.  In addition, he previously served as president of the Athens Country Club, president of the Athens City Club, and director of Downtown Ministries.

Dick’s generosity and desire to give back extend beyond the Athens community as well.  Through his support of Canopy Life International, he helps students in Kenya create innovative solutions that are designed to lead their families and communities out of poverty.

Dick is a native of Athens, where he lives with his wife, Susan.  They have three grown children, Richard, John, and Lucy.  He is a graduate and avid fan of the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Stifel’s banking and lending services are provided by Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust (collectively Stifel Banks).  Stifel Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 451163, is affiliated with Stifel Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS# 375103, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Member SIPC & NYSE, each a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp.  Unless otherwise specified, references to Stifel may mean Stifel Financial Corp. and/or any of its subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise specified, products purchased from or held by Stifel are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or other obligations of Stifel Banks, are not guaranteed by Stifel Banks, and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of the principal.  Neither Stifel nor affiliated companies provide legal or tax advice.

Ed Ferguson

Managing Director/Investments; Branch Manager

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Ed has a rich history of helping high-net-worth clients in their quest to manage and preserve their wealth.  He began his career in 1994 with Morgan Keegan & Co. in Atlanta before relocating to open a new office for the firm in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2001 and once again in 2004 to become Branch Manager of Morgan Keegan’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office.  He remained with the firm through its 2012 merger with Raymond James and returned to his hometown of Athens in 2015 to become Branch Manager of the Athens branch of Raymond James.

In 2022, Ed joined Stifel as Branch Manager of their newly established Athens office.  He is proud to have joined a firm that recognizes the value of the relationship he shares with his clients.

Born and raised in Athens, Ed and his wife, Shannon, have three grown children – Ed Jr., Grace, and Pratt.  When not serving his clients, Ed enjoys cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Additionally, Ed devotes his free time to the Athens community.  He is a proud board member of Goodwill of North Georgia, an emeritus member of the Terry College of Business, and a board member of the Athens City Club, in addition to having served on the session of First Presbyterian Church of Athens.

Karen Miley

CFP

CFP

Client Relationship Manager

Karen Miley has more than 15 years of experience helping clients through complex processes, answering inquiries, and troubleshooting issues to help clients remain focused on their long-term financial goals.  She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, from the CFP Board, which identifies those individuals who have met the experience requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning coursework, and have passed the CFP^® Certification Examination.

Karen started her career in 2001 with T. Rowe Price, with her last assignment in Advisory Planning Services.  She joined Morgan Keegan in 2008, staying with the firm through its 2012 merger with Raymond James and later joining Stifel in 2022.

Karen is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and currently resides in Watkinsville, Georgia.