James M. McCarten/Burr & Forman
Jim is a Partner in Burr & Forman’s Tax, Trusts and Estates and Corporate practice groups, where his practice is best described as a general tax practice. Jim works with a broad spectrum of clients, from start-up businesses, to mid-market family businesses, to publicly traded entities and, finally, retired corporate executives and business owners.
His practice encompasses the entire range of tax planning, including mergers and
acquisitions, structuring and forming start-up businesses, asset protection, family business planning and estates, trusts and wealth preservation. In addition to his transactional planning practice, Jim is also active in representing clients during audits by the IRS and/or a state Department of Revenue.
Finally, as the parent of a young adult on the autism spectrum, Jim is very involved in special needs planning for clients who have family members with a disability.
Jason Meadows/Frazier & Deeter
Jason joined the CPA firm Frazier & Deeter (a Top 100 Firm nationwide) in December of 2000. Jason serves as both the Managing Partner of the firm’s Nashville office and as Head of the Frazier & Deeter Tax Department (firmwide). As a Partner and Head of the Frazier & Deeter Tax Department, he primarily specializes in large corporation taxation consulting and compliance including effectively incorporating LLCs and partnerships into the corporate structure.
Jason has provided consulting services regarding corporate and equity compensation, including the use of stock options and partnership interests. On the transactional side, Jason has provided consulting services regarding mergers & acquisitions and business restructuring for purposes of asset liability protection. In addition, he has extensive experience in FAS 109 and the recently implemented (for public companies) FIN 48.
Jason has experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, real estate, service and technology. He is partner on several of the firm’s largest clients.
Jason is frequently involved with conflict resolution matters regarding the Internal Revenue Service, including representation of the client during the audit process. He has experience drafting successful Offers in Compromise as well as two favorable Private Letter Ruling requests.
Susan Tillery/Paraklete Financial
Susan M. Tillery is President and Co-Founder of Paraklete® Financial, Inc. Susan has over 30 years of experience in tax, philanthropy, and financial planning, as well as in the administrative and compliance areas encountered by affluent individuals and families. Susan’s firm designs and implements, comprehensive financial planning strategies. Paraklete® Financial, Inc.’s focus is on independence and objectivity in order to be the client’s financial advocate and as such, does not manage assets or sell products.
Susan’s experience at Harris myCFO, a multi-family office where she was responsible for the development and delivery of comprehensive family office solutions to affluent families, together with her work at Arthur Andersen, Ronald Blue & Co and other financial firms provides the framework for Paraklete.
Susan earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Georgia. She holds the professional designations of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
Susan is a member of both the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Georgia Society of CPAs (GSCPA). In addition, she is a member of the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Executive Committee and the GSCPA Estate and Financial Planning Committee. She has served as past Vice Chair for the Board of Directors for Partnership against Domestic Violence, as well as for Royal Treasure (an organization that energizes, motivates and educates women to be excellent biblical stewards).
John Ellard/Veracor
John Ellard, CLU brings 20 years of experience in the financial service industry to his work as a Principal at Veracor. John’s specialty area is in providing leadership to families and businesses in the area of wealth design and protection.
John is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. After graduation, he began his career with Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. In 1998 he became a partner with The Benefit Company and in 2005 was a founding partner in Veracor.
John is energetically involved in the estate and wealth planning community having served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Georgian Planned Giving Council and Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute. He holds the Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College. John is a Registered Representative with NFP Securities, Inc. and holds Series 24, 6, 63, 65 and 7 licenses with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Married for 17 years, John and his wife Laura have two children; Justin and Julia. He enjoys sailing, hiking the AT and anything the kids are doing. John is actively involved at North Point Community Church as a Transit leader and serves on the Board of Directors of Camp Highland, a high adventure camp for children.
