Honoring Advisors Who Serve(d): Veterans Day, 2024

Michael Farley

Title/company: President/Farley Financial Partners Branch: U.S. Army Rank held at beginning of service and at end: 2nd Lieutenant/Captain Service dates: 1988–1995 Work you did: Combat Engineer Platoon Leader at Fort Carson, Colorado. Responsible for the well-being of 30 combat engineers and enlisted soldiers. Brief story that stands out from your service time: The 30-soldier team I was in charge of was named the best of 12 combat engineer platoons at Fort Carson after an exhaustive three-day, 24-hour-a-day exercise. I learned so much about leadership, motivation and teamwork in those three days as I worked with my non-commissioned officers and soldiers. I find myself using some of those same lessons 30 years later as I would my team and our clients.

Ryan R. Hyslop

Title/company: Managing Partner/Sierra Pacific Wealth Management Branch: U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserves Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Ensign/Lieutenant Commander Service dates: 1997–2018 Work you did: Naval Aviator with nearly 3,000 flight hours and 256 carrier landings in the T-34C, T-45A, F-14B, C-2A and C-40A Brief story that stands out from your service time: My commanding officer from my first fighter squadron, who was my mentor, always told me you have to work hard if you’re gonna play hard and exercise often to stay sharp. That and make your bed every morning.

Billy Lanter

Title/company: Fiduciary Investment Advisor, Director of Sales/American Trust Wealth Branch: U.S. Army Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Private/Staff Sergeant Service dates: 2000-2006 Work you did: Forward observer for field artillery. Called grid coordinates for tanks, howitzers and Apache helicopters. Brief story that stands out from your service time: I actually graduated from all my initial training (basic and job training) on Sept. 11, 2001. Shortly after a small ceremony in the morning, the whole world changed. I had been counting down to that date for so long with no idea its significance beyond graduation.

H.A. McGill

Title/company: Director-Investments/Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Branch: U.S. Army Rank held at beginning of service and at end: Private/Captain Service dates: 1986–1991 Work you did: Infantry, Military Police Officer Brief story that stands out from your service time: When I was at Airborne school, there were a number of soldiers from the rural South, flying for the first time … the kicker being, on this flight, they were jumping out of the plane!

Marc Schmeeckle (second from the right)

Title/company: Retirement Plan Consultant/SageView Advisory

Branch: U.S. Army

Work you did: Ranger with 75th Ranger Regiment

Brief story that stands out most from your service time: I conducted special operations and ranger missions in a unit capable of worldwide deployment, and I served with some of the most highly trained and motivated soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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