Our Team
“My passion is helping families create true multi-generational wealth.”
Bryan Craig Wisda
President | Certified Financial Planner™
Bryan Wisda is the President of Almega Wealth Management. He has more than 25 years of experience in financial services, investment management, and financial planning. Bryan has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™️ since 2006, is a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro, is a Zoe certified advisor, and is recognized as a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor.
Prior to starting Almega, he worked for Bank of America (1995-2000), Farmers Insurance (2000-2001), UBS PaineWebber (2001-2007), and Summit Wealth Management (2007-2015). In 2012 he purchased and ran Summit Wealth Management until selling in 2015.
After selling Summit, he elected to serve the community as a Deputy Sheriff with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). He medically retired in 2021 from law enforcement due to an on-duty shooting in 2016, for which the Sheriff awarded him a Purple Heart, and elected to return to wealth management full-time.
Bryan studied Economic Philosophy at the University of Arizona (1996-2000), Financial Planning through Boston University (2005-2006), and has completed coursework in Adult Education through Rio Salado College.
Throughout his career in finance, he has become most known for helping successful families create a life beyond wealth. He helps provide his clients a life beyond wealth by giving them the freedom of the here and now and by creating an environment that allows their children and grandchildren the opportunity to fail fast and fail forward without entitlement.
Bryan and his wife Sarah have been married for 20 years, are parents to two boys (17 and 14), and are members of Pinnacle Peak Country Club. Bryan is also a Billboard charting musician and the creator of the ADHD Lullaby™ series of albums.
Media Mentions & Articles Published
- “When Inheritance is Negative” – The Wall Street Journal – January 8, 2008
- “Widows Needs Being Ignored by Advisors” – InvestmentNews – June 21, 2009
- “Financial Planners say BP is a Gamble” – Wall Street Journal – June 10, 2010
- “Plan for the New 3.8% Medicare Tax” – Mindful Money – October 2013
- “Fidelity loses some RIA assets over its new DFA/Vanguard fees” – RIABiz – January 3, 2014
- “Are you a trustee? Here are your responsibilities” – Mindful Money – February 2014
- “Smart Ways to Use ‘Hidden’ Client Assets” – Financial Planning – April 17, 2014
- “DFA and TD Ameritrade strike ‘strategic’ deal” – RIABiz – April 24, 2017
- “Ask the Experts: Should you invest in real estate or stocks?” – MSN – May 17, 2023
“I enjoy helping retires worry less by using a process that builds confidence.”
Scott Braddock
Investment Advisor Representative
Daniel Scott Braddock (Scott) is a Solicitor and Investment Advisor Representative for Almega Wealth Management
Scott has spent the last 20 years teaching Social Security and Medicare principles to pre-retirees. He focuses his practice on helping successful families plan for retirement with a unique process he uses to analyze income needs.
He is a certified NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISOR™️ trained to help people navigate the complex world of Social Security. He often teaches on this topic at NC State University. Scott is also a FEDERAL RETIREMENT CONSULTANT™️ specifically trained to help Federal Government Employees and Military Personnel with their unique financial planning needs.
A native of Rising Sun, Maryland, he studied Business at Liberty University (1997-2001) and settled in Raleigh. Scott has three children and is very involved as a soccer coach. He is a member of the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation. In addition to playing golf, Scott also trains and coaches others in the martial art of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.
He is active with Full Compass Adult Financial Education, a non-profit focused on helping adults understand the concepts of financial planning.
“Working for Almega, a fee-only fiduciary firm, fully aligns me with what is in the best interest of my clients.”
Colin Taylor
Financial Advisor
Colin Taylor is a Financial Advisor with Almega Wealth Management based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Colin started his professional career in the field of Public Audit with Deloitte and KPMG in New York before returning to North Carolina and becoming a Financial Advisor with Guardian Wealth Advisors. He joined Almega Wealth Management desiring a true fiduciary approach and a boutique atmosphere for his clients.
Colin studied Accounting and Finance as an undergrad at UNC Wilmington where he also obtained a Master’s Degree in Accounting.
Colin has completed Level 1 of the CFA exam and hopes to become a full CFA charter holder in a few year’s time.
He and his wife reside in Raleigh with their five-year-old daughter.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Bryan for the past 24 years! The opportunity to now offer in-house tax services for Almega’s clients is going to yield phenomenal results for clients.”
Patrick Hoernig
Director of Tax Services | Enrolled Agent
oiBased in Scottsdale, Arizona, Patrick Hoernig is the Director of Tax Services for Almega Tax LLC.
Patrick is an alumnus of University of Illinois and Enrolled Agent with almost 40 years of experience in tax preparation, tax planning, and IRS audits.
He and his wife Lynn reside in Scottsdale, and he is a die-hard Phoenix Coyotes fans.
“I love my job and the clients we work for. I feel I learn something every day — either work related or personally.”
Lucinda Baggett
Director of Client Service
Lucinda is Almega Wealth Management’s Director of Client Service located in our Greenville, KY office.
Lucinda began her career in financial services more than 22 years ago with Painter Financial. Throughout her career in financial services she has always worked for independent Registered Investment Advisors. Subsequently, she has acquired an extensive skill set in coordinating client needs with custodial brokerage firms like HD Vest, Cambridge Investment Research, TD Ameritrade Institutional, and Charles Schwab Institutional.
Lucinda and her husband, Bryan Baggett, have been married for 27 years and have a daughter, Lydia. In her free time, she enjoys watching true crime TV and playing the piano for her church.
“I am excited to have joined Almega and am looking forward to growing with the company.”
Kaelyn Femiano
Relationship Manager
Kaelyn is responsible for following-up with prospective clients who are referred to Almega by Dave Ramsey’s organization.
In addition to working for Almega, Kaelyn is a full-time college student studying Business Marketing and Economics. She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Thunderbird High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society.
Kaelyn is a very driven, professional young woman. We are glad she has joined Almega and are excited to watch her career grow.
“Helping launch Almega Tax LLC is an amazing opportunity and I look forward to helping clients with their taxes.”
Donnell Wise
Staff Accountant
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Donnell is a staff accountant with Almega Tax LLC.
Donnell and her husband reside in the greater Phoenix area and are parents to two young children.
“It’s been amazing to help Almega grow over the last three years. I am very proud of Bryan and the entire team!”
Sarah Wisda
Executive Assistant
Working from Scottsdale, Sarah supports the entire Almega team.
Sarah is a very accomplished businesswoman! Sarah co-founded Aura Salon & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2001. She and her team of almost 50 employees were consistently named a Top 200 salon nationally! She sold Aura in 2016 to spend more time with Bryan and her two boys.
Sarah grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is an alum of the University of Northern Iowa, where she played on the women’s golf team.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing golf and pickleball and being beaten in chess by her boys.
“It’s been amazing to help Almega grow over the last three years. I am very proud of Bryan and the entire team!”
William P. Kovacs, JD
General Counsel
Working from his beautiful home in Chicago, Bill provides operational and compliance support to Almega Wealth Management. He serves on Almega’s advanced planning team, providing legal reviews, creditor protection advice, and trust structuring guidance.
Bill has had a remarkable legal career. He spent the first 24 years as General Counsel for Zurich Kemper Investments. He left Zurich Kemper in 2007 for private practice to specialize in offshore investment and trust structuring. Throughout his career, he has served as an office or director for five public companies and twenty-five privately held entities.
Bill’s undergraduate education was at Wabash College and studied law at the University of Iowa. He is also a US Army Veteran and served as an Officer.
Bill and his wife Agnes have been married for 52 years. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. He is a fanatical history buff and acknowledges he’s a lousy golfer.