The Planning Group

	Reid Johnson President Reid@theplanninggroup.com Reid is the managing partner of The Planning Group of Scottsdale, LLC, a Wealth Management Firm, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC, and a partner/owner in 5 other financial/investment firms,. He spent 10 years as a regional estate-planning specialist with the firms of Merrill Lynch (handling 9 offices) and EF Hutton/ Shearson/Salomon Smith Barney(handling 16 offices). We make a meaningful difference in our client's lives by guiding them to make smarter decisions and to take more effective action about their personal and family wealth management. Strategic planning is accomplished by focusing on one's entire estate and blending the issues of income and estate taxes, investment management, business, charitable planning, and insurance regulations.
	James S. Miller Senior Vice President & Portfolio Manager jmiller@theplanninggroup.com Jim has over 16 years experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining The Planning Group, Mr. Miller worked as a Portfolio Manager at Northern Trust Bank and as a Financial Advisor at UBS Private Client Services managing money for high net-worth clientele in Arizona. Jim also worked on the bond trading desk at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) in Newport Beach, California. Jim recognizes that the primary ingredients to every successful relationship are trust and communication. Thus, his objective as a Wealth Manager has always evolved around two (2) important tenets: 1) strive to exceed his client's expectations and 2) be "best in class" with regard to the quality or level of service provided.
	Scott Christie Senior Planning Consultant scott@theplanninggroup.com Scott has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years. After graduating from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, he spent the next 20 years working with his father at their firm Life Designs Associates, Inc. Scott was instrumental in developing the “Life Planning” strategy used by Life Designs in its primary market focus, the senior executive market, in the Minneapolis, St. Paul area. Scott joined The Planning Group in 2001 and brings a wealth of experience and planning knowledge to the firm and its clients as a Senior Plan Advisor. Scott holds several professional designations, including the American College’s CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter, and the ChFC Chartered Financial Consultant designations. In addition, Scott is a registered representative with the NASD holding Series 6, 22, 63 and 66 licenses.
	Richard Shields Senior Planning Consultant richard@theplanninggroup.com Richard has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry. A native of Arizona, he graduated from NorthernArizonaUniversity, with a Bachelor of Science in Business. He went to work with the brokerage firm Bache, Halsey, Stewart & Shields. This firm was acquired by Prudential Securities where Richard continued to work for 14 years. He left Prudential Securities to join PaineWebber, and after working with some other local firms, teamed with Reid Johnson and The Planning Group. Richard believed the vision and mission of The Planning Group aligned with his own, and would be a perfect fit for himself and his clients. Richard has earned the elite designation of Certified Financial Planner, and is an active member of the Phoenix Chapter of the Financial Planning Association. Richard believes his greatest professional achievements come from the realizations of his client's dreams.
	Aaron J. Gravel Planning Consultant aaron@theplanninggroup.com Aaron Gravel has worked in the financial services industry for more than five years prior to joining The Planning Group. In his Advanced Planning Consultant role with The Hartford, he worked with the clients of financial advisors in the Northeast region with wealth transfer planning. In addition, Aaron worked as a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual, working with high net worth clients on their insurance and investment planning in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Mr. Gravel attended the University of Connecticut as an accounting major, and is currently enrolled in the American College working towards the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, and his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation. Aaron also holds FINRA Series 6 and 7 licenses, the NASAA Series 63 and 65 licenses, and his life and health insurance licenses with the state of Arizona.
	Rick D. Mitchell Planning Consultant rick@theplanninggroup.com Rick joined The Planning Group after having spent the past seven years with the Vanguard Investment Company, more recently within their Financial Planning Department. Prior to serving as a Financial Planner he worked within Vanguard’s Flagship Service Group managing their high-net-worth client base. In his role as a Registered Representative, Rick assisted clients with the concepts of risk management, asset allocation, investment selection, and cash flow analysis In addition to his Certified Financial Planner™ designation, Rick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands in San Bernardino, California. He is a Registered Representative and an independent Registered Investment Advisor, holding FINRA and NASAA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licenses, and his life insurance license with the state of Arizona.