BT Wealth Management, whose rapid growth pushed it past the $500 million mark in discretionary assets under management earlier this summer, has named Justin Snell as the firm’s new chief operating officer. Snell comes to the firm from Bennett Thrasher LLP, the top 100 public accounting and consulting firm with which BT Wealth Management is affiliated and where Snell served as a director in the Disputes, Valuation & Forensics practice. Snell’s primary responsibilities will involve BT Wealth Management’s systems and operations. Along with Chief Compliance Officer Patti Fries, whom the firm hired in July, Snell represents the firm’s fifth hire since April, bringing its total number of employees to 15.
 
“Justin Snell is a great addition to our team and the fact that he comes from Bennett Thrasher and has a familiarity with BT Wealth Management will allow him to hit the ground running,” BT Wealth Management President and Chief Investment Officer Scott Craig said. “As we have experienced significant annual growth, we needed someone who could help us continue that growth. Justin has an incredible aptitude for project management and designing and streamlining systems that will prove an enormous asset to us and our clients.”
 
“My mission is to design and improve processes and service delivery methods so that we can provide the best possible service to our clients,” Snell said. “I see my job, and operations, as serving our financial planners and wealth advisors in a way that allows them to work more efficiently and effectively.”
 
Prior to joining Bennett Thrasher in 2013, Snell spent 12 years with a “Big Four” accounting firm. His experience included directing a public company with more than 400 employees during a year-long investigation. Excited about the similar leadership opportunity presented by his new COO role, Snell said an important factor in joining BT Wealth Management was the firm’s culture, as it is similar to that of Bennett Thrasher, whose core values are also integrity, family and clients.
 
At Bennett Thrasher, Snell chaired the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, which included the development of a five-year plan. Under Snell’s leadership, the committee launched a training series to advance diversity and inclusion at the firm. Due to the connection that exists with BT Wealth Management, as well as his personal commitment to the cause, he will continue to serve on the committee in his role.
 
Snell is a published author, speaker and enjoys serving with several nonprofits, including The 410 Bridge, Care for AIDS, Habitat for Humanity and the Atlanta Mission. Through The 410 Bridge, which seeks to improve the pace and depth of growth of spiritual and physical growth in the developing world, Snell has visited Kenya three times in the past 10 years. He also is active with Buckhead Church.
 
Snell earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Clemson University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of CPAs.
 
In addition to the hire of CCO Patti Fries, with whom Snell will work alongside, the firm also has hired Ashley Williams as a client service associate. In her role, she will play an essential part of the overall client experience, regularly serving as the liaison between clients and the BT Wealth Management team. She served as an intern in the Georgia State Senate from January 2017 to March 2017. Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Georgia State University.