• Our FOUNDING STORY

Creating A
Client-First Legacy

Before Elwood & Goetz opened its first office in Athens, there were no fee-only financial planning firms in the area.

Founding partners Lindsay Elwood and Joe Goetz were faced with a choice: join a firm operating in the typical way — filled with commissions, kickbacks, and obligations to outside shareholders — or forge a better way. They choose the better way.

In 2006, we started with just one client and a promise: to show up every day and deliver our very best work for them.  

Before we did anything else, we sought to build a business we would be proud of—a business that would make a difference in our clients' lives. We believed that profitability would come naturally if we stuck to our core principles.

It worked. In the years since, we’ve grown and thrived. We now serve nearly 500 households across 35 states. As an independent, fee-only firm, our success is a direct reflection of our clients' growth. We credit our success to keeping our priorities straight and our hearts humble.

Although we've grown, our promise and our principles have not changed. Managing your financial life is a responsibility we take seriously and cherish deeply. As we work with you to achieve your lifelong goals, we're pursuing ours.