Joseph Goetz, Ph.D.

Founding Partner & CIO

Joseph Goetz, Ph.D.

Dr. Joe Goetz specializes in assisting individuals and couples with their investment and retirement planning. He has developed extensive expertise in advanced financial planning strategies and is passionate about implementing those strategies to optimize clients’ investment and retirement plans. In 2013, he was recognized as the Financial Counselor of the Year by the Associated for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE).

Joe co-founded the master’s and doctoral programs in financial planning at the University of Georgia (UGA). He served (2009-2012) as the Director for the UGA Financial Planning Program and continues to teach graduate courses as a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor (the university's highest teaching honor). His teaching experience translates well into his work with clients, as he strongly believes in taking whatever amount of time is required to ensure clients understand and feel comfortable with the details of their financial plan and investment strategy.

Joe has co-authored two books and over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the financial planning field. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Personal Finance, Journal of Financial Therapy, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. News & World Report, and the New York Times.

Joe received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was inducted into Mystical Seven, an honorary society overseen by the chancellor recognizing the “top seven senior students passing through the university each year.” He went on to complete his graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Texas Tech University, where he completed three higher degrees, including a doctorate focused on financial planning. Joe was awarded the annual Robert O. Herrmann Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Council on Consumer Interests for his dissertation titled A Five Nation Examination of Investment Risk Tolerance.

He is a co-founder of the University of Georgia ASPIRE Clinic and founder of the pro bono financial counseling and planning program, which primarily serves low-income families in the greater Athens area. In this role, he has spearheaded efforts over the past decade to bring financial planning to the clients of non-profit organizations in Athens. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center.

Education & Credentials
Texas Tech University
Doctor of Philosophy - Cons. Economics, Master of Science - Financial Planning, Master of Arts - Psychology
Service, Associations, & Accolades
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Member
Financial Therapy Association, Member
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, Member
Contact
joseph@elwoodgoetz.com
(706) 548-1025