You have spent decades in a successful career. You have put in the work, saved and prepared for the next phase of your life. Dedication has gotten you this far, but you still have questions. You would still like a little reassurance that your next steps are the right ones. Vector Wealth Strategies is here to guide you through each step of the way.
How can Vector help you lead the life you love? Our 360 Planning Process…
Want to be inspired by others who are leading the life they love? Find out by reading some of our favorite #VectorStories.
You want someone who will listen to you, answer your questions and provide you with guidance to be financially stable in your current phase of life and the future. Vector Wealth Strategies has helped hundreds of clients just like you reach their goals for more than a decade. Whether you choose to pursue interests such as international travel, missions or volunteer work in retirement, you can rely on Vector to help you find the best financial strategies so you can lead the life you love.
Independence. As our broker/dealer, Commonwealth facilitates the buying and selling of investment products for you. Being privately held and independently owned (separate from any bank or insurance company) makes Commonwealth an independent broker/dealer. This means that Vector remains independent, as well. Our team is able to objectively work with you without pressure to promote any particular products or services.
Investment choice. With an independent broker/dealer, your financial goals, personal investment style and risk tolerance are the only criteria that influence our recommendations to you. Commonwealth offers us a virtually limitless selection of third-party investment vehicles, independent research and advanced planning specialists, as well as in-house insurance and risk analysts.
Service. As the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer with $1 billion in annual revenues, Commonwealth has more than 800 staff members assisting approximately 1,700 independent advisors in serving their clients – one of the best advisor-to-staff ratios in the industry. This helps us provide you with the prompt, personal service you expect.
Technology and Security. Commonwealth is second to none in its commitment to information security, and their technology platform is a critical component of our ability to provide you with first-class service and support. The integrated web-based systems allow our team to more efficiently manage your portfolio, while Commonwealth's encryption standards and disaster recovery plans ensure that the information you entrust to Vector will remain secure.
Find out more about Commonwealth Financial Network here.
Significance isn’t just reserved for the second half. Vector Wealth Strategies is committed to serving and strengthening our community today. We accomplish our vision through a three-pronged approach: we provide grants for local non-profits through our Community Impact Fund, leadership development of the next generation through our Community Scholars Fund, as well as philanthropic advocacy through both personal community involvement as well as development of our Companion Grants program which allows our Community Impact Fund to extend beyond our own corporate grant-making capacity.
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Jay Dryden, CFP®
Managing Partner
Kelly Moise
Senior Partner
Joshua Jordan
Senior Partner
Dana Jones
Operations Manager
Josh Shoemaker
Service Coordinator
Hilde Dryden
Marketing Coordinator
The goal at Vector Wealth Strategies is always to provide you with guidance and assistance, as you transition from success in your career to significance in your retirement. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Jay’s goal is to use his expertise and more than 15 years of experience to provide you with guidance in wealth management and legacy planning. He has a particularly deep understanding of both why and how to incorporate philanthropy into your family’s long-term wealth transfer plan.
Jay is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, where he met his wife, Hilde, and currently serves on the FHU Board of Trustees. In 2012, Jay and Hilde established the Leadership Scholarship and the Genesis Scholarship with Freed-Hardeman. The Genesis Scholarship helps students whose families have never attended a Christian university, and the Leadership Scholarship was designed to allow Jay to become more involved and influential in the lives of juniors and seniors who share his same entrepreneurial spirit.
Jay began his career in finance in Huntsville, Alabama, while Hilde finished her marketing degree at University of Alabama in Huntsville. Jay and Hilde enjoy life with their son, Axl, daughter, Lorelai, and a tabby named Titan. They are members of Twickenham Church of Christ. When he is not working, Jay used to enjoy golfing, wakeboarding along the Tennessee River and traveling — but then they had kids. Now, he spends most of his free time playing chase, hide and seek or just wrestling in the floor, and he wouldn’t trade it for all the golf in the world.
Learn more about Jay’s experience.
The goal at Vector Wealth Strategies is always to provide you with guidance and assistance, as you transition from success in your career to significance in your retirement. Kelly and the Vector Wealth Strategies team go beyond the traditional financial advisor role. Before she worked in financial services, Kelly owned a gymnastics training center and coached nationally ranked gymnasts. Using her skills as a coach, counselor and mentor, Kelly is particularly gifted at helping you craft a clear vision for your retirement and developing the financial plan to get you there.
Kelly and her husband, Patrick, were married in 2002 and have three children — Chelsea, Kieran and Aimee. They enjoy traveling; and some of their favorite locations have been Paris, Dublin and southern Spain. They visit Glacier National Park every year and love hiking. Kelly also serves on the leadership council of the Women’s Philanthropy Society and the Irish Society of North Alabama where she helps plan the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. But if you think you are getting any of her special Irish cupcakes, think again. Those special treats are for authentic kilt-wearing men only.
Most recently, Kelly lost her mind, and over 75 pounds followed when she started competing in ultra trail races of distances exceeding 30 miles in a single event. This special level of insanity to sign up for such endurance races, along with a great nutrition coach from StrongerU, have helped her and Patrick to lose over pounds 130 pounds between them (roughly the current weight of their teenage son Kieran). She’s truly half the woman she used to be.
Learn more about Kelly’s experience.
The goal at Vector Wealth Strategies is always to provide you with guidance and assistance, as you transition from success in your career to significance in your retirement. Joshua has
more than a decade of experience specializing in financial and estate planning, investments, wealth management and retirement planning. He will use that experience to help guide you through the financial planning and investment decision making processes that are integral to turning your second half goals from dreams into reality
A Mississippi native, Joshua is leading Vector’s expansion into the Magnolia state. He brings a servant-hearted approach to everything he does as a financial advisor, husband, father and deacon in his church. Joshua and his wife, Meredith, have an eight-year-old son, Miles, and a five-year-old labrador, Samson. The trio enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, swimming and kayaking. They also love cooking, music, traveling and attending sporting events. Much to Jay’s dismay, Joshua is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and a huge Ole Miss fan. But at least now between the Vector teammates, they’ve got you covered whether you say “Roll Tide,” “War Eagle” or “Hotty Toddy” — and to be clear, those are football references, just in case you weren’t blessed to be born in the SEC.
Learn more about Joshua’s experience.
If you have spent any time around the Vector team, you know that Dana Jones has always run the show. In her new role as Operations Manager, she is now able to develop and lead the rest of the support staff and interns in providing you with the level of service that Vector is famous for. As a former caregiver for her mother and father, Dana understands the struggle that many retirees face as they become caregivers for their own aging parents. She is an invaluable resource when this inevitable fact of life comes to bear. Whether you are communicating with former employers to request a rollover or coordinating follow up for your financial plan with your attorney or CPA, Dana assures that the team will communication and facilitate appointments to provide you with the highest quality of customer service you expect and deserve.
Dana was born and raised in Morgan County, where she completed her AAS in quality control technology in 2001. She currently lives in Lawrence County but is working to relocate to Madison County. In the past, she has volunteered with AMBUCS, an organization that provides physical therapy to individuals with handicaps and wounded veterans. Presently, she is serving on the board for United Way of Lawrence County. Now that she is no longer in the caregiver role, she is working toward a healthier version of herself. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, and do-it-yourself projects such as refurbishing old furniture into new.
Josh will be your point person for ongoing account servicing. He helps prepare the advisors for your plan review meetings and handles important details, like investment withdrawals— getting the money you’ll need for that retirement cruise you have been looking forward to all year. Trained as a minister in college, he has an outstanding level of patience and understanding to help you work through the most tedious of service needs. When your CPA calls asking for last minute tax documents you forgot to turn in, you’ll be glad for Josh’s calm demeanor and efficient expertise in quickly finding exactly what you need.
Josh grew up on his family’s farm in Greenhill, Alabama. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Freed-Hardeman University in 2009 and soon after married Britney. They live in Hazel Green, Alabama, with their cat, Zeke. They are members of the Rock Family Worship Center in Huntsville, where Josh and Britney are heavily involved in leading the Celebrate Recovery ministry and also serve as a life group leaders. When he’s not at work, Josh is an accomplished fitness instructor and also enjoys traveling with Britney.
Also known as the coordinator of fun, Hilde uses her UAH Marketing degree to make sure you enjoy the relationship with Vector Wealth Strategies. Besides managing the bookkeeping for the office, Hilde plans the parties and events that are a big part of who we are at Vector Wealth Strategies. From the referral party in the spring to our casino night fundraiser in the fall, Hilde helps you connect with the team socially to strengthen and build long-term relationships that go far beyond the numbers.
Hilde began her education at Freed-Hardeman University. After she married Jay in 2001, they moved to Madison County where she continued her education at UA Huntsville, graduating in 2003. They are members of Twickenham Church of Christ in Huntsville, where she is involved with the ladies’ ministry. She is also a perennial Tour of Champions qualifier for her work with the Walk MS Huntsville fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. To date, her MS team has raised over $130,000 for patients like Hilde who suffer from MS.
Outside of the office, Hilde used to enjoy playing with the ladies’ golf groups at the Ledges Country Club and Valley Golf. But in 2015 Hilde and Jay welcomed their son, Axl, into the world, with daughter, Lorelai, following in 2018. So, most of her free time is now spent hiding in her closet with her favorite box of cookies — you other moms know exactly what that’s all about.
Jay was chosen as one of six recipients of AssetMark’s fourth annual Community Inspiration Awards. In recognition of Jay’s contributions and sustained support, AssetMark donated $10,000 to AGAPE of North Alabama in his honor.
“We’re incredibly proud to honor these advisors who are working to create great outcomes for their clients and a positive impact on the organizations that support their communities,” said Charles Goldman, President and CEO of AssetMark. “Advisors are in a unique position to help individuals evaluate and achieve their financial goals. Helping organizations is a natural extension of that. We hope that the outstanding achievements of these individuals inspire others to consider how they can contribute to their communities.”
Award recipients were selected by a panel of senior executives at AssetMark, who evaluated nominees based on their ability to inspire, lead and motivate others, in addition to their time and effort dedicated to a local charity. Echoing the firm’s values of “Heart, Excellence, Integrity, and Respect,” the Community Inspiration Award provides one of many opportunities for AssetMark’s associates and advisors to connect with and promote their shared values by submitting nominations for the award.
Recently, AGAPE used this money to buy a car for use by their social workers. Executive Director Danny Holmes said the car will actually pay for itself in just a few years since the agency will save money by having a car for social workers to use when they travel to see foster families, and he is very thankful to AssetMark for helping them to make it happen. To learn more about AGAPE, visit agapecares.org.
Thank you to everyone who helped our team, Hilde’s Heroes, fundraise for the Walk MS: North Alabama 2018 event here in Huntsville, raising nearly $20,000 this year!
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will use funds collected from Walk MS to not only support research for a cure tomorrow, but also to provide programs which address the needs of people living with MS today. Our Marketing Coordinator (and Jay’s wife) Hilde was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007. If you would like to learn more about Hilde’s story or the National MS Society, click here.
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Vector Wealth Strategies has been the corporate sponsor of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) of North Alabama since its inception in 2011.
“I became involved with AFP when two development directors in the area approached me about starting an educational organization to help them and other development directors,” Jay said. “They told me about AFP, and I immediately realized that it would be a great way to support a lot of nonprofits at one time. If we help educate the development directors to be more effective fundraisers for their organization, then my support of AFP translates into significantly more support for all of the underlying member organizations.”
Vector Wealth Strategies has also sponsored AFP’s annual Philanthropy Day Seminar, where they host a keynote speaker and organize breakout sessions which address various aspects of nonprofit fundraising.
Jay also enjoys attending AFP luncheons. “Beyond what I get out of it from a business standpoint, I get a lot of personal satisfaction when I hear success stories from development directors. I love to see the successful events they put on and successful capital campaigns that they put together, and I know that they learned a little bit of those skills from attending the luncheons that we help to make happen.”
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Kelly is the president of the ISNA (Irish Society of North Alabama). ISNA organizes the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Last year’s parade included 150 organizations and an estimated 30,000 spectators.
St. Baldrick’s Live Bald event
Kelly is on the board of this annual concert and head-shaving event that helps to raise money for St. Baldrick’s. St. Baldrick’s raises money for research grants for childhood cancers. Her son, Kieran, lost one of his close friends to cancer last year, so this cause is near to her heart. In the past two years, the event has raised over $50,000.
Ainsley’s Angels 5K
Kelly and summer 2018 interns, Nick and Tana, ran in the Ainsley’s Angels 5K. They helped push a special needs child throughout the race, so that they could complete it as well. Ainsley’s Angels aims to build awareness about America’s special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life.
Vector is committed to serving our community through grants for local non-profits. The Vector Wealth Strategies Community Impact Fund was the first corporate giving fund established with Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville in 2015. We set aside 10% of Vector’s profits each year to fund grants that focus on education, health and human services and disaster recovery. Our vision statement is: Impacting our community through investments and involvement. To learn more about each organization impacted by the fund, click on the links below:
Huntsville Inner City Learning Center
The Riley Behavioral & Educational Center
United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville
To nominate a charity, please complete the grant application below and return it to our office.
You may find this information helpful in applying for a grant:
Click here to download the grant application and submit it through e-mail to josh@vectorwealthstrategies.com on or before the last day of business in April or October in order to be considered for either the summer or winter rounds of grants.
Vector is committed to serving our community through leadership development. We strive to build up the leaders of tomorrow and replace ourselves over time with the philanthropic funders of the future.
In 2017 the Vector Community Scholars Fund was established to focus on two groups in the greater Huntsville community. Half of the money raised each year goes to a student(s) whose parents or grandparents work in the local defense industry, while the other half provides scholarship money for a student(s) who is heading to college as a result of The CAP & GOWN Project. The C&G Project focuses on making college a reality for underprivileged kids attending high school in Madison County. To apply for the scholarship, complete this form by Thursday, January 31, 2019.
To date, these initiatives have raised more than $70,000 in scholarships. Click the “Donate” button below to make your contribution now.
Vector is committed to serving our community through advocacy. North Alabama is fortunate to have many mission-driven nonprofit organizations that make all of our lives better, and while our Community Impact Fund cannot award grants to all of them each year, together we can support their work. As you transition from success in your career to significance in your retirement, we strive to connect you with life changing opportunities to give back.
You can make a difference for these nonprofits by donating directly to the organization or by contacting our office to develop a companion grant. In 2017 we created the Vector Wealth Strategies Anonymous Hero Fund, to further connect our clients with unfunded nonprofit grants and even allow them to donate anonymously if they prefer. We’re thankful for our nonprofits and the heroes who serve others through them each day.
Vector Wealth Strategies has assisted many clients in establishing Donor Advised Funds of their own. These charitable giving funds have been created in many ways. While some transferred low basis stock to avoid capital gains taxes, other made contributions following the sale of their companies in a year when they most needed the tax deduction. Other Donor Advised Funds will funded through an IRA beneficiary designation or through an estate. We are proud to report that our clients have allocated more than $20M of their own money to Donor Advised Funds and are crafting a legacy that reflects both their commitment to family and to improving the world for future generations. To learn more about how a Donor Advised Fund can be part of your significance in retirement click here.
