Chris Dardaman, CPA, CFP®, CIMA®, CAIA®
Shareholder, CEO and CIO
Chris utilizes his intellectual curiosity, vast experience and national network to provide innovative, integrated solutions that enable clients to more fully enjoy the benefits of financial freedom.
Chris is the Cofounder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Brightworth. Chris has been named as one of the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors in the U.S. by Barron's, 100 Great Financial Planners by Mutual Funds magazine, Nation's 100 Most Exclusive Wealth Advisors by Robb Report Worth magazine, Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Managers by Atlanta magazine and Atlanta's Top 100 Power Brokers in Atlanta's Financial Sector by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Chris began his career with the Big 5 public accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co.
At the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania, Chris completed the Investment Management Consultants Association's Investment Management Analyst and Alternative Investments programs. He is a Certified Investment Management AnalystSM, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and a Chartered Alternative Investment AnalystSM. Chris is a member of the Alpha Group, a high-profile association of wealth management executives and of the fee-only National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). He graduated Magna Cum Laude in accounting from Mississippi State University.
Chris has volunteered with numerous charitable organizations as a board member and consultant. He was a founding board member of The Lighthouse Family Retreat, a seaside retreat for families caring for children with cancer. For many years, he and his wife, Laura, have taught in the Right Start pre-marriage training program. Chris is an advisory board member for the Metro Atlanta Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is also a director of the Buckhead Coalition, which consists of 100 of Atlanta's top business and civic leaders.
Chris served as President and Chairman of the Georgia Chapter of what is now the Financial Planning Association. He has spoken at national financial industry conferences and received the 2008 HONORS Award for lifetime achievement and contribution to the financial planning industry from the Financial Planning Association of Georgia. Chris has taught seminars for some of America's largest companies and spoken at several universities. He has been featured or quoted in numerous publications such as Barron's, Businessweek, Financial Advisor, InvestmentNews, Money Magazine, Robb Report Worth, The New York Times, TIME and The Wall Street Journal. Chris has appeared on CNNfn’s "Your Money" and Fox Business News.
An eighth generation entrepreneur, Chris achieved Eagle Scout and lettered in several sports. He also played on A and AA level ALTA tennis teams for many years. He and Laura have two children and are members of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. Chris is a member of the Atlanta Athletic Club and his hobbies include golf, fishing and travel.
