meet

Joe Beckford, CFP®

Wealth Advisor

Staff nickname: Beckfourth   Enneagram: 7

Strengths: Relator | Ideation | Individualization | Strategic | Connectedness

Personal Motto: “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

Causes Joe supports: Compassion International, Restore 17, She is Safe, and Public Radio.

Unique ability:  engaging people, distilling complex information into simple terms and offering solutions to move people to action in a positive way. This transfers to helping communicate the complexities of money in a way anyone can understand, plus a passion to help create strategic solutions toward financial freedom by reducing debt, minimizing taxes and maximizing savings.

Joe loves to use his passions and talents to – “Help people retire to the lifestyle they love as quickly as possible. Retire means doing the work that they love, whether they get paid for it or not.”

Click here to read Joe Beckford’s touching WHY story explaining why he enjoys being a Financial Advisor and Wealth Manager.

Born in El Paso and raised on the Gulf Coast of Texas, Joe is a Texas man at heart. He graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Finance and a minor in Spanish. While in college, he began working for Delta Air Lines, and after graduation, he moved to Atlanta to work in their revenue management group. After coming to Georgia, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Ellen. After 20 years working with Delta, Joe went to work for a mortgage broker and soon after left to start his own company, B&G Financial Mortgage. Joe later became a client at GIA and was recognized for his unique abilities and passion to help people thrive financially and was hired as a Financial Advisor. He and Mary Ellen have three children – Beverly, Bobby, and Jade as well as two grandchildren – Andrew and Mason.

Where he feels most present? – “At our cabin in Blue Ridge.”

He would love to have coffee with: “Neil Armstrong. I would love to know what was going on in his head as he walked on the moon.”

What helps him feel grounded when life gets crazy: “Listening to, or playing music”

One lesson he keeps relearning is: “Pick your battles”

When he looks at himself and the life that he lives, what is he most proud of? – “The impact I’ve had on my friends and family – instilling confidence in them.”

What he loves most about working for GIA? – “Having the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and work with other like-minded, great people. I’m truly blessed. It’s a special place to work!”

Favorite books:

The Bible
The Bible Recap Podcast
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Podcasts: