James A. King III, MBA, CFP®
Jim King, who has a keen interest in securities research, analysis, and portfolio design, has been involved in the financial planning and securities business for more than twenty-one years. After spending ten years in operations management with Lorillard Tobacco Company, Jim founded, built, and ultimately sold a successful textile company. From this sound experience in business, Jim embarked on a career in financial planning. Jim's unique background in a large corporation and successful entrepreneurial ventures enables him to fully understand that financial planning is most effective when considering the specific needs of the client. There is no "one size fits all" solution in sound financial planning. As a result, Jim founded Austin Financial Management to provide personalized attention and specific planning to help clients meet their personal objectives.
Professional:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
- Securities registered since 1996. Holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations as an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®
- Insurance licenses: life, health, and long-term care
- MBA from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro
- BA from North Carolina State University in business administration
Personal:
- Lifelong resident of Greensboro, North Carolina
- Married since 1982 to Marian Daily King
- Collects and plays vintage guitars, is an avid snow skier, and enjoys sports, music, and the economy
- Has an interest in BBQ smoking and is a member of the "Grilla Warfare" BBQ team
- Served as treasurer and on the endowment committee for First Lutheran Church in Greensboro
- Volunteers to help end homelessness and hunger in Greensboro. He is on the Board of Directors of the Interactive Resource Center and a founding member of Share the Harvest, Inc.
James King is proud to have been recognized as a Founder’s Club advisor for 2021—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 37 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the firm we partner with to help us better serve you, recognizes Founder’s Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Founder’s Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership.
Steven A. Patton
Steve's enthusiasm for investing serves him well as he works with clients to develop their portfolios and financial strategies. Following a sales and marketing career with BellSouth, Steve's entrepreneurial spirit led him to follow his passion for music, and he founded his own business restoring, selling, and servicing pianos. The experience of focusing on customer needs, as well as the experience of building his own business, provides Steve the understanding necessary to assist clients in identifying and reaching their financial goals. His philosophy of putting the client first will continue as a guiding principle with Guilford Financial Partners.
Professional
- Holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations as an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network
- Holds insurance licenses for life, health, and long-term care
- Business management degree from North Carolina State University
Personal
- Lifelong resident of Greensboro, North Carolina
- Enjoys music, golf, hiking, sports, gardening, and good chocolate ice cream
- Member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, plays guitar with the worship band, and enjoys local and international outreach projects assisting others in need