About Us

David L. Conner, FRC®

PRESIDENT

A 1988 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in economics and political science, David works with families and businesses throughout North Carolina and the southeast developing strategies to help enhance their financial position and maximize retirement income.

David is the recipient of numerous awards including The National Quality Award, The National Sales Achievement Award and The Million Dollar Round Table where he is a Top of the Table member. He is also a past president of the Gaston County Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. David is a nationally recognized instructor on social security maximization strategies, David also holds his Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC) certification, specializing in helping Federal employees plan for their retirement.

He and his wife, Josie, are parents to four boys and a girl. Coaching youth sports through his church, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and having served on several boards in Gaston County, David remains actively involved in the community where he has lived for 50-plus years.

Thomas H. Ables, FRC®, NSSA®

VICE PRESIDENT

Tom has been in the insurance business for 28 + years. He was also in the investment business for 15 years. For the past 13 years, he has concentrated on the federal benefits industry, as well as working with social security clients. Tom received his bachelor’s from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington before working at MetLife as a registered rep and AXA Advisors as a 403(b) financial professional. As a result, Tom is no stranger to the products and challenges pre-retirees, retirees, and specifically, federal employees have in retirement. Tom truly enjoys the challenge of finding the right strategies to meet his clients’ needs and takes the responsibility of their retirement income futures very
seriously.

Tom has the NSSA Social Security Certification, through which he serves as a National Social Security Advisor. He is also a member of Council of Financial Educators (COFE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing the public
with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ever-changing retirement
landscape. He presently focuses on serving Federal Post Office employees in the New England region. He also works with Post Office employees throughout the south. Additionally, he works through the Veteran Administration (VA), as well as helping whom-ever needs his help. Tom has over 170 federal employee clients in New England; he also serves clients in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, plus many other states. He feels that relationships are the key to his success.

Tom also has advanced training with the federal benefits market, leading to a designation of (FRC) Federal Retirement Consultant. Tom has achieved the MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), for the last 4 years – only 2-3% of insurance agents and financial advisors in the world are members of this elite group.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys spending time at his karate dojang where he teaches Christian karate at his church. He is very involved in his church and enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as doing yard-work and traveling.

His motto: People buy from people; therefore, integrity and strong relationships are the key!

*SSA Disclaimer: Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.
*FFEBA Disclaimer: FFEBA is not affiliated or endorsed by the Federal Government.

tina Richardson

CLIENT ACCOUNT MANAGER

Tina Richardson is our Client Account Manager – She manages all operations, is responsible for processing new business, servicing existing clients, and preparing performance reviews. Tina is dedicated to providing a high level of client service and building strong client relationships. She ensures a high standard of service in all her interactions.

Tina began her career in the financial service industry in 1995 with Prudential Securities. In 2001, her Wealth Management Team transitioned Merrill Lynch. In 2012, Tina joined David Conner’s office. She appreciates being part of a group that plays a key role in helping clients manage their desired retirement lifestyles.

connie Wallace

APPOINTMENTS & SCHEDLUING

Connie is a retired North Carolina teacher with thirty-one and a half years of experience in secondary education. Two years after retiring, Connie started working for David Conner in June 2005. Her duties include administration as well as public relations. Developing trusting and lasting relationships with our clients is the job of each member of our group, and Connie is often the first person to reach out to our clients and to people interested in learning about what RTAG has to offer.

Matt Conner

Investment Advisor Representative

Matt Conner grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he majored in Economics and Religious Studies (BA, 2014). He went on to Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia for his M. Div. and has served as the Pastor of Newell Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) since graduating in 2017. He jokes that it took him a while to figure out why on earth he paired the majors he did in undergrad, but now he finds great joy in getting to be bi-vocational.

Beyond congregational ministry, his experience includes serving as a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Interim UKirk Campus Minister at Agnes Scott College, CPE at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and a teaching assistant for Greek and Preaching at Columbia.

Unable to shake an interest in “the family business,” he began exploring ways to come on board with his dad towards the end of 2021. In November of 2023, he passed his Series 65 exam, and in January became an Investment Advisor Representative, registered in North and South Carolina, with Brookstone Capital Management.

Matt is married to his high school sweetheart, Sarah, and they have two boys— Eli (5) and Amos (3). They also have two dogs, Bo and Willow, neither of which knows they are actually a dog. He is passionate about community development, the outdoors, traveling, Southern food, anything involving the Carolina Tar Heels, and good stewardship.

Misty Long

Marketing / Scheduling Specialist

Misty has a dual associate’s degree in arts and science with a concentration on psychology from Gaston College. She began her career with David in May of 2022. She handles scheduling of venues for seminars, and marketing. She also works with the scheduling of new clients. Misty has worked in the marketing and scheduling business for over 30 years.

Misty is a mom of 3. One daughter and two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking healthy foods, dancing, golf, pickleball, traveling, yoga, and Zumba. She has served on several boards in Gaston County as well as committees within her college career and her community life. Misty remains active within her church and community life where she has lived for 50 plus years.

Leah Hernandez

Client Account Assistant / Social Media Specialist

Leah is a graduate of Clover High School. As the Client Account Assistant and the Social Media Specialist, Leah oversees all social media accounts, as well as perform clerical support tasks, prepare documents, answer calls, and takes part in scheduling meetings and appointments. She also enjoys spending time with her husky, staying active, and being outdoors.