Alan Ryals
Wealth Manager, Co-Founder
Alan Ryals
Wealth Manager, Co-Founder
Alan Ryals is a wealth manager and co-founder of Ryals Group Wealth Management, as well as the co-founder of RFG Advisory, Ryals Group’s Registered Investment Advisory firm. With a deep commitment to helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with confidence, Alan specializes in assisting employees of large corporations—such as Southern Company—as well as individuals and families, in optimizing their company benefits and retirement plans to support long-term financial success.
With a strong background in retirement planning, Alan works closely with pre-retirees and retirees to help them protect their wealth and develop strategies for financial stability throughout retirement. His practice focuses on helping clients avoid common financial pitfalls while creating personalized approaches to managing their assets.
As a trusted advisor, Alan stays at the forefront of economic trends and evolving investment strategies, providing clients with high-quality, informed guidance tailored to their financial goals.
Alan earned his degree in Investment and Portfolio Management from The University of Alabama. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Donna, and pursuing his passion for hunting, fishing, and boating and especially enjoys spending time with their 3 grandchildren, Lennon, Will, and Jordy.
Crossan Ryals
Wealth Manager, Co-Founder
Crossan Ryals
Wealth Manager, Co-Founder
Crossan was introduced into the financial advisory world by her father, RFG Wealth Manger and Co-Founder, Alan Ryals. Finding her passion in finance as well, she graduated from the University of Alabama Cum Laude with a degree in Finance and Economics.
Crossan joined RFG Advisory in August of 2021 and is excited to help her clients find the financial plan that is right for them and promote financial stability and independence.
Crossan lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her sphynx cat and enjoys weekends at the lake, finding the best restaurants in town, and spending time with family.
Jessica Bradley
Operations Manager
Jessica Bradley
Operations Manager
Jessica Bradley is the Executive Assistant and Operations Manager, where she ensures smooth administrative operations, business processing, scheduling, and logistics. Since joining the firm in 2004, she has been a key driver behind the firm's efficient day-to-day operations, leveraging her strong organizational skills and problem-solving expertise.
With a keen eye for detail and a talent for streamlining processes, Jessica plays an integral role in optimizing internal workflows and supporting the team's success. Her ability to anticipate needs and proactively address challenges makes her an invaluable asset to the firm.
Jessica earned her Business Management degree from Huntingdon College. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their three boys.
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Rick Wedell joined RFG Advisory as Partner and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) in 2016. As CIO and leader of RFG’s Investment Team, Rick manages multi-asset portfolios and provides strategic insights on asset allocation and portfolio construction. Rick also leads the design and enhancements of RFG’s custom-built, institutional-caliber, client-focused investment platform known as “Bluemonte,” currently managing over $3 billion of assets under management.
Rick’s guiding principle is simple, straightforward analysis coupled with a consistent, rigorous investment process. Recognizing that foundations and family offices often enjoy a significantly higher level of access and sophistication around portfolio management, Rick designed an innovative investment experience focused on bringing that level of service and direct accessibility to financial Advisors at RFG Advisory.
VETERAN INVESTOR/MARKET-TESTED LEADER
Before joining RFG, Rick spent 12 years at Bain Capital Credit, where he rose through the ranks to become Executive Vice President, Head of Fixed Income Consumer Investments, and Assistant Portfolio Manager. Rick played an instrumental role in helping Bain grow to become a global investment powerhouse, serving client assets in excess of $30 billion.
Managing portfolios through the volatile markets of 2001 and 2008, Rick experienced firsthand the importance of portfolio diversification and the trade-offs between risk and portfolio return. He applies those same lessons today to managing client and institutional portfolios at RFG Advisory.
Rick conducts client events, seminars, and workshops around the country and a bi-weekly series called Market Commentary with Rick Wedell on YouTube. From customized asset allocation recommendations to detailed investment analysis, he also works one-on-one with our Advisors and their clients to construct customized portfolios that help meet their defined goals.Rick has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was awarded the Henry Ford II Scholar. He earned a B.A. in Applied Mathematics & Economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude.
Eric Larson
Eric Larson serves as the Vice President of Investment Solutions at RFG Advisory. In this role, he leads RFG’s trading operations for the Bluemonte portfolios and collaborates closely with the investment team to provide comprehensive investment solutions for our advisors.
Eric joined RFG Advisory in late 2020 after relocating to Birmingham, bringing with him 30 years of experience as an institutional trader on Wall Street. Before joining RFG, he spent a decade as a Senior Equity Trader at Invesco Inc. (formerly OppenheimerFunds), where he executed trades of domestic and international equities for a management team overseeing portfolios valued at $28 billion, handling daily trading volumes exceeding $50 million. His prior experience includes senior equity trader positions at RS Investments, Guardian Life, and Gabelli Asset Management.
Eric’s extensive experience in financial management, analysis, and investment strategy is a valuable asset to RFG Advisory. He excels in communicating fundamental, technical, and quantitative analyses to RFG’s investment team and advisors, providing them with a diverse range of investment options.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Fordham University. He resides in Birmingham with his wife, Jill. His two adult children are starting their careers in New York and Philadelphia. In his free time, Eric is an avid golfer and actively participates in various charitable activities.
With over 20 years of experience across investments, corporate finance, and banking, Patrick Sittner has built a distinguished career helping Advisors and their clients achieve financial success. He combines a robust academic foundation with a decade of hands-on industry experience. Patrick has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching and mentoring the next generation of financial professionals. A Lincoln, Nebraska native now based in Omaha, Patrick balances his dynamic career with a vibrant family life, cheering on his kids at sporting events, biking scenic trails, and enjoying music.
Bio coming soon.
Jordan Hutchison
Dr. Jordan Hutchison is a growth-oriented thought leader in the financial industry, consistently at the forefront of innovation. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and General Business from the University of Montevallo, he discovered his passion for finance, subsequently obtaining a Master’s in Financial Planning & Counseling from the University of Alabama. He began his career as a financial advisor, focusing on the behavioral side of finance, and later pursued a Doctorate in Behavioral Finance, specializing in positive psychology and financial planners.
In 2018, Jordan transitioned from financial advising to FinTech, helping startups create innovative solutions for advisors and their clients. He has contributed significantly to companies like SignatureFD, Monstro.AI, XY Planning Network, and Shaping Wealth, by managing enterprise relationships, assembling wealth technology platforms, leading sales, and coaching advisors. His expertise now drives his role as VP of Technology and Operations at RFG Advisory, where he works on enhancing technology and strategies to improve client and advisor experiences.
Additionally, Jordan is an adjunct professor at Kaplan’s College for Financial Planning, teaching courses in Behavioral Finance and Psychology of Financial Planning. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Leslie and their two children, Roman and Sabina, as well as reading, watching sports, and continuing his education. A basketball enthusiast, his favorite teams are the Duke Blue Devils and the Boston Celtics.
Rick Ohlrich
Rick Ohlrich is the Chief Compliance Officer at RFG Advisory, bringing over 30 years of experience in regulatory compliance and financial services. Known for his strategic vision and hands-on approach, Rick excels in building infrastructure to better manage compliance functions and streamline processes.
Before joining RFG Advisory, Rick was the CCO for America Group Retirement Strategy Centers, where he supervised over 90 Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives.
Rick’s career includes creating and managing FINRA Broker/Dealers and SEC Registered Investment Advisers, with a strong focus on supervisory procedures and their implementation while being able to simply relate these complex concepts to the Advisors he supports. He is an avid public speaker, known for hosting live-stream shows such as RFG’s “Compliance Soup.”
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Florida State University and maintains several securities registrations, including Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 66.
At RFG Advisory, Rick leverages his extensive experience to uphold rigorous compliance standards and support the firm’s growth through proactive collaboration and pragmatic application.
Brendan Frazier
Brendan Frazier is Chief Behavioral Officer at RFG Advisory. Additionally, he is the host of the podcast The Human Side of Money and the Wisdom In Wealth video series. Brendan’s work has been featured at Kitces.com, Advisor Perspectives, the Financial Planning Association, among other industry publications. Brendan has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences around the world and has been named one of Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors.
In an industry overflowing with technical knowledge, Brendan helps Financial Advisors and their clients master the human side of money. From emotions, to behavior, to psychology, and everything in-between, Brendan discusses how these human behaviors impact our financial decisions. Brendan launched The Human Side of Money podcast specifically for Financial Advisors to learn these principles on the path to enhancing client outcomes and forever changing the trajectory of their business.
Prior to joining RFG, Brendan was the founder of Wired Planning, where he built a global training platform for Financial Advisors to develop the behavioral, psychological and emotional skill set required to serve clients at the highest level. Brendan holds a BBA in Marketing from Belmont University. While at Belmont, he played baseball and helped lead the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
When Brendan is not diving into the latest behavior and psychology research, you’ll find him in Nashville, TN with his two sons, wife and yellow lab.