Brad Reynolds
Owner / Financial Advisor
Brad is responsible for running the business, as well as the overall customer experience. His grandfather owned small country stores and gas stations. He recalls going with his grandfather to the store in the middle of the night to meet a customer there. When he asked why, his grandfather told him that if he took care of them tonight, they would come back tomorrow. This hometown philosophy stuck with Brad: if you treat your customers right, charge them a fair price, and help them when they are in need, they will be loyal to you and support your business.
Brad was born in Houston, Texas, but raised in Meridian, Mississippi. He always knew he wanted to own his own business, but he never dreamed it would be an investment advisory firm. At the urging of his wife, Becky, Brad returned to college and completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. He started working at one of the large brokerage firms during his final year of college and was a financial consultant at two local large brokerage firms prior to starting WBR Investment Services. Brad has nearly 20 years of experience as a financial advisor. He holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 through Commonwealth Financial Network® and Mississippi variable and life insurance licenses.
With the blessing and support of Becky, he founded WBR Investments in 2006 out of his home office. Brad had worked with large investment firms and wanted to do business in a different way. He wanted to incorporate the customer service and moral values he had learned from his grandfathers, into his investment advisory firm.
If you would like to hear about his membership in professional associations, service on various boards and committees, or better yet, his family, boat or golf game, give him a call. He would love to hear more about you, too.
Brad Reynolds is proud to have been recognized as a Business Experience advisor for 2021—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 52 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the firm we partner with to help us better serve you, recognizes Business Experience advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Business Experience 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 to their clients.
Robert Ford
CIO / Financial Advisor
Robert joined the WBR team in 2010 and assists with all aspects of client service, including investments, trading, research and portfolio construction, and analysis. Robert received his AA degree at East Central Community College, where he was also a member of the golf team. He earned his BBA in Accounting from Mississippi State University-Meridian. Robert had worked for 7 years for a local bank in the wealth management division and served as Trust Officer for 3 of those years, where he assisted with wealth planning and asset management for individuals, businesses, estates, and foundations. Robert holds his FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network® and has over 20 years of experience in the industry.
Outside of work, Robert enjoys hunting, fishing, reading, guitar, and golf. He shares the WBR vision of working hard to improve the lives of our clients and the community we serve.
Bernice Rigdon
Client Relations Manager
Bernie is the newest member of the WBR family, joining us in 2016 as a part-time sales associate and client services assistant. Bernie and her twin were delivered by the Easter Bunny; well, not really, but they were born on Easter Sunday. She was raised in a military family and with that came personal discipline and a knack for working well with others and developing personal relationships. With these skills, she earned her degree in hospitality management. She worked in medical insurance for more than 20 years, several of those years working with Brad's wife, Becky, with whom she still has a close relationship. She moved to Wyoming when her husband transferred, and she managed an apartment complex there. It is not coincidental that she came to work at WBR when her family moved back to Meridian. Brad knew she had the same moral character and work ethic that is valued at WBR, so, as he did with Joyce, he said "Please." Thankfully, Bernie accepted this challenge and position.
Joyce Fontan
Sales Assistant
This is where it all began, literally. Joyce joined the WBR team in 2010, but she has always been a presence: she is Brad's mother. Raised in Mississippi along with nine brothers and sisters, Joyce and her family were poor, but they never knew it. She shares the same strong moral values of hard work, honesty, and integrity that WBR is based upon. Joyce had recently retired after managing a local dental office for 32 years when Brad pulled her from retirement. WBR was growing and needed someone in the office to manage the day-to-day operations. Brad needed someone he knew would be loyal, honest, and understand client confidentiality. Since his wife, Becky, was gainfully employed elsewhere, he turned to mom.
Even though WBR has continued to grow and Brad has added other team members, Joyce remains a valuable asset. Her vast experience raising boys, knowledge of business operations, quiet demeanor, and cool head in stressful situations are vital to this young, growing company. See, we really are like family.
Derek Glicco
Investment Advisor Representative
As the newest member on the team, Derek joined WBR Investment Services in 2018 for his return to the financial and investment services industry. After coming on board, he regained his Advisory license and is available for clients along the Gulf Coast and elsewhere. He is always looking to expand WBR Investment Services on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast.
He was born in Meridian, MS, where his grandparents on both sides owned thriving businesses; however, he moved to Gulfport early in his life. There, he started school, and enjoyed his formidable years. During his high school years, his family moved back to Meridian, where he and Brad first met. In both cities, he forged lifelong friendships that would prove to be essential later in life. Despite suffering a life-altering injury at the end of high school, Derek continued his education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Managerial Finance and an MBA from the University of Mississippi.
As noted above, this marks Derek’s return to the financial services industry. He and Brad originally worked together as Financial Advisors at Smith Barney in Meridian, MS beginning in 2004. Upon closure of their branch office, Derek moved to UBS before co-founding another independent investment office. After receiving a buyout from his partner in 2011, Derek pursued other areas of business, but always within the financial side of companies.
In addition to working with clients, he also maintains our website and social media accounts. Fortunately, technology helps him juggle the different tasks.
When away from work, Derek enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, exploring the many local eating & drinking establishments and activities along the Coast. He loves good seafood, and they are always searching for a good burger joint. Some of his favorite times are those spent with friends simply celebrating life!