Meet Our Team

At Principled Wealth Advisors, we share a love of family and friends, new places and experiences, and gaining knowledge and new skills. And, like our clients, we are driven to succeed in order to accomplish our goals in life.

Financial Professionals

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Kathy J. Hamm, ChFC, CLU®

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Kathy has provided financial planning to professionals, business owners, and executives for 34 years. She has specialized in counseling her clients on wealth accumulation, wealth preservation, and estate planning.

How do you define success? Going to bed with gratitude for the day that’s done and hope for the day to come.

What is your favorite place in the world? I have favorite places all over the world, but my office isn’t bad. It has a great view and is filled with positive energy, even if it is a little messy.

What do you most value in your friends? Integrity above all, but intelligence, humor, and loyalty, as well.

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Barry A. Ransick, ChFC, CLU, AIF®

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Barry specializes in helping each person tie their money to their personal goals; this is especially important when he works with business owners to develop succession plans. He is experienced at creating simple and accurate solutions, which resonate with each client’s core values, and then motivating his clients to extraordinary action. For more than 25 years, Barry has assisted clients in transition, helping them identify and achieve financial independence by providing appropriate analysis and personal counseling. Barry has deep skills in wealth accumulation, business transfer, estate planning, and protection strategies. He earned a bachelor’s degree. in mathematics and economics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Barry lives in Cincinnati with his wife and childhood sweetheart, Mimi.

How do you define success? Daily—it is when each interpersonal interaction assists that person in becoming the best expression of their unique self. For my life’s work, it’s helping those with whom we are on life’s journey to more fully discover their life mission and to wholly use their gifts and talents.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.

What is your favorite place in the world? On my paddleboard, on Glen Lake, near sunset, in the late summer with Mimi paddling alongside and my family somewhere nearby. Outdoor natural environments rejuvenate my soul and remind me who is my Creator.

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Jereme S. Ransick, AIF®, CFP®

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Jereme is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, were he earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on marketing and decision sciences. Jereme earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® certification from the Center for Fiduciary Studies in 2011. The AIF® certifies he has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. Before beginning his career in financial planning, Jereme was a product manager for Harris InfoSource, an information technology company, and a value and pricing specialist for the Convergys Corporation.

How do you define success? The process that leads to success—the planning, actions, errors, adjustments and integrity—can define success itself. Success can come from brilliant planning and execution or dumb luck, but only the former can be defined as true success.

What is your most marked characteristic—the thing that sets you apart from everyone else? It is a combination of determination, willingness to take calculated risks, and a deep desire to “do things right, or not at all”. Whether it’s been a personal goal, like running a sub three-hour marathon, a family commitment like coaching my children’s baseball and soccer teams, or work related, like helping clients accomplish what is most important to them, each is marked by my commitment to doing it to the best of my abilities.

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Luke T. Merry, CFP®
Associate Financial Advisor

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Luke is a graduate of Franciscan University with a degree in finance and a minor in economics. He enjoys investment analysis and implementing new strategies for effective wealth management. Luke and his wife, Natalie, were married in 2016 and are active parishioners at St. Cecilia’s church. Last year they were blessed with the birth of their first son, Walter T. Merry. They enjoy playing sports, traveling, and spending time with family.

How do you define success? Each situation and each person that we encounter in life gives us an opportunity to grow into the very best person we can be. To take advantage of each of these opportunities is to be successful.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? When I was in the eighth grade I lost a tennis match (I had a good year that year, so I didn’t lose many times). After this match my coach came to me in private and told me he was very disappointed. He was not disappointed that I lost, but that I didn’t give my very best effort—that I didn’t battle. About three years later that tennis coach passed away after a battle with cancer. I will never forget the lesson he taught me, and his advice to give your very best effort in all that you do.

What is your favorite restaurant and what should I order there? Currently my favorite restaurant is Eli’s Barbeque. The pulled pork sandwich at Eli’s is some of the best barbeque you can find. I will put them up against anyone.

What do you most value in your friends? To love is to consistently will and choose the good of the other; all my friends have a great willingness to love.

Staff

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Tiffany M. Holt
Registered Financial Assistant

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Tiffany is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in business administration. She joined Principled Wealth Advisors in 2004 with a primary focus of managing every aspect of client relations. She recently earned her FINRA Series 7 securities registration through Commonwealth Financial Network®. During her time with us she studied to become a licensed massage therapist as well. She lives with her husband and three little girls in Cincinnati, Ohio.

How do you define success? Being able to fall asleep at night knowing you were the best possible “you” that day. On a large scale, it’s having no regrets from the past, and trying to live in the moment—living and learning to become a better person through our experiences.

What is your favorite place in the world? My favorite place is home—it’s where my family and friends are.

What do you most value in your friends? Honesty and knowing that no matter what happens they will be there for me.

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Abigail Johnson
Operations Associate

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Abby graduated from Cincinnati Christian University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Her prior work experience includes a role in retail sales as well as two years as a claims approver for a large insurance company. She is an avid soccer fan and enjoys reading and scrapbooking in her spare time.

What do you most value in your friends? Honesty.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Graduating from college and receiving the 1st Team All-Conference Award for soccer my senior year.

Who are your heroes in real life? My parents.

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Leanne M. Waid
Registered Financial Assistant

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Leanne has been a dedicated employee of Principled Wealth Advisors for 20 years. She has worked alongside Kathy every step of the way, earning her FINRA Series 63 and 7 securities registrations. Leanne is involved with every level of client communication and is a tremendous asset to our firm for her ability to have a positive attitude under pressure, all while providing outstanding client service.

How do you define success? Success has nothing to do with money or power. It’s about having the love and respect of your family and friends.

What is your favorite childhood memory? My grandpa would get me off the school bus in the afternoon once in a while. He would put me on his shoulders and carry me back to their house for an afternoon of fun!

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Although this was definitely not my achievement alone, I’d have to say my 35-year marriage and raising two wonderful children.

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Angela Neville
Client Service Administrator

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Angela is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University where she received a Presidential Scholarship and earned an Associates in Business Administration. She also completed additional classes to have a concentration in Finance. With more than 25 years in banking, lending, and investing, she loves working with clients and helping them meet their goals. Angela is a Northern Kentucky native and enjoys living near her family and lifelong friends. Her favorite things include traveling, movies, swimming, live music, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

How do you define success? Making a positive difference for someone every day.

What is your favorite childhood memory? Swimming with my friends in our backyard pool.

What is your favorite place in the world and why? Amelia Island, Florida—beautiful beaches, fun restaurants, historic downtown, and shopping!

Which talent would you most like to have? To be able to play the piano by ear.

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Zachary Stacy
Client Service Administrator

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Zach currently attends Northern Kentucky University pursuing his B.S.B.A. in Management. Previously, he worked in a claims administration role for a property and casualty insurance company and prior to that processed claims for a large life insurance conglomerate. Zach joined Principled Wealth Advisors at the beginning of 2023 focusing on operations administration.

Outside of work and classes, Zach enjoys playing piano, exploring downtown Covington and Cincinnati, and watching performances at the Aronoff Center.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I’ve received is to not compare yourself to others and to have the confidence to be yourself.

What is your favorite place in the world and why? My favorite place in the world is Hawaii. The water is warm year-round, the islands are always lush, and life just moves a little bit slower.

What do you most value in your friends? Above all else, I value candor, empathy, and a sense of humor.