The Ford Group - About our team

Brian Ford, AWM, CFP®

Managing Director - Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager - Portfolio Focus

804-225-1422

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Andrew Foldenauer, AIF®, CFP®, CPFA®

Senior Vice President - Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager - Portfolio Focus

804-225-1483

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Susan Hulcher, AAMS®, APP, CFP®

Associate Vice President, Senior Financial Associate

804-225-1481

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Elise Borghi, CFP®

Registered Client Associate

804-225-1431

The 2021 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced February 2021. Data as of 6/30/2020. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2022 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2022. Data as of 6/30/2021. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2023 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams award was announced January 2023. Data as of 3/31/22. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and team, and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results.  Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2023 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2023. Data as of 6/30/2022. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams award was announced January 2024. Data as of 3/31/23. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and team, and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results.  Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance.

The 2024 Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" award was announced April 2024. Data as of 6/30/2023. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor based on qualitative criteria such as: best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This is not indicative of this financial advisor’s future performance. For more information: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

The 2025 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams” award was announced January 2025. Data as of 3/31/24. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each team’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information:  <a href="http://www.SHOOKresearch.com">www.SHOOKresearch.com</a>.

The 2025 Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” award was announced April 2025. Data as of 6/30/2024. The award was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of each advisor’s best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance was not an award criterion. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. The financial advisor does not pay a fee to be considered for or to receive this award. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. For more information go to: www.SHOOKresearch.com.

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Client Strategies Team

The Client Strategies Team is a resource to help support you in your wealth planning goals, developing a strong understanding of your personal financial objectives, gathering valuable information and addressing complex financial and wealth strategies issues. Explore the bios below to learn more about the team.

Liz Jacovino, CPWA®, CFP®, CTFA, CRPC®

Echelon Wealth Strategist

As an RBC Echelon wealth strategist, Liz partners with financial advisors and their ultra-high-net-worth clients to understand what is most important to them and to help develop appropriate strategies that address the client’s objectives and concerns. Liz serves as a knowledgeable resource in the area of complex wealth, including planning strategies for corporate executives, trust and estate planning services, concentrated stock options, business succession planning and philanthropic planning. She also coordinates solutions and external professional services tailored to RBC Echelon clients' needs.

Josh Mendelson

Wealth Management Banker

In the wealth management banker role, Josh acts as the key contact for financial advisors and their clients to build awareness and understanding of the full cash management and lending options available.

Cathy Walker

Trust Consultant

As a trust consultant, Cathy specializes in personal trust planning and assists in the movement of client trust assets, provides educational and technical guidance relating to personal trusts and advises clients on opportunities with third-party professional trust partners.

Les Williams

Wealth Strategist

Les serves as a resource for your financial advisor in determining and developing wealth transfer strategies for high-net-worth clients in areas including estate strategies, lifetime giving, personal trust planning, charitable giving, concentrated equity position diversification and employee stock options. In this role, Les partners with financial advisors to meet with individual clients and their attorneys and/or accountants, as well as present at client seminars.

About our team

What to look for in a primary financial advisor