Associate Spotlight: Deborah Jenkins

Southwestern Investment Group hires associates who we know will take care of our customers and look out for their best interests. Compliance and Operations Manager of Southwestern Investment Group, Deborah Jenkins, fits the bill. During her more than 30 years in the industry, Deborah has gained immeasurable knowledge of financial services and has built her career on helping companies like ours support their clients. In this spotlight, you can learn more about Deborah and see why she’s such a crucial part of the Operations Team

Deborah’s Background 

A Nashville native, Deborah has worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years. Her initial experience was with a small private financial services firm, where she obtained a Paraplanner certification while completing a portion of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Through the years, she became more focused on the areas of operations and compliance and obtained securities licenses. She currently holds seven securities licenses and one insurance license. Her background has included establishing start-up broker-dealers, conversions, and establishing independent RIAs. 

How Deborah Came to Southwestern Investment Group

Deborah came to Southwestern Investment Group in a rather unique way. After working for a bank broker-dealer that was ultimately purchased, Deborah was faced with a decision. She could stay with that company and relocate to Memphis, Tennessee, or she could remain in Nashville and seek other employment. Shortly after she decided to stay in Nashville, her mother became ill and Deborah began working part-time in order to assist with her care. Janice Williams, who was then working as an assistant to the President of Southwestern Investment Group, found her resume and asked if she would be open to discussing a compliance position. After learning about the relationship between Southwestern Investment Group and Dave Ramsey, Deborah was very interested. A few days after her interview, Deborah received a new hire packet in the mail.

What Deborah Loves About her Role

“My experience at Southwestern Investment Group has been amazing,” said Deborah. After working for a number of firms for over 30 years, she believes that Southwestern is the best company she’s worked with. “The financial advisors at Southwestern are considerate, kind, and caring individuals. I am always so impressed with how much they care about their clients,” she added.  

As the CCO of Southwestern Investment Group, Deborah is grateful for how our advisors care about doing things right and making sure that our organization stays in compliance. Over the past 13 years at Southwestern Investment Group, Deborah’s role has evolved greatly. She has worked in human resources, office management, operations, and compliance. Her current role is in compliance, where she enjoys working with our support staff and financial advisors.  

Deborah’s Joys in Her Personal Life

Deborah lives in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, with her sweet cat, Kit Kat. She loves time with her family, which includes two daughters and seven grandchildren. She enjoys watching Alabama Crimson Tide football and spending her time with friends. When she’s not spending time with family and friends or cheering on the Alabama team, Deborah also enjoys working with non-profits, reading, and home decorating.

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Jeffrey T. Dobyns

CFP®, CLU, CHFC

President, SageSpring 

Jeffrey T. Dobyns

President, SageSpring 

Beyond crunching numbers and investment strategies, at SageSpring, we’re about building relationships. When you encounter Founder & President of SageSpring, Jeff Dobyns, it’s easy to understand why this is at the very heart of who we are as a firm. You won’t find stuffy formalities with Jeff; instead, you can expect to find him sharing a warm smile, communicating a compelling vision, or patiently untangling life’s complex challenges with clients. He believes in truly getting to know clients, understanding their aspirations and priorities, and navigating their financial plans with a tailored, comprehensive approach. Our team members have often been caught taking notes on Jeff’s effortless relationship skills from a distance, and we admire them for striving to learn from one of the best. 

Jeff’s financial expertise and wisdom are the perfect match to his innate people skills. Jeff holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChLU®) designations, and has held executive positions with financial planning firms for more than two decades. 

His dedication extends beyond the office to the boardroom and the local community, where Jeff is passionate about giving back. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Men of Valor, a prison ministry and mentoring program. Jeff also serves on the board of Send Musicians to Prison, which shares hope, healing and restoration with the imprisoned through musicians & artists. Jeff actively supports other initiatives in the community by sitting on the board of The Signatry of Middle Tennessee and the Halftime Institute of Nashville. 

Witnessing his four children, Gracyn, Hunter, Tanner, and Logan, excel on the field is almost just as rewarding, if not more, than celebrating the victories of seeing his clients overcome obstacles and build wealth. Spending weekends boating on the lake, hiking mountain trails, and fishing with his family are the moments Jeff cherishes most. It’s this grounded perspective that reveals the true meaning of wealth for Jeff: not just numbers on a page, but the freedom to create experiences that enrich your life and the lives of those you love. When you choose the Dobyns McMillin Wealth Team, you choose more than financial expertise. You choose a partner who champions your dreams, celebrates your victories, and walks besides you on the path to achieving your unique goals.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.