MEET THE OAK STREET TEAM

​JOE TAYLOR
Owner & Founder
I began my career in financial services in 1989, working for the biggest name on Wall Street. I have no complaints about this former employer -- their training was excellent.  I learned about a wide variety of financial products because I was expected to sell a wide variety of financial products.  This was in the days before there was an internet, and the proprietary technology of the Wall Street behemoths was unparalleled. In 1999 a competitor offered me a fairly large sum of money to walk across the street.  I took the check and settled in with another big Wall Street firm.
​
Then came the dot-com boom. Money was printed every week as IPO after IPO hit the market. Life was good…until it all fell apart.  Bloodied by the fall of the markets, my employer decided it was time to shutter operations in smaller markets like Myrtle Beach.  Once again, the wire-houses came calling with their checkbooks open.

But this time things were different. The internet had been born and with it came discount brokers, access to more research options, financial planning platforms, and trading services. 

​With 16 years of experience, I had seen firsthand the shortcomings of the Wall Street model. Sales contests, product pushing, and research that revolved around getting a company’s investment banking business.  I knew clients did not come to me to find the products my firm sold, they came looking for advice -- and now I had the chance, and the tools, I needed to provide the advice they were searching for.
​I had learned about a business model that put me on the same side of the table as my clients.  I had heard about a group of advisors who only charged fees for their services rather than receiving a commission for making a sale. And so, I said no to more of the same. Rather than accept another check to move myself and my clients into the arms of another big Wall Street firm, I took a leap of faith and opened Oak Street Advisors as a fee-only, independent, registered investment advisory firm in 2005.

I was fortunate to have some of the best clients in the world.  They believed in me and they bought into my dream.  It wasn’t easy and it was very scary, but together we made it work.

Over the years I have been lucky to meet others who understood the value of advice and knew they wanted a relationship with an advisor who would put their interest first and foremost. They knew they needed advice and counsel, not a product or the stock of the week.

​My business grew and I was thrilled to be able to hire my son, Bryan, to work with me.  In 2015 we opened another office in Mt. Pleasant, SC where we bring our passion for fairness and diligence to those in Charleston, SC and the surrounding area.

In my free time I enjoy playing golf, bike riding, and traveling. I have a daughter, Madison, who lives in Evergreen, CO who always gives me an excuse to travel west.  My wife, Patricia, is my travel partner and we have been happily married for over 40 years.

Published Papers - Adding a Third Dimension to Bond Analysis- Journal of Financial Planning

Quoted in the Media:
Watch your wallet: Saving tips from Grand Strand experts as prices rise with inflation - WPDE
5 questions to ask before buying life insurance - Nation World News
What’s the difference between an IRA and a 401k? - The US Sun
Advisers and clients worry about Obamacare changes under Trump - Investment News
Improving your credit score isn't impossible - WMBF News
13 Best Fall 2021 Money Resolutions to Make: It’s Not Too Late to Get Started - GO Banking Rates
Financial advisor offers tips for lottery winners as Mega Millions jackpot grows - WMBF 
Compound Interest - MoneyGeek.com

Other Links:
NAPFA - National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
Fee-Only Planning Network
LinkedIn
Facebook
​BRYAN TAYLOR, CFP®
Vice President 
Fiduciary Financial Advisor
I graduated from Clemson University and began my financial planning career shortly after with a small advisory firm on the ground floor -- learning the basics of financial and tax planning and running a financial advising business.

At the same time, I enrolled in the University of Georgia Terry College of Business' Executive Program in Financial Planning and completed the coursework at nights and on weekends. Soon after, I completed my CFP® certification and joined Oak Street Advisors.

I now serve in a Senior Advisor and Planner role, working together with our team on all financial plans and strategies. By collaborating we provide fiduciary financial and tax planning and asset management to our clients within a fee-only business model -- which reflects our conviction of putting our clients’ interest above the next dollar. 

When I'm away from the office, I enjoy playing golf, boating, and relaxing on the beach with my wife Laura, daughters Riley and Ramsey, and our Labrador Retriever, Luna.

Links:
NAPFA - National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
Certified Financial Planner© Professional
LinkedIn
Fee Only Network

​
“Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with flame design), and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.”
​RYAN COOPER
Fiduciary Financial Advisor
I joined Oak Street Advisors’ Myrtle Beach office in 2021. I currently serve as a fiduciary financial advisor and associate financial planner. I hold the Series 65 and am working towards obtaining my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) accreditation. 

I strive to provide clients diligent and proactive service while assisting the team with planning, investment strategies, and recommendations.
​
While not in the office, I enjoy running 5Ks and 10Ks, golfing, fishing, going to the beach with my wife Natalie and our son Bennett, and watching my beloved Green Bay Packers play (I even own stock in the team!).
“Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with flame design), and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.”
CHRISTINA NORWOOD​
Client Service & Operations Specialist
Born and raised in Maryland, I moved to South Carolina in 2023 and joined Oak Street Advisors' Myrtle Beach office in 2024 as the firm's Client Services and Operations Specialist.  I've worked in the financial service industry most of my career, including ten years for a large brokerage firm and the last two years as a Client Relations Specialist at a similarly sized RIA. 

I enjoy working hand-in-hand with our clients on all administrative and operational needs. Client satisfaction and planning efficiency are my top priorities -- as I take pride in providing proactive service to every client household at Oak Street Advisors.
 
While not in the office, I enjoy quality time with my family, walking my rescue dog, Auggie, on the beach, cooking, and exploring South Carolina.