
Before Scott Thomas became a financial advisor, he spent six years as a certified counselor in middle Tennessee. He learned what it meant to walk alongside someone in a hard season, to listen carefully, to tell the truth, and to stay committed to a better outcome.
That foundation never left him.
When he moved into finance in 1995, he saw the industry from the inside. Insurance firms, mutual fund companies, large brokerage houses. He saw how compensation structures created conflicts, how sales cultures shaped advice, and how investors were often led astray, not always by bad intent, but by misaligned incentives and limited training.
In 2005, he co-founded a fee-only fiduciary practice to do it differently. No commissions. No product sales. No third-party compensation of any kind. Just honest advice, in the client's best interest.
In 2010, he founded Ascension Wealth Advisors on one conviction: families and people of faith deserve a financial advisor who takes both their wealth and their values seriously. That's still what this firm is built on.
We believe wealth is a tool, not a destination. Not just something to accumulate, but something to steward, align with purpose, and use for lasting impact. A financial plan that accounts for those dimensions is something altogether different from what most advisors offer. That's what we build.
We also believe most investors are capable of far better outcomes than they're currently getting. Not because they're making bad decisions, but because no one has pulled their full financial picture into one coordinated strategy. That gap is exactly what we close.
Scripture puts it plainly: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." When you know why you're stewarding what you've been given, and for whom, the decisions get clearer. That's the foundation every plan here is built on.

As a fee-only fiduciary, Ascension is legally and ethically required to act in your best interest at all times. Our fees come directly from you, outlined clearly in your Investment Advisory Agreement. No commissions, no referral fees, no third-party compensation of any kind.
Every recommendation we make passes one filter: is this right for you?
That's not how most of the industry operates. It's how we've operated since day one.
Most investors don't fully understand what they own, or why they own it. That uncertainty leads to fear, hesitation, and costly decisions at the worst possible moments.
Our job is to change that. We start by bringing complete clarity to where you are today: what you have, what's working, what isn't, and what you may be missing. Then we build a coordinated strategy around your values, your goals, and your long-term purpose.
You don't leave our process with a plan you sort of understand. You leave with one you're confident in.

25+ years of fiduciary advisory experience
Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)
Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA)
Independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA)
Member of Kingdom Advisors and CKA since 2010
Featured advisor, FaithFi and KingdomAdvisors.com
University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Geology; 1983-1984 • University of Arkansas; Geology; 1985-1987 • University of Tennessee in Knoxville; Finance; 1993-1995 • Yale School of Management; Executive Education; Investment Management Theory and Practice; Completion June 2018 • University of Chicago Booth School of Business; CIMA® Certification Workshop; Completion October 2019 (does not hold CIMA® designation) • Belmont University; Certified Financial Planner® Education Requirements; 2003 2004 Completion. (does not hold CFP® designation)
We believe exceptional wealth management begins with understanding your life, not simply managing your investments. With more than 30 years of advisory experience, we combine independent fiduciary guidance, disciplined investment management, and personal attention. Our approach is grounded in academic investment principles and thoughtful stewardship, with lasting relationships built on trust, transparency, and genuine care.
As an independent registered investment adviser, we have a fiduciary obligation to act in our clients’ best interests when providing investment advice. Our fee-only model means we do not receive commissions for selling investment products. We focus on objective recommendations, transparent fees, and strategies designed around your needs.
We serve individuals, families, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and those preparing for or enjoying retirement. Many clients have complex financial circumstances and value experienced guidance, financial clarity, personal relationships, and a disciplined strategy. We are especially well-suited for those who view wealth as both an opportunity and a responsibility.
Our investment philosophy draws on academic research rather than market speculation. We emphasize global diversification, evidence-based portfolio construction, factor-based investing, tax awareness, and disciplined risk management. Portfolios are tailored to each client’s goals, circumstances, and capacity for risk, with a long-term focus.
Yes. For clients who desire it, we offer biblically responsible investment strategies intended to align portfolio holdings with Christian convictions. We believe sound investment principles and deeply held values can work together. While our foundation is Christ-centered, we welcome clients of all backgrounds with equal integrity, excellence, and respect.
A second opinion can provide valuable perspective. Our comprehensive portfolio diagnostic reviews diversification, risk exposures, investment expenses, tax considerations, and alignment with your goals. We use portfolio analytics to identify potential weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. A review does not obligate you to change advisors or transfer assets.
We begin by understanding the risks that could disrupt your goals, including concentration, liquidity needs, volatility, and your ability to withstand losses. Through thoughtful portfolio design, diversification, ongoing monitoring, and appropriate adjustments, we seek to manage investment risk and support long-term financial sustainability. No strategy eliminates risk.
Yes. Accumulating wealth and distributing it require different strategies. We help clients evaluate retirement income needs, tax-aware withdrawal approaches, Social Security considerations, portfolio distributions, and long-term objectives—so they can approach retirement with greater clarity and flexibility.
We believe compensation should be clear and transparent. Fees depend on the services provided and the applicable fee schedule; they are explained before engagement and documented in a written agreement. We do not receive commissions for selling investment products.
Every relationship begins with a conversation. We listen to your goals, concerns, investment experience, and priorities. Together we determine whether a portfolio review, financial planning engagement, or ongoing investment management relationship makes sense—and whether we are the right fit for one another.
A coordinated plan. A fiduciary you trust. A strategy built around who you are and what you believe.

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"Nothing on this site constitutes personalized investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice — consult the appropriate professional for your situation"
Investment advisory services are offered through Ascension Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Advisory services are provided only pursuant to a written Investment Advisory Agreement.
The Ascension Stewardship Office, LLC ("ASO") is a non-advisory planning and coordination platform designed to facilitate collaboration among independent professionals, which may include attorneys, certified public accountants, insurance professionals, valuation specialists, charitable planning consultants, and other subject-matter experts. These professionals are independent of Ascension Wealth Advisors and are solely responsible for the services they provide.
Unless otherwise stated in a written advisory agreement, services provided through the Ascension Stewardship Office are separate from Ascension Wealth Advisors, LLC’ investment advisory services and may not be offered in an investment advisory capacity. Ascension Wealth Advisors, LLC does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Clients should consult their own qualified legal, tax, and accounting professionals before implementing any strategy.
References to biblical stewardship or faith-based principles reflect the firm’s philosophy and are not intended to imply that investment results or financial outcomes are guaranteed.