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Personal Finance Instructors




John Carty-Campbell


  • BS & MBA, Fairleigh Dickinson University

John Carty-Campbell is currently Senior Partner with A Better Financial Group, Inc. John truly believes that people can significantly impact their financial future by being deliberate and intentional with identifying what is important to them. Then carefully outlining the steps they need to take to achieve the results they want. He thinks this is best done with the help of professionals who focus exclusively on helping people achieve their long term, financial goals.

Prior to starting his own firm, John spent 5 years with a wealth management firm, serving as their Sales Manager. John also spent 8 years as a Group Vice President with SunTrust Bank, and held several other positions working with Fortune 500 companies during a twenty-five year career in the financial industry. John received his BS and MBA degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. John passed the CFPA exam in November 2005, and is currently an Instructor for the CFPA program at the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Debby, raised 3 grown daughters and now have six beautiful grandchildren.





Bill Nichols


  • Political Science & Economics, University of Georgia

Bill Nichols has been in the financial services world for nearly twenty years, including time working as a partner in a local institutional investment firm, as well as helping to develop an electronic bond trading platform used by over 200 investment firms today. Several years ago he shifted gears to focus exclusively on what he found was most rewarding, which was working with clients. Bill helps clients achieve their goals in life by providing comprehensive financial planning and skilled investment advice, facilitating in-depth discussions with clients to determine what's important to them and developing customized solutions to meet their objectives.

Bill was born in London but spent most of his youth growing up in Toccoa, Georgia. He graduated in the Honors Program at the University of Georgia with a degree in Political Science and Economics. He is a Certified Financial Planner, and enjoys his lake house on Lake Hartwell, as well playing tennis, running, real estate investing and reading.





Erik Thompson


  • BS Cornell University
  • MBA Georgia Southern

After several years with a national brokerage firm, Erik obtained his Certified Financial Planner certification in 2012 and created Erik Thompson Financial Strategies in order to provide his clients with independent investment advice and personalized customer service. Erik helps frustrated investors with common sense strategies that helps them pursue their retirement goals.

Erik received a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and an MBA from Georgia Southern. His previous career was as an administrator for the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Program in a variety of locations throughout the state. As a member of numerous boards in the Morgan and Newton County area, Erik stays involved with the local community. Erik lives in Covington with his wife Naomi and their daughter Kenzie. All three enjoy many outdoor activities including hiking, camping, disc golf, beekeeping and raising backyard chickens.