In January 2027, Brett F. Ewing will reach the 30-year mark in the financial services industry, a career that began when he earned his license in 1997. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, he's the owner, Senior Financial Advisor and Chief Market Strategist of First Franklin Financial Services, an independent wealth management firm in his hometown. Brett Ewing represents the third generation of financial planners in his family, and his reputation rests largely on his economic research and market commentary. Leading financial publications quote him regularly, and business news programs at the national and international level feature him often. His preparation for the profession started at Florida State University, where he completed a dual degree in Economics and Finance in December 1994. Two years later, in December 1996, the University of Central Florida awarded him a Master of Business Administration. One year after finishing that MBA, Brett Ewing was licensed. The story of the firm he leads begins in 1966. That year, George F. Ewing opened George F. Ewing Insurance, concentrating on life insurance, mutual funds and 401(k) management. An affiliation with Sun Life of Canada came in 1973, and property and casualty insurance joined the agency's offerings in 1982. In 1998, the business took on the name First Franklin Financial Services as a tribute to George's father, Leonard Franklin Ewing, who was the original "First Franklin." After returning to Tallahassee in 2000, Brett Ewing came aboard at the firm. Eight years later, he assumed responsibility for its operations, and 2008 also brought First Franklin its first Quantum Leap Award. When George retired in 2009, he remained with the firm in the role of Comptroller. More than five decades after its founding, First Franklin continues to look after the retirement and investment needs of individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits throughout North Florida. Leading a grassroots, independent firm with that kind of history is a real source of pride for Brett Ewing. Market strategy and economic research sit at the center of his professional identity. In 2011, First Franklin started making its economic research available to the public, and he's spent the past 11 years working with the financial media. Publications that have quoted him include Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, Forbes, USA Today, InvestmentNews and MarketWatch. On air, he's been a guest on Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Daybreak, Bloomberg Radio, BNN Bloomberg, CNBC Fast Money, CNBC Asia, CNBC Europe, Reuters TV, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance and Schwab Network. Sharing what he knows isn't limited to the press. First Franklin has recently finished its Financial Planning Course, and the firm continues to put out economic updates and webinars. Teaching financial planning matters a great deal to him, as does guiding younger advisors through mentorship and assisting business school students who are getting ready for careers in the field. First Franklin's record of recognition under his leadership is extensive. Quantum Leap Awards came in 2008 and 2014. The firm was honored with the Top Advisory Firm Award four times, in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2018, and collected its first MVP of the Year Award in 2015. Advisory Branch of the Year honors followed in 2020 and 2021, and Top Branch of the Year recognition arrived in 2023, 2024 and 2025. On an individual level, Brett Ewing was chosen as Top Advisor of the Year in 2022, 2024 and 2025 from a field of 650 competing offices, and he earned Top Advisory Services of the Year recognition in both 2024 and 2025. His record of service in Tallahassee spans many organizations. From 2004 to 2006, he was President of the Tallahassee Lions Club, and from 2009 to 2012, he held a seat on the Children's Home Society Board. In 2010, he led the Tallahassee Quarterback Club as its President. His involvement with the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation has included a term on its Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2013, a period as Honorary Trustee from 2014 to 2018, and his current role as Life Trustee, which began in 2018. He was also Chairman of the Tallahassee Young Entrepreneur Organization in 2014. Schools have received a significant share of his volunteer time. Holy Comforter Episcopal School counted him as a member of its Finance Committee from 2014 to 2017 and of its Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2021, a stretch during which he was Treasurer from 2017 to 2019 and then Chairman from 2019 to 2021. The school named its endowment for him in the summer of 2021. St. John Paul II Catholic High School had him on its School Advisory Council and as its Development and Fundraising Chair between 2016 and 2020, and it recognized him with the Principal's Volunteer of the Year award for 2017-2018. His love of golf carries into his community work as well. Since 2022, he's been Vice President of First Tee of Tallahassee and a member of its finance committee, and he's also a charter board member of First Tee. He champions charity golf tournaments as a means of generating support for local causes. Brett Ewing and the First Franklin team also back a long list of other organizations: the Tallahassee Museum, Refuge House, Ronald McDonald House, Treehouse, Independence Landing, Pas de Vie Ballet, AMVETS Post 1776, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Economic Club of Florida, the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. That support reaches the Tallahassee Lions Club, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club, St. John Paul II Catholic High School and Holy Comforter Episcopal School too. Away from the office, he treasures time with his wife and their three daughters, and as an empty nester, he makes room for travel and family trips. He's also a devoted golfer. With three decades in the business almost behind him, Brett Ewing stays focused on what has always guided him: careful financial planning, clear-eyed economic insight and service to his hometown of Tallahassee.