Paragon HM Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Alistair Harding-Smith is a founding partner and head of investment strategy and portfolio management for the Paragon HM Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley in Birmingham, Alabama. An industry veteran of more than 25 years, he has extensive experience managing assets for and working closely with endowments, corporate pension funds, government entities and a broad range of high-net-worth individuals.

Overseeing a 14-member Group with more than $2.5 billion in client assets as of June 2024, Alistair was named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisor list for 2018-2024 and Barron’s America’s Top 1,200 Advisors list in 2024 for the fifth time in 8 years.

A Managing Director and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley, Alistair is highly adept at clearly communicating complex financial concepts in an easy way for clients to understand. He builds strong relationships with clients by maintaining consistent contact with them and keeping them well-informed about current events and their financial implications.

Alistair has always been very focused on educating himself to better serve his clients and support his team. He holds many professional designations, including:

• Alternative Investment Director
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)
• Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA^®)
• Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS)
• Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC)
• Corporate Retirement Director
• Government Entities Specialist
• Lending Specialist
• Senior Investment Management Consultant
• Workplace Advisor - Equity Compensation

Alistair’s distinguished career began in 1996 at Coopers & Lybrand as an actuarial consultant for pensions and investments. His hands-on experience came at Barclays Global Investors in London and San Francisco, where he was an investment strategist and principal portfolio manager, overseeing institutional assets in excess of $5 billion. It is there that Alistair worked on the team responsible for developing the first iShares Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) and also served on a steering committee for the prestigious FTSE index.

Born in Windsor, England, Alistair attended St. Paul’s school in London and graduated from Bristol University in England, receiving a BSc in Mathematics and Economics. Classically trained in the oboe and piano, Alistair served as past president and treasurer of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and is currently President of the TSO Endowment Fund. Alistair was involved in the 2022 World Games in Birmingham and a member of the Sports Council representing Squash.

Alistair lives in Hoover, Alabama, with his wife Katie, and spends his time actively involved with his three children, Lauren, William, and Caedmon.

2017-2018, 2022-2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (2017-2018, 2022-2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2018-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (2018-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Scott McClanahan is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and a principal partner of Paragon HM Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley in Birmingham Alabama, a 14-member team managing over $2.5 billion in client assets as of June 2024. With 21 years of experience in financial services, Scott’s dedication is integral to his team’s success. Based in the city of Mountain Brook, Scott wears many hats. He is not only a Financial Advisor and a Senior Portfolio Management Director but also a Family Wealth Director and Corporate Retirement Director. His commitment to providing clients with a high level of service and advice is steadfast, demonstrated by his recent selection to Morgan Stanley’s National FA Council in January 2024, where he also serves on the technology sub-committee.

Scott’s accolades include making the Forbes list for Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors in 2018 and 2019, and the Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list in 2021 and 2022. These recognitions reflect his dedication and exceptional service to his clients, ranging from ultra-high-net-worth individuals to endowments and corporate pension funds.

Known for his high energy, amicable personality, and ability to leverage the vast global resources of Morgan Stanley, Scott excels at helping clients identify their unique goals and uncover needs they may not have considered. His disciplined approach to wealth management instills confidence in his clients, fostering strong, trust-based relationships. Scott’s ability to connect with a diverse group of people is partly attributed to his upbringing. His father, a sought-after engineer, required the family to move frequently, allowing Scott to experience different cultures and meet a variety of people. This background has shaped his appreciation for diversity and connection.

When Scott isn’t serving clients, he is deeply involved in his community. He resides in Mountain Brook with his wife, Gina, and their four children, Marcus, Larisey, Hazel, and Eve. He spends his weekends traveling or coaching various sports that his children are involved in, believing in the valuable life skills these activities provide at their ages.

He has raised funds for several nonprofit groups, including the Druid City Hospital (DCH) Foundation and the YMCA. Scott has served as president and board member of the Tuscaloosa County YMCA, led its capital campaign, and was a board member for The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. He is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for Central and West Alabama and formerly headed the Legacy Team for Church of the Highlands in Birmingham.

Before his career at Morgan Stanley, Scott was an All-American baseball player for the University of Alabama and was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2002. He also served as a color commentator for ESPN and the SEC networks. His passion for sports continues today as he coaches youth sports and supports baseball initiatives in the Dominican Republic.

In his free time, Scott enjoys traveling with his wife, playing squash, ping pong, and golf, and spending time with his children.

In an industry often defined by numbers, Scott McClanahan’s success is measured not just by the assets he manages but by the lives he impacts and the communities he enriches, both personally and professionally.


2018-2019 Forbes America’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2019). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.

2021 -2022 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2021-2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Jennifer is a Financial Advisor with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group providing financial planning and investment advice. She also serves as the branch manager of the Tuscaloosa Northbank branch.

Jennifer brings a consultative approach to her clients by leveraging both the team and each client’s other trusted advisors to understand the client’s needs and to build strategies that help to reach their goals.

Jennifer holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® designation, which is widely recognized as one of the leading designations for proven competence in investment analysis and wealth management. In addition, she holds the Certified Financial Planner^® designation, which is the standard of excellence in financial planning.

Jennifer is married to Robby, a Tuscaloosa native, and they have two daughters, Bradley (5) and Cece (4). She is Chairman of the Board of Directors for First Presbyterian Preschool, Secretary of the Board of Directors for Freedom Farm, and a member of the Finance Committee for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Board of Directors. In her spare time, you can find Jen enjoying some time on the lake or playing games with her family.

Andy is a First Vice President with Morgan Stanley and a partner with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group. He is an experienced financial advisor that focuses on retirement and income strategies for individuals and small businesses. Andy works with his clients to help cultivate and implement custom estate planning strategies that are tailored for each individual’s needs. He has 22 years of industry experience and holds the Alternative Investments Director designation, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation, and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP*) designation which is the standard of excellence in financial planning.

Andy graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a double minor in Psychology and Biology. He began his career at Merrill Lynch in 2003 and joined Morgan Stanley and Paragon HM Wealth Management Group in June of 2022

Andy and his family are members of Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church. He has served on the Missions Team there for over 15 years. He has also chaired the US Home Team and the Short-Term Mission Trip committees. He led multiple short term medical trips to Uganda, Africa from 2004-2007. He is also Certified in Global Disaster Response through the Mission to the World organization and received a certification in Advanced Medical Leadership training in 2014.

Andy loves to travel with his family, hunting, skiing, golf and tennis. He served as the chair of the Tennis Committee at Vestavia Hills Country Club for 3 years, and currently serves as a board member. Andy and his wife Brandi currently live in Vestavia Hills with their three children Mary-Scott, Tucker and Asher.

Greg is a Financial Advisor and partner with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley in Birmingham Alabama. His focus is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Greg serves families and businesses to develop and maintain comprehensive strategies around wealth, wealth transfer, asset protection, philanthropic goals and business succession planning. His investment solutions are founded in risk management and forged in institutional wealth management. He also serves as the group’s insurance and risk management strategist.

Prior to joining Paragon HM Wealth Management Group, Greg began his professional career with start-ups in both the technology and healthcare space, having worked through multiple IPO’s. He also ran multiples businesses in both real estate and insurance.

Greg’s robust experience working with successful start-ups and entrepreneurs has proven to be a valuable asset in his wealth management career at Morgan Stanley. He holds the CEPA^® Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation to help business owners protect and manage their wealth through an exit transition. He is able to connect with clients on a business ownership level and provide a unique perspective of advice and products that are relevant, beneficial and appropriate for clients.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a major in marketing from the University of Mississippi. Greg currently serves as a Board Member with Ady’s Army. He also works with a mentoring program, Emerging Leaders and is active with youth sports. Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Greg currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Ashley and their two children, Lily Kate and Will.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Barney is a Financial Advisor with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group in Huntsville, Alabama. He utilizes this talented team of professionals to work together to ensure his clients receive the attention and analysis necessary to help realize their financial goals. In relying upon the team’s broad experience and vast capabilities, he is able to deliver a variety of wealth management solutions to his clients.

Barney attended Lenoir Rhyne University where he received a BS of Arts and went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he spent six years in private banking with National Bank of Commerce and Royal Bank of Canada and more than eight years combined with Morgan Keegan and Raymond James in Huntsville. Barney’s experience in the ministry and private banking gives him a unique perspective when serving clients.

Serving in the community is a core value in Barney’s life. He has served in many different capacities including co-chair of The Huntsville Hospital Golf Classic, board member of Lincoln Village Preservation Corporation, board member of the Calhoun Community Foundation, board member of the Vantage Leadership Initiative, and is a member of downtown Huntsville Rotary Club. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he served as a board member and past president of National Children’s Advocacy Center. Barney, his wife, Tricia, and three of their four children reside in Huntsville, and they have five grandchildren. In Barney’s spare time he enjoys golf, hunting, fly fishing, and traveling with his wife.

John serves as a Financial Advisor with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group in Huntsville, Alabama. His background as a non-practicing attorney offers him a distinct perspective on wealth management, enabling him to approach financial strategies with a viewpoint that helps to set him apart in the industry. John employs the team’s extensive resources and experience to help clients prudently plan for their future.

John attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree. After working as an entrepreneur, he went on to earn a doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where his studies focused on Estate Planning and Tax Law. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, John owned various successful businesses and served as Vice President of Alabama Concrete Company.

John and his wife, Courtney Penney Allen, live in Huntsville and are the proud parents of daughter Harper. John and Courtney are actively involved in the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. In his free time, John enjoys playing golf and following the Kansas City Royals.

Jordan Miller is a Financial Advisor with Paragon HM Wealth Management Group in Birmingham, AL. He began his career with Morgan Stanley in 2015 and focuses on working with clients to create long-term, personalized financial plans. Jordan leverages the strengths of the team to develop, assess and monitor the retirement and wealth plans for the team’s clients, and he delivers a comprehensive employee education program to the team’s corporate retirement plan participants.

Jordan attends Church of the Highlands and serves actively in the community. He has a bachelor’s degree in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama. Jordan lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife Evelyn and daughter Mary Evelyn, and enjoys playing golf, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.

Heath Henig joined Paragon in 2021 from Merrill Lynch, bringing over 25 years of experience in the industry. He is returning to Morgan Stanley after starting his career here in 1999. His goal is to provide financial advice to clients through a wide variety of services such as retirement planning, estate planning strategy, insurance planning needs, and wealth transfers. Heath is passionate about helping his clients address the various aspects of their financial lives and pursue their long-term goals. His comprehensive approach to wealth management is to help create, grow, and preserve the wealth of clients which goes hand in hand with the team’s philosophy of creating a holistic approach and serving our clients.

Heath is married with two daughters, Mary Clark and Jane. Heath and his wife, Meghan, are both graduates of Auburn University and have BA’s in finance - Meghan works for Altec Inc. They currently reside in Mountain Brook in the Crestline area and are active members of Canterbury Methodist Church. In his free time you can find Heath on the golf course, cheering on college football or spending time at Vestavia Country Club.



Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

Cole Baker is the Director of Investments at Paragon HM Wealth Management Group and is responsible for the execution of investment strategies across a multitude of platforms. His role is a thrilling blend of trade execution, strategy implementation, trading model oversight, portfolio rebalancing, and performance reporting. In addition to that, he also excels in tax loss harvesting, portfolio analysis, and private investment monitoring.

Cole's experience is backed by the prestigious Certified Investment Management Analyst^® (CIMA^®) certification, a testament to his pursuit of knowledge in investment and portfolio management. This certification, administered by the Investments & Wealth Institute and taught in collaboration with the Yale School of Management, is a badge of honor for professionals committed to providing their clients with superlative investment advice. Cole's role also extends to fund and strategy research, a testament to his versatility. He became a valuable addition to the team in 2015.

A proud Summa cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama, Cole majored in Finance, with a focus in Investment Management. Cole currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his beloved wife Rebecca and their two children. They are active members of the Church of the Highlands, where they devote their time to volunteering.

When he's not strategizing investments or volunteering, you'll find Cole playing tennis, enjoying quality time with his family, or engrossed in a good book. Cole can be found working out early mornings with a local men’s group in Birmingham.

*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice.

Tyler is our Chief of Staff at Paragon HM. He plays a critical role in enhancing the client experience for the Financial Advisor team by creating, developing, and executing on strategic plans to help ensure the alignment of team priorities and business goals. Tyler oversees all business planning, business development, marketing, and client relationship operations to help support the Financial Advisor team scale their business. With a background in Development and Fundraising, Academics, and Nonprofit Management, Tyler brings a wealth of experience to our team. His role provides an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the team by managing all business operations and overseeing the essential activities of all Support Professionals alongside their productivity.

Tyler graduated magna cum laude with a master’s degree from the University of Alabama. He lives in Corner, Alabama with his wife Laken and their three children May, Oak, and Patton. He spends his time serving on the board of Corner Community Park and coaching baseball and football.

Kim Caldwell is a Senior Registered Client Service Associate and Financial Planning Specialist working out of our Tuscaloosa, Alabama office. Since 2020 Kim has been a member of our operations staff working closely with the Financial Advisors to help ensure that our clients’ needs are met and supporting the daily operational functions of the office. She also assists with our team’s retirement plans serving as a point of contact for participants and plan sponsors.

Kim is originally from Dallas, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. She moved to Northport, Alabama in 2005 with her husband Andrew and their two daughters, Kayla and Kate. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Kim spent 5 years with BBVA Investment Services as a Sales Assistant servicing client accounts and providing support to the Financial Advisors.

*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice.

Jaron Scott is a Registered Client Service Associate working in a dual role that spans between operational client support and investment implementation. Jaron joined the Paragon HM team in 2021.

Jaron graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance with a focus in Value Investments. Outside of the office Jaron’s passions include enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and supporting the University of Alabama’s sports teams. Jaron currently lives in Tuscaloosa with his wife Meaghan.

Grant serves as a Registered Client Service Associate at Paragon HM, where he executes team operational needs and provides extensive support to clients and team members. His duties include devising innovative solutions for both the team and clients, securely handling transactions and requests, and helps to ensure the protection of client information. Furthermore, Grant delivers essential operational support to the Financial Advisors. His chief aim is to nurture existing client relationships and to greet new clients with diligence and a positive demeanor.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Grant spent 6 years in the Supply Chain Department at Southern Nuclear Operating Company where he served in purchasing material and services. He graduated from The University of Alabama in 2016 with a degree in Operations Management with a focus in Supply Chain.

Madeline Jordan is a Registered Client Service Associate and Financial Planning Specialist working in the Huntsville office to deliver comprehensive client service solutions and provide seamless support to financial advisors. Her responsibilities encompass a wide range of operational tasks, including account management, client inquiries, and transaction processing. She also assists with the administrative functions of Paragon HM.

Madeline graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, she taught middle school band, and served as a Business Manager for a mechanical design company. Outside of the office, Madeline enjoys exercising, reading, playing the French Horn, and spending time with her husband, Tim. She also teaches a group fitness class at her local gym.

*This role cannot solicit or provide investment advice.