When seeking assistance with financial management and planning, potential clients search for a professional they can trust with their finances and their future. By showing unrivaled dedication and care to his clients, Ray Dunlap Jr. has distinguished himself as a financial adviser.
Dunlap has worked in the financial services industry for more than 40 years. Throughout these decades, he has built profound expertise in financial planning and has provided exceptional service to his clients through his firm, Dunlap & Associates Wealth Management. In recognition of his contributions to his field, he has been included in the Marquis Who’s Who listing of influential professionals.
Discovering the Path to Success
Prior to starting his career in financial services, Dunlap earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from St. John Fisher University, a private Catholic university located in New York City, in 1976. He continued building his knowledge and career skills, graduating with a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the University of South Florida, a public university located in Tampa, Florida, in 1980.
After completing his graduate studies, Dunlap found himself at a crossroads in his career path. A close friend who worked at an investment banking firm encouraged him to enter the financial industry. Although he had never considered a career in this field, he followed his friend’s advice and discovered success.
Acquiring Expertise in Financial Services
From 1984 to 1993, Dunlap worked for William R. Hough & Company as a partner and the vice president of investments, respectively. He then became vice president of investments at Morgan Stanley, where he worked from 1993 to 1995.
In 1996, Dunlap obtained the role of regional director of financial planning at Lincoln Financial Advisors. In this capacity, he gained valuable insights into the industry, overseeing operations for the entire state of Georgia. When Lincoln merged with Cigna, resulting in layoffs that included Dunlap and his colleagues, he decided that the best path forward would be to found his own firm.
In 1999, Dunlap founded Dunlap & Associates Wealth Management, where he continues to act as chief executive officer. His daily duties include overseeing a team of advisers and staff members, serving more than 400 families, and managing $195 million in assets for clients.
Forming Lasting Relationships with Clients
Over his years in financial services, Dunlap has experienced and taken part in significant changes in the industry. One of the most significant shifts is toward client-focused service. “When I first started, there was no financial planning. It was all transaction,” he said.
As Dunlap developed his skills in business, he honed the ability to establish close relationships with clients. “I was so grateful when I hired my business coach who taught me that ultimately, what you want is to deepen the relationship and then you can get the money and have a higher responsibility now because you must make sure you’re doing the right thing for the client all the time and that the client knows that,” he said.
Dunlap & Associates Wealth Management applies this same focus to the firm’s client relationships, an approach that Dunlap believes has fueled the firm’s success. He and his team have developed a reputation for going above and beyond to demonstrate how much they value their clients, such as contacting cruise lines to send gifts to clients departing on cruises.
“That is the most important thing that we do — build those very strong, deep and lasting relationships that transcend what the stock market does,” Dunlap asserts.
Imparting a Legacy of Service
Dunlap was named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Atlanta Magazine in 2021 for his exceptional service to his clients and success in leading his firm. His inclusion in the Marquis Who’s Who listing further demonstrates his achievements as a financial services professional.
In the coming years, Dunlap plans to transition the leadership of Dunlap & Associates Wealth Management to his successor. As he hands over daily operations, he continues to write the firm’s monthly blogs and newsletters and speak at public events. He continues to demonstrate exceptional service to his clients by visiting older clients in their homes. As he prepares for his retirement, he continues to build upon this legacy of dedication and care within the field of financial services.
