BIP Wealth is proud to welcome Brendan Domaracki to its Baseball Division as a Wealth Consultant. Domaracki will work out of BIP Wealth's new Scottsdale, Arizona office alongside longtime friend and fellow Stanford Baseball and Major League Baseball (MLB) Alum, John Hester, CFP®.
Domaracki spent 17 years in MLB front office operations before joining BIP Wealth. Most recently, he was with the Seattle Mariners from 2016 to 2026. In his role, he evaluated players across all levels of the player pool, oversaw scouting efforts, actively contributed to strategy and decision-making, and negotiated countless free agent contracts. Before the Mariners, he held a similar role with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2009 to 2016. Over his lengthy career, Domaracki got to know players, agents, and front offices across MLB. He is excited to join the Baseball Division to help grow BIP Wealth’s presence, while deepening his relationships in service of players and their families.
“I’ve known John for more than twenty years, going back to our time together at Stanford,” said Domaracki. “He’s the one who first introduced me to BIP, and the more I learned about the firm and the people behind it, the more it felt like a natural next step. This opportunity feels like an extension of what I’ve always loved about baseball—being there for people through the highs and lows of the game, and helping them figure out where they want to go next.”
“I’m excited for Brendan to join our team as we build out our West Coast presence," shared John Hester. “Working alongside him in the Arizona market strengthens our presence in a key area for MLB organizations. He has worked directly with players over the course of their journey in this sport. That knowledge and experience from the front offices of two MLB organizations will be invaluable to our clients.”
“Brendan spent nearly two decades building relationships across the game, and that kind of trust isn’t something you can shortcut,” said Bill Harris, CFP®, Co-Founder and CEO of BIP Wealth. “Pairing him with John in our new Scottsdale office elevates BIP one step closer to being the premier provider of financial advisory services to MLB players.”
Domaracki lives in the Scottsdale area with his wife and their two children. Like his work, much of their life as a family is spent on the ball fields together.
Contact Brendan: Brendan Domaracki, BIP Wealth Baseball Division, Wealth Consultant
Press Contact: Jenni Brown, Chief Marketing Officer
We're proud to share that for the fifth consecutive year, BIP Wealth has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle's Best Places to Work list—ranking #6 for 2026 in the Medium Company category. This is a recognition of our whole team, and one we don't take for granted.
“Five consecutive years sends a strong message about the cultural foundation we’ve built here at BIP and continue to expand upon,” said Jenni Brown, Chief Marketing Officer at BIP Wealth. “In the midst of record growth numbers as a firm, this ranking affirms that culture and rapid growth can co-exist. I love knowing that my colleagues feel the same way I do about working here, as part of the BIP Family; that we have something special here. That shows in our team culture and trickles down to how we serve our clients.”
BIP Wealth was founded in 2007 on the idea that a strong internal culture and strong client outcomes go hand in hand. We provide holistic wealth management, tax planning, estate planning, and private investment access to individuals, families, and business owners across the Southeast, and we believe that starts with how we treat the people doing the work.
“Our team shows up for each other the same way we ask them to show up for clients,” added Nate Smith, Chief Operating Officer. “That consistency is what makes a ranking like this feel earned rather than lucky.”
Servant Leadership: We lead with humility and put clients' needs first, which shapes how we lead our own team internally, starting at the very top with Co-Founder and CEO, Bill Harris, CFP® down through the rest of our Executive Team.
Collaboration: Open communication and shared expertise across the firm, extended to how we work with clients.
Excellence: A high bar for the advice, planning, and private-market access we deliver, and for how we support one another to get there.
Sense of Community: A family-first ethos that extends from our team to our clients and partner firms.
As BIP Wealth has grown—both organically and now intentionally inorganically by partnering with other like-minded firms—maintaining this culture across offices has been a deliberate priority. Today, that means teams in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Columbus, Nashville, Peachtree Corners, and Scottsdale working under the same set of values.
Interested in joining a team built this way? Visit our Careers page to see open roles, or learn more about our team.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Best Places to Work list categorizes companies by size—Extra Large (500+ employees), Large (100–499), Medium (50–99), Small (25–49), and Micro (10–24)—and honorees are determined primarily through confidential employee nominations and surveys. Companies pay an application fee to be considered; payment does not guarantee placement on the list.
BIP Wealth, LLC (“BIP Wealth”) offers investment advisory services and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration with the SEC as a registered investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For more information about BIP Wealth, please refer to our Form ADV, available at adviserinfo.sec.gov or upon request.
Neither rankings nor recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that the client will experience a certain level of results if the investment professional or the investment professional's firm is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. No ranking or recognition should be construed as an endorsement by any past or current client of the investment professional or the investment professional's firm.
The Baseball Division at BIP Wealth extends its warmest congratulations to every player selected in the 2026 MLB Draft this past weekend! We recognize that this accomplishment culminates years of hard work, sacrifice, and support from a lot of people behind the scenes, and every name called this weekend has certainly earned it.
We would also like to specifically congratulate multiple clients of the Baseball Division at BIP Wealth who were drafted this past weekend! We are honored to support you now and at every step throughout your baseball career and beyond. BIP’s 2026 draft class included several first-round picks and combined slot values for our drafted clients topped $37 million this year.
For these players, the work starts now. They’ll begin their professional baseball careers and work tirelessly to become the best players in the game. Within the next couple weeks, they'll sign their Minor League Uniform Player Contracts, ship out to their organization's complex facilities, complete physicals, perform media days, and put a professional baseball jersey on for the first time.
From there, they’ll start the process of working their way through the minor leagues, hopefully en route toward a big league debut—and for some, a shot at a championship. Each player will carve out their own unique path. We’re honored to help them navigate this exciting journey to fulfill a lifelong dream.
BIP Wealth's Baseball Division is made up of former professional players. Our advisors have sat in the same clubhouses and faced the same questions the families we work with are facing now: what to do with a signing bonus, how to build a plan around a career that could last two years or twenty, and how to think about taxes across a schedule that changes states every few days. That perspective shapes how we work with clients from the moment NIL conversations start in college through the draft and into whatever comes after the game.
Draft day is the headline. The work that matters happens well before and long after it—from signing bonus and cash management before a rookie season starts, to tax planning across multiple states, estate planning, to the eventual transition out of the game. We are here for every step of a player’s career.
What is BIP Wealth's Baseball Division? BIP Wealth's Baseball Division is a team of financial advisors and wealth consultants who are former professional baseball players, providing wealth management, tax planning, estate planning, and NIL and signing bonus guidance to baseball players and their families.
How does BIP Wealth’s Baseball Division help players manage an MLB Draft signing bonus? We work with you to build a financial plan around a signing bonus that accounts for taxes, cash flow, and long-term savings, so a player's bonus supports them well beyond their rookie season. We create a comprehensive plan to support the player’s goals for today and tomorrow.
Does BIP Wealth’s Baseball Division work with players before they're drafted? Yes! Our Baseball Division advises many players during their high school and college careers, including NIL planning, so they have a financial foundation in place before the draft.
BIP Wealth, LLC (“BIP Wealth”) offers investment advisory services and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration with the SEC as a registered investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
BIP Wealth has partnered with Red Tortoise, a respected Atlanta-based wealth management firm, and we are thrilled to welcome their team and clients to the BIP family.
Red Tortoise was founded by CEO Rex Macey, CFA®, CFP®, a veteran investment professional with more than 30 years of experience. Before starting Red Tortoise, Rex served as Chief Investment Officer at Wilmington Trust, where he led the equity group, asset allocation team, and risk management efforts. He built Red Tortoise on a simple but powerful philosophy: "Eat Well. Sleep Well." That idea—that great financial advice should give you confidence and peace of mind—aligns perfectly with BIP’s goal of improving the financial lives of our clients.
Joining Rex is a deeply credentialed team that includes Howard Fleming, CFA®, CPA, CFP® and George Chen, CFA®, CIPM®. Together, the Red Tortoise team brings a genuine commitment to goal-oriented, fiduciary wealth management. They've built something special in Atlanta, and we're honored they've chosen to build their next chapter alongside us.
Red Tortoise clients can expect continuity in the trusted relationships they already have, now backed by BIP Wealth's platform, planning capabilities, and resources. The firm will be moving forward under the BIP Wealth name. Their $400M in assets under management will be joining BIP, marking another meaningful milestone in our growth across Georgia and beyond.
"Red Tortoise was built on the belief that clients deserve straightforward, conflict-free advice and a team that genuinely has their back," said Rex Macey, CEO of Red Tortoise. "BIP Wealth shares that commitment without compromise. This partnership gives our clients access to a deeper platform and wider resources while keeping everything they've come to value about working with us. We're excited about what we can do together."
"Rex, Howard, and George have earned the trust of their clients over decades as fiduciaries by putting the clients’ interests first," said Bill Harris, Co-Founder and CEO of BIP Wealth. “That's who we want joining BIP, and it's exactly what our clients can count on as we grow. Each team we hand-pick to join our family brings incredible value that we can learn and grow from to serve our clients even better.”
If you're a Red Tortoise client with questions about this transition, please feel free to reach out. Your advisor relationship remains your most important point of contact, and our teams are here to ensure this process is seamless for you.
For advisors or other firms interested in learning more about partnering with BIP Wealth, reach out to start a conversation.
If you live in Georgia, there's some genuinely good news coming out of the state capitol.
Governor Brian Kemp recently signed two new tax bills into law: House Bill 463, the Georgia Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2026, and Senate Bill 33, the Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026. Together, these laws represent meaningful tax relief for Georgia residents—and depending on your situation, they may have a real impact on what you owe at the state level.
At the signing, Governor Brian Kemp shared, "That approach has allowed us to return billions of dollars to taxpayers, and the legislation I signed today will keep that momentum going as we further lower our state income tax rate, deliver on meaningful property tax relief, and ensure job creators have the opportunity to grow and thrive in the Peach State."
Let me break these bills down for you.
Georgia's flat income tax rate is dropping from 5.19% to 4.99%, effective January 1, 2026. And that may not be the final stop. The law allows for additional annual reductions of 0.125%, potentially bringing the rate as low as 3.99% over time, contingent on the state's economic conditions.
For context: there had been speculation that Georgia might eliminate its state income tax altogether. That didn't happen—but a rate heading toward 3.99% is still a meaningful shift.
Larger standard deductions
The standard deduction is also getting a bump:
If you typically take the standard deduction on your Georgia return, this change may reduce your taxable income right away.
Higher dependent deductions
The deduction per dependent rises from $4,000 to $5,000, with a path to eventually reach $6,000. For families with multiple dependents, that additional relief may add up.
Expanded retirement income exclusion for those 65 and older
Starting in tax year 2027, taxpayers aged 65 and older may be able to exclude up to $70,000 of retirement income from Georgia state taxes, up from the current $65,000. If retirement income planning is on your radar, this may be worth factoring into your projections.
A temporary break on overtime and tips
For tax years 2026 through 2028, Georgia is temporarily allowing an exemption of up to $1,750 of overtime pay and cash tips from state income tax. It's a modest provision, but one worth knowing about if either applies to you.
Georgia property taxes have been rising, and this bill is designed to address that.
SB 33 creates a new mechanism called the Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST). Beginning in 2028, counties and municipalities may place this measure on local ballots. If voters approve it, the resulting sales tax revenue can only be used to offset property taxes for qualifying homeowners — it can't be redirected elsewhere.
The legislation also makes Georgia's existing base-year homestead exemption mandatory statewide, which had previously been optional at the local level.
Whether LHOST ends up on your county's ballot—and whether it passes—will depend on where you live and how local governments choose to act. But the framework is now in place.
Taken together, these two laws reflect a sustained commitment to reducing the tax burden in Georgia. If you're a Georgia resident, you may see:
Of course, how any of these changes actually affect your tax situation depends on your specific circumstances including your income, filing status, age, and where in Georgia you live. A conversation with your financial advisor can help you understand what may apply to you. Reach out to talk to one of our Personal Wealth Advisors today if you have specific questions about your situation.
This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax or investment advice. Tax laws are complex and subject to change; individual situations vary. BIP Wealth, LLC is a registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
BIP Wealth is proud to be recognized on USA Today's Best Financial Advisory Firms 2026 list, a national ranking created in partnership with global market research firm Statista to help individuals and families identify trusted wealth management partners across the country. Now in its fourth year, the list highlights 1,000 of the most reputable and high-performing registered investment advisory (RIA) firms in the U.S.
What sets this recognition apart is the rigor behind it. The ranking wasn't simply a measure of who manages the most money. Statista evaluated firms based on AUM growth, both short-term and long-term, alongside recommendations gathered from more than 30,000 clients, industry experts, and fellow financial advisors. That multi-dimensional approach ensures the list reflects firms that have earned trust across a broad range of voices, not just size.
"BIP Wealth is honored to once again be recognized by USA Today," said Bill Harris, Co-Founder and CEO of BIP Wealth. "This recognition is a reflection of the relationships we've built with our clients and the hard work of our entire team. At BIP, we believe that great financial planning starts with truly understanding the people we serve. Being named to this list affirms that our commitment to putting clients first is making a real difference."
BIP Wealth focuses on the science of investing paired with a deeply human approach, offering clients holistic wealth management, tax planning, estate planning, private investments, and more, each tailored to the individual. The firm's inclusion on this list for multiple years reflects not only consistent growth but a sustained dedication to the clients and communities it serves.
To learn more about BIP Wealth's approach to personal wealth management or to take the first step toward planning your financial future, contact us.
The ranking was developed by USA Today in partnership with Statista based on various methodologies, including size, growth, and recommendations received from clients and peers. For further details on the methodology behind the rankings, please visit Statista's website. BIP Wealth did not pay a fee to participate in these rankings. Rankings are not indicative of future performance or client experience. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
Neither rankings nor recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that the client will experience a certain level of results if BIP Wealth is engaged to provide investment advisory services. No ranking or recognition should be construed as an endorsement by any past or current client.
If you filed your Georgia taxes before Governor Kemp signed HB 1199 into law, you may need to file an amended return. Here's what happened and what to do next.
Earlier this week, Governor Kemp signed the Georgia Conformity Bill (HB 1199) into law—and if you're a Georgia taxpayer, it's worth a few minutes of your time to understand what it means.
This legislation updates Georgia tax law to align with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) in most areas. But here's the important part: Georgia chose not to conform on a couple of key provisions, and those differences could affect your state tax return.
At the federal level, the OB3 raised the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap to $40,000. Georgia, however, voted not to follow suit. The state's SALT limitation will remain at $10,000.
What does that mean in practice? If you itemized your deductions and included more than $10,000 in state and local taxes—think income tax withholding, property taxes, and ad valorem taxes paid to Georgia or other states—you may need to amend your Georgia return to reduce those itemized deductions back to the $10,000 state maximum.
The federal OB3 introduced provisions eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay. Georgia also chose not to adopt these. State lawmakers indicated that these policies would require separate legislation, given the significant fiscal implications involved.
So, if you took either of those deductions on your federal return, you may need to file an amended Georgia return adding that income back for state purposes.
The good news? Most self-preparation tax software platforms are already aware of these changes. Some platforms, such as TurboTax have begun notifying affected users directly, and in many cases, amending a return through these platforms can take less than 15 minutes.
If you work with a CPA, I'd encourage you to reach out to your preparer to ask whether your return may need to be amended in light of HB 1199.
The Georgia Department of Revenue has made its position clear: returns filed incorrectly will be expected to be amended. While no formal penalty or interest relief has been announced, a waiver can always be requested. That said, returns amended prior to the April 15th deadline—with any additional tax paid—would generally not be subject to additional penalties or interest.
The bottom line: if this applies to you, it's worth acting sooner rather than later.
If you have questions about how the Georgia Conformity Bill may affect your specific situation, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team. At BIP Wealth, we work closely with our clients and their tax professionals to stay ahead of changes like these so you can focus on what matters most.
This content is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as tax advice and should not be relied upon as such. Individual circumstances vary, and taxpayers should consult with their own tax professional before taking action. BIP Wealth, LLC is a registered investment adviser (RIA). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
BIP Wealth, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) headquartered in Atlanta with over $5.5B in assets under management has partnered with Constellation Wealth Capital (CWC) to receive a strategic investment to support BIP’s continued growth. Recently named to Financial-Planning.com’s 2025 Top 150 RIA Fee-only Firms List, as well as the top 3 on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2025 Best Places to Work List for medium-sized companies, BIP Wealth focuses on holistic wealth management and sophisticated planning solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families, institutional clients, and corporate retirement plans. CWC is a partner to growing wealth management firms and known for its flexible, long-term, minority investments. CWC’s deep advisory focus supports the partner firm’s management team scale effectively, while preserving independence.
CWC’s investment builds upon BIP Wealth’s foundational excellence in client service and advisor support. BIP gained $725M in new organic assets under management in 2025 and expects to exceed that benchmark in 2026, in part supported by CWC’s strategic advisory efforts. Additionally, CWC’s investment will provide BIP with capital to further partner with successful wealth management firms and broaden BIP’s impact in the Southeast and beyond.
“We want to offer our client-first, servant leadership model to other firms looking for a solution. Whether a founder is looking for help with their succession plan or wanting to fuel their next stage of growth, we want to partner with like-minded people,” shared Bill Harris, CFP®, Co-Founder & CEO of BIP Wealth. “This partnership with CWC will open new doors of growth in our business that will benefit our clients and our entire team. We have a lot to offer with our deep expertise in private investments and advanced planning capabilities with Estate Planning and Tax Professionals on our team. I’m excited about the future of where BIP Wealth is headed as we continue to grow.”
Announced in 2024, BIP’s acquisition strategy complements its strong organic growth by partnering with culturally-aligned, service-first firms and founders. With more than $1.2B of assets under management added via two new partnerships—The Money Advisor Group in 2024 and Prehmus Financial in 2025—BIP expects CWC’s investment will accelerate its inorganic growth pipeline. Chase Corporate Advisory’s Jeff Singh represented BIP Wealth throughout the process to determine the best capital partner on a go-forward basis and made the initial introduction between BIP and CWC.
“At the end of the day, we want to partner with people who value what we do. We’re looking for people who are fiduciaries first and respect our values,” reiterated Bill Harris. “Our unique investment platform empowers advisors who want flexibility in the portfolio management and planning process. I want to extend our value proposition to advisors not just in the Southeast, but to select other centers of innovation around the country.”
One thing that’s clear is that BIP will continue to be highly selective, yet competitive, as they pursue firms to partner with who share a similar cultural alignment. BIP wants to be the partner of choice for RIAs looking to accelerate growth and expand solutions for clients, while being part of a collaborative culture.
“When we look for qualities in a firm to partner with, the BIP Wealth team checked all the boxes,” expressed Karl Heckenberg, President & Managing Partner of Constellation Wealth Capital. “It’s important to us to partner with people who value partnership and client service. Seeing their impressive organic growth and dedication to clients, we knew we wanted to link arms and help support the growth of the BIP Wealth platform in the future.”
BIP Wealth maintains 5 offices: Atlanta, Alpharetta, Columbus, and Peachtree Corners, GA, and Nashville, TN, while serving clients across the country.
