OUR TEAM

Jeff Hudson

Co-Founder and Principal

My dad taught me at a young age to love others and treat everyone with compassion and empathy. Sometimes, I would go with him to work at his family medicine office, and I observed how he would talk to his patients. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how loving and concerned he was with each of his patients. He truly cared about them and their health.

Watching my dad talk to people made me realize I would want to own my own business one day - because like my dad, I had a love for people, and I wanted to help them improve their lives in some way. I wasn’t sure what that business would be until I experienced a life-changing event on May 3rd, 1980. My mom was killed by a drunk driver who veered across the road. She was only 34. She had done no financial planning and had no will - and to make matters worse, she had no life insurance. So in addition to our grief, my dad, sisters, and I experienced a lot of extra problems and unneeded stress.

That’s what sparked my interest in the advisory business. I was determined to learn a process that would prevent people from having to face what my family faced. On April 1st, 1999, I began my advising career with nothing more than a pen, legal pad, and a small office in downtown Columbus, Georgia. I started from scratch with zero clients. In those early years of calling on family-owned businesses, I was surprised at how many businesspeople lacked any sort of written financial plan - so I focused on that niche. Being so busy building their own businesses, these people were stuck, and their lack of organization or planning regarding taxes, retirement, and succession planning was affecting their profitability.

Today, my goal is to treat my clients the way my dad treated his patients: with empathy, trust, and compassion as I improve their quality of life. Whether we’re finding creative ways to retain and reward your top executives, helping you transition your company to the next generation, or planning your retirement and exit strategy, my team and I can work with your current advisors to create a well-thought-out plan and get you “unstuck” - so you can move from where you are today to where you really want to be.

Nolan Pendleton, MBA, CFP^®

Co-Founder and Principal

I have enjoyed jigsaw puzzles for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would spend hours at a time working on them with my father. It’s something that we enjoyed doing together, but I know that my puzzle building technique drove him a bit crazy. I would simply begin wherever my eyes were drawn, which was usually in the middle where the more attention-grabbing parts of the pictures were. Each time my Dad would try to explain to me that beginning with the edges was not only an easier place to start, but that is also made a simpler task of ordering and positioning everything in between. He just couldn’t understand the lack of logic and efficiency.

What do jigsaw puzzles have to do with financial planning? Everything.

Prior to becoming a financial planner, I was in banking for nearly a decade. I cut my teeth making calls for a stockbroker and learning about the world of investments. I transitioned to mortgage lending and later to commercial lending. As a lender, my job was to have a thorough understanding of the customer’s finances to ensure they would have the means to repay the loan. In reviewing their finances, I found the overwhelming majority of people’s financial picture had no semblance of order. They had numerous assets and multiple products (and even advisors) but no logical or efficient plan that coordinated everything. They had started with the middle puzzle pieces. I found that the process of ordering their finances and educating on them on how to best do so was what I was truly passionate about. My father’s lesson had finally taken hold; I was starting with the edge pieces.

I left banking in 2012 to become a financial advisor. In 2015, I earned my CFP^® designation and became a partner at Hudson Pendleton Financial Group. I am in the fortunate and trusted position of educating and helping people in all aspects of their financial lives. The magnitude of that responsibility is never lost on me. Combining the work of crafting and implementing a comprehensive plan, the relationships I develop with my clients and the sense of accomplishment we share as their goals are realized is what makes me love my job.

What does the picture on your puzzle box look like? Whether you started in the middle or already have your edges in place, I would love to help you piece together your financial picture.

When I’m not in the office, I can be found:

• With my wife Kelly, trying to corral our three young children

• Asleep (three young children, remember??!!)

• Beating Jeff on the golf course

• Coaching whatever sport(s) my kids are currently playing

Kristin Bourgeois

Kristin joined the Hudson Pendleton Financial Group in 2022 as a licensed service assistant to Jeff and Nolan. She is an experienced and knowledgeable professional, ready to work with you and provide excellent service and support. She earned a B.A. of Business Administration at the University of Georgia and also holds her life and Health insurance license. Prior to the finance world, Kristin worked in banking and property management for 10 years where she was successful with property of the year, 4 years in a row as well as property manager of the year for all the Southeast in 2018.

In her spare time, you can find her taking multiple trips a year to Disney World or being lazy back home on the beach with her son. She especially loves cheering on her Georgia Bulldogs.

Leslie Kaiser

Leslie Kaiser joined the Hudson Pendleton Financial Group team in early 2018. After taking a few years off in 2019 to take care of her twins, she re-joined the team in late 2022. Leslie assists Jeff and Nolan with our wealth management clients. She sets up our new clients and helps them with any of their service requests in their wealth accounts. Leslie has been in the finance industry for over 7 years. She graduated from college with a B.A. in Finance with an emphasis on Financial Planning.

Leslie has re-joined the team remotely due to living in Washington state with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not working, you’ll find her chasing toddlers and spending time outdoors.

Lee Woolbright

Lee joined the Hudson Pendleton team in August 2022. Lee is usually the first person you see smiling when you walk in the office. Lee assists Jeff and Nolan with administrative duties, client interaction and client events.

Before joining Hudson Pendleton, Lee was home raising kids. Prior to that she worked for the Woodruff Property Management for 13 years managing properties and residents. She earned a B.B.A. in Management at Mercer University.

When Lee is not in the office, you’ll see her spending time with her husband, John and three kids, Jack, Amanda and Joshua. She loves walking her dog, Dixie and cheering on her Auburn Tigers!