Richard S. Ferguson is an Executive Managing Director and president of the firm’s Private Client Group. Ferguson has spent his entire professional career at Morgan Keegan, joining the firm’s Atlanta office in 1987. In 1994, he was named branch manager of the firm’s new office in Ferguson’s hometown of Athens, Georgia. In 1999, Ferguson was promoted to East regional president, overseeing 25 branches and over 500 employees, and was also asked to join the firm’s Executive Committee. Ferguson was named president of the Private Client Group, which is comprised of over 1100 financial advisors in more than 300 offices, in January 2010. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. in finance.
Bill Geary has served as an Executive Managing Director of the firm’s Private Client Group since 2006. He is responsible for overseeing strategic and business development for the firm’s 1,100 private client group financial advisors. A 24-year veteran of the securities industry, Geary joined Morgan Keegan in 1990. He has been a member of the firm’s Chairman’s Club every year since 1995. He also served as manager for the Jackson branch and as regional president over the Central region prior to his current role. Geary is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1996.
Regional Managers
Thomas Orr is a managing director of Morgan Keegan, manager of the firm’s Houston branch, and regional manager over offices in the West region. A 1972 graduate of Texas A & M University, Orr has over 33 years of experience in the securities industry, which he entered after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a captain in the 10th Marines. He joined Morgan Keegan in 1995.
Jim Hamilton, managing director and branch manager of the firm’s Atlanta branch offices, was named Regional Manager of the Private Client Group’s Southeast Region in 2010. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Hamilton joined Morgan Keegan in 1999 and has served as branch manager of the firm’s Atlanta office for more than 10 years. He is past-president and current board member of the Georgia Securities Dealers Association and past-president of the Retail Securities Brokers of Georgia.
Michael Turnbough, managing director and branch manager of the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama, branch office, was named Regional Manager of the Private Client Group’s Mid-South Region in 2010. A native of Gulfport, Mississippi, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He also attended the Wharton School of Business/Securities Industry Institute’s Branch Management Leadership Institute in 2004. Turnbough joined Morgan Keegan in 2005.
Van Thompson, managing director and manager of the firm’s Lexington, Kentucky, branch office, was named Regional Manager of the Private Client Group’s East Region in 2010. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Thompson joined Morgan Keegan in 1997 and has served as branch manager of the firm’s Lexington office for over 12 years.
