Alumni from Florida State University are responsible for some of the most innovative and profitable businesses in the world.
The Jim Moran Institute For Global Entrepreneurship at the FSU College of Business in partnership with the FSU Alumni Association and EY are proud to recognize these incredible entrepreneurs through the Seminole 100 awards program.
Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned businesses at a celebration on FSU’s campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award. This event honors FSU’s entrepreneurs and allows them to share valuable business insights with each other. Honorees and their businesses will also receive increased publicity and visibility via national, local and industry media exposure.
Ken is originally from Boca Raton, Florida where he enjoyed playing sports. He spent much of the summertime fishing in the Florida Keys, a passion in which he still enjoys today. He relocated to the Tampa Bay area to attend the University of South Florida where he studied business administration and earned his B.S. in Marketing. Upon graduation, Ken began working in the transportation & logistics industry as an Account Manager.
While he enjoyed his career, he felt the need to help people in a more impactful manner. This need ultimately led him to the Financial Services industry, where he collaborates with business owners and individuals to properly plan out their financial future. Additionally, he currently sits on the Board of Directors for Redefiners World Languages, a Tampa based non-profit organization, where he serves as Treasurer. Ken enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He and his wife, Mei-ling, married in 2014, and have two beautiful daughters, Zoey and Kenzie.
Adam’s Story
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Adam is originally from Tallahassee and graduated from the College of Business at Florida State University with a bachelor’s in science in hospitality. Upon graduation, he moved to San Francisco to work with Houston’s restaurants and study wine. His success in the industry sent him to the New Orleans location and then to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. Adam then had the opportunity to join The Capital Grille in Orlando and go on to open locations in Jacksonville and Naples. He became a sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and at the age of 27, became the youngest managing partner in the company, and moved to Tampa.
After moving to Tampa, Adam wanted a new challenge and decided to open his own financial planning practice before the age of 30. In 2011, he aligned with Northwestern Mutual to ensure he had the proper training and advocacy for his clients. After learning from some of the best for 7 years, Adam and his team took the leap of faith and opened up the doors of Taylor Financial in June 2018. He has continued to excel in making an impact in his community and has been recognized for having a thriving practice. He was voted top 40 advisors under 40 by NAIFA in 2014 and won numerous industry awards. He qualified for Northwestern Mutual FORUM in 2018 (Qualifiers represent the top segment of our industry-leading field force and is the highest level of productivity and excellence). In addition, he has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 2012 and now focuses on teaching others.
In 2021, Adam was nominated as a 40 under 40 recipient with the Greater Tampa Bay chamber. In the same year, Taylor Financial was awarded for the 6th year in a row the Seminole 100 award and finished #16. The award recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses in the nation owned by Florida State Alumni. Adam has also been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Nasdaq News, LA Weekly, NY Weekly, Digital Journal, CBS – Great Day Live, and ABC – Morning Blend. In 2024, Adam’s achievements were further recognized when Forbes named him one of the top 100 advisors in Florida.
He holds his Series 7, 6, 63, and 26 licenses as well as the ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CASL®, CLTC designations from the American College and is constantly improving as a leader and business owner. He is active in the community and has had involvement serving as a board member of the Tampa Bay NFL Alumni, Westchase Charitable Foundation, Founder of Trusted Advisors Tampa, Founder of GovCon Trusted Advisors, Founder of Bourbon and Brains, Founder of Corks and Dorks, and Corporate Sponsor chair for Tampa’s Armed Forces Electronics and Communication Association (AFCEA).
Adam’s biggest passion is his family. He has been married to his wife, Andi, since 2009 and they have 3 kids together. His daughter Abbi, twin boys Alexander & Anderson, and their black lab Atticus. In his free time, he enjoys watching Florida State football, motorcycle/car racing, working out, and spending time with his family.
Reach out to Adam if you are looking for a financial professional who can build a comprehensive plan around insurance, investments, tax strategies, estate planning, and overall financial planning. He will coordinate with your team of advisors and values the personal service that he gives to each of his clients.
Erik’s Story
Erik began his career in Management Consulting by helping Fortune 500 companies solve large and complex financial and operational issues to help improve their top line work on saving their bottom line. In 2015, Erik took that skill set into private practice, and has since helped hundreds of individuals with their financial needs. Beginning with the purpose in mind, Erik helps his clients increase clarity with their financial plans and reach their goals both by planning for immediate results as well as implementing more advanced, long term strategies for complex areas like retirement planning and estate planning.
Erik currently serves as Managing Director for Taylor Financial and operates under a fiduciary standard of care. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. He holds his Series 7, 6, 66, as well as his 215 license and his CFP®/Certified Financial Planner designation. Thorough and innovative, Erik offers a distinctive and client centric retirement income planning process, with the goal in mind to increase annual retirement income and increase control over your financial plan. Erik’s communication skills, grasp of economic strategy, use of the latest technology, and desire to serve has brought him a diverse and successful clientele across the country. Erik has also served as the Regional VP for The College Funding Coach™, a company that shows parents leading edge ways to save and pay for college by understanding how the financial aid formula works, knowing the scholarship landscape and implementing the most effective savings strategies.
Erik also gives back by serving as a board member for many 501c3 organizations throughout the country including A Kid’s Place, the Round of a Lifetime Foundation, the Florida Holocaust Museum, and Berkeley Preparatory School. Erik is thankful for the opportunity to bring his specific skill set and financial acumen to organizations that make society a better place.
In his free time, Erik enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Melanie, his daughters Shayla and Devy, his extended family and his friends.
Whether you are creating your first plan, trying to improve and refine what you already have, or need to tackle larger questions that have not been answered for you yet, speak with Erik to make these items a reality. He will bring you the tools that you need and serve as your advocate in the financial planning space.
Mike’s Story
Mike is originally from Columbus, GA where he first experienced his love for the outdoors while living on a small farm with his family. Mike believes his hard work ethic comes from his days working with his family members on the farm, caring for the animals and crops that fed both him and his family. In his free time, he could be found in the woods, on the water, or playing sports. All of which he still enjoys today.
Mike moved to Florida with his mother and grandparents to the Tampa Bay Area in the 90s and Mike went on to pursue his BA in Finance. During this time he worked in the restaurant industry starting as a dishwasher and quickly working his way up to Manager. He was the first person ever in the restaurant’s history to achieve this feat under the age of 21. Upon graduation in 2003 Mike entered into financial services as a mortgage broker and remained in the industry until The Great Recession in 2008. Following the 2008 crisis, Mike transitioned to the financial planning industry. Once again, Mike worked his way from an Agent to a Managing Advisor with Western & Southern Financial. Mike made the decision 3 years later in 2016, to go independent because he would be able to offer his clients a broader array of products and services. Shortly after he was introduced by a mutual friend to Adam Taylor who was transitioning roles himself. They began collaborating together and jointly read Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman which made them realize that if they worked together, they could create “Rocket Fuel” with their complementary skills. Mike’s focus was and still is on implementation and investment portfolios whereas Adam focuses on prospecting, community involvement, and vision.
When Mike is not working, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife Melanie and their two kids.
Mike holds his FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, 65 and 2-14 and 2-40 licenses. Mike is a Member of the Investments & Wealth Institute (Member ID:191637)
