Patrick Polling.
Title: Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager
For Patrick, co-founder of Southern Oak Wealth Group, wealth advising has always been about more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about relationships, trust, and helping families make thoughtful decisions that shape their futures for generations to come.
Patrick helped establish Southern Oak Wealth Group with a clear vision: to serve clients without the constraints that often come with large corporate financial institutions. He wanted the freedom to guide families without product pressure or competing priorities, allowing him to focus on what truly matters—long-term relationships and meaningful financial stewardship.
“We wanted the flexibility to serve families the way they deserve,” Patrick says. “Wealth advising is about being a trusted resource for every financial question, through every season of life.”
Over the years, Patrick’s perspective on investing has evolved beyond simply managing portfolios. While disciplined equity investing remains a cornerstone of his strategy, he believes investments are only one piece of a much larger financial picture. Today, his work integrates portfolio strategy with tax planning, estate structures, liquidity events, and generational wealth transfer—creating a comprehensive approach that connects every aspect of a client’s financial life.
One of the most important lessons Patrick has learned throughout his career is that true financial success begins with purpose. When families clearly understand what their wealth is meant to accomplish—whether supporting future generations, philanthropy, or personal goals—financial decisions become far more intentional.
Risk management also plays a central role in Patrick’s philosophy. Rather than viewing risk solely as market volatility, he encourages clients to think about it in terms of long-term outcomes. The real risk, he explains, is failing to achieve the goals that matter most. By structuring strategies that can weather market fluctuations while still capturing growth, he helps clients remain confident even during uncertain markets.
Patrick’s approach with clients begins with listening. Understanding family dynamics, business interests, financial concerns, and personal aspirations allows him to build strategies that truly reflect each client’s priorities. Education is equally important—he believes informed clients are empowered clients. He also takes pride in guiding younger generations, helping them build a strong financial foundation early in life.
While industry recognition is always appreciated, Patrick says it ultimately reinforces his responsibility to serve clients with excellence.
Outside the office, Patrick recharges by spending time with family, staying active, and maintaining close friendships—some of which began right inside the Southern Oak office. For him, those relationships are a reminder that the most meaningful investments in life are often the personal ones.
Ann
Title: Managing Director, Senior Wealth Advisor
For Ann Young, partner at Southern Oak Wealth Group, financial advising is about far more than managing assets. It’s about empowering people—especially women—to feel confident, informed, and in control of their financial futures.
Early in her own career, Ann remembers feeling that finance could be an intimidating subject, particularly for young women. But she also recognized how important it was to develop a strong understanding of money and how it shapes long-term life decisions. Today, that early perspective fuels her passion for helping others feel comfortable navigating their financial lives.
Ann is particularly driven by the opportunity to support women in a field historically dominated by men. In many households, financial roles have traditionally defaulted to husbands, but that landscape is rapidly changing. Women are projected to control nearly half of the financial assets in the United States by 2030—driven by rising earnings, entrepreneurship, and longer lifespans.
“That shift matters deeply to me,” Ann says. “Many women feel intimidated by finance simply because it hasn’t always been explained in a clear, approachable way.”
Her solution is simple: education and transparency. Ann prioritizes walking clients through the “why” and “how” behind every financial decision so they feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. Her goal is to build lasting confidence so clients feel secure managing their wealth at every stage of life.
That personal approach defines her relationships with clients. Ann believes wealth management is about much more than numbers—it’s about understanding goals, values, family dynamics, and the life someone hopes to build. By learning what matters most to each client and what’s happening in their lives today, she can anticipate needs, uncover opportunities, and design strategies that align financial resources with the bigger picture.
Life transitions are a key focus of her work. Whether clients are navigating retirement, divorce, or family changes, Ann emphasizes the importance of having a thoughtful financial plan in place before those moments arrive. While transitions can bring uncertainty, a clear and forward-looking strategy provides stability and peace of mind.
Ann’s background in economics and her designation as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) also influence how she approaches complex financial situations. Still, she believes the strength of Southern Oak lies in collaboration. Alongside her two partners, she works as part of a team that combines diverse perspectives to find the best solutions for clients.
Outside of work, Ann’s greatest passion is motherhood. With a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old daughter, she is intentional about making sure they know they are the most important part of her life.
A lifelong Middle Tennessee native, Ann also treasures raising her daughters close to family. From time spent with grandparents and cousins to summers on Center Hill Lake and cheering on the Vanderbilt Commodores, she enjoys watching her children experience the same traditions she loved growing up.
Johnathan Trusty
Title: Managing Director, Senior Wealth Advisor
In Nashville’s thriving business and entrepreneurial community, financial strategy requires more than simply managing investments; it demands thoughtful planning that considers every piece of a client’s life. For Jonathan Trusty, Managing Director and Senior Wealth Advisor at Southern Oak Wealth Group, that holistic perspective is central to how he serves clients across Middle Tennessee.
Based in Brentwood, Southern Oak Wealth Group was founded with the idea that wealth management should be more comprehensive than traditional investment advice. The firm works closely with families, corporate executives, and business owners to align investments, retirement planning, business strategy, and legacy goals into one integrated financial plan.
Trusty’s path to wealth management began in banking, where he started his career in 2007 working in lending and underwriting. That early experience gave him deep insight into both personal and business finance, an expertise that continues to shape his advisory work today. In 2012, he partnered with colleagues to form what is now Southern Oak Wealth Group, building a firm focused on long-term relationships and personalized financial strategies.
Today, Trusty specializes in helping executives and business owners navigate complex financial decisions, including retirement planning, debt management, and long-term wealth strategy. His background allows him to design highly tailored financial solutions for clients whose financial lives often involve both personal assets and business interests.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Trusty lives in Brentwood with his wife, Stephanie, and their two sons. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his family at Center Hill Lake and skiing across the United States—experiences that reflect the same balance between professional success and personal fulfillment that he encourages his clients to pursue.
For Trusty, wealth management ultimately comes down to relationships. By understanding each client’s goals, values, and vision for the future, he helps families build financial strategies designed for lasting confidence and peace of mind, not just growth.