Our Team

Donald H. McCarty, Jr., CFP®, ChSNC™

Founder and Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner formed Financial Decision Partners in 2000. Don has a passion for financial planning and investment management. As a commitment to excellence, Don studied at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mar, Pennsylvania and was among the first students conferred the Chartered Special Needs Consultant™ designation in February of 2015. With this advanced certification, supplementing his Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner designation, Don has the expertise to advise special families on the complexities of disability issues.

Since 2000, Don has built his financial planning practice by forming strong relationships with his clients, using his technical skills to build excellent risk-based portfolios, and preparing and executing financial plans to meet his clients’ goals. In recognition of his commitment to service, Don was selected as a 5-Star Wealth Manager in 2018 by Atlanta Magazine. Don has been a member of the Financial Planning Association since 2000. He’s a former member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners.

Prior to founding Financial Decision Partners, Don began his practice as a Financial Planner in 1999 for Estate Management Counselors, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Don graduated from Oglethorpe University’s Financial Planner program in 1998, where the focus of the program included financial planning principles of investment, income tax, retirement, insurance, and estate planning. Further, Don graduated from Georgia Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree. On June 8, 2012, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards conferred Don’s Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner designation.

Don and his wife, Maryland, reside in Snellville, Georgia. They have one adult son, David. They are long time members of Snellville United Methodist Church, where Don is the Treasurer of their Sunday School class and has served in varying capacities for their church. Don enjoys researching his family history, running, and has retired from a career as an environmental professional.

Karen Flathe

For over 10 years, Karen has provided the back-office support to keep systems humming along smoothly for this organization. Additionally, Karen has made it her mission to put Financial Decision Partners (FDP) at the forefront in the way that technology is used to provide service to clients. She is constantly on the lookout for ways to improve service and to bring greater value to clients.

Karen’s 20+ years in Information Technology gives FDP an edge in leveraging systems and platforms to serve clients most effectively and efficiently. However, Karen’s philosophy about her work goes far beyond the use of technology at FDP. Her highest priority is to ensure that clients needs are addressed (at times before a client even realizes the need exists) by building a solid relationship with each client. Technology is not a substitute for the time and effort dedicated to building that relationship.