Meet Marc Girardot, CFP®
Our Distinct Advantage
As a client of Vertical Ascent Wealth, you work directly with our founder, Marc Girardot. His uncommon background is the foundation of the firm’s distinct approach to wealth management.
Marc began his career as a medicinal organic chemist, earning patents for his innovations and publishing research in prestigious scientific journals. The precision and discipline of scientific inquiry now inform his evidence-based approach to financial planning. He later transitioned into business, leading a medical device company where he developed a reputation for solving complex challenges with clear, strategic solutions.
Today, as a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and fiduciary, Marc combines scientific rigor, business leadership, and wealth management expertise to design strategies that are both thoughtful and actionable. This rare blend ensures your financial plan is not only well-structured but also capable of adapting to real-world complexities.
Above all, our fiduciary standard means every recommendation is made with one priority: your financial well-being. This commitment to trust, clarity, and disciplined execution is what sets Vertical Ascent Wealth apart.
A Foundation of Rigor. A Commitment to You.
Our Philosophy: A Fiduciary Partner for Your Path Ahead
At Vertical Ascent Wealth, we believe wealth management should feel less like a transaction and more like a trusted partnership. Our work begins with listening—understanding not just your financial goals, but the life you want to lead, the opportunities you hope to pursue, and the legacy you want to leave for those you care about most.
Founded in 2021 as a boutique wealth management firm, we deliberately serve a select number of families and individuals so we can deliver the level of focus and personalization you deserve. Our role is not simply to recommend investments—it is to act as your family’s financial steward, guiding you through decisions that touch every dimension of your financial life.
That means coordinating across tax strategy, estate planning, cash flow, investments, and risk management so you have clarity and confidence in each step forward. It also means being proactive: surfacing opportunities, anticipating challenges, and adjusting your plan as life, markets, and priorities evolve.
Our philosophy is simple: when you have a clear plan and a trusted advisor walking beside you, you are free to spend more of your time and energy on what truly matters—family, purpose, and the experiences that enrich your life.
Marc Girardot, MBA, CFP®
Founder and CEO
Your Wealth is More Than a Number. It’s Your Life.
My nearly decade in wealth management—from serving as Vice President at a large firm to founding Vertical Ascent Wealth—has taught me that the most valuable lessons aren’t found on market charts. They come from life: as a husband and father to my two daughters, Genevieve and Sylvie, I understand that wealth is not simply about hitting a financial target. It’s about security for your family, creating a life rich with experiences, and building a legacy that reflects your values.
I launched Vertical Ascent Wealth because I saw that true financial guidance isn’t about standardized products or impersonal platforms—it’s about a relationship. Real advice requires understanding your goals, your risk tolerance, and even what keeps you up at night. My commitment is to deliver that level of personalized guidance, designing a comprehensive strategy that evolves with you over time.
Before wealth management, my career followed an unconventional—but deeply formative—path. Out of college, I worked as a medicinal organic chemist at top-ten global pharmaceutical companies, where analytical thinking, precision, risk management, and evidence-based decision-making were essential. I later went to business school, founded and ran a medical device company and personally invest in and own commercial real estate.
Having run businesses and owning income-producing real assets—not just advising on them—has shaped how I think: analytically, systematically, and with accountability to real-world outcomes. It gives me a deep understanding of risk, capital allocation, cash flow dynamics, and the long-term consequences of financial decisions.
A Calculated Approach to Risk and Reward
Outside of work, I’m drawn to pursuits like rock climbing, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing. While they may look risky, every move is grounded in careful preparation and clear strategy. Success comes from understanding the environment, mitigating risks, and staying focused on the objective.
That’s the same philosophy I bring to managing wealth. I don’t chase fleeting trends or take unnecessary risks. Instead, I apply a disciplined, analytical approach—grounded in smart allocation, diversification, and proactive planning—to guide clients toward their financial summit with confidence and safety.
Building a Legacy in Our Community
My dedication extends beyond clients to the broader community. I’ve served with organizations such as Hilltop Children’s Center and Alliance Française, and as Chair Emeritus of Kennesaw State University. These roles reflect my belief in investing in a better future—values I share with many of the families I serve.
Let’s Build What Matters Most
Ultimately, my role is to ensure your portfolio and financial strategy align seamlessly with the life you want to lead. If you’re ready for a partnership built on trust, clarity, and discipline, let’s start a conversation about what matters most to you—and chart the course to get you there.
About the CFP® Designation
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation is the standard of excellence in financial planning. To earn and maintain certification, professionals must complete rigorous education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements, and commit to the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and fiduciary duty. This means a CFP® professional is required to put your interests first, provide objective guidance, and demonstrate both technical knowledge and real-world experience across investments, taxes, retirement, insurance, and estate planning.