HardyReed Celebrates 20 Years of Growth

The financial advisory firm has expanded from a small startup to managing billions in client assets.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:00pm

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HardyReed LLC, a financial advisory firm founded in Tupelo, Mississippi, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The firm, led by President John Hardy and CEO Scott Reed, has grown from 5 employees and $125 million under management to nearly 20 employees and $3 billion in assets. HardyReed opened an office in Oxford, Mississippi about a decade ago to serve local clients, and the firm is known for its long-term relationships with multi-generational families.

Why it matters

HardyReed's growth and longevity in the financial advisory industry highlights the importance of building a strong team, fostering deep client relationships, and maintaining a community-focused approach. As a local independent firm, HardyReed has thrived in a market dominated by larger national players, demonstrating the continued demand for personalized wealth management services.

The details

HardyReed was founded in 2006 with 5 employees and $125 million under management. Over the past 20 years, the firm has expanded to nearly 20 employees and now manages around $3 billion in client assets. The firm opened an office in Oxford, Mississippi about 10 years ago to better serve local clients after working with them for several years. HardyReed provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, families, endowments, foundations, and retirement plans, with a focus on long-term relationships that often span multiple generations of the same family.

  • HardyReed was founded in 2006 in Tupelo, Mississippi.
  • The firm opened an office in Oxford, Mississippi about 10 years ago.
  • HardyReed is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.

The players

John Hardy

President of HardyReed LLC.

Scott Reed

CEO of HardyReed LLC.

Medora Justus

Vice President of Wealth Management at HardyReed.

Anita Giglio

One of the original 5 employees of HardyReed.

Rick Hill

One of the original 5 employees of HardyReed.

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What they’re saying

“Twenty years ago, there were five of us back then, my partner, my business partner, Scott Reed, Anita Giglio, Rick Hill and then Jackie Armstrong.”

— John Hardy, President, HardyReed LLC

“One of the best things that HardyReed did is to have the physical presence here in Oxford. We had substantial business here in Oxford, and so it was just kind of a natural outcome to open an office here.”

— Medora Justus, Vice President of Wealth Management, HardyReed

“A really nice part of our business is that we're working with sometimes second generations, sometimes third generations. There are some areas as well where we'll work with four generations of the same family.”

— John Hardy, President, HardyReed LLC

“One of the easiest things, regardless of stage of life, amount of wealth you're dealing with, is just to be proactive and also to be organized.”

— Medora Justus, Vice President of Wealth Management, HardyReed

“The best thing Scott and I have done is surrounded ourselves with really bright people who are talented and can take this for the next 20 years and do better than we have.”

— John Hardy, President, HardyReed LLC

What’s next

HardyReed plans to continue growing its team and expanding its client relationships in the coming years, building on its 20-year history of success.

The takeaway

HardyReed's story demonstrates the power of building a strong, community-focused financial advisory firm that prioritizes long-term client relationships and professional talent. As a local independent player, HardyReed has thrived by staying true to its values and meeting the evolving needs of its multi-generational clientele.