Dr. John Colegrove, CFP®, is the CEO of Cornerstone Financial Team, a family-owned financial services practice serving families and business owners across Georgia and beyond. He has been helping clients navigate investments, retirement planning, and life’s financial decisions since 2001.

Dr. John lives in Lilburn, Georgia, and if you were to ask him whether he always planned to become a financial planner, he might laugh and tell you — not exactly.

A Different Beginning

Long before conference rooms and financial plans, Dr. John’s world revolved around music.

From high school through the completion of his doctorate in 1999, he pursued a college teaching career focused on marching bands and trombone performance. His dedication earned him scholarships to the University of Georgia and full assistantships to both the University of Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he ultimately completed his doctorate.

While at UGA, Dr. John performed as a member of the UGA Redcoat Marching Band. At Notre Dame, he served as Graduate Assistant Director of Bands, working closely with the renowned “Band of the Fighting Irish.”

Music is a live performing art. When you step onto a stage, there are no do-overs. Excellence requires disciplined preparation, repetition, systems, and composure under pressure. Long before the spotlight turns on, the work has already been done.

Through years of both receiving and giving one-on-one music lessons, Dr. John learned how art and science must work together for real mastery. There is creativity and expression, but there is also structure, measurable progress, and thoughtful coaching. That philosophy became foundational.

Those years of individualized teaching formed the blueprint for how Dr. John now approaches financial planning. Every client relationship is a one-on-one educational experience. Financial planning blends data and disciplined strategy with listening and personal understanding.

“It’s not about telling people what to do — it’s about helping them understand why it matters.”

When people understand why decisions matter, they make wiser choices with greater confidence.

The Turning Point

After completing his master’s degree, Dr. John briefly stepped away from university life and entered the business world as a car salesman at Barrett Dodge in Athens, Georgia. What he thought would be temporary became formative. It was his first exposure to business, sales, and the importance of building trust with people from all walks of life.

He returned to complete his doctorate, but near the end of that journey, something unexpected happened. While serving as Vice President of Finance for the Graduate Student Association at UNC Greensboro, he discovered a genuine fascination with financial planning.

That interest led him to take an unconventional step — spending a summer selling books door-to-door with Southwestern Advantage in Provo, Utah. It was demanding, humbling, and transformative. When he returned home, he pursued his licenses and officially entered the financial profession in 2001.

He began his career in the days following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 — a time of deep national loss that underscored the importance of stability, trust, and long-term perspective.

Building Something Personal

Since 2001, Dr. John has served families and small businesses as a financial planner, eventually founding and leading Cornerstone Financial Team. What began as a career pivot became a calling.

He believes financial planning is about far more than numbers. It is about education. It is about thoughtful conversation. It is about helping people make wise decisions today while keeping a steady eye on tomorrow.

At heart, Dr. John has always considered himself a teacher first and foremost. Financial planning simply became the classroom where he now serves.

Still a Musician at Heart

Although his professional focus shifted, music never left him. Dr. John continues to play trombone whenever he has the opportunity — and occasionally in unexpected places.

You can watch him perform in the New York City subway alongside the high-energy brass group Lucky Chops by clicking the video below.

The same discipline he once brought to the practice room, he now brings to financial planning — preparation, focus, and a deep respect for the responsibility entrusted to him.

Dr. John considers it a privilege to walk alongside families as they build, protect, and steward what matters most.