Chaz Huguenard Jr. is vice president and financial advisor at IberiaBank/First Horizon, which is a position he recently took over after years in the business working for Merrill Lynch. He is in the midst of overseeing the launch of private client banking and wealth management services at IberiaBank/First Horizon. He and his family moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 2014 and they love the combination of warm weather, while still maintaining a variation of climates and seasons throughout the year.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
My family and I relocated from Indiana in 2014 to Ponte Vedra Beach, and we’ve been super happy with that decision. We were just looking for what everyone else looks for when they move to Florida, which is great weather.
What was the path like to becoming vice president, financial advisor at IberiaBank/First Horizon?
I started working in a bank and began looking into the various paths that could be taken.
I decided what I wanted to do in 2014, which is also when we made the move to Florida. I recently joined IberiaBank/First Horizon after being at Merrill Lynch for years.
How has the transition been since joining IberiaBank/First Horizon?
It has been great to be at the forefront of launching private client banking and wealth management services for the very first time at IberiaBank/First Horizon.
I was brought in to help lead this charge and implement these services to the people in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
It is a great opportunity to showcase something new and fresh to the local community.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
Being able to get in on the ground floor of this exciting opportunity was too good to pass up. I now have the ability to work and play here in Ponte Vedra Beach and in the same community as where we live and call home. Things are even better than expected.
The core of our business is based on relationships and gaining trust through the advice you give.
Generally, people think of these financial services as a plan in place for when anything in life comes up.
People rely on us as their primary adviser. It is great to know that you can really help people and that you are their first call.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced?
The merger is a bit if a marketing challenge because people are used to the IberiaBank name and First Horizon is a much broader clientele.
What do you enjoy most about living in the North Florida area?
There are great people here and great people arriving every day to the area. I have two children and the schools are fantastic. It is a great place to raise a family.
Also, being from Indiana I wanted some variation in the weather, which you just don’t get the farther south you go.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My two sons are very involved in local sports, so much of the free time my wife Jennifer and I have revolves around supporting them in their recreational activities.
Coby plays on a basketball team at the Y and Cameron is a member of the Landrum Middle School football team.
We also enjoy taking advantage of having the beach close by.
