About Our Team
Each of us has unique knowledge, skills and interests, that we believe are best delivered in concert. You benefit not only from formidable backgrounds in market risk management and creating personal finance solutions, but also from our team approach as differing ages, genders and perspectives are brought into meetings. There’s a reason for the cliché- we are stronger together.
Sarah Byrd
Mark Leimberger
Mark is a Certified Financial Planner professional™ and Registered Life Planner™ through the Kinder Institute. As a Two on the Enneagram, Mark believes every conversation with a client is an opportunity to help and encourage them. In support of this calling, he has found the EVOKE® process to be a fantastic platform to deliver that level of service and connection with clients. He loves to engage in collaborative financial and investment planning, providing clarity on important decisions and tackling the problem-solving
opportunities that naturally occur in clients' lives.
Mark has been married to Alyssa for over 30 years, after meeting at the University of Virginia. They take active roles in the Richmond community, both in their church and other organizations to which they feel called to support. With two amazing, grown children, Mark has found camping, golf, and kayak bass fishing, along with travel and cycling with his wife, to be helpful activities in the transition to empty nesters.
Alex Scott
Alex brings over 40 years of experience managing market risk to Alpha Advisors. He has a passion for helping clients find financial freedom, organizing the often complicated present and future circumstances into a financial life plan. His driving goal is building confidence and trust through the investment and planning process allowing the client to focus on more valuable uses of their time. Since time and consistent communication is required to earn mutual trust, he places a high value on the relationships formed.
His 40 plus year marriage has produced two married children and 8 grandchildren. Alex enjoys his family, running, ballroom dancing, and sailing.
Alex is also a Certified Financial Planner professional™ and Registered Life Planner™ through the Kinder Institute.
Britton Smith
Meet Britton Smith, Client Services Director, who transitioned to Alpha Advisors in January 2024. With a Doctor of Pharmacy degree earned in 2005, Britton dedicated 18 years of service to Walgreens as a community pharmacist here in Richmond prior to joining our team. In 2006, she met her husband, Jason, at a ballroom dance studio and they have three active teenage boys.
Challenging times emerged in 2019 when Jason was diagnosed with cancer. At that time, Britton and Jason became clients and began receiving invaluable guidance from Sarah and Mark. His passing in August 2023 ushered in a new season for Britton and her family leading her to this role at Alpha Advisors. Britton brings the same professionalism and work ethic she brought to Walgreens. Her deep desire to give each client the best care possible lines up with Alpha Advisors’ belief that people are the clients, not their resources. Outside of work, she enjoys quality time with her children, ballroom dancing, connecting with her church community, and vacationing with family in sunny South Carolina.
Doug Wallace, Founder & Advisor Emeritus
Doug Wallace founded Alpha Advisors 24 years ago with a simple mission—to provide financial guidance free from conflicts of interest. What began as a commitment to a friend grew into a firm known for its client-first approach and purpose-driven planning. Now, after 50 years in investments, Doug is stepping back from daily operations, confident that with a strong team in place, the firm will continue its unwavering commitment to its clients.
As he transitions to Emeritus status, he looks forward to this next chapter—spending more time on the bike trails and embracing new adventures. While he’s trading financial roadmaps for trail maps, Doug plans to stay connected with the team and is proud to see Alpha Advisors' dedication to its clients continue.
Sarah is a Registered Life Planner, RLP @, through the Kinder Institute, and co-advises with RLP colleagues, Mark and Alex. When she works with clients and their financial world, she is aware that each person comes in with a unique view of, and history with, money. They also bring hopes, dreams, fears, and regrets related to it. Sarah enjoys helping people gain clarity around money decisions as well as making the, often, intimidating subject of finances understandable. She brings her practical approach and life experiences into each engagement. Discovering Financial Life Planning changed what was a job into a calling for Sarah, and she believes in the possibilities that EVOKE has for each client.
Sarah has lived in Richmond since 1983 and been with Alpha Advisors since 2004. She starts her morning with a cup of coffee and a journal, is a beginner pickleball player, and loves British dramas and mysteries. Her favorite band to watch live is Mumford and Sons. She’s looking forward to walking parts of the SouthWest Coast Path in Cornwall, UK with her daughters for her 70th birthday.