Who We Are
We were founded in 1987 by Sandra Porter and became a fee-only firm a few years afterward—one of the first firms in Georgia to do so. We made the transition because we believe we should be paid solely by our clients, and not by large companies offering commissions for selling their products.
Over 30 years later, Sandy’s nephew Micah leads the firm and our fee-only status remains unchanged. What’s more, because of our fiduciary status, we are legally obligated to act in our clients’ best interest.
Our decades of experience allow us to give informed, practical guidance in the most complicated of situations. We combine this guidance with a holistic approach to planning so that all the aspects of your finances work together.
Mission Statement
To provide our clients financial peace of mind as they pursue their life goals, secure in the knowledge that they have a strong plan in place and their financial assets are well-managed in accordance with that plan.
Our Advantage
Our Certifications
Our mission at Minerva Planning Group is to help clients keep their finances on track, and the credentials we have earned bolster that mission.
Our designations include the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification—a widely recognized certification in the financial advice industry that includes requirements for continuing education, professional experience, and ethics.
In addition, as Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholders, we must maintain your investments according to the professional and ethical standards set by the CFA Institute.
Holistic Solutions
We offer planning that is personalized to your financial and investment needs because we believe custom-tailored solutions offer the best path for you to achieve your financial goals.
We have long eschewed “one size fits all” approaches to financial planning. So rather than rubber-stamp your plan, we will work with you to create a personalized plan that encompasses all the aspects of your financial life.
Our holistic planning can help you feel confident that nothing has been overlooked and that the various aspects of your financial situation are working in concert to achieve well-defined financial goals.
Your Goals at the Center of Your Portfolio
When it comes to building your portfolio, we start with your financial plan. Your plan outlines your goals in life and informs us in designing a portfolio to help you achieve those goals.
Once we know what your portfolio should look like, we focus on ensuring that it is properly diversified to insulate it against any market volatility. And we emphasize low costs and tax efficiency so that more of your money is directed toward attaining your goals.
Micah Porter | What is the CFA Designation?
Micah Porter is President and CEO of Minerva Planning Group, a CFA charterholder, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. He began work at Minerva in 2003 with extensive experience in business planning and corporate finance. Micah enjoys working together with individual clients to formulate, implement and update their comprehensive financial plans. Additionally, as a CFA charterholder, he is responsible for establishing and implementing Minerva’s overall investment strategy. Micah is a NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor.
Prior to arriving at Minerva, Micah held various positions at XO Communications, a telecommunications startup. While at XO, he was responsible for business planning and product development for the Midwest Region. He later moved to the national sales organization, where he was a top performer and Sales Director of the Year for 2000.
Prior to working at XO, Micah worked at BMG International, a multi-billion dollar entertainment conglomerate with offices in over 40 countries worldwide. Micah was the Executive Assistant to the President, and in that position he was responsible for financial reporting including authoring the annual report for the division and strategic planning. Based on his recommendations, the company launched multi-million dollar expansions in both the international video game and home video markets. Micah assumed responsibility for the launch of these divisions in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Micah led YA-TV, a Latin music channel based in Caracas, Venezuela, which was a joint venture of BMG, Warner Music and HBO Ole.
Micah received his Masters in International Business with a financial focus from the University of South Carolina in 1993, and graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College of the University of South Carolina in 1991. Micah is fluent in Spanish, and conversant in German.
Renée
Renée Weese is a Financial Planning Consultant with Minerva Planning Group. She 
provides advanced planning and investment consulting through a uniquely focused life
goals approach. Renée works with successful executives, professionals, business owners and their families on a fee-only basis to align solid financial plans with life goals and to provide guidance and investment management along the way.
Renée brings to her clients a unique business perspective, as well as valuable insights into making successful life transitions, both personally and professionally. Prior to joining Minerva in 2006, she enjoyed a 20-year career with Hartford Financial Services Group, most recently as President of Omni Insurance Group, a subsidiary of The Hartford.
Renée holds a Master’s Degree from the Goizueta Business School, Emory University, and earned her Financial Planning Certificate from the Boston Institute of Finance, Boston University. She is a registered Investment Advisor Representative and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM.
Renée has been featured for her personal experience and insights on CNN.com, in newspapers across the country and in More magazine. An Atlanta native, Renée is actively involved in the local arts and business communities.
Matt
Matt Godown is our Client Relationship Manager. He supports Micah and Renee in handling many of the day-to-day tasks critical to the smooth operation of the firm. He is a 2004 graduate of Georgia State University with a B.A. in Economics. He has spent nearly a decade working in financial operations in several capacities, most recently in a liaison role between a large financial custodial firm and their smaller outsourcing clients. In addition to being well-versed in the operations side of the financial services industry, Matt enjoys interacting with clients directly.
Matt was raised and resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is happily married to his high school sweetheart Heather. They are patiently raising their feisty two year-old daughter.
BIOS
Micah Porter is President and CEO of Minerva Planning Group, a CFA charterholder, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. He began work at Minerva in 2003 with extensive experience in business planning and corporate finance. Micah enjoys working together with individual clients to formulate, implement and update their comprehensive financial plans. Additionally, as a CFA charterholder, he is responsible for establishing and implementing Minerva’s overall investment strategy. Micah is a NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor.
Prior to arriving at Minerva, Micah held various positions at XO Communications, a telecommunications startup. While at XO, he was responsible for business planning and product development for the Midwest Region. He later moved to the national sales organization, where he was a top performer and Sales Director of the Year for 2000.
Prior to working at XO, Micah worked at BMG International, a multi-billion dollar entertainment conglomerate with offices in over 40 countries worldwide. Micah was the Executive Assistant to the President, and in that position he was responsible for financial reporting including authoring the annual report for the division and strategic planning. Based on his recommendations, the company launched multi-million dollar expansions in both the international video game and home video markets. Micah assumed responsibility for the launch of these divisions in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Micah led YA-TV, a Latin music channel based in Caracas, Venezuela, which was a joint venture of BMG, Warner Music and HBO Ole.
Micah received his Masters in International Business with a financial focus from the University of South Carolina in 1993, and graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College of the University of South Carolina in 1991. Micah is fluent in Spanish, and conversant in German.
Matt Godown is our Client Relationship Manager. He supports Micah in handling many of the day-to-day tasks critical to the smooth operation of the firm. He is a 2004 graduate of Georgia State University with a B.A. in Economics. He has spent nearly a decade working in financial operations in several capacities, most recently in a liaison role between a large financial custodial firm and their smaller outsourcing clients. In addition to being well-versed in the operations side of the financial services industry, Matt enjoys interacting with clients directly.
Matt was raised and resides in Atlanta, Georgia and is happily married to his high school sweetheart Heather. They are patiently raising their feisty two year-old daughter.
Syed Adnan Huda, CFA is an investment analyst and under Micah’s direction, he conducts investment research and due diligence. He became a CFA Charterholder in 2013 and is an active member of the CFA society. Syed earned his Master of Arts in Economics from the City College of New York where he also completed his Bachelors in Economics with a concentration in Finance.
Syed grew up in New York City, and he is married to Sanjana, a university professor.
Amy is our client service associate. She began working at Minerva in 2017 after spending five years at home with her son Luke (now 6) and Sophie (3). Amy’s background is not the traditional financial services background. Before starting a family, she was the Associate Director of a governance research program at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. Prior to that she spent two years working on economic development in Bujumbura, Burundi. She has also worked at the European Parliament in Brussels and the European Commission’s delegation to the U.N. in New York.
Amy was born in Brussels to British parents and grew up in Belgium before going to the U.K. for university. She has a B.A. in Economic and Social Studies, and a Master’s in International Development, both from the University of Manchester. She is married to James, an architect.