Who We Are
Based in New Albany, Axiom Financial Strategies Group, LLC, co-founded by Vaughan Scott and Mike Grau, has been serving Indiana, the Greater Louisville area and various regions throughout the country under the Axiom name and brand since 2009.
Vaughan, a Southern Indiana native and Indiana University graduate, was inspired by his mother to help others build wealth. Throughout the 1980s, she worked as what was then referred to as a ‘broker’. “When I got out of college, the person who hired my mom suggested I get some real-world experience,” Vaughan says. He started working with J.C. Bradford & Company in 1999, later acquired by PaineWebber and then UBS. His team included Gloria Bommarrito and Abby Wolfe, who are both valued members of the Axiom team today.
“Gloria and I split off to join Smith Barney in partnership with Your Community Bank (YCB), to take over YCB’s investment and trust operations in 2003,” Vaughan recalls. “She and I started with a fax machine and a couple of computers.”
When work increased and they needed assistance, Vaughan asked Smith Barney for help finding someone who had a strong planning background. He was introduced to Mike Grau in 2003. His background in accounting and managing client portfolios was the perfect fit.
“We built what became our Axiom team in that one conference room,” explains Mike, Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), and Retirement Income Certified Professional®.
The team clicked, and Axiom Financial Strategies Group was formed in partnership with Wells Fargo in 2009. Today, Axiom serves clients in Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, California, New York and numerous other states. Vaughan and Mike have built a team with experience and enthusiasm and have plans for continued growth.
“An axiom is a closely held principle or truth,” explains Vaughan. “We originally operated under our last names, but realized we wanted to use a word that had meaning for business professionals and clients alike.”
In 2019, Axiom was selected by Wells Fargo Advisors as one of only 12 teams out of 500 independent businesses and 1,200 teams inside the company to be part of a pilot program to become our own independent registered investment advisory firm (RIA). At the end of the program, Axiom launched as an (RIA) firm in 2020, just weeks before the pandemic hit.
Late 2021 brought CFO Leah Driver to our team. Leah originally connected with Axiom when she was working with an accounting firm that shared many mutual clients. Leah brings a wealth of experience—from public accounting to working with small businesses, as well as providing C-level leadership of businesses (both profit and non-profit) that have complex balance sheets. In late 2024, Leah transitioned to Financial Advisor and is really enjoying serving clients in new ways and an expanded focus on forming new relationships in the community.
Axiom Financial Strategies Group advises individuals, families, family-owned businesses, employer-sponsored plans and entrepreneurs through all stages of financial planning. These include wealth growth and management, 401K investments, and strategic planning and trusts. Axiom also works to find new and innovative ways to serve retirement plan participants.
In early 2025, we added Justin Kepley in the role of Chief Investment Officer to oversee investment management and advisor integrations and merger opportunities. Justin brings expertise in institutional investment management and mergers and acquisitions.
Later in 2025, Cullen Ebert joined as a Financial Advisor and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®). Cullen partners with employers to design effective retirement plans and works closely with participants to help them stay on track for long-term financial success.
As part of an intentional investment in mentoring and developing the next generation of financial advisors, Axiom created the paraplanner role. Jac Scott Fitzpatrick joined in November 2025 and Sawyer Lillard in January 2026, both holding the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ (FPQP®) designation. Working directly within our financial planning software, they support our advisors in preparing for client meetings and building and updating plans, helping advance the digitalization of our processes while ensuring clients receive consistent, thoughtful guidance.
If our story and commitment to serving our clients resonates with you, we would welcome the opportunity to have you become a part of our journey. Whether as a client, a collaborator or team member, let’s explore the value of creating a partnership.
Our Core Values
Our core values are the foundational principles which support the thoughtful and caring approach we take with our clients and our team.
