Based in the firm’s Asheville headquarters, Hays will focus on comprehensive financial planning and investment management for retirees, business owners, and established professionals.

Hays’s return to Asheville reflects both a professional milestone and a long-standing connection to the community.

In 1985, her father, Tommy Hays, met future ACT Advisors partner Sarah Barnhill while attending Warren Wilson College. That connection provided Hays early exposure to the role thoughtful financial planning can play across generations and helped shape her path into the profession.

"I am so pleased for both Ruth and ACT to be able to continue this multi-generational relationship in such a meaningful way," said Barnhill. "The first time I met Ruth she was a toddler, accompanying her parents to a meeting in my office. She noticed on my desk a furry bear that she thought was a hand puppet. It was actually a golf club headcover that, when turned inside out, revealed a bull. I gave it to her. As she and her parents were leaving, Ruth turned the headcover from bear to bull. 'This is better,' she said. A true financial advisor in the making. Kudos to Ruth and ACT."

Hays holds degrees from Furman University and the University of Georgia. She maintains her Series 65 license and is actively pursuing her Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation.

“Joining ACT Advisors is both a professional opportunity and a meaningful homecoming,” said Hays. “I’m excited to be part of a team focused on helping clients make informed, long-term financial decisions.”

Hays joins ACT Advisors after five years at Goldman Sachs. She began her career in Salt Lake City and later worked in the firm’s Atlanta office, where she was promoted to Vice President. Her experience across both operations and client-facing roles provides a well-rounded perspective on investment management and financial planning.

“Ruth brings a thoughtful approach and strong technical foundation to our team,” said Doug English, CFP®, Founder of ACT Advisors. “Her experience aligns well with how we serve clients—through disciplined planning and long-term thinking.”

Source: ACT Advisors.