Don Cloud
When Don started his career as a Senior Account Executive in the mid-nineties, he developed a passion for helping others. In 2001, he began financial planning that later became Cloud Financial, Inc. He translated his love into the business world by helping educate the pre-retirement and retirement communities of North Alabama. Since then, Don has grown Cloud Financial, Inc. into a local, multi-advisor firm that expanded in 2016 to become an RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) Cloud Investments, LLC. With his experience and passion for helping families, Don has been working in our community as a fiduciary to create an educational environment for our clients to help them identify, plan for, and reach their retirement goals by making retirement simple.
In his spare time, he enjoys paramotoring and spending time with family. Don also enjoys family events with his wife, Lindsey, and their children and supporting his community’s interests. Additionally, he spends much of his time mentoring other financial advisors with like-minded goals for their clients because that is where his passion still burns.
Fun Fact: His favorite pizza toppings are pepperoni and pineapple.
Charlie Harriman, CEP®
Charlie brings a strong educational and professional background to the Cloud Financial, Inc. and Cloud Investments, LLC team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Auburn University and went on to obtain his Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Finance. Charlie is a Certified Estate Planner with the NICEP (National Institute of Certified Estate Planners) and shares his extensive knowledge and training with the Cloud team. Charlie’s education and certification coupled with his caring personality allow him to connect with his clients and provide meaningful interactions.
Charlie has been married to his wife, Hollie, for the past 15 years. They have two children, Hudson (12), and Maggie (9). Charlie spends a large portion of his free time volunteering as a coach for the many teams and sports his kids are involved in. He is also an avid golfer.
Fun Fact: His favorite concert he’s been to is Need to Breathe.
Germi Cloud, NSSA®, CRPC®
Germi brings extensive experience in business management and finance to the Cloud Financial, Inc. and Cloud Investments, LLC team. He has 15 years of experience in the financial industry. Germi is also a National Social Security Advisor as well as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. This allows him to provide knowledge and experience to help our clients maximize their Social Security benefits and design a retirement strategy best suited for them. Germi truly loves what he does and it shows daily in his client interactions.
Germi enjoys spending time with his wife, Lashon, and three children, Brandon, Hannah, and Alex. They spend a lot of their time at the many sporting and extracurricular events their children are involved with. He also enjoys many outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. He and his wife both volunteer with their children’s athletic programs to help support, officiate, and organize events for them.
Fun Fact: His favorite book is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Aaron Howard
Aaron is a Wealth Advisor at Cloud Investments, LLC. He brings passion and commitment to each of his clients. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a double major in finance and economics. Additionally, he is currently pursuing his Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation because he believes that continuing education is essential to providing his clients with the best service. One of his personal goals as an advisor is to come alongside each client and partner in their needs; as he better understands each individual and their goals, he is able to build a more suitable plan for their unique situation. He is proud to serve both The Shoals area and Huntsville in retirement planning and local business solutions.
Outside of the office, Aaron is active in his community and a third-generation member to his home church of Chapel in Florence, AL. He and his wife Layla, high school sweethearts, are lifelong residents of the Shoals and are the proud parents of two children, Canaan and Ezra Ruth. When he isn’t spending time with his family, Aaron’s hobbies include chess, golf and piano.
Fun Fact: He owns two German Shepherd Dogs, Mozart and Mona Lisa.
John Michael Huggins
John Michael is a client-turned-adviser who brings a different perspective to the office due to his experience trading stock options in the market for over a decade. John Michael holds his series 65 as well as his Alabama health and life insurance license.
John Michael and his wife, Leigh Anne, their two daughters, Aubrey and Payton, and yellow lab Sonnie live in Athens. They spend time at the softball and soccer fields watching their girls. They are also very involved in church activities.
Fun Fact: He is an avid wood worker and used to own a custom furniture business.
Lauren Borden
Lauren, a graduate of the University of Alabama, has a Master’s Degree in Financial Planning and 10 years of experience in the financial industry. Lauren graduated summa cum laude from the University and holds the series 66 and her insurance license. She has assumed several roles during her tenure with Cloud Investments, LLC, which have allowed her to learn intricacies of the firm that support her in her roles as Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer. As the CCO and the COO, Lauren oversees and manages the daily and regulatory compliance needs within the firm. Lauren feels that her role is a challenging yet rewarding role that allows her to help the advisors and staff at Cloud Investments, LLC provide their clients with a positive experience.
In her spare time, Lauren enjoys reading books and cooking. She also enjoys running, and spending time with her husband, Blake, supporting Huntsville High School running events. As an active member of the running community in Huntsville, Lauren also serves as a mentor in several running groups to help encourage others to set and meet goals for a more active and healthier lifestyle.
Fun Fact: Her favorite musician is Elton John.
Briana Rhinehart
Briana joined the Cloud Financial, Inc. and Cloud Investments, LLC team in 2022. She brings with her 7 plus years of administrative experience. She is licensed in Life and Health Insurance as well as Property and Casualty Insurance in both AL and TN. Bri strives to be the bridge between Advisors and their Clients by handling applications, processing service requests, and providing up to date information to clients regarding the status of their funds.
Bri and her husband, Adam, are passionate about giving back to the Huntsville Hospital NICU as well as the Hydrocephalus Association after their oldest daughter was born at just 22 weeks gestation and spent 145 days in the NICU after birth. The Rhineharts find great joy in sharing Maisy’s story of prematurity and her battle with Hydrocephalus in order to bring awareness and education to the incurable condition. They love spending time with both their daughters Maisy (4) and Indigo (1), and their dog Lilo.
Fun Fact: In 2016, Bri interned at the Walt Disney Company.