David Adams is the founder and CEO of Adams Wealth Partners and a USA Today bestselling author who believes money should be used as a tool to support a meaningful, present life—not just to accumulate more.

David is the author of “The Currency of Time” and “Jolene and the Three Buckets”, two books that explore the deeper purpose of money, teaching both adults and children how to align financial decisions with values, freedom, and fulfillment. His work centers on the idea that time—not money—is our most valuable currency.

David is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA™), and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) with more than 20 years of experience guiding individuals and families through complex financial decisions and life transitions.

As Founder and CEO of Adams Wealth Partners (an independent practice offering securities through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.), David is committed to changing an industry he believes has become broken and outdated. Through his registered and trademarked Retire While You Work® philosophy and proprietary 3 Bucket Strategy, he helps clients use money as a tool—not just for accumulation, but for restoring balance, clarity, and long-term financial strength. His work often centers around major life moments, including selling a business, loss of a loved one, marriage, divorce, retirement, and other pivotal transitions.

David has extensive experience advising clients through significant liquidity events, including business sales and musicians selling their catalogs. He has also played an active role in complex divorce mediations alongside prominent attorneys, helping families negotiate collaboratively outside of court—work he finds especially meaningful.

In 2016, David launched the Retire While You Work® radio show, a weekly program on Nashville News Radio 1510 WLAC and iHeart Radio. The show has since evolved into the Retire While You Work® Podcast (iTunes and Spotify), where he shares practical financial guidance and answers listeners’ financial questions.

David published his first book, “The Currency of Time”, in 2019 to share his philosophy of using money to create meaningful memories and experiences with the people you love. Available on Amazon in hardback and audio formats, the book topped new-release charts during its debut. More recently, he published “Jolene and the Three Buckets”, a children’s book inspired by the 3 Bucket Strategy that teaches kids how to save, spend, and give with love and purpose. The book blends storytelling with practical lessons and has now landed on the USA Today Bestselling list.

David has been named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for eight consecutive years (2017–2025). One of his proudest accomplishments was seeing his entire team recognized by Forbes as a 2024–2025 Best-In-State Wealth Management Team. Additionally, Barron’s recognized David as a 2023–2024 Top 1200 U.S. Financial Advisor. In 2025—and for each of the 11 years prior—David was recognized by Raymond James as part of the Chairman’s Council, honoring the top 1% of advisors nationwide.

Other notable accolades and recognition include:

• Top 40 Under 40 Independent Financial Advisors in the U.S. by WealthManagement.com and REP Magazine
• Top 40 Under 40 — Nashville Business Journal
• Regular speaker to top advisors nationwide, teaching the Retire While You Work® philosophy
• Cover feature in Investment News as “Advisor to the Stars” for his work with Nashville musicians and songwriters
• Recognized as a 2024–2025 Top CEO by Nashville Business Journal
• Featured in Music Row magazine for supporting songwriters through the financial ups and downs of the music industry
• Selected by Nashville Lifestyles as one of Nashville’s 25 Most Beautiful People
• Featured in HuffPost, The Tennessean, and other outlets highlighting his Retire While You Work® philosophy and “why”
• Frequent resource for local, regional, and national media for investment-related matters
• Active member of Tiger 21, a global mastermind group of entrepreneurs focused on generational wealth, family matters, and advanced investment strategies

Outside the office, David is deeply committed to giving back to the Nashville community. He serves on the board and as Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee for Ancora TN (formerly End Slavery TN), one of the nation’s largest anti–sex-trafficking organizations. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the Nashville Walk to End Alzheimer’s, where he and his team were the #1 fundraisers in both 2022 and 2023. After losing his mother in 2023 following a four-year battle with Alzheimer’s, David is passionate about supporting families affected by the disease and hopes to see a cure in the coming years.

Previously, David served on the board of the Onsite Foundation, which provides therapy scholarships for individuals facing addiction, emotional trauma, and personal growth challenges. He also volunteered as a wish granter for Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee for two years.

In his personal life, David is an avid world traveler, tennis and pickleball player, dog lover, wake surfer, and snow skier. He enjoys home remodeling and interior design projects, building a close friendship with his father through meaningful travel, being “Uncle David” to his niece Bailey and nephew Banks, and being a devoted dog dad to his yellow lab, Jolene.