Personal and Business Financial Consulting and Trust Services

Andrew Benedict III (Buddy) started his career in the investment banking business with Equitable Securities Corporation in 1968 as an investment advisor. In 1972 he became a principal owner of Equitable when he and other partners purchased the Corporation from The American Express Company. He was Executive Vice President giving leadership to sales, customer relations and syndication.

In 1980 Equitable Securities Corporation had grown from an initial capital base of $500,000 to $3,000,000 in a very difficult time in the United States economy. While at Equitable he served as president of the Nashville Securities Association in addition to being President of the Downtown Rotary Club of Nashville. In 1978, Benedict was designated a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason and served as Master of Corinthian Lodge F&AM that same year. He served on the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church in New York City lending his investment expertise to the Investment Committee of The World Division. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of West End United Methodist Church and gave leadership to the Committee on the Goals and Directions for ministry by serving as its Chairman charting new directions to the mission and educational priorities of that congregation.

Benedict resigned from Equitable Securities Corporation in 1980 to enter Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1983 and was ordained as a Deacon and in 1986 as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. He served as Minister of Pastoral Care at West End United Methodist Church for a few years. While at West End, Benedict initiated a program promoting ethics in the business community developing concrete ways to integrate core faith beliefs in the decision making process within the free enterprise system. Here he learned various ways to invite persons into taking practical approaches to profitability within a spiritual context.

In 1986, Benedict was appointed to start a new congregation of The United Methodist Church in Williamson County. He gave leadership to the founding of Christ United Methodist Church gathering the congregation and building its first worship and educational facility. Starting in a tent with only his family, Benedict and the lay congregation grew Christ United Methodist to 350 persons. In 1990 the congregation moved into its present facilities. His background in finance prepared him to give leadership to not only raising the funds for a new building but expanding the church’s ministry through additional real estate purchases.

Benedict left Christ United Methodist Church in 1992 to redirect his understanding of servant hood to the world of public service. He ran for the United States Senate in 1992 traveling the State of Tennessee talking about what it means to be a servant in public life. After defeat in the 1994 primary election, Benedict returned to the investment banking business. In 1997, Benedict was asked to become manager of the Smith Barney office on West End Avenue. He eventually became manager of all Smith Barney offices in Nashville building new office space for an additional sales office in the Green Hills area. As a Smith Barney office manager Benedict built a work environment around his understanding of the principles of servant leadership. Benedict managed 50 investment consultants while at Smith Barney retiring in November of 2007.

Benedict joins United Services Trust Corporation to add emphasis to educating persons on the way money works with teaching practical approaches to being a proper steward of one’s money and personal resources within the context of personal faith and practice.

Buddy was born in Nashville, TN on October 25, 1942 and is married to Dianne Lackey Benedict. They have 4 children: Beth, Fran, Andy and Carolyn. Khullun Avery is their only grandson adding a special ray of sunshine to their family circle. Buddy enjoys playing golf, fishing and playing in his 60s rock ‘n roll band. He and Dianne are members of Brentwood United Methodist Church.