Our Team

Dempsey Lord Smith LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) was founded in 2007 by Jerry Dempsey, John Lord, and Ernest Smith. Between them, they have more than 70 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Dempsey Lord Smith is a Registered Investment Advisor and a registered broker-dealer. We serve clients in the Georgia cities of Rome, Calhoun, Dalton, Chattanooga, Cartersville, and metropolitan Atlanta.

Jerry Dempsey
Co-founder, CEO, Options Principal and Financial Operations Principal

Jerry Dempsey was born and raised in Rome, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1986 with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance.

Jerry worked in his family’s businesses growing up, first with Dempsey Bros Dairies, Inc. and then at Rome Truck Parts & Repair, Inc. He has sold life, health, and property and casualty insurance in the Rome area for many years.

Jerry earned his securities registration in 1994 and was with Charles Schwab Institutional from 1994 to 1996. In 1996, he became affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services and stayed with that firm until 2007, when he joined Ernest Smith and John Lord to form Dempsey Lord Smith LLC.

Jerry holds Series 2, 4, 7, 24, 28, 53, 63, and 65 licenses in addition to his insurance licenses. Contact him at jerry.dempsey@dempseyi.com.

John Lord
Co-founder, Compliance Officer

John Lord grew up in Toomsboro, Georgia where he worked with his father managing a family manufacturing business. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor of science degree in aviation management in 1969 and received a bachelor of science degree in marketing the following year.

John was licensed to conduct securities business in 1985 when he opened the first Edward Jones office in Calhoun, Georgia. After five years, he became an independent contractor with Raymond James Financial Services and worked at Wallstreet Electronica from 2003 to 2007. In 2007 he joined Jerry Dempsey and Ernest Smith to form Dempsey Lord Smith LLC.

John is a member of the Small Business Committee of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the first Gordon County Leadership class in 1988. He is a past board member of the Gordon Hospital Foundation and is currently a member of the Calhoun Golf Committee.

John holds Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 66 licenses as well as life, health, and variable insurance licenses. Contact him at john.lord@dempseyi.com.

Ernest Smith
Co-founder, Director of Marketing and Sales

Ernest Smith is a native of Rome, Georgia and earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Georgia. He has been in the financial services business for more than 37 years.

Ernie worked for Farm Credit Services as branch manager from 1970 to 1985, for Georgia State Bank as vice president/bank officer in charge of marketing and personnel from 1985 to 1992, for Royal Alliance as a financial advisor from 1992 to 2001, and for Raymond James Financial Services from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, he joined Jerry Dempsey and John Lord to form Dempsey Lord Smith LLC.

Currently a member of the board of directors of the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau, he served as a Rome city commissioner from 1992 to 2000.

Ernie holds Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 licenses and is also licensed to sell life, health, variable products, and property and casualty insurance. Contact him at ernest.smith@dempseyi.com.

Duvan L. Brock, CFP®, ChFC®, CRPC®, CMFC®
Vice President – Financial Advisor Relations

Duvan Brock brought more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry to Dempsey Lord Smith when he joined the firm in 2009 and is one of the four principal owners.

Duvan graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1986 with bachelor’s degrees in finance and English. He earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification in 1995, the Chartered Financial Consultant designation in 2001, the Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor designation in 1997, and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation in 2008.

Duvan started in the financial services industry as a registered representative for Edward Jones and later moved his financial planning practice to the company now known as Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.  Duvan left Ameriprise in 2009 to become an independent financial advisor by joining forces with Jerry Dempsey, Ernie Smith and John Lord.

Duvan backs up his strong belief in giving back to the community by donating significant amounts of time and expertise to local and national nonprofit charities. He is a board member of Martin-Boyd Christian Home, Inc., an executive council member of the Northwest Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America and vice president/trustee of Churches of Christ for Scouting, Inc.