John Ridley

John served as Managing Director/Investments at the Ridley and Hull Wealth Management Group of Stifel until his retirement January 2025.  His business focus was to provide every client with targeted, comprehensive financial guidance and wealth management delivered with a high level of personal service and professional integrity managing more than $800 million in client assets, serving a variety of individuals, foundations, and corporate retirement accounts. Beginning in 1987, John was Branch Manager for a regional securities firm for seven years.  He then worked for Wells Fargo Advisors for 26 consecutive years and transitioned to Stifel in 2021.  Before making a career change to the financial services industry more than 40 years ago, he owned, organized and managed several small businesses. John earned a B.S. in Bio-Physics and Biology from Western Kentucky University and held Series 7, 8, 63, and 65 securities licenses.  He also attained the Accredited Investor Fiduciary® designation. Most recently John has been recognized by Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, 2023 and 2024.
 
John believes strongly in giving back to the community and does so by serving in a number of different capacities.  He was a member of the Board of Regents at Western Kentucky University from 2012 through 2018. He is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Alumni, a member of WKU Beta Gama Sigma and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. John is a former board member of the WKU Libraries Advisory Council, and board of advisors for the Shaker Museum, South Union, Kentucky.  He is a certified lay speaker for the United Methodist Church and is previous chairman of State Street United Methodist Church board of trustees, and former member of the United Methodist Church Conference Council of Finance and Administration and the Investment Committee of the Kentucky Council of Churches.  John was also a member of the WKU Alumni Association board of directors from 1977 to 1981, the 2001 recipient of the WKU Student Government Association “Citizen’s Award,” the 2003 recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award from the WKU President’s Circle Advisory Council, and the 2012 Recipient of the Summit Award for the WKU President board of advisors. John is also a 2009 graduate of Leadership Kentucky.

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