Justin Sherman

Managing Partner

Justin is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Paragon, where he leads the Family Office Services division. Justin and his team provide a complete range of financial and business management services to professional athletes, entertainers, and other high net worth individuals. His clients include number one draft picks, NBA All-Stars, and Grammy-nominated artists.

Justin is competitive, driven, and cares about the unique needs of each of his clients. To provide top results for each client, Justin and his team work to minimize distractions and ensure clients can focus on what matters most to them.

Prior to Paragon, Justin worked at two of the world’s largest sports management companies, where he advised numerous elite NBA and NFL athletes. With more than 15 years of experience, he has the experience and expertise to ensure his clients receive the very best service in the industry.

When not serving clients, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Kate Salsman, CFP®

Managing Partner & Wealth Advisor

“Paragon’s comprehensive service model encompasses both wealth management and family office, so you can rely on us for all aspects of your financial life.”

Kate Salsman is a Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor at Paragon, overseeing Private Wealth Management at the firm. Passionate about helping others, Kate develops and manages client family relationships. After working to create actionable financial plans, she and her team process research to build the customized portfolios clients need to achieve their goals. Kate also coordinates all of the specialists—such as CPAs and attorneys—required for managing family wealth.

Before helping to found Paragon, Kate served as a Financial Advisor and Director of Global Sports and Entertainment at Morgan Stanley for nearly 12 years. Previously, she was at Fifth Third Securities and UBS/Paine Webber.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Kate was recognized as a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor in 2021. She was also listed as a Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor in 2021 and 2020. In both 2020 and 2019, she was one of Working Mother and SHOOK Research’s Top Wealth Advisor Moms.

Happily married to a high school basketball coach, Kate loves fitness and nutrition as much as she loves entertaining and cooking. She also enjoys watching her daughters doing what they love—singing and swimming for one, and horseback riding for the other. Kate is an active member at St. Paul Catholic Church in Lexington and Treasurer for Lexington Children’s Theatre.

Katie Lockwood, CFP®, CFA

Chief Investment Officer

Katie is the Chief Investment Officer at Paragon, a role central to the firm’s investment strategies. With a track record of excellence and a passion for her clients’ financial health, Katie creates tailored investment plans and offers client-driven guidance. While staying ahead with consistent market research and strategy analysis, Katie supports clients by providing timely and reliable personal investment strategies.

Before her role at Paragon, Katie was a Financial Advisor at Meridian Wealth Management, and a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Katie began her career as a stockbroker at Scottrade, where she quickly joined the branch management team working with teams nationwide providing financial service.

Katie is a University of Kentucky alum, where she earned a degree in economics and finance. She has held a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification for over a decade and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Beyond her professional achievements, Katie finds balance in family life, residing in Lexington with her husband, Ben, and their three daughters.

Josh Branham, APMA

Senior Wealth Advisor

Josh is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Paragon. He plays a pivotal role in guiding clients toward their financial aspirations through comprehensive wealth management strategies. With nearly a decade of experience and a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and client needs, Josh’s insights drive tailored solutions that align with each client’s unique goals.

Before joining the Paragon team, Josh was the Vice President at Kuttin Wealth Management, introducing and cultivating a distinctive Wealth Management practice integrated within a CPA firm. Prior to that role, he was as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, analyzing and providing clients with comprehensive financial plans and strategies. He also worked at Northwestern Mutual, leading office growth initiatives at the start of his career.

Josh earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Kentucky. He holds a 66 FINRA registration and Kentucky Life and Health insurance licenses.

Josh lives in Nicholasville with his wife and their two kids. He loves the outdoors and spending time with his family.

Emily Richards

Director of Operations

“As our client, you will see the care and passion our entire team puts into helping you with all of your financial needs.”

Emily Richards is Director of Operations at Paragon. She is responsible for organizing client relationships and executing portfolio changes. Emily loves to engage with people. She makes every client her number one priority, helping with whatever they need. Responsibility, accountability, and effective teamwork are fundamentally important to Emily.
Before joining the Paragon team in 2021, Emily worked at Morgan Stanley for nearly five years. Previously, she was a finance and accounting intern with the Cincinnati Reds.

Emily earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Emily’s greatest joy is spending time with friends and family. She delights in everything from traveling with them to enjoying casual meals together.

Hayden Estes

Wealth Management Associate

“At Paragon, I’m continually impressed and inspired by the warm, trusted relationships between our team and our clients.”

Hayden Estes is a Wealth Management Associate at Paragon. Her responsibilities include ensuring that clients receive timely responses to all correspondence and inquiries. Hayden makes a point of building collaborative working relationships with both internal and external operations, so she can be certain that confidential transactions are executed swiftly and accurately. Deeply committed to client service, Hayden enjoys her interactions with clients and pays keen attention to every detail.

As a 2022 addition to the Paragon team, Hayden brought strong ethics and a positive can-do attitude to the mix.  She is a 2020 graduate of Kentucky’s Morehead State University.

Hayden loves to travel and spend time outdoors with family and friends.