CHRIS CLAYTON

Co-founder

Chris is the co–founder of Cornerstone Financial in Mandeville, Louisiana. The firm is now approaching 30 years old has several hundred clients. Chris obtained his thorough business knowledge from his previous career as a manufacturing representative for a Fortune 500 company. He honed his client acquisition skills over the years and was responsible for bringing on 14 Fortune 500 companies as clients.

Cornerstone Financial offers the full spectrum of financial services to residents in the New Orleans area. Chris and his staff specialize in financial planning with an emphasis toward retirement planning. Their goal is to have all aspects of a client’s portfolio working in unison and, when that is achieved, they notice people almost always feel better about their financial future.

“Our clients say they trust us and that we give them peace of mind,” said Chris. “And that is the biggest measure of our success at Cornerstone Financial. Our clients must always come first.” Chris served on the Ohio National Financial Services field advisory board as marketing chair, vice chairman, and then president when Ohio National had 12,000 agents across the United States and Canada. For 14 years, he served as secretary and vice president for the Northlake Christian School Board, and was very involved in fundraising and enterprise development, including the building of a football field, second gymnasium and several new classrooms. Chris is an Eagle Scout and assumed a leadership position in the waterfront at Boy Scout camp with no incidents. He has been married for 36 years and has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Away from the office, he enjoys travel, open–water swimming, competitive masters and senior track and field, movies, and books.

Katy CLAYTON

Clients Relations manager

As Client Relations Manager at Cornerstone, Katy arranges meetings, updates scheduling, responds to client requests, and helps plan client events. She also handles various marketing duties. Katy has been working at the firm since 2017.

“It’s very important to me that I set the tone for how our clients are treated and that we always foster a very family-like environment for them,” said Katy. “I love working with our clients and do everything I can to make certain they know their voices will always be heard and given top priority here.”

One-on-one attention and customized planning are the features Katy most emphasizes to people about Cornerstone. She enjoys accompanying clients on their paths to reaching peace of mind in retirement.

Away from the office, Katy likes playing tennis, traveling and listening to true-crime podcasts.

Rebecca Teal

Client Service Coordinator

Rebecca has been working in the financial industry for 15 years. She is originally from New Jersey and worked for TIAA-CREF before joining Cornerstone.

As Client Service Coordinator, she manages applications, underwriting, securities trading, and any other tasks related to client services.

“I’m very client focused, and always respond promptly to their requests,” said Rebecca. “Working with clients is my favorite part of what I do, and so it makes me feel good when I meet their needs and help them on their retirement paths.”

Away from the office, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her four children and attending sports events for her youngest, who is 6. She likes to travel and enjoys fine dining, water sports, and the outdoors.

Duffy Clayton

Bookkeeping and Special Projects Coordinator

Duffy worked in the accounting field for several years before joining Cornerstone. As Bookkeeping and Special Projects Coordinator, she inputs outgoing and ingoing revenue at the firm, as well as overseeing all monthly billing.

“I may only get to interact directly with our clients at the events we hold for them,” said Duffy, “but I still like seeing how we help clients design their retirement plans in our offices, just knowing that they are going to be living better through the planning and saving we work with them to achieve.”

Away from the office, Duffy likes to exercise, including bike riding to the lakefront with her husband and daughter. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, and dabbling in cooking.

Caroline Langdon

Billing and Securities Compliance Coordinator

Caroline served as a trust officer and vice president for 15 years at two banks before joining Cornerstone Financial. In those roles, she managed fiduciary responsibilities and the administration of trusts. As the Billing and Securities Compliance Coordinator at Cornerstone, Caroline facilitates accurate billing for RIA clients and assists with administrating their accounts.

“I enjoy the flexibility of my job at Cornerstone, helping with administrative tasks, and, ultimately, keeping costs down for our clients,” said Caroline. “I take my responsibility of obtaining accuracy with compliance and billing for our clients very seriously.”

Caroline stays active in her local church and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Greater Covington. She has been married for 27 years and, though she and her husband Dylan are empty nesters now, she enjoys spending time with their young-adult sons and traveling with them when opportunities arise.

Terry Hickman

Client Relations

At Cornerstone Financial, Terry is committed to helping individuals and families navigate retirement planning and financial decisions with personalized guidance and dependable support. Her background includes experience in life insurance, health insurance, legal services, and other client-focused industries, giving her a broad perspective on serving clients through important life transitions. Terry believes trust, organization, and strong communication are essential in building lasting relationships and helping clients feel confident about their financial future.

Outside of the office, Terry serves as an Elections Commissioner in her local community and is an active member of Mandeville Christian Church. She is a proud mother and grandmother who values family, resilience, and creating meaningful relationships. Away from work, Terry enjoys reading and following true crime stories, sewing, painting, writing poetry and short stories, and gardening. Terry values creativity, community involvement, and building meaningful connections with those around her.