By Lee Sherbakoff, CPA/PFS™, CFP®, RICP®
I was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. As a long-time resident of Knoxville, I speak from personal experience when I say there’s a lot to love about this city. K-town, as it’s affectionately known to locals, has much to offer residents and tourists alike. I may be a little biased, but I think it’s a pretty special place to live. I could share much more, but I’ll keep my list of things to love about Knoxville short and sweet. Whether you already live here, are thinking about moving, or are just looking to visit and want some recommendations on what to see and do, here are my top 3 reasons why I love calling Knoxville home.
Natural Beauty
If you’re looking to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville is a great base from which to explore. Known as the “gateway to the Smoky Mountains,” Knoxville residents get to enjoy the beauty of this natural wonder every day. Just a mere 45-minute drive away, we get the best of both worlds: city and mountain life.
While the Smokies are one of the biggest draws to the area for nature lovers, there’s a lot more to love besides this mountain range. Some of my favorite spots to enjoy the great outdoors are Fort Loudon Lake and the Tennessee River. The lake is at the headwaters of the river, which runs through Knoxville, and is a popular destination for water recreational activities such as fishing, paddling or boating, and birdwatching.
It’s easy to enjoy all this natural beauty year-round as Knoxville sits in the geographical center of the country and enjoys four distinct seasons. While the summers may be hot and humid, the winters are relatively short and mild, and you can’t beat the beauty of Knoxville’s spring and fall.
College Town
Knoxville is nothing if not a college town through and through. Home of the University of Tennessee, there are plenty of sporting and cultural events year-round. Athletically, UT is most known for its football team (Go Vols!), including its most famous quarterback, Peyton Manning. Not to be outdone, the UT women’s basketball program has won eight national titles with the help of legendary coach Pat Summitt.
While it can get a little crazy around here on game day, there’s no shortage of places to eat, drink, or listen to music. Downtown is the heartbeat of the city, with its walkable streets filled with shops and restaurants. The main square is host to various events throughout the year and a great farmers market every Saturday morning. If you’re a foodie, Knoxville is a great place to indulge as it’s quickly becoming a go-to food destination and offers everything from local Southern fare to James Beard Award-winning cuisine.
The Maker City
In addition to being a great place to explore the outdoors and all that a college town has to offer, Knoxville is also known as “The Maker City.” We are the hub of world-class technological innovation and have access to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the world’s premier institution, as well as University of Tennessee resources. Many residents start their own businesses as the community is very supportive of entrepreneurs in any industry. In fact, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s mission is to “become the most founder-friendly city in America.” Locals get to enjoy the fruits of all that creative energy in the form of various shops, restaurants, live events, and other cultural and technological endeavors.
We’re at Your Service
Regardless of where you live, every city has something unique, special, or interesting about it. What’s your city’s “claim to fame”? If you live in the Knoxville area, what are some of your favorite places or things to do? Feel free to reach out and let us know.
At The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, we put our clients first, and that means we want to get to know you as a person. We take the time to listen to our clients’ needs and goals so we can design a customized and comprehensive financial plan that fits their lifestyle. Set up a complimentary appointment so we can see if our services are the right fit for you by calling us at (865) 691-0898 or contacting us online.
About Lee
Lee Sherbakoff is principal and financial advisor with The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC, an independent, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. He specializes in serving pre-retirees and retirees, helping them create and execute financial plans and retirement income plans that lead to sustainable long-term, real-life returns that meet their deepest and most important financial goals and objectives. Lee has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The University of Tennessee and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College as well as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS™), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) certifications. Lee spent over 31 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, including serving at the Army’s highest levels on the Department of Army staff at the Pentagon and being deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm (1991) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2009). Lee lives by the motto, “As I served my country, I now serve you.” When he’s not giving his best to his clients, Lee enjoys giving back to the community and to his profession. He served as a council member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs. In addition, he is past President of the Knoxville Chapter of Tennessee Society of CPAs and past President of the East Tennessee chapter of the Financial Planning Association. To learn more about Lee, connect with him on LinkedIn.
DISCLOSURES: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product, and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by third parties and its use and disclaim any liability arising out of, or reliance on the information. These indexes reflect investments for a limited period of time and do not reflect performance in different economic or market cycles and are not intended to reflect the actual outcomes of any client of The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.