A graduate of the University of Florida, Scott Woods started his career as a financial advisor with AG Edwards in Sarasota, FL in 1982. In 1994, still with AG Edwards, Woods and his family relocated to Durango, CO to experience life in the Rocky Mountains. After more than 29 years with AG Edwards and its successor firms, Woods joined Baird in January 2012.

Since 2005, Scott and his wife, Ford, have split their time between Durango, CO and Sarasota, FL. In their spare time, they enjoy traveling, live music, cooking, boating on the west coast of Florida, and exploring 4x4 trails in the San Juan Mountains. Scott & Ford have two grown children, Meredith and Charles.

Scott has been named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025*.  In 2025, The Woods Group was named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team**.  

An active community member, Scott has been a member of numerous charitable organizations including Kiwanis, Sertoma, Rotary, United Way, Music in the Mountains, and the Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence.

^{*Published 4/8/25, rankings based on data as of 6/30/24.}

^{**Published 1/9/25, rankings based on data as of 3/31/24.}

^{Published on February 8, 2024.  Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2023}

Series 7, 8, 63, & 65
Insurance license (Life, Health, & Variable Annuity) in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, WI

Meredith began her career in the securities industry in 2011 with Wells Fargo Advisors. In March 2012 she transitioned to Baird to partner with her father, Scott, and Dana McGuire and to form The Woods Group.

Meredith holds an BA from Rollins College and an MA from the University of Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys equestrian sports, fly fishing, golf, cooking, skiing, and travel.

Meredith was named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor and Best-in-State Woman Wealth Advisor in 2024 & 2025.  The Woods Group was named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team in 2025.

^{Published 4/8/25, rankings based on data as of 6/30/24.}

^{Published 2/11/25, rankings based on data as of 9/30/24.}

^{Published 1/9/25, rankings based on data as of 3/31/24.}

^{Forbes "Best-In-State Wealth Advisor" Multi-Year lists, published annually January - April. Rankings based on date as of June 30 of prior year.}

Licenses:
Series 7 & 66
Insurance license (Life, Health, & Variable Annuity) in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, WI

Riley Barber began his career in public accounting in 2022. After spending the past five years living in Albuquerque, NM, he recently returned to his hometown in the Four Corners area and joined The Woods Group as a Client Assistant in Durango, CO.

Riley received a BS in Economics and an MBA from the University of New Mexico.

In his free time, he loves spending time with his new son and family, camping, helping on his grandfather’s ranch, and playing pick-up soccer.

Originally from San Diego County, Daniel Leighton moved to Southwest Colorado in 2007. He graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO in 2012, and entered the financial services industry shortly thereafter. He spent more than 10 years working at payments processing company Mercury Payment Systems and its successor firms before joining The Woods Group as a Client Assistant in 2024.

In his free time, Daniel enjoys exploring the hiking trails around the Four Corners region, supporting Bayfield School District sports, and watching baseball. His favorite team is the San Diego Padres.