Page 32 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2025

The Faces of a Bright Retirement
HEIDI AND CLINTON ARDIS
Heidi Ardis’ journey into financial services was born from a deep devotion to helping others, shaped by personal trials and guided by faith. Over 17 years ago, an unexpected tragedy and later a devastating financial experience forever altered her path.
“When I was 22, my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly, leaving my husband and me to handle his estate alone,” she recalls. “The financial advisor we trusted lost 75 percent of what we inherited. I made a vow that no one I met with would ever face the hardships we endured.”
Determined to make a difference, Ardis left one semester shy of completing her master’s degree and began her career in finance. Her commitment to empowering others through tax, income, and legacy strategies became her driving force.
Today, she is the proud founder of Agape Wealth, a firm rooted in faith and family. After holding executive roles in both corporate and independent financial sectors, she launched Agape Wealth to focus on helping clients preserve and grow tax-efficient retirement income for themselves and their loved ones.
Her resilience stems from overcoming challenges that could
have easily derailed her. At 14, a gymnastics accident left her in a wheelchair. “Challenges can either make you bitter or better – this one made me stronger,” she shares. “It’s my mission, especially for women, to know their worth and value, no matter what life throws at them.”
Her faith has been the cornerstone of her journey. “God led me every step of the way, and that will always be my guiding light in any storm,” she says.
A lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Ardis holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She and her husband, Clinton, share a full and joyful life with their two children, Makayla and Gavin, and their dog, Watson Banks. In her free time, she loves attending church, traveling, reading, boating, and cheering on her kids at their sports games.
Through Agape Wealth, Ardis continues to honor her vow to serve others with integrity, compassion, and faith.
32 | January 2025
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