One-Stop Shop Webinar
SOS Licensing, Corporations, Securities/Charities
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office is your one-stop shop for small business.
Corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships in Georgia are formed by filing with the Corporations Division. The Licensing Division handles applying for, renewing, and printing your license. Plus, provides administrative support to the 42 licensing boards housed with our agency. The Securities Division regulates securities activity statewide and protects against investment fraud and promotes financial literacy. The Charities Division will help you with starting, registering, renewing, expired/reinstating, withdrawing or amending your charitable organization.
The Division Directors of SOS Licensing, Corporation, and Securities/Charities, will provide details about their division and walk you through the sos.ga.gov website for all of your small business needs.
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Speakers
Moderator
Shardéa Ages, a Co-founder and Senior Wealth Advisor at Collective Wealth Partners, boasts an impressive 14-year tenure in the financial services industry, with extensive expertise in banking, investment management, tax and estate planning and insurance. This well-rounded background has served as the perfect foundation for her thriving career as a financial planning subject matter expert. Shardéa holds various qualifications, including the prestigious title of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner; Series 65 and 63 FINRA registrations, along with Health, Life, and Accident Insurance licenses. Shardéa is well-equipped to cater to her clients' diverse financial needs.
Graduating from Florida A&M University with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance; Shardéa began her career at JPMorgan Chase and later at such firms as PNC Bank and Merrill Lynch. As recognition for her professional success, she is a 2022-2023 Five Star Wealth Manager awardee and 2023 Marquis Who’s Who Honored Listee.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shardéa is also a highly sought-after speaker and panelist, revered for her insights into financial literacy, transforming financial behaviors and mindsets, and advocating diversity within her industry. Her expertise has led her to collaborate with esteemed entities like the Georgia Secretary of State's and the North American Securities Administrators Association's Investor Educator committee, where she contributed to various projects.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Shardéa actively engages with her community, dedicating her time to pro-bono financial planning workshops and founding Bridging Financial Gaps, a charitable organization focused on promoting financial literacy. She has also previously served as the Finance Chair of NAMI DeKalb, highlighting her commitment to both financial and mental well-being.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Shardéa now calls Atlanta, Georgia, her home, alongside her husband, Clinton Ages, and their beloved dog, Silky. Her dedication to fostering strong client relationships continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the individuals and communities that she serves.
Deputy Director of Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Division
Wanda is the Deputy Director for the Professional Licensing Boards Division. She began her career with the Secretary of State in 2006. She has filled many positions over the years which gives her the firsthand knowledge and experience to serve our constituents.
Director of Georgia Secretary of State’s Corporations Division
Anika has worked for state government for over 15 years serving the great constituents of Georgia. Her background in government includes oversight and management in various capacities to include business services, new system implementation, quality assurance, customer service, and process improvement projects.
Prior to beginning her career in state government, Anika worked in management and various corporate trainer roles within the private sector for a prominent telecommunications company. She earned her undergraduate degree in North Carolina and relocated to Georgia where she obtained her master’s degree. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and worked in the mental health field assisting the citizens of Georgia, providing clinical and community-based services and resources to disadvantaged individuals and families.
Assistant Commissioner of Securities and the Director of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Securities & Charities Division.
Noula’s experience includes serving as a regulatory compliance analyst at Ekonomou, Atkisson & Lambros Law Firm, which served as the Investigative Agent for the Georgia Securities Division. She also served as Director of Compliance at Investment Law Group of Davis, Gillett, Mottern & Sims, LLP, managing the registrations and compliance support for state and federal registered investment advisers and private investment funds. She also held the position of Vice-President of Compliance at a publicly traded oil and gas company located in Texas. Ms. Zaharis is a former English and Latin teacher with Atlanta Public Schools and was an associate professor of English at Georgia State University. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Investor Protection Trust (IPT), a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education, and serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the National Association on State Charities Officials (NASCO). She serves as the Co-Chairman of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the North America Securities Administrators Association. She received her undergraduate degree (BA) in English Language and Literature/Letters from Furman University and Master of Arts, English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Emory University. She holds the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) designation.